From the sun-bleached adobe of Taos Pueblo to the pine-scented trails beneath the Sangre de Cristo peaks, Taos feels like a living canvas, earthy red walls, the sharp perfume of roasting chiles, the clink of silver at a bench jeweler’s table, and galleries spilling light onto canvases.

It’s a place where centuries of Indigenous craft meet a 20th-century artist colony, and those textures and stories make for unforgettable keepsakes.

If you’re hunting for souvenirs from Taos that carry that landscape and history home, look for pieces made from local wool, clay, turquoise and chile, each tells a bit of northern New Mexico.

1. Chimayó Weavings

Why pick this up: Chimayó weavings — narrow rugs, runners and serapes — are woven in the nearby village of Chimayó and carry a centuries-old Hispanic weaving tradition. The flatweave texture and natural dyes echo the desert palette of rust, indigo and sand.
What to look for: Hand-spun wool, natural dyes (cochineal, indigo), tight warp-faced weave and a weaver’s signature or provenance tag. Smaller runners and wall hangings are easier to pack.
Price bracket (2025): $75–$1,200 (small runners to large rugs).
Where to find it: Chimayó weaving shops along NM-76 (a short drive from Taos), galleries along Paseo del Pueblo, and the Taos Plaza artisan stalls.

2. Taos Pueblo Pottery

Why pick this up: Coiled pottery from Taos Pueblo reflects Indigenous techniques passed down for generations—organic forms, burnished surfaces and pigments grounded in local clays.
What to look for: Pueblo-made pieces labeled as Taos Pueblo with the potter’s name; traditional micro-polished surfaces or black-on-red/cream designs. Avoid items that claim Pueblo origin without documentation.
Price bracket (2025): $40–$1,500 (small bowls to museum-quality pieces).
Where to find it: Taos Pueblo (buy directly from artisans during market days), authorized Pueblo co-ops, and reputable galleries in town.

3. Turquoise & Sterling Jewelry

Why pick this up: Northern New Mexico is part of the Southwest jewelry tradition—turquoise set in sterling silver, often hand-stamped or inlayed. Taos artists put a local spin on classic Pueblo and Navajo styles.
What to look for: Sterling stamped .925, natural (not stabilized) turquoise or clearly labeled stabilized stones, artist hallmark and clear note of tribal or artist provenance.
Price bracket (2025): $50–$3,000 (simple earrings to large statement squash-blossom necklaces).
Where to find it: Bench jewelers and galleries on Paseo del Pueblo, the Taos Plaza shops, Millicent Rogers Museum shop, and artisan booths at local markets.

4. Ristras & Dried Chiles

Why pick this up: Strings of dried red chile (ristras) are iconic southwestern décor and practical: they dry slowly in high-desert air and keep over winter. They bring the smell and heat of New Mexico back home.
What to look for: Bright, well-dried pods with intact stems; ask if chiles are from local growers. For cooking, look for ground New Mexico chile labeled for culinary use (mild, medium, hot).
Price bracket (2025): $8–$40 for ristras; $6–$12 for packaged chile powder.
Where to find it: Taos Farmers Market (seasonal), local grocers, and roadside stands around Taos and Ranchos de Taos.

5. Blue Corn Masa & Blue Corn Products

Why pick this up: Blue corn is a Southwestern staple—nutty, slightly sweet, and the base for tortillas, pancakes and blue corn tamales. It’s a taste of regional cuisine you can recreate at home.
What to look for: Whole-grain masa harina or freshly ground blue corn labeled “heirloom” or “Chalole/blue corn”; some local mills will sell bolted masa for tamales.
Price bracket (2025): $4–$15 per bag.
Where to find it: Taos Farmers Market, regional co-ops, and specialty food shops on Paseo del Pueblo.

6. Retablos, Santos & Tin Nichos

Why pick this up: Folk-religious art—retablos (painted devotional panels), carved santos (saints) and tin nichos—reflect Taos’s Spanish colonial heritage and make striking interior pieces.
What to look for: Hand-painted or hand-carved work, signs of traditional materials (wood gesso, tin repoussé), and respectful representations—ask about intended use and provenance.
Price bracket (2025): $30–$700 (small nichos to large retablos).
Where to find it: Galleries on Bent Street and Paseo del Pueblo, craft fairs, and shops near the San Francisco de Asís Church in Ranchos de Taos.

7. Local Fine Art Prints & Plein-Air Paintings

Why pick this up: Taos has hosted an artists’ colony for a century—prints and original paintings capture the light and mesas of northern New Mexico. A signed print is a portable piece of that tradition.
What to look for: Limited-edition prints with artist signature and edition number; ask galleries for artist bios and framing options. Originals vary widely; inspect for archival materials.
Price bracket (2025): $25–$5,000 (prints to small original canvases).
Where to find it: Galleries around Taos Plaza, the Harwood Museum of Art shop, and artist studios (open-studio weekends).

8. Taos Honey & Lavender Products

Why pick this up: High-desert forage yields richly flavored honey; nearby mountain lavender farms also make soaps, sachets and essential oils that carry a crisp, piney meadow scent.
What to look for: Single-source or small-batch labeling, raw or minimally processed honey, and lavender products listing farm origin.
Price bracket (2025): $8–$40.
Where to find it: Taos Farmers Market, Rio Grande Gorge area farm stands, and shop shelves around Taos Plaza.

9. Handmade Contemporary Ceramics

Why pick this up: Taos potters blend tradition with modern studio craft—functional mugs, vases and serving bowls that reflect local clays and glazes. They’re useful souvenirs that age beautifully.
What to look for: Wheel-thrown or hand-built signatures, local clay bodies, and food-safe glaze labeling for kitchenware. Small makers often sign or stamp pieces.
Price bracket (2025): $25–$350.
Where to find it: Studio stores, galleries in the Taos art district, and weekend markets.

10. Taos Chocolate & Green-Chile Confections

Why pick this up: New Mexico’s love of chile meets chocolate in bars, truffles and drinking chocolate mixes—sweet, smoky and a little spicy. They’re a compact, delicious reminder of Taos evenings.
What to look for: Local bean-to-bar makers or small-batch confectioners; look for real New Mexico chile or chile-infused cacao rather than artificial flavoring.
Price bracket (2025): $6–$25.
Where to find it: Specialty food shops, Taos Plaza confectioners, and farmers market stalls.

Pro tip: When buying from Taos Pueblo artists or Indigenous makers, ask about provenance and buy directly or through authorized vendors so your souvenirs from Taos support the communities that create them. 🪶

Let me know in the comments if you have any other top ‘what to buy’ ideas!

About the Author

Colin is the founder of SouvenirsIdeas.com and a passionate traveller with a soft spot for ceramics, markets, and food tours. He writes practical, first-hand guides to help you bring home souvenirs that actually mean something — not just more clutter!