Tobago / Shopping

By Deana Bellamy

You will not find a single duty free shop outside the airport in Tobago, nor will you find the large number of shopping malls that exist in other islands. However the local crafts and art are worth checking out at Store Bay. Pepper sauces and local preserves are also nice to take home as gifts or souvenirs. Some of the local confectionaries are also fun to try, including tamarind balls, sugar cakes (made with grated coconut), paw paw (papaya) balls and benne balls (rock hard sweets of toasted sesame seed & sugar syrup) – look out for the ladies selling these homemade sweets at the airport. If you want to taunt your taste buds, then try the little bags of pepper mango and sweet and salt prunes, which are a torture of bitter and salt.

Business hours in Tobago are generally 8am–4pm, Monday to Friday. Shopping hours are generally from 8am-4pm Monday to Thursday, 8am-6pm Friday and until 1pm on Saturday.

Shopping centres and shops include:

Batiki Point, Buccoo Point and Crown Point - For batik wall hangings, wraps, T-shirts, clothes plus local art and craft.

The Cotton House, Scarborough - For a selection of handicrafts, casual and beach ware.

The Tobago Art Gallery, Hibiscus Drive, Lowlands - Original paintings by the owner, Martin Superville, and other local artists. Plus prints, cards and a tea garden.

Tobago Cigar Company Ltd, c/o La Cantina Restaurant, Crown Point - Producers of hand rolled cigars. Cuban cigar roller.

Gulf City Lowlands Mall – Tobago’s only mall with good shopping opportunities for clothing and accessories. Also has a food court, multiplex cinema, bank, bookstore and a pharmacy.

Contributors: James Henderson (editor)