How do you describe Charleston in a small gift?

Sure, there are big Charleston mementos — rice beads, Goldbug jewelry, or art from one of the amazing vendors at the Farmers’ Market. But what about a little something — a sercy — that captures the soul of the Lowcountry in a small, thoughtful way? We all love Charleston souvenirs – here is a list of my favorites!

I recently wanted to thank a few new coworkers who’ve gone above and beyond for me. None of them are from Charleston — or even South Carolina — so I thought: what better way to show my appreciation than with a little taste of the place I call home?

Here’s what I tucked into their Charleston sercies:

• Benne Wafers – a nutty, sweet Lowcountry staple from Dolores’ Southern Delights
• Sweet Tea Vodka – because nothing says Southern summer like lemonade and sweet tea vodka from Firefly Distillery
• Tea Bags – the only tea grown in America, right on Wadmalaw Island from the Charleston Tea Garden
• Perfect Pot of Coffee – A single pot of coffee bean grounds from the Charleston Coffee Exchange
• Palmetto Rose – handcrafted roses made from palmetto fronds, traditionally given for love and protection
• Pecan Pralines – rich, sugary, and impossible to eat just one
• Palmetto Moon Cup – fun, festive, and ready for your next beach day

Other fun ideas to consider:

• A Charleston Chew (nostalgic and fun)
• Grab benne wafers in small bags from Olde Colony Bakery ($1.50-$3.50)
• Matchbooks from your favorite restaurants
• A Palmetto Moon sticker or decal

I also wrote up a fun notecard explaining each of the items and why I chose to include them. You can download it below. It prints 2 notes on standard 8.5×11 paper.