It’s been awhile since I wrote my last shop local series on Washington State! Since people loved that post, I thought it’s time I write another one. This one is coming right after a trip I took to Louisiana. I want to support all the amazing business owners I met and the local products I tried. This is going to be an extensive list, so get ready!
As you scroll down, you’ll notice that most of the items are food based, and is because Louisiana has some of the best food in the world. That is partly thanks to the incredible sauces and seasonings the food is prepared with, but also the Cajun and Creole culture. On my trip, I gained about 50 pounds, so needless to say, since I got back I have spent many hours at the gym working it all off. Absolutely no regrets!
Okay, moving on!
I have spent countless hours scouring the internet for small businesses selling products made in Louisiana to add to this list. If you are someone that has been wanting to shop locally, this is an excellent resource, especially if you love food.
Want to continue supporting small businesses? Check out these shopping guides!
Table of Contents
Louisiana Gift Boxes
Cajun Crate
If you are looking for a way to try multiple Louisiana products, Cajun Crate is the solution. Each box is prepared around a theme, for example in the Mardi Gras box you’ll receive King cake mix, king cake flavored coffee, king cake popcorn; you get the gist. Boxes ship once a month and if you only want to purchase once, you can purchase as a gift, and then it won’t auto-renew.
Sauces & Condiments
Hot Sauce
Frog Bone
Frog Bone is a family business that sells products that will enhance any meal. Their hot sauces in particular are very popular. They have 3 types at varying levels of heat. If you are looking for mild-medium heat, check out Cajun Pepper or pineapple habanero teriyaki. If you can handle a bit more spice, check out the reaper hot sauce, you’ll only need a couple drops to taste the heat. Yum Yum Yummmmmm
Cajun Chef
Is there anything more Cajun than a hot sauce which began in the heart of Bayou country? The Cajun chef hot sauce recipe is over 80 years old, and as the owners say, “We do not believe in shortcuts and think some things are better left unchanged.” They have two hot sauces to choose from. The Green Hot Sauce is made with premature cayenne peppers and is milder than the red one.
Panola Pepper
I was intrigued by Panola Pepper because they sold a clear hot sauce (not to be confused with vodka). I have never seen a clear hot sauce before, but have added to my list of sauces to try. Panola has a variety of unique, flavorful hot sauces such as a Spicy & Sweet Mango Sauce, Jalapeño Sauce, Garlic Hot Sauce and a couple sauces with some fun names like, Vampire Hot Sauce, Bat’s Brew Sauce.
Swamp Dragon
This is the first hot sauce that uses alcohol in place of vinegar. The owner of swamp dragon wanted to create a hot sauce that didn’t include vinegar. He thought the vinegar in most hot sauces was too strong and drowns out the pepper flavor. He discovered that the vinegar is used to preserve the sauce for a longer shelf life, and realized alcohol does the same, so Swamp Dragon was born! They have 4 flavors: vodka, tequila, rum, and ouzo.
Sauce
Baby Jay’s Wing Sauce
A’Jzala Johnson, a 12-year-old who during the pandemic, created a wing sauce so great that people were dying to get the recipe. She saw an opportunity to sell her prized recipe, and the rest is history. She sells two types: a BBQ & Tangy and Hot & Spicy. She is currently trying to create a hot Cheetos version, which I will be purchasing as soon as it’s available.
Jay D’s
So there are two sauces worth mentioning. The Louisiana Mustard Molasses, ideal for dipping, marinating, putting in salads, on sandwiches and brushing on the grill. It also won a southern living food award in 2016, the first year of releasing the product. His BBQ sauce is perfect for pulled pork or on any meat, really. You can put BBQ sauce on pretty much everything and it will taste good.
Louisiana Fish Fry
What started off as a stand in Baton Rouge selling veggies and fresh seafood has turned into a thriving business that now sells an array of sauces and marinades that will skyrocket the flavor of any dish.
Pictured:
Cajun Dipping Sauce
Lemon Dill Sauce
Fish Taco Sauce
Garlic Butter Sauce
Acadian Kitchen
Acadian Kitchen helps make cooking some of the most popular Cajun dishes really easy with such sauces like their flavorful Étouffée and Gumbo. Both dishes are generally time-consuming, but with the sauces ready-made, you just add the meat, veggies & a bit of water and bam! A delicious Cajun meal ready to go.
Pictured:
Olive Oil
Nola Blends
First off, can we just appreciate how cute the artwork is? You know that saying you shouldn’t buy a book based on the cover? Well, I would purchase the oil based on this artwork. It’s all so unique and pretty. They also sell such unconventional flavors. I am curious to try the Cajun Fire & Cajun Garlic.
Pictured:
Olive Oil Basil Infused
Tango Mango Balsamic Vinegar
Garlic Mushroom Infused Olive Oil
Cajun Fire
Honey
Cockeyed Farms
Cockeyed Farms is the first sustainable elderberry farm in Louisiana. They sell a few elderberry products such as honey, juice and simple syrup as well as blueberry honey and raw honey. They started growing elderberry after discovering the healing properties that elderberry has.
Pictured:
Blueberry Infused Honey
Cockeyed Farms Raw Honey
American Elderberry Infused Honey
American Elderberry Simple Syrup
Jam
Jamboree Jams
I bet you can figure out what jamboree jams sells. Assuming you said jam, you would be correct. They use local fruit and no commercial pectin to create an array of unique jam combos. They also only make seasonal jams so that the fruit is sweet without needing to add too much extra sugar.
Pictured:
Peach Rose Geranium
Plum Cardamom
Strawberry Vanilla
Fig & Lemon
Ole Homestead
I don’t think there is anything more Louisiana than crawfish jelly. With 48 flavors of peppers jelly’s, breakfast jelly’s, syrups and pickled products, Ole Homestead has a variety of products to suit any palette.
Pictured:
Blueberry Peppy Jelly
Crawfish Jelly
Elderberry Jelly
Crabapple Jelly
Seasoning
Red Stick Spice Co.
Here you will find a mix of unique spice blends for cooking AND baking. Many of the blends are inspired by local flavors. They also sell an array of salt blends, oils, and teas. Whatever flavors and spice combos your heart desires, you can be sure red stick will have something for you.
Pictured:
British Cake Spice
Cranberry Maple Rub
Creole Cowboy Blend
Nola Pepper Blend
Culture Creole Seasoning
These seasonings were developed by a creole family over 30 years ago in Lafayette, Louisiana. They sell a variety of mixes and seasoning whether you like your food spicy, low sodium or if you want to cook something a bit more complex like hush puppies or fried chicken they have batter mix you can purchase.
Buddy’s Cajun Spice
Buddy got the cooking bug from his mom when he was just a kid. He has fond memories of cooking with her growing up. Buddy became such a passionate cook that he developed a Cajun spice blend for a jambalaya cook off he was asked to partake in. Buddy also works as a radiation therapist and cooks for many events that fund cancer research. He offers 4 spice blends: original, garlic Cajun spice, salt free Cajun spice, and “mo peppa” Cajun spice.
Carmalete’s Seasonings
When Carmalete’s health was suffering, she researched the importance of natural and organic ingredients. She then set out to create spice blends that taste good and are healthy. Currently, she offers 5 different spice blends: taco, poultry, fajita, Mediterranean, gourmet and her original blend.
Geaux Creole
The amount of awards Geaux has won is crazy. I counted 14. Wowzers! That alone shows how good Geaux Creole seasonings are. Whether you want to whip up a Bloody Mary using their “Bloody Mary JuJu” Spice, make a seafood boil in the backyard or want to add their “creole dust” seasoning to meat, veggies, or seafood. There is a lot that can be made with these spices.
Candy & Chocolate
Laura’s Candies
Laura’s is the oldest candy shop in New Orleans and when I visited the city I visited a few times and can vouch for them. They are best known for their pralines, but I recommend trying the Mississippi mud. It’s layered with chocolate, caramel, pecans and more chocolate. It’s so decadent and my favorite candy, I bought there.
Aunt Sally’s Creole Pralines
In 1935, Aunt Sally’s opened up shop in the French Market and since then has been a backbone of the praline industry in New Orleans They now have two shops and still maintain family ownership to this day. They offer nationwide shipping on all their products, so no matter how far you are, you can still enjoy Aunt Sally’s delicious pralines.
The Chocolate Crocodile
I don’t think there is a more perfect name for a chocolate shop in Louisiana than the Chocolate Crocodile. They have chocolate confections from dipped apples to truffles and even in house specialties like a crocodile nest which is a combination of butterscotch, chocolate, peanut butter and crunchy noodles. Yum!
Mister Apple
If you love dipped apples, Mister Apple may be just the place for you! They have a large selection of apples for any occasion and special ones for all the holidays. They also have an “Apple of the Month” club that will get you two specialty apples delivered to your door every month.
Snacks
The King Cake Shop
In March, every bakery in Louisiana comes out with their version of King Cake, but very few places specialize in the cake itself. A father son duo own this shop, and they have won several awards for their king cake (the best king cake, freshest king cake & best filled to name a few), as well as appeared in a few new’s segments. Currently, The King Cake Shop ships nationwide, so even if you aren’t in Louisiana, you can still get a hold of their delicious cakes.
Brass Roots
As seen on Shark Tank, Brass Roots is a fast-growing healthy snack food company that uses the highly nutritious Sacha Inchi Seeds which are nutritious, allergen friendly and are a source of protein, healthy fats and fiber. These snacks taste good and fuel your body at the same time. They have lots of yummy flavors to choose from like, honey mustard, salt & vinegar, dark chocolate, and sweet heat.
Brass Roots also partners with non-profits that support youth empowerment and provides free access to healthy snacks.
Posh Pop
Posh Popcorn began as an accident on Christmas in 2020. After baking Christmas treats for friends and family, Baily and Harper (the owners of posh popcorn) were getting ready to watch the Grinch and popping some popcorn. While their mother was cleaning up the kitchen, she decided to put all the leftover chocolate and sprinkles into the popcorn bowl and stuck it into the fridge. When they were ready to watch the movie, they had a yummy treat and that was that. Posh popcorn was born!
Since then, they have come up with 10 flavors including coco crunch, praline paradise, and peanuliciois, and continue to experiment with new flavor combos.
Herbert’s Boudin & Cracklin
Have you ever had cracklin? Well, you are in for a treat! Cracklin is fried porkbelly and the most delicious snack ever. You can get Cracklin delivered straight to your home from Herberts. They sell 1/2 gallon or one gallon tubs and that may seem like a lot because it is, but once you start munching, it will be gone in no time.
Cane River Pecan Company
Louisiana and pecans go hand in hand like peanut butter and jelly. There is even a pecan festival every year. Cane River Pecan Company sell a variety of pecan products such as pralines, pecan cookies, pecan brittle, pecan popcorn and so much more!
Coffee & Tea
Community Coffee
When I saw a King Cake and strawberries & chocolate flavored coffee, in a store in New Orleans, I knew I had to purchase a couple bags and a month later both bags are gone. Community coffee has been in the coffee game since 1919 (and the same family!), so I think they know a few things about brewing the perfect cup and I can vouch for how good the coffee is.
Cool Brew
Owned and operated by New Orleans Coffee Company, Cool Brew makes coffee concentrate in various flavors that’s really easy to put together. You just need 1 ounce of concentrate and then water/milk and sweetener, and you have a delicious cup of coffee ready to go! Whether you like your coffee plain or flavored like vanilla, chocolate, or hazelnut, Cool Brew has it!
Acadian Coffee Roasters
Coffee is the most important meal of the day, or at least for me, it is. I make sure the coffee I make is high quality and tastes good, so I am always looking to buy my coffee from small businesses like Acadian coffee Roasters because I know they put their heart into making coffee. I really want to try their chocolate pecan flavored coffee. That sounds so good!
Fleur De Lis Tea Co
Did you know Louisiana has a tea plantation? I just learned something new! You can even tour the plantation, but we are going to focus on the amazing teas they grow there. They have created the first Signature Louisiana Tea, called “the big easy” and their specialty seems to be black tea.
New Orleans Tea Company
New Orleans Tea Company has such a unique selection of teas like, chocolate, almond black tea, cream au caramel roobios, and grand marnier black tea. They need to offer a monthly box of tea because I want to try them all!
Louisiana State Made Gifts
Candles
Wicks Nola
Wicks Nola is a line of luxury candles that embody the smells and culture of New Orleans. They have scents like Beignets or be transported through historic neighborhoods with scents like Bywater and Garden District. If those scents don’t tickle your fancy, they have 60 others to choose from.
Novel Design Home
Novel Design Home is a Women owned business which prides themselves and using and reusing all materials in their products. They even offer half price on candle refills if the jar is sent back, which is so cool! They have lots of fun scents like, crawfish boil, beignets & coffee, and Bourbon Street (not that I want to smell Bourbon Street).
Pictured:
Crawfish Boil
Louisiana Saturday Night
On Da Bayou
Bourbon Street
Louisiana Candle Company
How would you like the smell of sweet, and buttery blueberry cobbler wafting through your house, or sugary Louisiana pralines. I know I would! Louisiana Candle Co is a small business run by a couple who make all their fragrances in house. They are so passionate about candle making and sharing their candles with the world.
Bath & Body
Essentially Nola
These days, bath & body products have so many chemicals, you don’t know what you are putting on your skin and if it’s even good for you. Essentially Nola wants to change that. The products they sell are chock-full of locally grown vegetables, fruits, milks and more that not only feel good, but are also healthy at an affordable price.
Acadian Cottage Handcrafted
Acadian Cottage Handcrafted began as a passion for soap making and as the owners says, “Do what you love and love what you do” Which is a quote I live by every day. She sources all her soap ingredients from local farms, farmers markets, and she even gets her honey from a man who sells raw honey down the street from her.
Tanglewood Soap company
I don’t think I have ever seen prettier soaps with bright colors, cool designs and speckles of gold on some of them. I mean, look at this Harry Potter soap (pictured). The designs are just an added bonus, with each soap made in small batches to ensure freshness and quality and with high quality ingredients they are great for people with sensitive skin.
Sweet Olive Soap Works
Soap making runs in Emily Mangers blood as she recalls her grandmother who ran a soap company for 2 decades. She wanted to continue the family business, so that is how Sweet Olive Soap Works came to be. The packaging is beautiful and pays tribute to Louisiana and New Orleans culture with names like, Absinthe, Belle Creole and Creole Tomato, but don’t worry, you won’t be lathering yourself with Absinthe or tomatoes. Those are just the cute names each bar is given.
Apparel & Gear
Bonfolk
Socks, socks and more socks! Welcome to Bonfolk. A New Orleans based company that makes and produces original socks. The owner takes inspiration from New Orleans to make creations like the Coffee and Beignets Socks or The King’s Cake Socks.
Passion Lile
Passion Lile is a fair trade and sustainable clothing brand that is fighting the cause to reduce fashion waste. They outsource their production to India but pay fair wages, and work with organizations that ensure that working conditions are safe. Sustainability is at the core of every aspect of their business.
These local gift guides are a passion of mine. I love creating them and love when you guys purchase products & support these businesses. Of course, I can’t add every small business (I wish I could!). I am hoping to eventually have a local gift guide for all 50 states and maybe eventually different countries. Until then, happy shopping!
Want to continue supporting small businesses? Check out these shopping guides!
Follow Me!
First off, if you want to browse all my favorite travel resources, check out my Travel Resources page.
Trip Planning: I have put together the ultimate trip planning guide that will walk you through everything you need to know to plan your perfect trip.
Book your Flight: Check out Skyscanner and Momondo! They can have great deals. Airfarewatchdog is also a favorite of mine. I get notified by email every time there is a good deal from my local airport.
Book your Transportation: Wanderu is usually where I check first. They check hundreds of different transportation companies all over the world and find you either the best bus or train deal. Flixbus is one of my favorite cheap options for Europe. The buses generally aren’t too bad, and they go to most countries around Europe. It’s the perfect option for short distances. Train travel is my favorite mode of transportation, and I always use Rail Europe to book my tickets. The Eurail pass makes Europe train travel super affordable.
Book your Accommodation: I created a platform called Just Wndr that allows you to find and book hotels for up to 70% off! All you have to do is sign up with your email, and then you have access to hundreds of hotel deals for a fraction of what you would pay on other booking sites. On a budget and looking for cheap accommodation? Hostelworld is my preferred site to book cheap and reliable hostels. Hotwire has a fun mystery to it. It’s a great site to use for last-minute bookings. They don’t actually tell you the name of the hotel when you are browsing. You will just get the area of the city it’s in, the price, and how many stars it has. I love the surprise aspect of it!
Book your Travel Insurance: Getting travel insurance is such a crucial part of preparing for a trip. You never know what could happen and why take the risk? Before I travel anywhere I always book my insurance through Safety Wing.
Book your Activities: Now, you have planned all the logistics time to think about what you will do once you get to your destination! These are a few of my favorite trip planning sites. I always use Viator when I am looking for tours. I have booked cooking classes, day tours and so much more through them and absolutely love the immense selection they offer in cities all over the world! Pinterest is great to get travel inspiration and plan an upcoming trip or share inspo with friends and family. I use Trip Advisor to plan itineraries for what I want to see & do in each city. I also use them to read reviews on restaurants and hotels too.
Store Your Luggage: Do you have a long layover or a late flight and need to store your luggage? Luggage Hero has got you covered. You can book luggage storage in more than 35 cities worldwide for as little as $1 an hour or $8 for the day.
Thanks so much for the mention!!!