15 Best Baguio Pasalubong Items to Take Home

Everyone knows someone planning a Baguio trip... and honestly, who can resist the City of Pines? With its cool breeze, stunning scenery, and vibrant markets, it’s basically a pasalubong paradise. Not sure what to bring home for family or friends? Don’t worry! We’ve got a list of the best Baguio pasalubong items that’ll make you the ultimate souvenir hero.

Also read: Baguio Travel Guide 2022: Best Things to See, Eat, and Do

Edible Baguio pasalubong items

1. Strawberry products

While Baguio City doesn’t grow strawberries (surprise, surprise!), it imports the juicy fruit from its neighbouring town, La Trinidad. So, when in season (March to April), the city offers strawberries at modest prices. Aside from the fruit per se, Baguio also markets delicious strawberry products. Think beyond strawberry jam; there’s also wine, crinkles, shortcakes, and even craft beer!

2. Ube jam

Image credit: Shubert Ciencia

Baguio pasalubong lists always include ube jam — in particular, Good Shepherd ube jam, thanks to its distinct buttery texture and sweet flavour. Of course, there are other local brands you can support, too (most of which are cheaper than the famous Good Shepherd).

Also read: Where to Buy Ube Jam: 9 Stores That Offer Delicious Purple Yam Jam

3. Sundot kulangot

Once you get over its funky name, you might find sundot kulangot addicting. It has a sugary and nutty flavour, far from what its name might suggest. It only bears such a name because of how it begs to be eaten: You have to pick it from the tiny shell, just like how you would pick your nose. A disgusting picture, but definitely a delightful experience.

4. Peanut brittle

As far as munchies go, peanut brittle tops our list of Baguio pasalubong items. You can purchase this in various jar sizes, making it a must-buy for travellers who have a number of friends (or officemates) to whom they want to give tokens.

5. Choco flakes

Another safe and affordable Baguio pasalubong, choco flakes come in large jars that go as cheap as ₱100. Among the many choco flakes brands in the market, Mika’San is the most popular. You can also get them in milk flavour or an assortment of milk and chocolate.

6. Lengua de gato

Have friends who love biscuits? Get them lengua de gato, a melt-in-your-mouth snack that pairs perfectly with coffee. Speaking of which…

7. Coffee

Arabica beans grow abundantly in mountainous regions, so Baguio has easy access to some of the sharpest and tangiest beans in the country. From Sagada to Kalinga to Benguet, the Baguio Public Market offers the best roasts. As for where to find them, trust us — your nose will lead the way.

Drop by Garcia’s Pure Coffee or Kape Umali, which sit right next to each other. Both shops let you choose flavours and grind sizes, but you can opt to purchase beans to keep the coffee fresh for as long as possible.

Also read: Cafes in Baguio: Where to Get the Best Coffee and Hot Chocolate in the City of Pines!

8. Honey

Another Cordilleran product, honey in Baguio is a lot cheaper than in most cities. A healthier alternative to sugar, this makes a great pasalubong item for anyone. Just a tip: Make sure you get your money’s worth when buying honey. Beware of fake honey at the market: Pure honey only smells mildly fragrant, like flowers.

9. Wine

From tapeuy (fermented rice wine) to strawberry, guyabano, blueberry, and bugnay, Baguio has a long list of wine flavours. They make excellent pasalubong items, too, since you can find them in small bottles that won’t even cost you ₱100.

10. Longganisa

Whether you like your longganisa pungent or sweet, Baguio has a variety that would suit your palate. The garlic Baguio longganisa tastes similar to the famous Vigan longganisa; the Baguio de recado longganisa is a sweeter variety, with a flavour reminiscent of hamon.

Also read: 10 Best Longganisa in the Philippines & Where to Get Them

11. Fruits and vegetables

Fruits and vegetables are exceptionally cheap in Baguio as most of them grow abundantly in the highlands. (You can buy a kilogram of lemon for ₱20!)

Tip: Store produce in breathable packaging to avoid having them rot on your way home. You might consider having them wrapped in newspapers and then storing them in paper bags.

12. Raisin bread

A luxurious treat to the taste buds, the Baguio Country Club’s raisin bread has always been a crowd favourite. It’s especially good when paired with a cup of coffee or hot chocolate, making it a perfect treat any time of year.

Also read: Where to Eat in Baguio: Top Tips for the Wandering Foodie Heading Up North

Non-edible Baguio pasalubong items

13. Brooms

Baguio brooms are the quintessential pasalubong for the titos and titas. The best and softest of their kind are made in Kapangan, Itogon, Kibungan, and Sablan — Benguet towns that grow buyboy, or tiger grass, which is used in weaving soft brooms.

14. Wood carvings

Wood carving goes way back into Baguio’s heritage. Case in point: The Igorots have a tradition of carving out bulul, a male or female figure that they believe guards their rice crops.

Nowadays, many Igorots continue to practise wood carving; most of them do so for the tourist trade. In fact, you can find various forms of woodcraft around the Baguio City Public Market — one of the most famous being the barrelman, a palm-sized figure that conceals a special surprise. (Warning: NSFW).

Also read: Philippine Souvenirs: 21 Trendy Gifts and Tokens to Take Home with You

15. Flowers

Baguio blooms with flowers all year round, from sunflowers to orchids, and the city famously celebrates the Panagbenga Festival every February for a full month of floral wonder.

Where to buy Baguio pasalubong items

As a tourist destination, Baguio has countless pasalubong hubs. You will find makeshift stalls around bus stations, fancy shops in malls, and even random kiosks along its streets. But the best places to buy Baguio pasalubong items will always be its markets.

The Baguio Public Market is a treasure trove of pasalubong items. From affordable trinkets to fragrant coffee beans, the area carries all sorts of souvenirs. Like most public markets, this centre has a wet section and a dry section, but it also has a space that solely offers tokens — keychains, baskets, T-shirts, and brooms are all available here.

To get the most bang for your buck, explore the public market before purchasing anything. Once you’re done canvassing, you may find that some sellers offer fruits and vegetables for a lot less than others.

Also read: Where to Stay in Baguio: 12 Airbnb Homes For All Budgets

With all these Baguio pasalubong options, which ones are making it into your shopping bag?