Typical products of Elba: what to buy and where to purchase

The Island of Elba offers a wide range of typical items and products for every budget: perfumes, cosmetics, books, guidebooks, minerals, jewellery, watches, bags, shoes and food and wine specialities. Here, gift ideas are available for every occasion. Below are some suggestions for purchases.

Food and wine products

The typical products of the Island of Elba are purchased to take home flavours and memories of the holiday. Each one encapsulates a story of peoples, exchanges and traditions – see the section Elba at the Table. Sweets such as schiaccia briaca, schiacciunta and sportella, potato bread and San Piero ferettato bread, jams and honey, up to the Aleatico DOCG of Elba, the island’s signature wine.

Infoelba recommends: Borgo del Poggio – tastings and sales of wines and typical products of the Island of Elba – and the island’s wineries which offer tours and tastings.

Books

There is no better keepsake of a place than a book able to tell its soul. On the Island of Elba it is possible to find texts that tell of fantastic stories, local traditions and culture. From novels set among the island’s landscapes, to tourist guides about the island and its beaches, through to cookbooks that reveal the secrets of Elban cuisine, every book accompanies on a new journey to discover Elba.

Perfect as a gift for book lovers or as a souvenir to relive, page after page, the beauty of the island.

Minerals

Elba has been famous since Etruscan times for its minerals. Specialist shops on the eastern side offer souvenir minerals at affordable prices, collector’s specimens and handcrafted jewellery.

Cosmetics

Since ancient times, herbs and woodland products were used for cosmetic and healing preparations against redness, chapping and dryness of skin and hair.

Today some local companies are reviving this tradition, turning extra virgin olive oil into natural cosmetic lines inspired by the Mediterranean maquis.

Infoelba recommends: OZONO Health & Beauty – online sales of products based on active oxygen. A cosmetic line which, by combining the finest high-end formulations with the properties of ozonised oil, gives the skin elasticity, hydrating it and helping to prevent ageing.

Ceramics

The Elban ceramic tradition brings together the island’s earth, colours and light. Workshops offer small souvenirs, clocks, vases, lamps and decorative objects for indoors and outdoors.

Perfumes

Acqua dell’Elba embodies, in its name and inspiration, the bond with the island. The artisanal laboratory is based in Marciana Marina; shops and points of sale are present in all the municipalities of the island, with fragrances and soaps inspired by the sea and the Mediterranean maquis.

Watches

Locman is a brand of Elban origin headquartered in Marina di Campo. Points of sale are located in the main towns of the island; over time the collection has expanded to include jewellery and leather goods with a distinctive design.

Quick facts

• Aleatico Passito dell’Elba: DOCG designation since 2011.
• Traditional sweets: schiaccia briaca, schiacciunta, sportella.
• Minerals: historical tradition of the eastern side.
• Perfumes: artisanal laboratory in Marciana Marina; points of sale across the island.
• Watches: Elban design with headquarters in Marina di Campo.

FAQ

Which typical products are worth taking home?

Baked sweets (schiaccia briaca, schiacciunta, sportella), honey and jams, local wines (Aleatico DOCG), ceramics, artisanal perfumes and books.

Where can wines and Aleatico Passito dell’Elba be purchased?

Specialist wine shops and the island’s wineries, many with tastings and direct sales.

Where to find artisanal perfumes inspired by Elba?

Laboratories and shops are located in Marciana Marina; points of sale are found in all municipalities.

In which area can minerals and mining-themed jewellery be purchased?

In specialist shops on the eastern side.

Is it permitted to carry wine bottles on the ferry?

Yes, in the car boot or in backpacks/bags: use protective packaging and ensure the cap is well sealed; avoid impacts and heat.

Are there products suitable as travel gifts?

Yes: tourist guidebooks, artisanal perfumes, wines and local food and wine products.