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St. Augustine Florida Holiday Ornament - Datil Pepper

St. Augustine Florida Holiday Ornament - Datil Pepper

Regular price $24.00 USD
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A datil pepper plant with a cluster of small orange-red peppers, on a coquina wall with the old city gate behind. The pepper that grows here and almost nowhere else.

The datil came to St. Augustine with the Minorcan settlers in the 1770s and has been grown in backyard gardens here ever since. It is as hot as a habanero and sweeter, and it goes into the clam chowder, the pilau and the hot sauce that every family makes its own version of. Outside this one corner of Florida it is nearly unknown.

The Minorcan families are still here, and the pepper is the taste of their kitchens. There is a datil festival every fall and a datil sauce in every restaurant.

A pepper as a town symbol tells you the town has a kitchen worth knowing. The orange-red peppers are the fruit's own color; no holiday touch needed.

The datil pepper came to St. Augustine with the Minorcan settlers, and Minorcan datil pepper sauce is the taste of St. Augustine food in the oldest city. This pepper ornament is a St. Augustine Christmas ornament and St. Augustine souvenir, a piece of St. Augustine history for Christmas in St. Augustine.

3-inch faceted crystal glass ornament, white-backed print, line-drawn in 1880s engraving style, your choice of white or gold gift box.

Every St. Augustine ornament ships ready to give, and profits support hunger relief. Hang it on the tree, in a window, off a lamp, or send one to the person who misses St. Augustine most.

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Today St. Augustine is celebrated as one of America's most distinctive small cities — historic, walkable, sea-aired, and unmistakably first. Our St. Augustine designs gather that identity into wearable form: the coquina fort, the lanterns on Aviles Street, the lighthouse off Anastasia, and the winter glow of the Nights of Lights. Explore the collection and carry a little of the nation's oldest city wherever you go.

Our St. Augustine retro logo features Florida's alligator — a Florida-tough emblem that suits a town that has outlasted three flags, two sieges, four centuries, and every hurricane the Atlantic has thrown at it. The 1845 statehood reference grounds it in Florida history. Rendered in black-and-white with a vintage, hand-printed feel — crate-stamp ink, slightly off-register — it carries the practical resilience of the coastal Spanish colonial city without overstating itself. On a tee, a cap, or a wall print, it reads as a quiet badge of the oldest city in America: a Florida town that has earned every line on its face.

Why People Visit St Augustine Florida

  • Tour the Castillo de San Marcos, the oldest masonry fort in the continental US — coquina walls, diamond bastions, the dry moat, and views across Matanzas Bay from the gun deck.
  • Walk St. George Street, the car-free colonial corridor lined with historic buildings, and Aviles Street, often called the oldest street in the United States.
  • Climb the St. Augustine Lighthouse on Anastasia Island for sweeping coastal panoramas and maritime exhibits.
  • See the Spanish Renaissance former Hotel Ponce de Leon (1888) and the former Hotel Alcazar — Henry Flagler's Gilded-Age landmarks anchoring the old town.
  • Visit the Gonzalez-Alvarez House, the "Oldest House" in the city, with its first floor dating to about 1727.
  • Stop at the Cathedral Basilica of St. Augustine, the oldest Catholic parish in the United States.
  • Cross the Bridge of Lions over Matanzas Bay, with its marble lions and Mediterranean Revival towers.
  • Visit Fort Mose Historic State Park just north of town, the 1738 site where free Black militiamen and their families established their own community under Spanish protection.
  • Wander Lincolnville, the late-19th-century neighborhood of Victorian-era homes south of the old town.
  • Relax on St. Augustine Beach and the Anastasia Island shore, broad Atlantic sands a short drive over the bay.
  • Come back in winter for the Nights of Lights (mid-November into January), when millions of white lights wrap the historic district.

St Augustine Florida Merlin Classics retro vintage logo featuring alligator motif and 1845 Florida statehood reference

Wear Local. Feed Local. Stay Classic.

Product FAQs

How does your sizing work?

Because items are made to order, we can’t accept returns for sizing or color choices. We do accept returns for defects, misprints, or shipping damage. Please review the detailed photos and descriptions before purchasing. Women’s fitted tees run small; if you prefer a looser fit, consider sizing up.

How do I send gifts?

All items ship without prices and include a simple packing slip for easy gifting. Enter the recipient’s shipping address and your billing address at checkout. Use your contact info to receive tracking updates. Orders typically arrive within 6–11 business days—please allow extra time for time-sensitive gifts.

How do I care for my item?

For apparel: wash cold, inside-out, with like colors; avoid bleach and high heat; tumble dry low or hang dry. For embroidery, iron inside-out to protect the stitching. See specific care instructions in product descriptions and also follow general best practices in caring for your items for long term enjoyment.

How are items made and when will they arrive?

We make each item on demand using premium blanks, embroidery, and soft-hand prints. Production usually takes 2–5 business days (excluding weekends and holidays). You’ll receive tracking once shipped. We currently ship to U.S. addresses via USPS, UPS, or FedEx. Most orders arrive within 6-12 business days.

What’s the return/exchange policy?

We accept returns for defects, misprints, or damage on arrival. Report issues within 30 days with photos and your order number, and we’ll replace or refund. Size or color changes aren’t supported after purchase, so please consult size charts before ordering if you are at all unsure.

Who are we?

Merlin Classics is a volunteer-run, AI-assisted apparel project celebrating timeless local style. Every item is made to order, and profits (revenue minus external product/marketing cost) support hunger-relief programs in the communities our collections spotlight. Classic looks, real local impact—every purchase helps.