Tennessee unfolds as a slice of the American South where the smokiest ridgelines of the Appalachian Mountains ease into river lowlands dotted with oak and maple.

You can feel it in the grit of stone quarried from the Cumberland Plateau, taste it in the molasses-thick smoke of Memphis barbecue and charcoal-mellowed whiskey barrels. You can hear it in the thrum of guitars crafted in Nashville workshops.

Local materials such as rivercane, white oak, native clays and pink Tennessee marble  and time-honored techniques still shape makers’ hands across the state.

Here are the best things truly Made in Tennessee, products that reflect its heritage, creativity, and everyday life.

1. Tennessee Whiskey

Why it’s made here: Tennessee’s limestone-filtered spring water, oak forests for barrel staves, and a long tradition of distilling in places like Lynchburg created a distinct whiskey style — most famously charcoal-mellowed Tennessee whiskey. Distillers blend regional grains and small-batch aging techniques that tie the spirit to place.

What to look for: Look for ‘distilled in Tennessee’ on the label and local mash bills (corn-forward with rye or malted barley). Small-batch or single-barrel designations and a visible bottling location are good signs of local production.

Price bracket (2025): $25–$150+ (standard bottles to collectible small-batch releases)

Where to find it: Distillery gift shops and tasting rooms (Lynchburg, Nashville-area craft distilleries), whiskey bars, state liquor stores, and specialty retailers in tourist towns.

2. Small-Batch Moonshine

Why it’s made here: Moonshine — the bright, unaged root of Southern distilling — has been revived in Tennessee as legal, flavored, and artisanal expressions. Mountain spring water and grain crops from nearby farms keep production local and authentic.

What to look for: Small batch numbers, lists of local ingredients (corn, rye), and on-site tasting rooms. Hand-labeled jars and state distillery permits signal legitimate, local production versus imported spirits.

Price bracket (2025): $20–$50 per jar/bottle

Where to find it: Smoky Mountain distilleries, Gatlinburg/Pigeon Forge tasting rooms, and regional craft spirit sections.

3. Nashville and Tennessee Guitars (Boutique Luthiers & Historic Shops)

Why it’s made here: Nashville’s musical ecosystem — session players, songwriters, and recording studios — spawned a thriving luthier community. Makers handcraft acoustic and electric guitars tuned to the city’s sonic needs; larger historic manufacturers also have deep roots in Tennessee.

What to look for: Solid wood construction, hand-scalloped bracing, signed headstocks or maker’s labels, and custom inlay work. Boutique luthiers will provide provenance and build notes.

Price bracket (2025): $800–$10,000+ (from quality boutique instruments to high-end custom or legacy shop models)

Where to find it: Luthier workshops in Nashville and regional instrument fairs; select music instrument retailers with local-maker sections.

4. Appalachian Quilts & Coverlets

Why it’s made here: Quilting in East Tennessee draws from Appalachian scraps, wool, and folk patterns passed down through generations. Quilts were once practical household staples; now they’re preserved as artful, functional textiles.

What to look for: Hand-stitching, natural fibers (wool, cotton), pattern names linked to Appalachian traditions, and signed or dated labels from the maker.

Price bracket (2025): $100–$1,500 (simple throws to heirloom quilts)

Where to find it: Craft cooperatives, historic houses and museum shops with craft programs, regional quilt guild fairs and farmers’ markets.

5. Tennessee Marble Homewares

Why it’s made here: The pink and gray marbles quarried in East Tennessee — prized since the 19th century — are cut and finished into small-batch homewares (bookends, coasters, tiles) that showcase local stone.

What to look for: Dense polish, unique veining, and origin labels that cite Tennessee quarries or “Tennessee marble.” Weight and cool-to-the-touch feel indicate real stone.

Price bracket (2025): $40–$400 (small decorative items to larger home pieces)

Where to find it: Sculptors’ studios, stone workshops near former quarry towns, museum shops and craft fairs focused on regional stonework.

6. Memphis-Style Barbecue Rubs & Sauces

Why it’s made here: Memphis is one of America’s barbecue capitals; local mills and family-run sauce makers bottle century-old rubs and sauces that capture the city’s dry-rub and sauced traditions.

What to look for: Simple ingredient lists (paprika, brown sugar, salt, pepper), “Memphis-style” or local recipe attribution, and small-batch labeling rather than mass-produced supermarket packaging.

Price bracket (2025): $6–$25 per jar/bottle

Where to find it: Farmers’ markets, Memphis specialty food stalls, regional grocery co-ops and festival vendor tents.

7. Rivercane & White Oak Basketry

Why it’s made here: Basket weaving using rivercane, white oak, and other native materials is rooted in Appalachian and Southeastern Native American traditions; Tennessee basketmakers continue to weave functional baskets, storage trays and decorative pieces.

What to look for: Tight, even weaving, natural material fragrance, signed makers or tribal attribution if applicable, and visible variation that indicates handwork rather than machine-molded reeds.

Price bracket (2025): $50–$600 (from small baskets to large, complex works)

Where to find it: Artisan co-ops, heritage craft demonstrations, Appalachian folk craft festivals, and select museum craft programs.

8. East Tennessee Alkaline-Glaze Stoneware

Why it’s made here: The southern Appalachian alkaline-glazed stoneware tradition — utilitarian crocks, jugs and tableware — persists in East Tennessee studios that use local clays and wood-fired or gas kilns for signature glazes.

What to look for: Subtle greenish alkaline glaze, stamped maker’s mark on the base, visible throwing lines and kiln-flash from small-studio firing.

Price bracket (2025): $30–$350 (mugs and bowls to larger storage crocks)

Where to find it: Pottery studios, craft centers, and weekend public pottery sales during studio open-house events.

9. Hand-Carved Walking Sticks & Wood Carvings

Why it’s made here: The Smoky Mountains and Cumberland Plateau support a strong tradition of woodcarving — from functional walking sticks to expressive carved bears and folk figures — using native hardwoods and regional carving styles.

What to look for: Tool marks, joined or turned handles, unique grain patterns of local wood (maple, hickory), and signed carving or a maker’s mark.

Price bracket (2025): $30–$450 (simple walking sticks to detailed sculptures)

Where to find it: Mountain craft fairs (Gatlinburg/Pigeon Forge area), woodworkers’ shows, and artisan galleries in historic town centres.

10. Raw Appalachian Honey & Beeswax Goods

Why it’s made here: Tennessee’s wildflower meadows and forest margins produce distinctive, seasonal raw honey and beeswax. Small apiaries press wax into candles and lip balms, and honey reflects local terroir from sourwood to clover.

What to look for: Unfiltered, slightly crystallized honey, farm address or beekeeper name on the jar, pure beeswax color and minimal scent for wax goods.

Price bracket (2025): $8–$30 per jar or beeswax product

Where to find it: Farmers’ markets, roadside farm stands, creamery shop sections and seasonal harvest festivals.

11. Farmstead Cheeses & Small Creamery Goods

Why it’s made here: Tennessee’s small creameries turn local milk into handcrafted cheeses — from chèvre and fresh farmer’s cheese to aged cheddars — using pasture-raised milk and traditional techniques.

What to look for: Farm or creamery name on the label, short ingredient lists (milk, culture, salt), and refrigeration notes. Batch numbers or dates indicate fresh, small-scale production.

Price bracket (2025): $8–$40 per wheel/package

Where to find it: Farmers’ markets, creamery farm stores, select grocery co-ops and tasting rooms at artisan food fairs.

Local Makers & Traditions

Tennessee’s craft heritage is a braided story of Appalachian handwork, river town trades, and urban workshop cultures.

In the mountains, traditions such as quilting, basketry, stoneware and woodcarving grew from household needs and community exchange. In river cities and Nashville, guitar-making, leatherwork and culinary craft matured alongside music and commerce.

Distilling has its own lineage,  charcoal mellowing, cooperative mash bills and barrel-aging, while East Tennessee’s marble and stoneworking trace back to quarries that supplied monuments and local architecture.

Artisan markets, seasonal craft fairs, and community guilds keep these techniques alive. Many makers still work from small studios or family-run shops where demonstrations, signed pieces and oral histories connect the object to its maker and place.

How to Spot Genuine Local Products

• Look for provenance: maker names, farm addresses, stamped or signed bases on pottery, and labels stating ‘distilled/produced in Tennessee.’
• Inspect the work: uneven glazes, tool marks, hand stitching and natural material irregularities are signs of handcraft; perfect uniformity often means factory production.
• Check ingredients and batch details: short ingredient lists, harvest dates, or batch numbers indicate small-batch food or beverage goods.
• Ask questions: genuine makers will describe sources and techniques (which farm supplied the milk, what clay was used, whether marble was quarried locally).
• Beware of cheap packaging and generic ‘Made in USA’ claims without local specifics — many mass-produced items are relabeled souvenirs, not regional craft.

Where to Buy Made-in-Tennessee Goods

• Local farmers’ markets and seasonal harvest markets across Nashville, Knoxville, Memphis and mountain towns
• Artisan fairs and craft festivals in the Smoky Mountains and county seats
• Museum shops and craft centers that curate regional makers
• Distillery and winery gift shops, and creamery farm stores
• Boutique workshops, luthier studios and historic town centre galleries
• Airport shops (regional terminals often stock locally made spirits, foods and small crafts)

FAQs

Q: Are products in Tennessee expensive?
A: Prices vary widely — small food items and condiments are affordable, while handcrafted instruments, heirloom quilts and rare small-batch spirits command higher prices because of materials and maker time.

Q: How can I tell if something is authentically made here?
A: Look for explicit local provenance (maker name, town or farm), physical signs of handcraft (tool marks, signatures), and ask where materials were sourced; reputable sellers and craft organizations will provide that information.

Q: What is the best made-in-Tennessee gift to bring home?
A: Choose something that travels well and reflects place: a small bottle of Tennessee whiskey or moonshine, a jar of raw Appalachian honey, a tin of Memphis dry rub, or a signed ceramic mug or marble coaster — all carry a clear connection to Tennessee craft.

Explore local markets and studios — there’s always something special truly Made in Tennessee.

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!