Your favorite Office/Group-friendly Jamaican souvenir ideas?

Two weeks until I will be on an airplane for my first international flight, flying for my first trip to Jamaica. I’m now obsessing about the trip Every. Minute…!

So, to get my fix, here’s another question for you all. What kind of souvenirs did you bring back for your office/coworkers? Around here, when people go on vacation (usually to the Eastern shore) they bring back shared food items like caramel corn and salt water taffy, to share with everybody. When we go to Middle Bass Island, we bring back fudge. When I went to Hawaii, I brought back

But the best Jamaican souvenir we can think of (Rum! Of course!) is not really work appropriate. And our offices are so large that we will not be getting individual souvenirs for everyone. So what do you guys bring back for your offices, and where can I go to get it while I’m there?


Take care, everyone!
Kim

One year I brought back pencils with little Jamaican heads on them... They have hats and hair and a face painted on them. Everyone at the office thought it was awesome. One year I brought them back each a seashell to put on their desk.

I never had to buy for a large group gift. Sorry.

Coffee for when I worked in an office. The new single serve systems may do away with that in some offices, but it was a hit when I used to bring it in.

Coffee, Rum Cream, Seasonings, My secretary always asks for a bottle of Pure Vanilla for her baking. She says the Jamaican is strong and lasts her a long time.

Coffee's a great idea. (I don't drink coffee, so I never think of it.) It won't work for my husband's office since they have a single-serve system, but my office still uses a traditional coffee pot.

Rum Cream, sadly, my office would be cross if I brought some in to share... and there are too many people to bring everyone their own to enjoy at home.

I never thought about vanilla/spices! That's a great idea!

Blue Mountain Coffee! Best place to buy it that we have found is at the Hi-Lo.
We bought some at a craft market once only to find out when we got it home and opened the burlap that the original beans had been removed and a package of horrible beans wrapped in duct tape is what we got instead! Lesson learned!
We also bring back alot of different seasonings, spices, and sauces. Got to get our Jerk fix while we are home :)

Coffee works well but it's expensive .... rasta bracelets and necklaces often get a nice response.

Shirley Bisquits ~ original & coconut :oAttachment 25420

I might get some coffee and set up a basket with small bottles of vanilla / jerk seasoning. (Does anywhere sell small “giftable” bottles of these? I’d probably need >20 of each.)

Edit: Oooh, those Biscuits are a good idea, too!

but you could get by with coffee if it's provided for one morning or 2, or as a shared pot, etc.

if company policy allows, email a great morning photo of sunrise, or the sea, to employees inviting them to the coffee. The photo could also be set as a desktop background for daydreamers...

add sweetened condensed milk as an additive at the coffee station... Betty is the island brand, I think....better than cream and sugar. Maybe add a Caribbean Rum Cake ... ?

buy a box of patties at the airport... bake them before you head in to the office, cut them up to bite-size portions, and microwave them at lunchtime for a Taste of Jamaica...

This is why I posted here. You all have great ideas.

Kathy - the picture in the email inviting them to coffee is fantastic!

Geeze Kathy; If I ever have a party I'm going to hire you as the planner. That idea is excellent! All I could think of was a T Shirt.

Tortuga Rum Cake is a hit at my office. They come in a variety of flavors such as key lime, chocolate, walnut... You can get them at the airport on your way home. slice a couple down and serve with Blue Mountain Coffee.

I'm a magnet kinda girl-that's what I request as well from friends on vacation :cool:

I have brought all sorts of things from magnets, keychains to coffee and rum cake

The rum cake is ALWAYS a hit
(be sure to bring one back for yourself though too) Man those things are good!

Have fun!

How long do rum cakes keep? We are flying back on Wednesday but won't be returning to the offices until the following Monday.

They are vaccuum sealed and boxed and keep quite nicely
You can buy them in all different sizes and flavors
Couple it with some Blue Mountain coffee and it would be a big hit for sure!

I just opened a Tortuga the other day.. we bought it at the end of January... the sticker says best before October 10, 2013.

It also says it's manufactured in Grand Cayman! wtf... :) Oh well, never mind that part...

At the airport there was also another brand of rum cake ... in a blue box ... maybe it's made in Jamaica...

Doesn't matter... no one at the office will read the small print...

oops... kept reading... the box also says Product of Jamaica... under license from Tortuga Rum Co... St. James, Jamaica! I feel better now... :)

Oh, awesome. I was worried it was more perishable than that!

Soooo excited!

If you want the Rasta bracelets don't buy them on the beach...Go to the China man store and get a dozen of them...That is about 10 bucks...I got about 20 of them one year for like 15 bucks and gave them away at home. .A local told me that many of the guys that walk the beach and put them on you as a gift then hit you up for 5 bucks get them there too so you know they are authentic...

Quote:

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Originally Posted by BR Mon

If you want the Rasta bracelets don't buy them on the beach...Go to the China man store and get a dozen of them...That is about 10 bucks...I got about 20 of them one year for like 15 bucks and gave them away at home. .A local told me that many of the guys that walk the beach and put them on you as a gift then hit you up for 5 bucks get them there too so you know they are authentic...

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Thanks for the tip. What/Where do you mean when you say "Go to the China man store". Where is that?

I always bring back tshirts. I got 5 for $20 at the dutyfree store near the cambio downtown. When I find a good deal on braclets, I get a couple of those too.

you'll also see the Tortuga rum cakes at the grocery stores... less $ than at the airport. We bought ours at Hi-Lo. (but then, of course, you have to pack accordingly).

oh! another thought -- buy yourself a sarong then use it as a tablecloth for your coffee gathering/set-up... :)

IMO there are very few souvenirs worth bringing back, except maybe some wood carvings. Many of the trinkets are made in China, and local made bracelets and necklasses can be bought anywhere in the world. We always bring back dried jerk spice which can be purchased in small bags for a buck or so. Another thing that is good is Sorrel Tea which is only $1.50 a box of 20 bags and can be purchased at the supermarket. Some people might just enjoy having a nice crisp 100J banknote.
Regards,
Bob

If you want a foodie thing your office can share, you can find chocolate (cocoa is grown in JA), and rum-based candies (fudge? rum cake?). Both at the airport. I'm sure a pound of Blue Mountain coffee would go over well if your office has a traditional coffee maker.

If you go to a grocery store, you'll find all kinds of snacks and candy. Even Cadbury bars that I never see in the US.

We have a tradition in our office where we bring back a shot glass for each coworker. Some friends get a small bottle of rum, rum cream or stones ginger wine.

Irie Toilet Paper , cheap and practical.....lol

Coffee is a great idea- brew n share. Pick a peppa, while available in the US is a cheap bring home item and definitely a flavor of the island.... You could maybe get a great deal on a bulk order of bracelets and some will customize names ( for the people who can give you a raise :-) ).... Nice of you to be thinking of your work friends while you are away!

Love the coconut shirley biscuits.

I have also filled Red Stripe bottles with sand from the beach. Gets no cheaper or authentic. Depends on how many you need and suitcase room. Just wrap them well.