🔄 Updated 21 Jun 2026
Trat souvenirs come in a few groups: local sweets that families have made for generations, processed orchard fruit that keeps well, and dried seafood from around Laem Ngop and Koh Chang. If you have time to stop at the source, you'll get fresher goods at better prices than buying along the highway. We've picked out both the sweet and the savoury, and noted where to look for each.
Local sweets and snacks worth buying
Tang Me Krop from Ban Nam Chiao
An old-school candy the older generation called nam tan chak (pulled-sugar sweet). It's made from sugar, coconut milk and malt syrup, simmered until sticky, then stretched into strands and snapped into pieces. The texture is crisp and sweet with a coconut aroma, and it comes in original, pandan and taro. The real producers are in the Ban Nam Chiao community, Laem Ngop district.
Khao Kriap Ya Na
A snack with a Cham recipe from Ban Nam Chiao — thin rice crackers topped with seasoned coconut and syrup. It's moreish and hard to find elsewhere, which makes it a great pairing to bring home alongside tang me.
Fried / crisp-baked durian
Trat is durian country, so the processed versions are done well. The fried durian comes in big, crisp pieces that keep for a long time — ideal for durian lovers who don't want to lug home fresh fruit. You'll find it at souvenir shops in town and out at the orchards.
Cashew nuts
Trat cashews are known for being big, plump and pale, sold both baked and fried, in salty or sweet versions. They're the kind of souvenir everyone's happy to receive, and easy to pick up at souvenir shops and markets.
Pineapple paste (sapparot kuan)
Trat's sweet-tart pineapple is cooked down until sticky and intense in flavour. Eat it on its own or use it in baking. It's an inexpensive processed-fruit souvenir that's easy to carry home.
Koh Chang shrimp paste (kapi)
A savoury item plenty of people come specifically to buy. Trat shrimp paste is dense and fragrant, with well-known local brands like Mae Rabiap and Lung Daeng. Great if you like making nam phrik chilli dips — buy a tightly sealed pack and it travels home easily.
Dried shrimp / dried squid
Sun-dried seafood from around Laem Ngop. The dried shrimp is firm with a natural colour, and the dried squid runs big. Pick the ones that aren't unnaturally bright white — those are the safer bet. Good for cooking or just snacking.
Salted king mackerel / sun-dried fish
A cooking-ingredient souvenir Trat locals buy as a matter of course. The salted king mackerel is firm-fleshed, and the sun-dried fish smells great once fried. Buy straight from the fishing source for the freshest catch and the best price.
Roasted chilli paste / shrimp chilli dip
A souvenir you can eat with hot rice any time. The roasted chilli paste (nam phrik phao) is mellow and rounded, and you'll find it at the general souvenir shops in town. A good pick for anyone who doesn't only want sweets.
Trat robusta coffee
Trat grows some robusta coffee — strong, dark and bitter in the southern Thai style. If you like a heavy cup, grab a bag of ground roast to take home. It's a souvenir not many people think of, but coffee drinkers appreciate it.
Tips for choosing
For dried seafood like dried shrimp and dried squid, go for natural colours that aren't too bright white or red — those are the safer choice. For sweets like tang me and pineapple paste, check the production date and make sure the packaging is properly sealed before you buy.
Want to taste deeper? Try a Trat food tour or cooking class
Half a day with a local who knows the lanes — or cooking a dish yourself — teaches you more than just eating. Book ahead on Klook or GetYourGuide.
Where to buy Trat souvenirs
If you want the real thing at a good price, split your shopping two ways: go to the source for the signature items like tang me and shrimp paste, and use a general souvenir shop in town when you'd rather grab everything in one stop.
Ban Nam Chiao community (Laem Ngop)
The real home of tang me and khao kriap ya na. Buy straight from the community group for the freshest goods, and at some spots you can watch how it's made. It's a two-faith community that's pleasant to wander while you shop.
General souvenir shops in Trat town
The all-in-one souvenir shops in town carry fried durian, cashews, pineapple paste, shrimp paste and chilli dips — everything under one roof. Handy if you're short on time and want to knock out the shopping in one go before you leave.
Trat Municipal Fresh Market
If you want dried seafood and local foods at easy prices, the fresh market before 9am is the answer. The goods are fresher and there's some room to haggle.
Laem Ngop
A fishing district where you get dried seafood straight from the source — dried shrimp, dried squid, shrimp paste. If you're driving through before catching the boat to Koh Chang, it's an easy stop to stock up.
Souvenirs by who you're buying for
- Sweet tooth — tang me, khao kriap ya na, pineapple paste; easy to carry and a hit with kids and adults alike.
- Home cooks — shrimp paste, roasted chilli paste, salted king mackerel; these actually get used in the kitchen.
- Long-keepers — fried durian and cashews; open them later or share around with no hurry.
- Coffee drinkers — dark-roast Trat robusta, a souvenir not many people give.
Plan a full Trat food trip — both the savoury and the sweet
See the Trat travel guide →