Have you ever noticed how people feel entitled to receive a gift when you return from your travels?  I mean, you can’t visit another country without bringing back souvenirs for them.  Friends, family, co-workers… they need proof.  Proof that you traveled to where you say you traveled.

They want to taste what you tasted, hear what you heard, and see what you saw.  They don’t want another bedazzled hat that reads “I Heart (Whatever Place You Visited).”  They want something authentic.  And, you know, you might want something to remember your trip by as well.  So here’s a list of souvenirs to bring back from Argentina…

Malbec Wine

Sure, your ostentatious wine-loving friends back home brag about knowing every variety of Merlot made in the last 50 years.  But they might not know much about Malbec.  Malbec is a dark and fruity red wine produced in the Mendoza region of Argentina and it’s widely considered the national wine.  Thanks to a favorable exchange rate, you can add another cork to their collection for relatively little money.  An expensive, world-class bottle of Malbec can be purchased for less than $20.

Leather Goods

Argentina is one of the largest producers of beef in the world, and that means there’s a lot of genuine leather to be had at faux leather prices.  You can purchase a brand new, custom-made leather jacket for around $100 (it’s about $50 more expensive on the over-priced tourist shopping avenues).  And complete the ensemble with a new leather wallet or belt for $15.

Mate

Near every subway station, office building and tourist trap, you’re bound to see tables congested with strangely shaped decorative cups filled with a weird-looking mushy green substance.  It’s called mate and it’s a traditional South American drink that tastes like a fusion of tea and coffee.

A souvenir mate set, which includes a bag of yerba mate leaves, a mate gourd and a metal straw called a bombilla, is an inexpensive way to give your friends back home a taste of Argentina — sets can cost as little as $2.  Mate gourds are usually made from hollowed out calabash gourds, which is a fruit that was originally harvested to be used a container instead of food.  But you can find more elaborate mate cups in the form of concave cow hooves or bull horns as well.

Soccer Paraphernalia

Football is a source of pride for Argentina.  The country has one of the most successful national teams in the world, having won the most international tournament titles of any country (19, tied with Uruguay).  Every souvenir shop will have blue and white striped national team jerseys boasting the names of some of the country’s superstars, such as Lionel Messi.  You’ll also find football paraphernalia for the top two teams that play in Argentina’s national league (called the Primera Division): Boca Juniors and River Plate, both located in Buenos Aires.

Tango Music

The seductive dance of the tango originated in Argentina — danced between men waiting in line in brothels, to be exact.  On virtually every street you will find tango dancers performing for restaurant patrons, classes being taught to tourists, performances held in opulent theaters, and dancers strutting their stuff for change in touristy spots.  But if you don’t feel comfortable showcasing your new moves in front of your co-workers, at least you can bring back the essence of tango with music.  Tango music is the most abundant form of music available in Argentina, and CDs can be purchased for as little as $2.

Handmade Crafts

One of the best ways to introduce your friends and family to the culture of a foreign land is to bring back crafts created by its people.  Locals set up shop on major thoroughfares and popular squares to sell handmade crafts such as clothing, jewelry, pottery and housewares.  It’s a win-win situation: authentic keepsakes can be had for dirt cheap prices, and the locals are genuinely appreciative of your business.

Artwork

Postcards and t-shirts are always a popular souvenir, but they don’t really capture the spirit of a foreign land the way artwork does.  Most touristy areas are bound to have stalls featuring one-of-a-kind paintings and sculptures from local artists.

Yeah, it’s more expensive than a tacky postcard you can get at the airport, but the artistic depictions created by the locals are far more colorful, insightful and unique.  The two pieces of artwork we brought back from Argentina were our favorite souvenirs — a painting of Caminito Street in Buenos Aires, and a beautiful box for knick-knacks painted by an artist in San Telmo – and they cost less than $15.

Dulce de leche

Dulce de leche is a chewy candy similar to caramel, but more flavorful and more exotic.  Candy stores sell boxes of individually wrapped dulce de leche pieces, or you can buy alfajores, a dulce de leche-filled sandwich cookie.  Dulce de leche is also popular as a syrup that can be purchased by the jar at most markets.