What to bring from Morocco? It is simply impossible to leave without shopping: markets beckon with colourful goods, but it is not easy to choose. Some travellers prefer to explore the bazaars on their own, while others opt for a guided shopping tour through the oriental bazaar. Let us tell you how not to make a mistake, where to find the best souvenirs, and what to pay attention to.
Guided tour of oriental bazaarsMorocco’s markets are full of flowers, spices, lamps, carpets – your eyes can run wild. But behind this abundance, it’s easy to miss the fakes and hastily made ‘tourist’ goods. Taste matters, yes, but so does clear-headedness: you need to distinguish the authentic from the decorative and not be afraid to bargain.
Because haggling isn’t shameful here – on the contrary, in Morocco, it’s an art, almost a ritual.
Let us tell you which souvenirs are truly worth buying!
» READ MORE – What to eat in Morocco: the best national dishes and where to find them
Argan oil – the gold of the Berbers
This delicate vegetable oil, made from the fruit of the rare semi-desert plant argania, is produced exclusively in North Africa. It has many beneficial properties and is loved by beauty enthusiasts around the world. Argan oil is expensive everywhere, but in Morocco it is surprisingly affordable.
To make the right choice, buy this popular Maghreb souvenir from a specialty shop, pharmacy, or women’s co-operative, where it’s made by hand.
- Most of these co-operatives are found in Essaouira – here you can not only buy this precious product but also watch the full process of its creation
- In the mountains, Berber communities have preserved the recipes and traditions of working with argan for centuries. A cup of mint tea flavoured with stories about ancient crafts is still part of local hospitality
Note: dark oil is used in cooking, while lighter oil is better for skin and hair care.
Moroccan tea and spice kit
What to bring from Morocco for lovers of home cooking? This African country is as rich in colour as it is in aroma. Perhaps the finest spice blend in Moroccan markets is ras el hanout.
Ras el hanout includes ground cardamom, zira (cumin), cinnamon, nutmeg, turmeric, and coriander. A real explosion of flavour!
Don’t rush to buy spices in brightly coloured boxes. The best ones are sold in plain paper bags at the markets. There, you’ll also find dried mint for the famous foamy tea – sweet «Moroccan whisky.» In the south, vendors sell fragrant herbs from the Atlas Mountains.
Ceramics from Fez – handmade blue and white patterns
Morocco’s first capital, bustling and vibrant Fez, is renowned for its exquisite tableware. Thanks to the rich clay deposits, white earthenware adorned with intricate blue patterns has been made here for over a thousand years.
These dishes and plates are perfect for serving fruit, pastries, or for decorating your home. If you’re looking for something truly unique, consider painted sets or ornamental pieces.
Not far from Marrakech, there’s a factory where the famous zellige tiles are made – the same tiles used in mosque mosaics and hotel interiors. Visit a local pottery workshop to see how the pieces are hand-painted and fired.
Want to try crafting something yourself? Marrakech offers short ceramics workshops – you’ll take your own handmade piece home right after it’s fired!
Berber jewellery
Arab and Berber jewellery is striking in its elegance and detail. Crafted from silver and other noble metals, it’s often adorned with enamel, agates, coral, and turquoise – stones that retain their vibrant colours for centuries.
Pay special attention to the Sahara cross – the most recognisable Berber amulet.
Another hallmark of nomadic culture is the tisek – a versatile adornment worn as a pendant or ring.
Large bracelets and earrings with delicate jingles are more than just accessories. Among nomads, such jewellery is still worn during evenings around the campfire, as they sing, share tales, and remember their ancestors in the Moroccan desert.
The vivid Moroccan aesthetic is easy to incorporate into any look — from an elegant dress to a casual cotton tunic.
Babushi shoes and stylish bags made from Moroccan tanned leather
Moroccan leather is famous worldwide. Even major fashion houses source high-quality leather from this North African kingdom. Wondering what to bring from Morocco to stay in style?
The largest tanneries are in Marrakech and Fez. In the souks, you’ll find endless rows of babushi shoes – soft leather slippers decorated with beads and colourful stitching. These are incredibly comfortable for home use and quickly become favourites.
Looking for more? Head to the leatherworking districts for bags, wallets, jackets, and purses in every imaginable colour and style. These areas take pride in their reputation, and counterfeits are rarely found in local boutiques or markets. Many artisans also take custom orders, measuring you right there on the spot.
A clay tagine – a real one, not a souvenir
If you’re still unsure what to bring back from Morocco, consider a clay tagine. This conical-lidded ceramic pot distributes heat evenly and is perfect for preparing Moroccan tagine, thick bean soup, tender stews, or fragrant pilafs.
But don’t rush into buying one. Tourist markets often sell attractive but impractical souvenir tagines. Though pretty, they crack under high heat.
To find authentic cookware – the kind Berber nomads used for generations – visit a regular hardware shop. There, you’ll discover unglazed terracotta tagines or hand-painted clay ones ideal for preparing genuine Moroccan meals.
Textiles and carpets
Traditional carpets are another great souvenir from Morocco. Berber tribes weave them by hand from natural wool, decorating them with geometric designs or vivid patterns. Each rug tells a little story about life in the mountains and desert.
Real carpets are easy to identify by their feel and scent: they’re heavy, soft to the touch, and smell of wool, not chemicals. In the markets of Marrakech and Fez, you’ll find everything from classic monochrome Beni Ourain rugs to the colourful tribal styles of the Middle Atlas.
Don’t want to carry a bulky rug? Opt for small mats or woollen throws – they fit neatly in your suitcase and will remind you of Morocco for years to come.
Brass lamps and fixtures
Moroccan markets overflow with enchanting lights. Brass lamps, lanterns, and sconces with delicate openwork carvings evoke tales from the Thousand and One Nights. By day, they may seem modest – but light one, and shadows dance on the walls like ancient calligraphy.
Fez and Marrakech are where you’ll find the most beautiful examples: round hanging lamps, drop-shaped lanterns, and wall sconces shaped like blossoming flowers.
If you’re gifting a lamp, choose models without glass inserts – they’re easier to pack. And don’t forget to ask the vendor to wrap it well: brass is sturdy, but its filigree details can be fragile.
Rose and clay-based cosmetics
If you love natural skincare, look no further than Moroccan beauty products. Locals have used ingredients like rose water, gassoul clay, and black olive savon soap for generations.
Check the labels: the fewer the ingredients, the better.
The clay is mined in the Atlas Mountains and mixed with water for masks used on the face, body, and hair. Rose water works as a refreshing toner, especially on hot days. Natural black soap preps the skin for hammam sessions, cleansing and softening it before exfoliation.
Moroccan sweets
Sweets in Morocco are impossible to ignore. Market stalls overflow with rahat loukoum, almond-filled gazelle horns, and dates stuffed with nuts. All are richly flavoured with honey, rose water, and spices.
The tastiest treats often look unassuming – no flashy packaging. The best way to choose? Go where the locals shop: the busiest stalls always have the freshest sweets.
A small box of almond pastries or stuffed dates won’t take up much room, and at home, over tea, they’ll remind you of the spice-laced air and sunshine of your trip.
Alas, you can’t take away the whole Eastern bazaar in a suitcase. But a few souvenirs chosen with heart will remind you of sunny walks through the bazaars, cups of sweet tea and leisurely haggling on the street corners for a long time to come.
sour moha / Unsplash 
sour moha / Unsplash
user32212 / Pixabay
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