After checking in at Norman Manley International Airport (NMIA) in Kingston, take the escalator up and look to your right, that’s where you’ll find the “Home of Authentic Jamaican Brands”: Things Jamaican™. With more than 500 Jamaican brands across categories like aromatherapy, food and drink, fashion, gift & craft, and home accents, it’s one of the best spots at the airport to pick up meaningful souvenirs before you leave the island.
Whether you’re heading back overseas or just want to take a piece of Jamaica with you, here are 5 must-have items to grab at Things Jamaican™ before you walk to your gate:
1. Sweet Treats
No suitcase is complete without a taste of ‘home’. Things Jamaican™ stocks a variety of locally made confectionery and snacks from small producers who specialise in traditional flavours. Think Gizzada, Grater cake, Coconut Drops, Tamarind Ball, Breadfruit Chips, Christmas Cake bites. These treats offer an easy, compact way to share a bit of Jamaica with friends and family, or simply make the flight home feel a little sweeter.
2. Coffee
Jamaican coffee is globally recognised as one of the best across the world, and the Things Jamaican™ store at the airport ensures travellers can access Jamaican Blue Mountain Coffee. Whether it’s a premium blend or a more accessible roast, these coffees represent the agricultural excellence behind Brand Jamaica, the same sector that continues to innovate even as it rebuilds from Hurricane Melissa.
3. T-Shirts
The “How do you know I’m Jamaican?” meme usually features a person looking surprised or smugly asking this question after someone guesses their nationality, often someone adorned in Jamaican colours or apparel. We are a proud people and we have no problem wearing our national colours with pride everywhere we go. Cultural expression is woven into Jamaican apparel, and the T-shirts available at Things Jamaican™ reflect the island’s humour and national pride. These shirts are wearable pieces of home.
4. Fashion Pieces
Beyond T-shirts, the store features handcrafted accessories, bags, jewellery and statement items produced by Jamaican creatives. From clutches, purses, to sandals to beadwork, these items allow travellers to carry home artistry that cannot be replicated anywhere else.
5. Small décor pieces
If there is one category that truly defines Things Jamaican™, it is craft. Handmade ceramics, wall hangings, miniature sculptures, and cultural décor pieces are staples of the store’s offering. Craft is of the sectors affected by the aftermath of Hurricane Melissa, especially those who usually supply the tourism industry. Purchasing their work at the airport is a direct stimulation of Jamaica’s creative economy.
The Things Jamaican™, ‘5 Reasons to Come ‘Home’ this Christmas’ is calling Jamaicans home to the best of what the island has to offer under one roof. With the spirit of the island tested, ‘TJ’ says buy ‘home’ brands. When you choose a local brand that delivers quality, you’re keeping a business afloat, keeping families earning, and helping the wider economy to recover. You can also stay connected to ‘home’ from wherever you are by visiting www.thingsjamaicanshopping.com to shop authentic Jamaican brands.
