From the salt-bright air of the Lowcountry marshes to the cool pine-scented foothills of the Upstate, South Carolina delights the senses. Walk under live oaks threaded with Spanish moss in Charleston, taste benne wafers dusted with sesame sweetness at the City Market, and feel the springy weave of a sweetgrass basket between your fingers—every texture and scent tells a story rooted in place. The markets buzz with talk of indigo vats, Carolina Gold rice, and woodsmoke from Lexington-style barbecue, making shopping feel like stepping into local history.

From the sandy edges of Folly Beach to the tea fields on Wadmalaw Island, craftsmen harvest palmetto fronds, indigo, and coastal salt to shape tangible memories. Whether it’s small-batch tea from the Charleston Tea Garden or a hand-thrown piece of Edgefield-style pottery, these keepsakes are among the best South Carolina souvenirs to carry home. Here’s what to buy in South Carolina to bring a piece of its spirit back home.

1. Gullah Sweetgrass Baskets

Why pick this up:
Sweetgrass baskets are living links to the Gullah community of the Sea Islands—light, sculptural and made using techniques passed down for generations. They’re both functional and decorative, carrying the scent of marsh grass and the memory of tidal islands.

What to look for:
Seek tightly coiled, even stitching and a rich golden color from fresh sweetgrass; avoid baskets that look machine-made or are overly uniform. Sellers in Charleston and on Daufuskie or Edisto Island will often identify the maker and island origin.

Price bracket (2025):
$50–$350 (USD) depending on size and maker.

Where to find it:
Charleston City Market, Daufuskie Island craft stalls, artisan booths at Beaufort and Hilton Head festivals.

2. Benne Wafers & Benne Seed Treats

Why pick this up:
Benne wafers are thin, sesame-sweet cookies tied to Charleston’s African culinary heritage—crisp, buttery, and utterly local. They’re a portable taste of the city’s sweet traditions and make for a storied gift.

What to look for:
Look for wafers that are paper-thin and golden with visible benne (sesame) seeds; freshness matters, so check packaging dates. Small-batch producers or historic bakery brands from Charleston offer the most authentic flavor.

Price bracket (2025):
$4–$12 per box (USD).

Where to find it:
Charleston City Market, King Street bakeries, Middleton Place gift shop, local farm stands.

3. Carolina Gold Rice (Heirloom Rice & Grits)

Why pick this up:
Carolina Gold rice carries the flavor of Lowcountry plantations and a revived agricultural tradition—nutty, aromatic, and central to historic rice dishes. A bag evokes coastal fields and the rhythms of Southern kitchens.

What to look for:
Choose stone-milled, heirloom-labeled packages (often from small mills like Anson Mills) to ensure authentic Carolina Gold varieties. Avoid generic “Carolina-style” mixes that don’t specify the cultivar.

Price bracket (2025):
$8–$30 per bag (USD) depending on weight and milling.

Where to find it:
Farmers markets (Soda City Market), specialty grocery stores, foodie shops in Charleston and Columbia.

4. Indigo-Dyed Textiles

Why pick this up:
Indigo has a deep colonial and Gullah-era history in South Carolina; hand-dyed fabrics carry that deep blue pigment and organic irregularities that machines can’t replicate. Scarves, table runners, and napkins make tactile reminders of the state’s dyeing heritage.

What to look for:
Look for uneven color variations, resist-dyed patterns, and natural-fiber cloth (cotton or linen) that takes dye well. Artisans on Wadmalaw Island and Charleston studios often explain their dye process.

Price bracket (2025):
$25–$200 (USD) depending on size and technique.

Where to find it:
Charleston artisan shops, Wadmalaw Island workshops, weekend craft markets.

5. Edgefield-Style Pottery & Southern Stoneware

Why pick this up:
Edgefield pottery is part of South Carolina’s ceramic legacy—robust, often alkaline-glazed pieces that reflect antebellum and folk practices. A mug or jar feels sturdy and historically rooted, perfect for everyday use.

What to look for:
Seek pieces with traditional glazes, foot-ring marks, and signs of hand-throwing; contemporary potters will note their firing techniques. Beware of mass-produced “stoneware” lacking kiln or maker details.

Price bracket (2025):
$40–$600 (USD) depending on artist and size.

Where to find it:
Pottery studios in the Edgefield district, artisan co-ops in Aiken and Greenville, craft shows.

6. Lowcountry Sea Salt & Flavored Salts

Why pick this up:
Salt harvested from tidal marshes concentrates the coastal flavor of the Lowcountry—perfect for finishing shrimp and grits or a fresh catch. Flavored blends (lemon, smoked, or herb-infused) capture regional tastes in a tiny jar.

What to look for:
Choose harvesters who describe their marsh source and drying method; flaky crystals and minimal additives signal quality. Local branding that references a specific creek or marsh is a good sign.

Price bracket (2025):
$6–$22 (USD) per jar.

Where to find it:
Charleston farmers markets, Folly Beach stands, gourmet shops on King Street and at the Charleston City Market.

7. Pimento Cheese (Jars & Gift Packs)

Why pick this up:
Pimento cheese is the South’s spreadable comfort food—savory, tangy, and utterly addictive on crackers or burgers. Small-batch jars make great edible souvenirs that showcase true Lowcountry flavors.

What to look for:
Pick refrigerated jars from local creameries or deli counters with short ingredient lists; avoid sugary, shelf-stable imitations. Ask about homemade styles (chunky vs. whipped) to match tastes.

Price bracket (2025):
$6–$15 per jar (USD).

Where to find it:
Charleston delis, Columbia’s Soda City vendors, farmers markets, and specialty grocery stores.

8. Palmetto-Fiber Crafts & Fans

Why pick this up:
The sabal palmetto is South Carolina’s emblem, and artisans use its fronds for baskets, fans, and woven decor with a distinct coastal texture. These pieces are lightweight, durable, and immediately evocative of the Lowcountry.

What to look for:
Look for tight weaves and smooth trims; untreated palmetto has a natural scent and slight variability in color. Items labeled as palmetto fiber or sabal are the authentic choice.

Price bracket (2025):
$15–$150 (USD) depending on item size and complexity.

Where to find it:
Local craft fairs, Beaufort and Hilton Head artisan stalls, Charleston markets.

9. Charleston Tea (Wadmalaw Island Loose Leaf)

Why pick this up:
The Charleston Tea Garden on Wadmalaw Island produces American-grown loose-leaf tea with a grassy, coastal character—an unusual souvenir since tea is locally cultivated. A tin of black or green tea brings a literal taste of the Lowcountry home.

What to look for:
Choose sealed tins of single-origin leaf and check for freshness dates; plantation-branded products will note Wadmalaw provenance. Tour-and-shop bundles are common at the garden.

Price bracket (2025):
$6–$25 (USD) per tin.

Where to find it:
Charleston Tea Garden gift shop (Wadmalaw Island), Charleston markets, select airport shops.

10. Lowcountry Cookbooks & Food Memoirs

Why pick this up:
A cookbook or food memoir captures recipes and the stories behind Lowcountry dishes—from shrimp and grits to rice-based heirlooms—so you can recreate the region at home. Books often include notes on history, plantations, and Gullah influences.

What to look for:
Pick titles by local chefs or historians that highlight authentic recipes and ingredient sourcing (look for authors from Charleston, Beaufort, or the Sea Islands). Illustrated editions with context make better gifts.

Price bracket (2025):
$15–$40 (USD).

Where to find it:
Independent bookstores in Charleston and Greenville, museum shops (Gibbes Museum), farmers market stalls, airport bookstores.

Tip: Shop morning markets like Soda City or Marion Square for the freshest finds and to meet the makers in person. 😊

Local Shopping Culture & Traditions

South Carolina’s shopping culture is woven into its public life: weekend markets, open-air stands and historical market houses are where foodways and craft traditions meet. In Charleston, the City Market (Marion Square nearby) and King Street host both established artisans and up-and-coming makers; in Columbia the Soda City Market shuts down Main Street on Saturdays for local producers; Beaufort, Hilton Head and Folly Beach each stage seasonal markets that spotlight coastal crafts. The Gullah communities of the Sea Islands—Daufuskie, Edisto and St. Helena—preserve basket-weaving, benne-seed baking and storytelling through market sales and on-island studios.

Bargaining is not as common as in some countries, but polite haggling can occur at festival stalls or with private makers—most sellers set fair prices reflecting materials and time. Artisan villages, historic plantations with gift shops (Middleton Place, Magnolia Plantation), and weekly farmers’ markets are also places to learn craft histories directly from makers and to find items tied to specific locales like Wadmalaw Island’s tea fields or Edgefield’s pottery tradition.

How to Spot Genuine Local Souvenirs

Genuine handmade items show small variations: uneven stitch spacing in sweetgrass baskets, irregularities in glaze on pottery, or subtle blotches in indigo dye. Ask makers about materials—true sweetgrass, palmetto fronds, Carolina Gold rice, and Wadmalaw-grown tea will be identified by source. Look for makers’ signatures, tags or short provenance notes; credible vendors often explain harvesting or dyeing methods.

For food, check ingredient lists and production location—real benne wafers and pimento cheese are made locally and kept refrigerated when necessary. Beware of mass-produced imitations labeled vaguely as “Carolina-style” that don’t name a producer or origin. When in doubt, buy from recognized markets (City Market, Soda City) or museum shops that curate local crafts.

Where to Shop in South Carolina

• Charleston City Market & King Street (Charleston) — iconic for sweetgrass baskets, benne treats, and artisan goods.
• Soda City Market (Main Street, Columbia) — large Saturday market with regional producers and food artisans.
• Wadmalaw Island / Charleston Tea Garden — for estate-grown tea and indigo workshops.
• Beaufort & Hilton Head weekend markets — coastal crafts, shells, and palmetto-fiber items.
• Greenville’s downtown & Falls Park makers’ markets — upstate artisans and contemporary crafts.
• Gibbes Museum and Charleston Museum shops — curated local art and books.
• Charleston International Airport (CHS) and Columbia Airport gift shops — convenient for last-minute authentic items.
• Daufuskie and Edisto Island artisan stalls — for direct Gullah crafts and island-made goods.

FAQs

Q: Are souvenirs in South Carolina expensive?
A: Prices vary widely—small edible items and salts are inexpensive ($5–$20), while handcrafted baskets and pottery can run from $50 to several hundred dollars depending on maker and complexity.

Q: Is bargaining common in South Carolina markets?
A: Not typically in established shops or museum stores, but gentle negotiation or asking about discounts is acceptable at festival stalls or directly with artisans.

Q: How do I know if a food item is locally made?
A: Check packaging for local producers’ names and production locations, look for short ingredient lists, and buy from farmers’ markets or artisanal shops that verify provenance.

Explore South Carolina’s markets and maker studios to find objects that tell the state’s stories—South Carolina souvenirs capture both place and people.

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!