Traditional gifts from the Caymans

[slingshot]

I'm going on my first trip to the Caymans in a few weeks, and was wondering whether there is a traditional local item that makes a good gift to bring back for family at home, both for adults and for kids. On my trip to Saba last year it was Saba spice and JoJo's glass beads. It would have to fit in my luggage with the dive gear, i.e. not too fragile, heavy, or large. Suggestions?

 

[Drew Sailbum]

Rum Cake is probably the best known export item from Cayman. Many gift shops at the airport sell it at a good price so you can pick it up on your way out of the country.

 

[Insta-Gator]

Drew beat me to it. I LOOOOOOOVVVVEEEE the Tortuga Chocolate Rum Cake.

 

[Testudo]

Other than the aforementioned go to rum cake, jewelry or art made from Caymanite is another unique item to Cayman. Other ideas are a glass work from the glassblowing factory; black coral creations from Doc Carey's; the adult party "favorite" - Big Black Dick's Chocolate Rum or a bottle of Seven Fathoms Rum for the more reserved folks; or for the ladies, some handmade soaps and lotions from Nina's Beach Bubbles in Bodden Town.

 

[AggieDiver]

Don't forget to send them a postcard from Hell.

 

[slingshot]

Thanks very much for the suggestions. And yes, I was hoping to go to Hell, if only for a visit. I hear you meet the most interesting kind of people there. If I get the rum cake, I'll have to get a "spare" to take with me as a carry on. Yum.

 

[Damselfish]

I don't get what the big deal is with the rum cake, aside from it making a handy souvenir identified with Cayman. It's certainly got good distribution, and I guess it has it's fans, but it's expensive for what it is and I never thought it was all that great.

Personally, I wouldn't buy black coral stuff...

 

[Wolfie]

Money. If you can't afford that. Go with the rum cake.. Or the 140 proof tortuga spiced rum.
depends on who it's for.

 

[KathyV]

I'm going on my first trip to the Caymans in a few weeks, and was wondering whether there is a traditional local item that makes a good gift to bring back for family at home, both for adults and for kids. On my trip to Saba last year it was Saba spice and JoJo's glass beads. It would have to fit in my luggage with the dive gear, i.e. not too fragile, heavy, or large. Suggestions?

My husband and I always bring back something to share with family and with our work companions, and rum cake is a popular and reasonably priced gift. Both Tortuga and Blackbeard's Rum cakes are very tasty but in the past we have found that the Blackbeard's is the better deal.

Last year we loaded up on Blackbeard's cakes in a shop in the airport departure terminal on the way home. We each bought six small rum cakes in different flavors and then got a large-sized cake for free.

Here is a thread I found about Cayman rum cakes:
http://boards.cruisecritic.com/archive/index.php/t-746210.html