The A to Z of Shopping

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Shoes Unless you fancy high heels made of plastic, trustfully turn to Zanzibar’s last remaining shoemakers Sirtu $ Sons. You’ll find pure leather creations, from standard brown men and women sandals to new golden glitter designs in Hermes shape at their work- and retailshop on Gizenga Street

Souvenirs Let’s rename it “meaningful souvenirs”, if you are after unique quality rather than ebony-tinted elephants or Asian baggy pants. Then the question is, what and where. Here our six totally subjective never-fail favourites:  East Africa Merchants/ Lithos (Livingstone House) for Maasai leather belts, elegant baskets and the popular Ndoto collection of elastic bracelets with local gemstones. – Doreen Mashika for distinct Zanzibar fashion and jewelry (also see fashion). -The new colourful Out of Africa (under the tunnel in Stone Town) for vintage tourism posters, Bibi Kidude cushions and a chilled glass of white wine in the adjacent restaurant of the same name. Zivansh near Serena on Kelele Sq. for branded coffee mugs, mobile covers and more trendy surprises. Kumi Boutique on Kenyatta Rd for carefully curated Tanzanian fashion jewelry, craft and accessories. Last but not least, step into Memories, Zanzibar’s one and only one-stop souvenir shop the size of a department store. As the saying goes: If you don’t find it at Memories, it does not exist!

Spices – Zanzibar is known as the spice island but be aware of street vendors and some Darajani kiosks selling expired or imported Indian spices. Find locally sourced organic spices at 1001 spices at their various shops in Stone Town, Salt and pepper by ZALT from Pemba and packaged spice mixes by local firms such as Tropical Heat are also a useful buy.

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Tanzanite There are more jewellers than bakeries in Zanzibar and all have one bestseller: Tanzanite, ae gem rarer than diamond indeed and only mined in Tanzania. But there is a distinction to be made in Tanzanite retail: jewellers who cut the gemstone themselves, or shops that trade with ready-made rings, earrings and pendants fabricated mostly in India. Only two family businesses in Stone Town have a long tradition of handcrafting jewellery of quality: Elias (on Kenyatta Rd. and opp. Tembo Hotel) and Lithos Africa (at Hyatt and East African Merchants). Buy your individual Tanzanite there.

Towels In fluffy-white hotel quality from Jad on Airport Rd. In cotton, many sizes and as bathmats at Cotton Empire?? on Mlandege Road next to the mosque, and in some supermarkets.

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Wine & cheese. Order at Veritas who have a wonderful listed selection of delicacies. Wine also at Bevco.  The biggest spirit seller in Zanzibar is ZMMI with shops in the city, in Fumba Town, Paje, Jambiani and Nungwi.