Best Souvenirs to Buy in Jordan

From traditional clothing to Arabic sweets and delicious dish, Culture Trip selects the best traditional Jordanian souvenirs to buy when you’re visiting the kingdom.

During your trip to Jordan, as you hike in Petra, camp in Wadi Rum, float in the Dead Sea, wander around Amman, and dive in Aqaba, you’ll have the chance to pick up a few mementos and gifts along the way. The following authentic and (mostly) affordable buys will fit in your suitcase and capture the captivating Jordanian culture.

Traditional keffiyehs (scarves)

Embroidered items and Bedouin weaves are popular Jordanian souvenirs, but perhaps the most practical and iconic textile choice is a traditional headscarf, called keffiyeh in Arabic. The classic Jordanian keffiyeh is a houndstooth checkered pattern: red and white is worn by Bedouins, black and white by Palestinians. Buy one of each. They’re sold at the most-visited spots in Jordan, and usually come with a lesson on how to wrap your head like a proper desert dweller.

Ajloun olive oil

The Ajloun area in northwestern Jordan is known for its olives.You can pick up bottles of Ajloun olive oil at any supermarket, but the cloudy, fresh-pressed good stuff comes from freshly picked olives. The annual olive harvest happens in the fall after the first substantial rain. if you’re in Jordan between October and December, plan a trip to Ajloun to visit an olive farm and watch the pressing of oil.

Local artwork

Amman is a sanctuary for regional artists and, not surprisingly, the epicentre of the emerging art scene is Jabal Weibdeh. Stop by the higher end art galleries, but do note that the real deals can be found by wandering the streets of Jabal Weibdeh, paying special attention to cafes and artist studios.

Arabic sweets

The classic gift from Jordan is a tin of Sweets. If you’re overwhelmed by the choices, you can’t go wrong with the mini baklava or the adorable little pistachio nests called osh al bulbul. Their packable tins are perfect for sharing at a family gathering or as a gift for your office mates.

Jewellery

For those willing to splurge on a piece of heirloom jewellery that captures the spirit of Jordan, keep your eyes peeled for Bedouin-style tribal costume jewellery. The quality varies so don’t spend a lot, but snag a piece or two if something catches your eye and the price is right.

Spices

Sumac and za’atar may not be exclusive to Jordan, but they’re a great way to bring the unique flavours of Jordan to just about any dish. Sumac is a lemony and salty spice the colour of red wine, and za’atar comes in various blends, but the base is typically thyme and sesame seeds. And, of course, grabbing some finishing salt from the Dead Sea is always a good idea for the cooks in your life. You can purchase all these at most mini marts and supermarkets, but Kabatilo spice shops scattered around Amman are known for their quality.

Olive-oil soap

Because of the high quality of olive oil available in Jordan, it follows that there are some great olive-oil soaps in the market at very good prices. You can find local hand-crafted soaps at Cozmo supermarkets.

Dead Sea mud

Brand-name Dead Sea mud is widely available in tourist shops, but it’s not exactly bargain priced. The best alternative: if your trip includes a stay at a Dead Sea hotel, have the spa package their mud for you to take home. The best spas put the clay mud through a sterilisation process, but in a way that preserves the healthy minerals. The other alternative is to scan local stores for reasonably priced small packets of the therapeutic mud, which are great for gifting.