The 6 Things You’ve Got to Bring Back from Portugal

Cork Accessories

Portugal is the world's leading producer and exporter of cork, and it's one of the largest industries in the country. More than a third of Portugal is forested by cork oak trees, and the harvested cork is put to amazing uses all over the world in everything from wine to flooring to space travel.

Fun fact—NASA and the European Space Agency (ESA) use Portuguese cork for thermal protection to handle temperature changes when their space crafts leave and return to earth.

When you're shopping in Portugal, you'll find beautiful cork jewelry, purses, wallets, hats, shoes, wine stoppers, and even ties. The material is extremely light and flexible, and most shops around the country sell a variety of natural and dyed cork products. Certain items such as bags and shoes can be pricey and run anywhere from $50 to $150, but they're among most authentic Portuguese souvenirs you can buy during your visit.

Olive Oil

Portugal prides itself on being a worldwide leader in olive oil production. Its six olive growing regions and seven famous olive varieties result in rich and diverse olive oil flavors. From bitter to sweet and from mild to intense, high quality yet inexpensive olive oil can be enjoyed throughout the country.

Port Wine

Enjoyed with many meals and on its own, port is a staple in Portugal's food and wine culture.

Portugal is the birthplace and single producer of port wine—the fortified wine is made exclusively in the Douro Valley in the north of the country.

Port lodges stretch along the Douro River—about 60 miles downstream of the Douro Valley—in the town of Villa Nova de Gaia. Here, the wine is transported and left to mature for anywhere from 10 to 40 years, and you can spend an entire day touring the lodges and learn about the fascinating history of port. Some of the most informative lodges to visit are Taylor’s,, Croft, and Fonseca, where you can sample many styles of wine that range from very sweet to relatively dry, and learn about how it's made.

Footwear

If you have extra room in your suitcase, head to downtown Lisbon or Porto— the country's shopping meccas—and treat yourself to a pair of Portuguese shoes.

Portugal dominates the world's luxury shoe market—ranking second after Italy—and you can reap the benefits from the country's booming shoemaking and leather goods industries.From women's leather boots to men's dress shoes and sneakers for everyone; you can buy some of the world's best-quality footwear, all lovingly crafted from genuine Portuguese materials.

Did you know?: Pippa Middleton and her mother wore Portuguese-made shoes for the Royal Wedding.

Ceramic Tiles

Patterned tiles (called Azulejos) have a long history in Portugal, and are the perfect souvenir for antique and art enthusiasts.

These painted and glazed tiles have been made in Portugal for more than five centuries, and they're a huge part of what differentiates the architecture from other countries. Thousands of buildings are covered with them, including most churches, monasteries, castles, and other historical sites. Fun fact—most tile walls in Portugal have one piece that is slightly different or out of place to represent human imperfection.

Many Azulejos are cobalt blue and white and depict a scene from Portugal's history, while others have internationally-inspired designs with shades of blue, green, yellow, black and white.

Visitors can browse through Azulejo shops in Portugal that sell new and antique tiles, the oldest of which date back centuries. Solar in Lisbon is said to be one of the best places to find them at a reasonable price.

Portuguese Liquors & Brandies

Portugal's Mediterranean climate and geography are ideal for long harvesting seasons and a wide range of year-round crops. As a result, many wonderful liqueurs are made in Portugal using local ingredients like almonds, cherries, chestnuts, figs, honey, citrus fruits, and pears. They're sweet and delicious, and relatively inexpensive.

Make sure to try Ginjinha— it's a sweet liquor made from the cherry-like ginja berry, and it's commonly enjoyed in Lisbon, Obidos and Alcobaca. The Portuguese usually serve it in a dark chocolate cup, which you can also buy separately.

Medrohno is also a treat—this brandy is made from a red berry that grows on trees (known as Arbutus Unedo). It has a sweet and slightly herby flavor, but don't overdo it—this stuff packs a punch.

More from SmarterTravel:

• When to Visit Portugal
• What I Packed: Portugal in the Offseason
• Bask in the Warmth of Portugal in November

Olivia Briggs visited Portugal on an eight-day trip through the Portugal Board of Tourism and wanted to buy everything in sight. To learn more about her trip, follow her on Twitter @Olileibri