As the country’s oldest Amish settlement, the Amish Country of Pennsylvania includes inhabitants that still maintain the centuries-old simple lifestyle and traditions. With windmills sprinkled around the picturesque landscape and buggies with horses crossing the roads, a visit to the Amish Country might seem like travelling back in time. Along with experiencing the plain lifestyles of the Amish and treating your taste buds to authentic Amish comfort foods, you should not miss out on purchasing crafts, quilts and souvenirs from the farmer’s markets and artisan shops when you are in the region. Here is a list of 10 items that exemplify the craftsmanship and quality of the community. Wondering what to buy in the Amish Country, check out the top 10 things to take back home as a souvenir.
1. Amish hat
Made of 100 per cent wool felt, the Amish hats are worn by Amish men along with their authentic Amish dress for formal occasions. The hats are ribbon edged, lined with an attractive band enveloping around the brim and offer a comfortable fit. In the Amish Country, the men wear black hats that have broad brims, narrow bands and a low crown. They also prefer to wear straw hats during days of warmer weather.
2. Quilted pillow
Also called quillows, Amish quilted pillows is a combination of a pillow and a lap quilt. The design of quillows usually comprise a folded fabric star pattern and are hand made. The fluffy quillows look like a pillow and can be opened up to a beautiful lap covering that provides exceptional comfort and warmth. Quillows are decorative, useful and make for great gifts to your loved ones.
3. Artwork featuring Amish scenery
The Amish Country has a flourishing creative scene with both renowned and budding artists from all over the country who earnestly take in the allure of the beautiful landscapes around and create fascinating works. The artworks that feature Amish scenery are full of dazzling colours and are ideal as decorative items and wall hangings. The elegant paintings are usually inspired by life in the Amish Country and provide an accurate slice of the culture, traditions, and the landscapes of the region.
4. Pretzels
Amish Pretzels are delicious and unique with a thin roll of the dough with a soft texture. These knotted delicacies are a favourite in Amish kitchens and are hand rolled, twisted and baked to perfection in baking soda water. You can get a wide variety of pretzels that range from gluten-free pretzels to baked frozen pretzels in Amish Country, Pennsylvania, where pretzels were first introduced in the US during the 19th century.
5. Shoofly pie
This molasses pie produced in its traditional form during the 1880s was once enjoyed by the Amish for breakfast along with strong black coffee. The ingredients of the Shoofly pie comprise of molasses, brown sugar, flour, egg, and water. There are two variants of the pie namely the dry bottom pie that is baked and has a cake like texture and the wet bottom pie that has a gooier texture with a sticky bottom. Since the 1880s, the pie is made with a crust that makes it easier to hold and eat without the use of knives or forks.
6. Jams
The canned jams of the Amish Country capture the sweet richness of the region’s summer fruits and can be relished during any season of the year. The Amish are known to produce a wide variety of jams, jellies and candies of the highest quality and can them in their homes. The flavours of the jams found in the Amish Country range from strawberry to dutch apples and are best used along with bread, pancakes, and toasts.
7. Amish crafts
The Amish are renowned to blend old-style craftsmanship with modern processes to create excellent crafts for sale. The crafts in these Amish-owned businesses include quilts, dolls, furniture, gifts, swingsets and woodworks. The quality of the crafts is an excellent representation of the traditions and the highly valued workmanship of the Amish. Whether you are looking for wooden toys, games and furniture for children to bring the old-fashioned fun in your house or you are looking for colourful quilts crafted by Mennonite women and furniture for your living and dining rooms at reasonable prices, you will find it all in the Amish Country.
8. Jellies
Jellies found in Amish households are made from fresh wholesome fruits, cane sugar and ingredients that give it a unique taste and a distinctive flavour. These jellies can be purchased in the Amish Country’s bakeries along with an assortment of other speciality items that can be made-to-order. The jellies are homemade and include flavours such as blueberry, pineapple, guava, and are made with locally grown fresh fruits and vegetables from Amish farms.
9. Handmade crafts
The Amish are well known for their quality craftsmanship and hard work. The handmade crafts of the Amish include quilts, furniture made at home or in farms, farm toys, hand-woven baskets and purses. The handmade crafts by the Amish serve as perfect gift items and souvenirs adding a distinctive touch to your home and office decors.
10. Local wine
With plenty of wineries and breweries all around the Amish Country, you will not run out of options when it comes to buying and tasting the best locally produced wines and ales. Reflecting the picturesque grounds of the wineries, the local wines are known for their fresh flavours, fragrances and are perfect for a toast by the fireplace. Some of the wineries and vineyards are in centuries-old buildings and surrounded by acres of meadows and vines to offer you the traditional experience of tasting and purchasing.
Get that perfect souvenir
From buying quilts that can also be used as pillows handcrafted by Amish and Mennonite women to purchasing quality furniture for your farms and homes that represent the incomparable workmanship of the Amish, shopping in the Amish Country will get you the ideal gifts for others and remembrances for yourself. Take your pick from the above list of things to buy in the Amish Country, Pennsylvania, and get your hands on unique, quality pieces that are difficult to be found elsewhere.