Souvenirs you can savour: Why more people are opting to get back food instead of fridge magnets

In 2023 Entrepreneur Vaibhav Bahl opted for an Airbnb experience in Milan His host recommended a pizza tour that ended at Peck a gourmet food store That was his introduction to gourmet grocery store formats and hersquos been hooked ever sinceFounded in 1883 Peck is Milanrsquos most famous gourmet food emporium often described as a temple of Italian gastronomy Located near the Duomo on Via Spadari it spans multiple floors dedicated to charcuterie cheeses fresh pasta pastries prepared foods wines oils truffles preserves and speciality ingredients It offers guided tours and tastings as part of its visitor experiences Rather than simply shopping guests are led through the store by food experts who explain products sourcing regional traditions and Italian culinary cultureElizabeth De FilippoJones founder of Fazool Foods has been leading food tours in Milan since 2017 She designs food shopping tours taking people around to grocery shops like Peck ldquoPeople who enjoy cooking or hosting are often looking for inspiration for products to take back home I often recommend dried porcini mushroom as theyrsquore lightweight and easy to pack Olive oil and tinned fish are also classic favourites Recreating a meal from your trip can be far more meaningful than a magnet on the refrigerator Shops like Parco dei Buoi and Peck continue to see visitors looking for edible souvenirs that bring a taste of Italy homerdquoVaibhav BahlFor Bahl curiosity around terroir and local expression piques his interest How the same ingredient can taste completely different depending on where itrsquos grown and produced is a fascinating concept ldquoGrocery shopping abroad is one of the best ways to understand a regionrsquos culture produce and culinary identity beyond restaurantsrdquo he shares Then again there is social mediadriven discoveryldquoPlatforms like Instagram have turned certain grocery products into global obsessions From Japanrsquos white strawberries and canned white peaches to niche condiments and snacks travellers now bring back ingredients almost like souvenirsrdquo he adds Bahl also feels there is a strong association between countries and product quality Consumers instinctively associate certain countries with excellence in specific categories such as Italy and Spain for olive oil France for butter China for tea Korea for chilli oil and Japan for miso Buying them at source feels more authentic and often guarantees better qualityrdquoHe enjoys the thrill of discovering the unknown ldquoIrsquove found things like flavoured sugars in France or exceptional makgeolli and fermented rice products in Korea Thatrsquos often the most memorable part of travelrdquoBahlrsquos picksItaly Breads and bakes like panettone from local supermarketsIstanbul Local cheese wild honey local jams marinated olives Southeast Asia Chilli oils herb teas from AsiaColombia and Lima Rare and exotic fresh fruits Best tomato ketchup and toothpastes from different countriesPique my palateChilli oils from Xirsquoan ChinaFor FampB Marketing Consultant Mayuri Nigam groceries encapsulate a countryrsquos culture and everyday life better than typical souvenirs They make for great personalised gifts ldquoIrsquom a huge foodie so food and cuisine heavily influence the destinations I travel to Bringing ingredients back almost feels like a holiday extension because I get to relive the trip through cooking I love finding hyperlocal products and small local brands especially in farmersrsquo markets or morning markets These often taste better expose you to authentic flavour profiles and also help small businessesrdquo she addsNigamrsquos pickNigamrsquos pickChina From Xirsquoan a variety of fresh chilli oils from Xiamen dried and preserved seafood products such as sundried scallops and seaweed used in soups and brothsThailand freshly handpounded curry pastes nam prik and spice mixes from local morning marketsVietnam Vietnamese coffee and local saucesMayuri NigamJapan Cooking sauces and soup concentrates from supermarkets unique chocolates and cookiesAmsterdam different varieties of cheeseSpices from Xirsquoan China PicsMayuri NigamPicking produce over postcardsFor Mavirsquos Pantryrsquos founder Vikram Mittal picking up groceries abroad is an old habit Between his time in the Merchant Navy and his personal travels he has explored 54 countries so farldquoVisiting local grocery stores and markets has always been an exciting way to experience local life It allowed me to discover incredible authentic items that were nearly impossible to find back home in India especially a decade ago Depending on the length of the port stay and customs rules some of these items were enjoyed fresh on the spot while others made it all the way back home Local seasonal ingredients always offer the best taste and higher nutritional value and wandering through grocery aisles is one of the quickest ways to experience how a local community actually lives and eatsrdquoVikram MittalMittalrsquos pickChile underdog local wineItaly Rich espresso coffee and traditional Moka pots fresh pestoSpain Coldpressed olive oils and authentic chorizoFrance and Switzerland Artisanal breads regional cheeses and local liqueursSlovenia Exceptional local cold cuts and premium pepperoniGermany Authentic traditional sausagesCzech Republic and Denmark Exceptional local beers and regional brewsNew Zealand Pure highgrade Manuka honeySri Lanka Aromatic highquality Ceylon cinnamonUAE Vibrant fragrant whole spices amp datesSouth Korea Crisp authentic seaweed Nori sheets and SushiNepal Nutrientdense hemp seeds and durable locally crafted hemp clothingUSA Refreshing artisanal local kombuchaWhat the world takes from IndiaKunal Ganger chief strategy officer Food Square shares ldquoPremium saffron continues to be one of the most soughtafter food souvenirs among our international guests and the expat community Easy to carry gift and share it represents the richness of Indiarsquos culinary heritage through a single luxury ingredient Beyond saffron wersquore seeing growing interest in artisanal spice blends regional pickles and condiments handcrafted teas wellness products such as shilajit and contemporary Indian snacks like avocado farsan and flavoured makhanasKunal GangerWhatrsquos equally interesting is the demand for lifestyle products rooted in Indian traditions from incense and essential oils to handmade soaps and conscious wellness brands Todayrsquos traveller isnrsquot simply looking for a souvenir Theyrsquore looking for products that help them take a piece of India home with them and that continue the experience long after their trip has endedrdquoEvgeniia GorinaRussian national Evgeniia Gorina has been loading her suitcase with a piece of India every time she heads home Herersquos whatrsquos in her bag as edible giftsgtgt thinspIndian spicesgtgt thinspTeagtgt thinspthinspCoffeegtgt thinspSeasonal fruitsgtgt thinspGheegtgt thinspthinspNutsgtgt thinspthinspSweetsFor his friends who visit India Bahl recommendsgtgt Local pickles beyond the usual suspects of lemon or mango Chicken or prawn pickle perhapsgtgt Pure saffron strands for tea or other local teas to break the Darjeeling tea monopoly in the Western mindgtgt Pure rose water from a local shop or as an experience box from Kama Ayurveda or Forest Essentials gtgt Spices Tellicherry pepper lakadong turmeric Himalayan pink saltgtgt Alcohol Indian whiskey like Godawan or Rampur from the airport dutyfree