Note: If you are looking for Mexican gift ideas, you can check them right under the “Ideal Gifts for Mexicans” section.

Mexico is a country that is famous for its historical sites and rich traditions. If you are a tourist or planning on a business trip to Mexico, it is only wise to make a quick study on its people and culture, particularly in the area of gift-giving in order to avoid any misunderstanding.

It is fortunate that in Mexico, offending someone while bringing a present is highly unlikely, for Mexicans generally don’t follow a particular rule or ritual on their gift-giving.

So while in Mexico, why not try to take part in their festivities and experience their famous piñatas? While enjoying yourself with their week-long celebrations, you will also learn about their customs and be able to share your country’s similarities and differences.

Meanwhile, understanding proper social etiquette will make a difference in making your stay in the country fruitful and memorable, so here are some helpful tips.

General Gift-Giving Etiquette in Mexico

Here are some general guidelines when gift-giving in Mexico or to a Mexican:

  • Keep in mind that the Mexican population is 90% Catholic so be very careful in handing out religious items to avoid offending anyone.
  • If you are invited to a Mexican home, you are not obliged to bring gifts but if you want to have something for your hosts, flowers, chocolates, and wine are considered appropriate.
  • Giving toys to your host’s children demonstrates respect for the entire family.
  • Never ask a host or associate what sort of gift she or her children might like to receive, as this will be considered impolite.
  • It is also important to open the gift immediately in front of the giver and show enthusiasm.

The Most Ideal Gifts to Mexicans

Here are some gift ideas Mexicans love to receive.

  • White Flowers – Mexican ladies generally love white flowers because they find white flowers uplifting and cheerful.
  • Food and Wine.
  • A souvenir from your country.
  • Items that cannot be purchased within Mexico.
  • Clothes or items that belong to an international brand.

If you want more suggestions, we have compiled a few gift ideas you might find useful (these are found below the whole article):



Mexican Inspired Food and Mexican Gift Basket Ideas

Mexicans love to eat! Here are some gifts baskets and sweets a Mexican would love.


Taza Chocolate

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The Taza Chocolate Sampler Set is a set of delicious chocolates that originated from Mexico. The Mexican flavors included in this package are Cacao Puro, Chipotle Chili, Cinnamon, Coffee, Guajillo Chili, 85% Super Dark, Salted Almond, and Vanilla. These are delicious flavors Mexicans love and will always miss if they are not at home.


Mexican Candy Mix

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This Mexican Candy Mix has an assortment of 90(!) different candies, ranging from sweet, sour, and spicy, which makes it ideal for sharing.


Dulce de Leche Spread  

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Dulce de Leche is a caramel-like dessert made from condensed milk. This treat is deeply tied to the Spanish culture and the Mexicans just love it. Dulce de Leche is usually spread on bread, rice cakes, or dessert tamales.


Chamoy Candy

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These spicy, sour, and salty candies are definitely an acquired taste! Many people will dislike how it tastes, but after a few pieces, they start to become ridiculously good, you start questioning yourself.


Habanero Jellybeans

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Want to surprise someone? Get them one of these Habanero Jelly Beans. At first taste, they are just normal, innocent jellybeans, but they become super spicy. This is also perfect because Mexicans love their food hot.


Gifts for Hispanic Moms and Girlfriends

Here are some Mexican gift ideas for the women in your life.


Chala Crossbody Cell Phone Purse (Cactus)

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Cacti are an iconic symbol in Mexican culture! Give a Hispanic lady a cactus handbag that not only looks for beautiful but also quite useful!


Frida Kahlo Shirt

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Frida is every young Mexican girl’s heroine! She is so creative, so confident, and so beautiful! This admiration does not really go away after they have grown, so giving them this pop-art-inspired Frida Kahlo shirt is a nice gift! The art in this shirt is great, unibrow and all.


Mexican Inspired Summer Dress

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This Oaxaca-inspired summer dress is obviously Mexican but is not too traditional, in a sense. Not dressy and casual, this summer dress is something she would wear when the weather is hot.


Gifts for Hispanic Dads and Boyfriends

Here are some Mexican gift ideas for the men if your life!


Tequila

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When thinking of Mexican liquor, everybody will think, Tequila! Mexican men, especially love this and it would be a great honor to receive a bottle of the best tequila around. Choose the tequila that is made by the best manufacturers in Mexico and you will never go wrong!


Agave Decanter

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Agave is one of the main products of Mexico and is an iconic symbol for the Mexicans. An agave decanter is great for storing the most premium tequila around. It can even be used for other liquor!


Ghost Pepper Candy

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Mexican men love their food spicy! Challenge them how they tolerate the heat with this ghost pepper candy! This candy is extremely hot!


Death Nut California Reaper Nuts

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Another hot pepper-infused food and the California reaper is the record holder for being the hottest around is the California reaper. This bag of nuts, aptly named “Death Nut” is peanuts soaked in a California reaper blend. Super-hot and super tasty! Water, please!


Gifts for Hispanic Kids

Here are some Mexican gift ideas for the Hispanic children in your life.


Alebrije Plush

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Alebrijes or spirit creatures are guides of the spirits. They take the form of different animals that are extremely colorful. One popular alebrije is Dante from the Disney movie, Coco. You can get Hispanic kids this Dante plush and they will recognize him right away!


Frida Kahlo Puzzle

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Frida Kahlo is a heroine of Mexican girls. You can get them this photo puzzle of Ms. Kahlo so she can get inspired to be creative and think like her idol.


Dia De Los Muertos Barbie

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This is a really nice Barbie to look at! The Dia De Los Muertos Barbie is dressed like she is celebrating the Day of the Dead, complete with a super awesome face make-up. This would be a great gift for little Mexican girls.


Lucha Libre Mask

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Mexican boys do not have to fret. Lucha Libre masks are for them so they can do some pretend Lucha on the bed! Just supervise the playtime because boys can be rowdy, especially when playing wrestling.


Mexican Christmas Gifts and Stocking Stuffers

Christmas is a big holiday for the Mexicans, so here are some gift ideas you can give during Christmas, or just about any occasion, really.


Best of Mexican Cooking

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If you know someone who isn’t Mexican but loves Mexican cuisine, then a Mexican Cookbook would be a great idea to give! This cookbook features seventy-five authentic dishes and desserts anybody would love!


Tortilla Blanket

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Tortilla is an essential part of tacos and burritos, two of the tastiest Mexican snacks there is. This tortilla blanket is a great item to give as a Christmas gift to a Mexican! It looks super cute and quirky and will look nice in a geek room or couch.


Taco Keychain

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Is your giftee someone who loves tacos? Then get them this quirky taco keychain! This will cutely hold keys, tools, and IDs, while showing loud and proud your love for food. Waning, though, do not eat!



Other Frida Kahlo Gifts

Frida is a national icon in Mexico and lots of Mexicans love and adore her for her boldness, creativity, and outspokenness. Here are some Frida Kahlo gift ideas for those who love her.


Diary of Frida Kahlo

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The diary of Frida Kahlo is a book about Frida’s journal in her last ten years. This book records her dreams, arts, thoughts, and poems in beautifully made watercolor illustrations.


What Would Frida Do

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The book, What Would Frida Do? A Guide to Living Boldly is a must have for Frida fans. The author suggests that we all live in boldness, creativity and fearlessness like the way Frida did.


Frida Kahlo Flower Pot

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This cute flower pot looks a lot like Frida with the plant acting like her iconic headgear. The unibrow is also there, making this a light-hearted and humorous take on the artist.


Other Day of the Dead Gift Ideas

Dia de Los Muertos is HUGE in Mexico. It is a celebration of love, family, and food. Lots of good things happen during this festivity, so if you are joining a Mexican family for this holiday, check out these Dia de Los Muertos Mexican gift ideas!


Colorful Skull Shirt

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This colorful skull shirt can be worn during the Day of the Dead, if you do not want to put on a full costume and make-up.


Skull Face Tattoos

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If you do want to wear the traditional skull makeup for Dia De Los Muertos, though, you can get one of these face tattoos! They look so pretty, festive and they wash away easily too.


Sugar Skulls Candy Tins

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Sugar skull candies for the kids on Dia De Los Muertos. This day also acts like Halloween and children love receiving candies on this festivity. This is the most delicious part of Dia De Los Muertos, so


Mexican Gift Giving Etiquette in Business

If you are in Mexico for business, bringing small gifts is seen as a gesture of goodwill. It will also mean you are sincere in keeping a strong working relationship with your business partners.

  • For your initial visit, gifts bearing your company’s logo, or souvenirs from your home country, are always considered good gift choices.
  • On your following visits, a bottle of wine or scotch will be nice.
  • When invited to your business associate’s home, remember to bring small presents for the children.
  • Giving small items to secretaries, and other office personnel who played an important role in the business transaction is also appreciated.
  • Expensive and personal gifts are considered inappropriate unless you have established a close friendship
  • While female secretaries or assistants would welcome small thoughtful gifts, it is important to make your intentions clear. Male businessmen should say that the gifts were sent by their wife or girlfriend to avoid the impression of impropriety.

Gift Giving Occasions and What to Give:

Gift-giving in Mexico symbolizes affection and appreciation and not giving gifts on some occasions may be seen as a disrespectful act.

  • Housewarming – A bottle of wine or a house décor will be appreciated.
  • Birthday – Clothes, jewelry, leather goods, chocolates, flowers, electronic gadgets, or a nice big dinner.
  • Anniversary – This occasion is always celebrated with a gift of jewelry.
  • Dia De Los Muertos – A special holiday reserved for honoring the dead. Sugar skulls, food, a bottle of Tequila or Mezcal, marigolds, or small trinkets placed on decorated altars to serve as gifts to the dead.
  • Valentine’s Day – In Mexico, Valentine’s Day is not only for lovers but also for friends as well, so aside from flowers, candies and balloons are also presented.
  • Baptism – Gifts from godparents are required. Mexicans are very religious and take baptism seriously so anything that has a religious connection will be appropriate.
  • Quinceanera – This is similar to a girl’s debut, although Mexican girls celebrate their transition to womanhood on their 15th Jewelry, clothes, flowers, leather goods, and accessories are the typical gifts for this occasion.
  • Christmas – Christmas in Mexico starts on December 16 and lasts until January 6. It is a season of festivities so gifts like clothes, accessories, toys, food, wine, and electronics, are given.
  • Dia de Reyes (in English “King’s Day”) – January 6  – On the eve of Dia de Reyes, children will line up their shoes on the window sill while families and friends fill them up with gifts.

Piñatas in Mexican Celebrations

The piñata by itself is already a form of gift-giving and has been a part of Mexican celebrations since the late 16th century. A piñata is a figure, often shaped like a star, traditionally made from a clay pot (cardboard is used nowadays) covered with paper mache and decorated with bright colors, and filled with candies, fruits, toys, and other goodies inside.

It is hung from the ceiling or from a tree. Someone is blindfolded and will try to hit the piñata with a stick until it breaks open and all the treats will fall out to be enjoyed by the party guests.

If some guests failed to get some treats from the broken piñata, there is a basket of treats, (called colaciones), set aside by the host, to keep things fair.

Gifts to Avoid Giving to a Mexican

Like any other culture, some gifts can come off as a with for bad luck or ill omen, sometimes just plain rude or useless.

  • Yellow flowers symbolize death.
  • Red flowers are believed to cast spells.
  • Purple flowers are associated with funerals.
  • Tourist items from attractions in Mexico. Obviously, they can get this any time they want to.
  • Silver – Mexicans take pride in their silver products as they are one of the world’s top producers and exporters of silver

Gift Giving Around the World

Check out our gift-giving guides for Japan and the Philippines!