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American Grocery Store Souvenirs

March 17, 2013

Hugo and I flew to Boston last week to visit my father and stepmother. Hugo got spoiled with limitless attention and eager playmates and I got to leave the house without him, driving around suburban Boston, seeing a few friends, getting to eat a delightful tuna sandwich undisturbed in the car in a drugstore parking lot for lunch, browsing said drugstore afterwards for as long as I wanted all by my blissful self, and feeling like I could hear myself think again. Oh, it was a good vacation, alright.

On the way back to Berlin, I stuffed the suitcase with board books for the baby, a few new shirts for me for spring (elusive spring) and, of course, precious treasures from the grocery store. This time around, I had enough baking powder, vanilla extract and brown sugar waiting back in Berlin, so I got to focus on some new acquisitions.

Namely, steel-cut oats, dried Blenheim apricots, Better Than Bouillon vegetable base (Max is so addicted he sometimes threatens to eat it straight from the jar with a spoon), dukkah, because it looked interesting and because I think Heidi once said it tasted delicious, and two kinds of chile powder (ancho and chipotle).

How about you, fellow ex-pats? What do you buy when you're home for a visit? I don't just mean Americans far away from home – but ex-pats in general. What foodstuffs do you miss the most, whether you're Italian or German or Indonesian? What's the weirdest thing you've ever toted home again? What is the one thing everyone in your life knows to bring you when they come to visit?

If I had had more room in the suitcase, I would have also crammed in a bag of pecans, one of those big jugs of Grade B maple syrup, a package or two of Zip-Loc bags (yes, really), a box of Triscuits and one huge super-sized carton of Cheerios. Sigh.

Posted in Travel

127 responses to “American Grocery Store Souvenirs”

bcarrera

March 17, 2013

We come back to Brazil with the bags of dried Mexican peppers, Thai seasonings and yes…Zip-Loc bags (with go for about 50 cents each here in Brazil)…also bags and bags of chocolate chips

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Gina

March 17, 2013

Whenever I fly to my parents’ house in Vancouver I stuff my suitcase with chocolate (price-performance wise German chocolate reigns surpreme to the commonwealth Cadbury). I also pack a Jever bier for my father and some fresh German Broetchen for my family.
When I fly back to Berlin I bring back baking powder, vanilla extract, Korean chilipowder from my late great-aunt, MAC cosmetics (so much cheaper in Canada), and Korean skincare products from Faceshop.
🙂

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Nina B.

March 17, 2013

Mohnback, German Mustard, Giottos, probably quite a few more. Whenever I visit Germany, I send a couple of parcels of goodies to myself! Just wish my mother would stop sending Peanut Flips- my son seems to have grown out of them. Ohh, he still likes “Milchschnitten” though.

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Rachel

March 17, 2013

As a Malaysian third-culture kid who spent her middle school years at an English boarding school (and school holidays in India), then married an American and hopped across the pond, I miss all manner of things culinary!
The clotted cream at Whole Foods is a dismal attempt at the real, Cornish stuff. I also miss golden syrup, (non-Ikea) elderflower cordial, “European” butter (hmph!), Rococo’s chocolate and The Sunday Times.
As for Asian foodstuff, don’t even get me started. A1 chicken curry paste, Boh 3-in-1 teh tarik and Old Town White Coffee packets, kaffir lime leaves, kaya…I could go on and on!

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Leslie

March 17, 2013

Glad to hear you had a restorative trip. I am looking forward to everyone’s expat food answers. After six years of thinking there were no ziploc bags in Germany and reusing the ones from home, I realized they do have them at my grocery store (Edeka), they’re just kind of ugly (I’m partial to unprinted clear ones; these are blue with lettering…). Anyway, from the US, I have been known to bring Mexican chiles, masa harina, corn tortillas, peanut butter, Reese’s peanut butter cups, togorashi shichimi, cupcake liners, and, in the non edible grocery dept, Tom’s of Maine toothpaste and Dr. Bronner’s peppermint soap! Friends have often brought me yet more Mexican chiles too…

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Kat

March 17, 2013

You would think that, working (in England) for a company based in Zurich, I would be able to indulge my addictions to butterzopf and Migros dried mango – how is this the only thing in Switzerland that is cheaper than everywhere else, by the way?? – but unfortunately not. Perhaps I need to befriend a few of the more jet-setting directors…

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Eleanor

March 17, 2013

When heading back to Brazil, I pack: Maldon salt, Belazu’s rose harissa, spices that I can’t find here, teas of many varieties, shortbread, and many bars of dark, bitter chocolate. I’ve also been known to pack Ziploc bags, and had one member of my family bring out Arborio rice, when living in Bolivia, much to the disbelief of another – there was only one variety of rice at the market, and it didn’t work for making risottos!

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Merle

March 17, 2013

I’m surprised you can’t get the oatmeal and would send you some zip bags if you like (I’ll bet you have several friends on this side of the pond who would send you parcels).

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Suzanne

March 17, 2013

I’m English, living in NZ, and I take back with me teabags (such a cliché), concentrated liquid stock, Cadbury’s chocolate. Anything else that looks interesting too but those are the main things, though NZ biosecurity is very strict. The thing I really want to bring back is a suitcase full of cheese and double cream but I don’t think a 36 hour journey would do it any favours.

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ellie

March 17, 2013

i schlepped back to berlin with aunt jemima’s “maple syrup” (i grew up on it, and now pancakes are not pancakes without it!). brown sugar, pureed pumpkin (when tis the season), baking chips (chocolate, butterscotch.. all of it), anything needed to make remotely spicy food which includes a prized can of chiles in adobo sauce – oh and also mustard powder. funny enough, when i lived in nyc and would make it to the west coast i would always bring home squirt soda and mother’s animal crackers. i guess you can never have it all, no matter where you live! but berlin.. oh how you kill me with the lack of good baking supplies. did you know a pastry cutter literally does not exist in this country? oi vey.. also, i never even noticed you couldn’t buy cheerios here. and now that i know, i am desperate for them!

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Luisa

March 17, 2013

You can find cans of chiles in adobo at Aqui España on Kantstrasse! 🙂

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Ellen

March 17, 2013

I’m American. One year when I was living in Japan I took bags of dried legumes and a bunch of spices with me. You can’t get much variety in the beans / lentils department in Japan and they’re always expensive. (You can get spices, but they are super-expensive, since they’re exotic, not a mainstay of Japanese cooking.)

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Sasa

March 17, 2013

Blenheim apricots are awesome – they are from NZ. I can send you some if you like, when you run out. When I go to Japan, I buy yuzu koshou, a kind of citrus pepper, good rice crackers, pickles…so many things. I go with an empty bag and come back full.

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Zoe

March 17, 2013

I do feel very lucky to live in a part of the UK where I’ve never not been able to find anything in either the supermarket, Whole Foods, or an ethnic store (there are other regions, eg. Cornwall, that are not so fortunate and I tend to bring a lot with me when we go on holiday). The only thing I come back from the US with is gallon jugs of Grade B maple syrup because it’s so much cheaper. When we go to the US we bring tea with us – American tea is absolute dishwater by comparison – and my husband brings marmite!

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Jennifer Jo

March 17, 2013

Well. My brother is flying into Guatemala tomorrow and he (along with another package that arrived from the states and is awaiting its pick-up) is bringing us chocolate, chocolate, and more chocolate, cocoa powder, a treble light, large plastic bags for storing my huge loaves of homemade bread, twisties, fat rubber bands, paring knives, measuring cups, decaf coffee, chili powder, cumin, paprika, lactaid pills, etc. You never realize what’s “important” until you move to another country, eh?

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Emily K. @ Leaf Parade

March 17, 2013

When I lived abroad and traveled stateside, I would stock my suitcase with huge jars of chunky peanut butter — such a necessity and SO impossible to find in Europe!

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AW

March 17, 2013

i love these lists. when i was growing up bw mexico and the states we had lists for both sides of the border. you couldn’t anything american there or anything mexican in boston. that’s changed since, totally. nowadays, here in berlin, i always bring back ziplocs and kids fish oil capsules and raw cacao powder from the states (along with books and clothes for the whole family). i used to bring mexican food ingredients but in the end they have enough to make due (even hominy and chipotle chile, and even homemade frozen corn tortillas) at aqui españa on kantstrasse. and btw they have C grade maple syrup at DM which is like B, i think? anyway i think if moved to the states now i would have to bring a lot of things that way from berlin!

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Alissa

March 17, 2013

When I was living in Germany my mom would send me bags of chocolate chips, black beans, and canned cranberry sauce for the holidays. Now that I’m back in the states I would love some one to send me some fresh Flammkuchen and/or Pflaumkuchen :). Always something to miss!

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Julia of Randomly Yours, Julia

March 17, 2013

I’m a Canadian living in Australia. I mostly get by with the interesting foods available here, but at Christmas it’s hard to go without the baking goods I need to make seasonal treats. I’ve had family members bring Hershey kisses (chocolate and peppermint!), butterscotch chips, Skor bits, and peanut butter chip-its.
I love dukkah 🙂

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jenny

March 17, 2013

oooh! you got a good haul from trader joe’s. I can’t live without those apricots. and yes, better than bouillon is pure gold.

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Sharmila

March 17, 2013

I’m from Bombay now living in San Francisco. I’m fortunate in this because the basic staples are all available, thanks to the large Indian community here. What I miss are things specific to my home and childhood. Like this unbelievable Schezwan sauce (used in Indian-Chinese cooking) that only my caterer uncle’s kitchens can make a specific way. I bring a large jar of it back, that my father-in-law patiently seals with candle wax for me so it won’t leak. We then proceed to use it in everything once we’re back. Then there is poha chivda, this crisp flattened rice savoury snack that my mom does so much better than me. She makes me a batch every time. My husband inhales it within a week of our return. My mother-in-law’s mango pickle, which is soooo good, couple of jars of that. Then there is India’s endless variety of pickles, snacks and dry chutneys, the entire gamut of which can never be fully represented in an Indian store here. We try to bring as much of those as we can. It’s never enough.
Basically, I travel light when I go there and return with bags loaded with these goodies. Thank goodness for two suitcases per person!

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ellie

March 17, 2013

thank you! i will be close tomorrow and will check it out!

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Catherine

March 17, 2013

Maple syrup, for sure. A few boxes of Annie’s mac & cheese for those homesick moments, molasses (for DIY brown sugar), dried cranberries, pecans (because they’re so @#$!# expensive in Norway, and often rancid), and if I can squeeze in a bottle or two, decent beer.

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Luz Molinari

March 17, 2013

I am from Puerto Rico and when I go back I pack different types of sazón which is a seasoning, short grain rice which is practically impossible to get in NC, and tins of seafood, imported from Spain.

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Amanda

March 17, 2013

It’s not food, but I bring back cases of different-sized jam jars with the two-part lids for my own canning (I’m not a fan of weck, although they are prettier).

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Deborah

March 17, 2013

You don’t have to be an ex-pat to do this. My boyfriend spent a year in Milwaukee, and was unable to find his favorite seasonal pumpkin ale by Dogfish Head. So when he drove back to visit me for Thanksgiving, he stocked up on two entire cases of it. 😀

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Sarah Shean

March 17, 2013

I’m an American in Japan, and I usually stock up on clothes and medicine, but when I do have room for food, I’ll pack good PNW microbrews, great coffee, and Tazo licorice tea. My mom once snuck in cranberries which are in my freezer and the perfect homecravin’ pick me up.
This post and the comments are LOVELY. Made my morning.

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Gabrielle

March 17, 2013

Cenovis from Switzerland, you can’t get it anywhere else and Marmite, while it is also good (I don’t want to start a war) IS NOT THE SAME.

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Organik Ürünler

March 17, 2013

I like it.. Great…
Thanks

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Sara

March 17, 2013

When we visit my in-laws in South Africa we come home with Cape Malay curry powder; when we visit my sister-in-law in England it’s large tubs of Marmite (it’s so much cheaper there!)

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rachellake

March 17, 2013

I send anyone going back to Greece with a list for thyme honey, tins of olive oil, boxes of cherry juice and apple flavored orbit gum.

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Elizabeth

March 17, 2013

I’m from the U.S. living in Colombia and whenever we have visitors from home we request: Tazo Refresh Mint tea, Good Earth tea, sharp cheddar cheese (or really, any cheese that is not mozzarella), chocolate chips, dried apricots, pecans/walnuts, molasses, and, most importantly, spices (cinnamon, black pepper, cumin, coriander, smoked paprika, mustard, garam masala, chipotle, chili powder, etc.). We can, of course, make do without most of the above, but the spices are beloved and used daily in our kitchen!

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Scorps1027

March 17, 2013

Whenever I (or relatives) visit Kerala, India we bring back their version of plum spice cake, various spicy pickles, dried spicy coconut powder, and assorted fried savory goodies made by the Aunties. I also bring back Indian sandalwood soap, Ayurvedic balms, coconut hair oil and spices (cardamom, cloves, cinnamon sticks, so cheap there!) and loose tea! I used to bring back Parle-G gluco biscuits, but now they’re readily available in Indian stores here. My relatives always request American beauty products like Oil of Olay night moisturizer, Ponds cream, Bengay, ziplock bags and things like Corning Ware plates/cups and Werther’s Original Candy.

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Abby – Bright Yellow World

March 17, 2013

I’m a Southerner living in California, and bring back Duke’s mayonnaise and Cheerwine (though, San Francisco seems to have gotten excited about Cheerwine, so it’s possible to find here now). Most of the other stuff I just enjoy when I’m home, but there is no substitute for Duke’s mayo.

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dana333@gmaill.com

March 17, 2013

I’m an Israeli living in the the US. When I go visit my family, I take Constant Comment tea, trail mixes from Trader Joe’s and – most important – as many ziploc bags as I can cram into the suitcase’s nooks and crannies, I don’t think my mother would let me in without them. On the way back I bring tahini (el-araz brand or the dove brand from Nazareth – both miles away from any kind you can get here), cracked green olives my uncle makes, spices (baharat, ras-el-hanut, sumac, za’atar), and amba (pickled mango used to make an Iraqi sandwich called sabich). Not going home until July, and am now so hungry for all this…

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Constance

March 18, 2013

Fun ‘game!’ American who grew up in Germany and spent young career life in Russia… When coming from Germany: Kneipp bath oil in Fichte (spruce), Tomotei and Guhl Shampoos (they smell so good!), and flavored black tea like Sahne or Krokant Tee (cream or toffee flavors). When coming from Russia: Uzbek plov seasoning (dried herb mix with barberry sold at the farmer’s markets, wrapped in little newspaper cones). Other direction…agree with all craving the pancake syrup.

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Alishah

March 18, 2013

Microwave popcorn, golden grahams and aunt Jemimah’s buttermilk pancake mix and syrup.

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Allie

March 18, 2013

I’m an American living in Germany and only get home once a year. I “splurge” on awesome American “junk food”… Velveeta shells and cheese, Hidden Valley Ranch seasoning packets and chocolate chips are always at the top of my list. I also often bring back pinto beans, vanilla extract and dried peppers. BTW, I’ve found REAL (and reasonably priced) light and dark brown sugar in the Asian Markets here… Haven’t ever had to bring that back. 🙂

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Luisa

March 18, 2013

Yes! It’s thrilling. And so nice to check it off the “bring-back” list.

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anja

March 18, 2013

what i bring back from scotland or england: jelly cubes:)oatcakes, carr`s water biscuits,cheddar! just finished your book, luisa- and i really loved it. best from berlin to berlin:),anja

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mel p

March 18, 2013

I’m an Aussie and lived for a long time in Germany. Had to always bring Bushells Tea leaves (NO schwarztee in Germany comes close), peanut butter, my favourite brand of English mustard, and of course, vegemite. Space permitting: furikake, laksa paste, and sesame chilli oil. Going the other way, Niederegger marzipan and Hachez chocolate with ginger for my dad. Oh, and plenty of Tempo tissues! When in the States I stock up on Throat Coat tea for my mum, who’s prone to coughs, as well as drugstore cheap stuff like allergy tablets. My friend holds the record in my books for bizarre exports – she once took a chunk of kangaroo meat back to Germany by freezing it beforehand and packing it in a cool bag. It arrived thawed, and that’s what was on the menu for dinner that night.

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Vicki

March 18, 2013

I’ve lived in Switzerland for 12 years and there are still a number of things that I have not managed to find here that I am accustomed to from American. Brown sugar is top of the list for me too (although airport scanners do not like the looks of it in carry-on cases). I also find peppermint and cinnamon extract are good (I used the oil one finds in German markets and it almost took my teeth out). Additionally, I can hardly get enough unsweetened chocolate. Then there are the really random things like liquid smoke, candy eyes for decorating, and – most importantly of all – Milk Duds, Dots, Cheetos and other food that is dreadfully unhealthy but tastes so good.

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Shira

March 18, 2013

If it’s any reassurance, the British zip locs are also sub-par. Why I’m not sure…

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Alice

March 18, 2013

I’m American living in Australia and my last trip home I ended up bringing back about 10 cans of chipotles in adobo sauce (that was in November 2012 and I still haven’t used any!). There are pretty heavy restrictions on what you can bring into the country and I’ve been too scared to try more things. I would love to bring back some Rancho Gordo beans and dried chiles!

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Lisa

March 18, 2013

I ask for steel cut oats whenever family is visiting. and just recently i asked for Nyquil… the german idea of a pharmacy and my idea of a pharmacy are not quite the same. oh and peppers, i am going back in May and i will be bringing back burt’s bees chapstick, trader joe’s baking powder, mighty leaf tea… and pecans next time 🙂 my pecan pie last year was more expensive than the turkey. and probably some pants.. i’m a petite asian-american and in Germany, that seems to mean kinderkleidung… its amazing how much less money i spend on clothing since i’ve moved here. its harder to committ to buying stuff on online, and H&M children’s only has so much clothing that a 26 year old university statistican can wear to work.

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Nuts about food

March 18, 2013

As an American/German living in Italy, just to name a few:
from the US – pecans, corn syrup (ONLY to make pecan pie), zip lock bags (yes I believe you), steel cut oats, General Mills Cheerios (for kids), Sun Maid raisins (for kids), cotton garments, chocolate chips, Reeses pieces.
from Germany: Apfel Schorle, mustards, Leberwurst (and other Wurst), poppy seeds, cake decorations, Luebecker Marzipan.

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Francesca

March 18, 2013

I bought a pastry cutter at the Tchibo shop in my town last week http://www.tchibo.de/Teigmischer-p400026197.html (if this is what you mean) and amazon.de sells them as well.

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Liz

March 18, 2013

I’m an American living in Amman, Jordan. Fresh, ripe avocados is number one on my list every time. After that I look for Rao’s pasta sauce, decently priced pecans, and really good salsa.

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nutsaboutfood

March 18, 2013

Yes I am happy to have checked a few things off my list, for example vanilla extract that I make at home how. Although with all the new food trends I read about on blogs, there is always a list of “new” things to buy that I am dying to try alongside the staples.

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Nuts about food

March 18, 2013

Hi Alisha, just recently discoverd it is really easy to make homemade microwave popcorn, check it out on Google.

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