7 essential souvenirs made proudly in Hong Kong

Not so long ago, Hong Kong was famous for its plastic. During its manufacturing heyday from the 1950s to the ’70s, the city made a name for itself as the world’s producer of plastic toys and household goods – even Hong Kong’s richest man Li Ka-shing famously got his start making plastic flowers. The locus of industry may have moved away from the city, but there are still independent makers who are proudly restoring the Made in Hong Kong brand to mean quality and craftsmanship – and creating fantastic products that make unique souvenirs and gifts.

1. Awesome Toy

Collector Nick Yip began designing his own toys after feeling uninspired by existing ones. Drawing from Hong Kong’s toy-making history, Awesome Toy specialises in limited-edition designer toys made using sofubi (soft vinyl), a process pioneered in Japan and commonly used in Hong Kong in the 1960s and ’70s. 

“What makes sofubi unique is its feel, and how it’s not easily damaged,” says Yip. “It needs to be made by craftsmen one by one – so we aren’t just making ordinary toys, but artistry.”

2. Becandle ‬

Born and bred in Sai Kung, Xavier Tsang looked no further than his hometown when he launched BeCandle , a brand that was recently shortlisted for the Hong Kong homegrown hidden gem category in the Cathay Members’ Choice Awards. He credits the local community with BeCandle’s success – neighbours even helped with manufacturing when demand outgrew what Tsang could produce alone. His candles can be found at retailers across the city – as well as in the Cathay Shop – but Sai Kung is still central to the brand’s identity. 

“I want our products to tell stories of the wider city,” says Tsang. In the Our Land collection, everything from the clay used to create the containers to the artisans who made them, ties back to where it all began – Sai Kung.

3. Flagrant Sauce

The hottest condiment in town – literally – is Flagrant Sauce , served and sold in Hong Kong’s hottest restaurants and bars and in the high-end supermarket Citysuper. Created by Matt Abergel, head chef at Yardbird and Ronin, with Kenneth Chan and Yoshi Hoshimi-Caines, Flagrant packs a punch with its blend of koji-fermented chillies and yuzu zest, delivering zing to any dish from barbecue to fresh seafood and even cocktails. “It’s very versatile,” says Hoshimi-Caines. “It loves fresh oysters, where the yuzu can shine, but works just as well with Cantonese classics such as dry-fried beef rice noodles.” The smaller bottle is 100ml, making it a delicious souvenir for carry-on-only travellers.

4. Silversmith

Graphic designer Ivan Keung pivoted to silversmithing after an encounter with a sifu – master – while exploring a Hong Kong market in 2004. “It looked so beautiful and special. I wanted to learn from him,” says Keung. By the following year, he was making his own designs from a tiny workshop under the moniker Silversmith . Today, Keung designs and oversees the production of jewellery and trinkets handcrafted by a team of local silversmiths and sold in three boutiques. 

He says his lion head collection holds personal meaning for him: “I did kung fu as a kid and have always been fascinated by lion dancing.”

5. Tiny Island

Swedish designer Alexis Holm’s map prints of Hong Kong have become a go-to for those looking to show a bit of Hong Kong pride in their home. A growing line of home and personal accessories, whose designs nod to the city’s idiosyncrasies, is stocked at independent retailers across Hong Kong.  

Choosing which elements of Hong Kong culture to incorporate isn’t easy, says Holm: “Everyone is moved by different things: someone might get teary-eyed about stinky tofu, while another might clutch a watermelon ball (a popular toy in the 1960s and ’70s) tightly.” Whether it’s an artistic rendition of a ding ding (tram) or a puzzle box of Victoria Peak, these pieces serve as a colourful reminder of the city’s vibrant spirit and the personal stories that define it.

6. Two Moons Distillery

Dimple Yuen and Ivan Chang turned a passion project into a thriving business when a fun gin-making project in 2018 turned into Two Moons Distillery , Hong Kong’s first gin distillery. Their gins, which are stocked in liquor shops and supermarkets, incorporate distinctively Asian ingredients such as dried tangerine peel, Chinese almonds and liquorice root for added herbal therapy. 

Yuen says, “After a long day at work, a white negroni made with our Five Flowers Tea gin expels extra ‘heat’ or yeet hei, and fatigue.”

7. Yiwooo

Turning to bamboo crafting as relief from the stresses of city life became a career change for Angus Ting. “I find bamboo has a calming effect,” says Ting, who founded Yiwooo in 2018. As well as making beautiful yet functional household products, Ting also works on art-focused bamboo projects and exhibitions to elevate and keep one of Hong Kong’s traditional crafts alive.

This story was originally published in November 2023 and updated in February 2025.