Authentic Estonian Shopping in Tallinn
Authentic Estonian Shopping in Tallinn
The amounts of people who stop in Tallinn to admire the city for a few hours is huge. The cruise port of Tallinn is one of the busiest of Europe during summertime and a busy cruise port of course equals being extremely touristy. You can probably feed everyone in Tallinn with sweet almonds given out on street corners of the Old Town, fill warehouses with the postcards sold next to every church and build an amber mansion reaching skies from the amber found in every souvenir shop you’ll hop into. So how do you navigate between all of this and buy something really authentic?
You can find the chocolate in most souvenir stores, but it’s definitely cheaper in normal grocery shops. If a shop doesn’t have Kalev, that shop shouldn’t exist in the first place. Definitely try Kalev’s white chocolate with blueberries – it’s heaven!
Estonians for some reason love linen. It’s simple and reserved (read: gray and dull) like the Estonian peasants used to be. Linen was the unavoidable protest against the lavishness of the nobility, since there just were no other options for the simple folks. Nowadays it plays a huge role in the traditional Estonian clothing. We make everything from it – you can find a lot of uncomfortable hats, pants and shirts. Exactly like the peasants liked it!
CERAMICS
Souvenir shops do a good trade in ceramic figures, especially little ceramic buildings. Some are fairytale creations that have a hollow inside where you can put a candle. Others are amazingly precise copies of specific buildings in Old Town.CHOCOLATE
Anything by famous local confectioner, Kalev. Assortments with pictures of Tallinn are a hit. One of the big favorites to buy is their Maiasmokk chocolate candy box.Nowadays Kalev is loved by young and old, their candies and chocolates come in different sizes, shapes and tastes.You can find the chocolate in most souvenir stores, but it’s definitely cheaper in normal grocery shops. If a shop doesn’t have Kalev, that shop shouldn’t exist in the first place. Definitely try Kalev’s white chocolate with blueberries – it’s heaven!
KNITS
Sweaters of all varieties, knit caps, gloves and mittens are traditional gifts that are sold just about everywhere in Old Town. The most interesting place to shop for knitwear is definitely the sweater market on Müürivahe street near Viru Gates (C-3).LINEN
The traditional fabric from centuries gone by is still a popular handicraft items among the locals. Table cove- rings are the most obvious use, but a linen shirt can also make a stylish gift for your favorite knight.Estonians for some reason love linen. It’s simple and reserved (read: gray and dull) like the Estonian peasants used to be. Linen was the unavoidable protest against the lavishness of the nobility, since there just were no other options for the simple folks. Nowadays it plays a huge role in the traditional Estonian clothing. We make everything from it – you can find a lot of uncomfortable hats, pants and shirts. Exactly like the peasants liked it!
