Do You Purchase Ingredients in Foreign Countries?

April 16, 2009

Every time I travel to Spain I make sure to stock up on Pimentón, spicy Spanish paprika. I also like to pick up saffron and canned tuna in olive oil. What items do you invest on while traveling?

17 Comments

Allytta 4 years 4 weeks

I get curd from Lithuania, as british people deiced to get rid of it in the 80s, i still don't get why. And the coffee here is terrible, so I get it when I visit my parents. Smoked meats from Italy are amazing. And canned sardines from Eastern Europe are amazing.

aimeeb 4 years 4 weeks

Nope.

Wild Magelet 4 years 5 weeks

Do you never have to worry about taking stuff through Customs? I was always under the impression that it was a hassle to have to declare food items and that lots of them are confiscated. I live in New Zealand and I'm going to the UK for a month at the end of May; I was hoping to take at least a few staples with me, like wholegrain cookies and fruit leather, in case I need to supplement vegetarian meals on my Contiki tour, but I thought dried fruit etc might be confiscated the same way that fresh fruit is. Yum, do you think you could do a post about what foods you may or may not bring into a foreign country, and what will pass through Customs okay?

fashionista119 4 years 5 weeks

If you love Gourmet Spanish Foods you should check out the company I work for www.casaoliver.com, we sell everything you listed and much more! We buy all our products direct from the importer and my boss, who is from Barcelona, personally approves everything in our store. I have yet to travel overseas, so for now I enjoy foreign foods from Casa Oliver (never knew how incredible Spanish food is until I started working there two years ago!) and from local gourmet shops.

Spectra 4 years 5 weeks

Oh yeah, definitely. When I was in Ukraine, I stocked up on shashlik sauce, chocolate, vodka, and cognac and when I go to Mexico, I get horchata mix...it's so yummy! Oh, and I also get vanilla when I'm down there...it's way cheaper. I love going grocery shopping in other countries because there's always so many cool things that we don't get here in the states.

liuiaDrusilla 4 years 5 weeks

I agree with lisabarn, local grocery stores are my favorite places to get souvenirs, too! Last time we visited France -I live in Spain-, we bought some camembert in Normandy for our family and friends and apple cider and poiré, too. They were delighted. By the way, that's for the people who like to buy spice in Spain -I'm really glad you enjoy shopping here as much as I enjoy shopping on line in the States ;)-, it's said the best pimentón in Spain comes from a place called "La Vera" (therefore: pimentón de La Vera) and if you are taking some for your relatives and friends look for the stuff in the tins, that's what the Spaniards buy -and it looks cute and typical ;). My favorite, however, is the smoked one. There's mild paprika, too.

Alithyra 4 years 5 weeks

Every time I or my family goes to Europe we bring back tons of food. Mostly British candy and cookies, since that's where we go. Local stores sell the some of stuff, but at a huge mark-up. Some items only the specialty stores sell at an even bigger mark-up.

CoconutPie 4 years 5 weeks

Always. Just last week I was in Sweden and Finland and brought back home three huge grocery bags of food. Things I can't get here or that are too expensive over here. Also when I visit my family in Canada I always bring back some maple syrup, peanut butter, coffee,...

lisabarn 4 years 5 weeks

My favorite place to shop for souvenirs when traveling is local grocery stores!

limelindsey 4 years 5 weeks

Mexican vanilla!

Chaoticfury 4 years 5 weeks

Pepper Sauce from Barbados. I have a padded suitcase just for it. Going back in November for more!!!

Segat1 4 years 5 weeks

I always buy paprika, chorizo and a whole porchetta when I go to Barcelona for the weekend. The Market there is outstanding and every time I go I wish I lived there full time. On an equipment front, I have to buy rubber scraper spatulas in France, like this http://www.tablepride.co.nz/cs/prodDetails.asp?idproduct=770

4 years 5 weeks

Saffron from Spain, dried porcini from Italy or Switzerland - and, though not a food, a kitchen staple: Swiss potato peelers. They've got U-shaped handles with a carbon steel swivel blade across the top (and an eye-remover. Available in Migros and Coop for under 2 francs (at least the last time I was there) - and the best peelers anywhere. I keep stocks of them for myself, friends and family. One of my addictions

tlsgirl 4 years 5 weeks

I'd prefer to order online or get them at my local gourmet shop.

Rancher'sGirl 4 years 5 weeks

When I was 17, I spent the summer/winter as an exchange student in Australia. It amused my dad for years that I returned home with a suitcase full of food items (Milo, Vegemite, Wheetabix, cordial syrups, etc.). I brought home other souvenirs but the food "souvenirs" cracked him up! :) And I still love those foods...thank goodness for online shopping! LOL ;)

shoneyjoe 4 years 5 weeks

There are certain things I'll pick up, but more often than not, I don't have room.

ilanac13 4 years 5 weeks

i don't typically travel with enough time to really go shopping to get things. when i lived in israel, london and paris back in the day (when i was in college or younger) i used to bring things back but lately that hasnt' been the case .

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17 Comments

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