American grocery souvenirs

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.

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127 responses to “American Grocery Store Souvenirs”

  1. Sophie Avatar
    Sophie

    ooohhh I love to read this list! I live in the Netherlands and grew up with al German mother.
    I used to pack more than I do now, because supplies have improved.
    In the old days, my grandmother would visit with 10 original Stuttgarter Brezeln and 10 Bratwürste. Spätzle, Ulmer Mutschelmehl were other staples we imported then.
    Later, we always took peppermint and rosehip/hibiscus tea, several flour varieties. Chocolate of course. (Someone mentioned Cadbury’s: it contains other non-chocolate and to my knowledge even animal fat, that explains the difference in taste).
    Oh I could go on and on!

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  2. mhs Avatar
    mhs

    I’m German and lived some time in France. Carrying food in both directions is nothing unusual. Over the years things have changed a lot, many things are now obtainable on both sides of the border so that trafficking isn’t necessary any more.
    To France it’s still Haribo and German style chocolate as well as German BREAD. Of course it is possible to get sourdough bread or Vollkornbrot (black, square) in France nowadays but shops which have them outside Paris are few and far between. But when it comes to Laugengebäck … no chance(as far as I know).
    The other direction it’s usually WINE and CHEESE(surprise), G. Detou stuff such as chocolate chips, crème de callison, crème caramel au beurre salée, herbs (bouquets garnis), Verveine tea and 500ml pots of crème fraîche allégée which are unobtainable here in size, quality and price.
    Apropos ziplock bags, I’m amazed that it is such a huge topic. Yes, those Toptic ones aren’t clear, but the Ikea ones are. They come in a pack of various colours and sizes, or aren’t they up to standard?

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  3. mehrunnisa Avatar

    oh dear. i always have trouble with this. for me it’s my mother’s jams and preserves, particular chutneys, pine nuts (because they are so much cheaper in pakistan), local honey, all manner of dried fruits. when it comes to the things i wish i could bring those are endless and involve things like chappal kebabs and all manner of fruits (basically perishable items!).

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  4. Luisa Avatar

    I don’t know why but every German ziploc bag I’ve ever tried has leaked, come apart, or in some other way failed me. It’s funny to see that I’m not alone! Clearly, Zip-Loc could make a killing in Europe! 🙂

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  5. Helena Avatar
    Helena

    I always bring back maple syrup, pecans, peanut butter and chocolate chips. Wheat chex, triscuits and Reeses if I have space. Oh, and ziploc bags too.

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  6. elissa Avatar

    Hi there, I live in northern New Mexico, so I don’t have anything to add to the list. But I just wanted to offer myself as a blog-reader who can mail you a variety of chile powders straight from New Mexico, if you ever need it in between trips to the States!

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  7. Elizabeth R. Avatar
    Elizabeth R.

    When I visit my parents in Seattle I bring back Chukkar cherries, Krustez scone mix, and wine. If only I could tote back real Quark from Germany. Luckily my local Ukrainian grocery store here in Chicago stocks vaguely similar Euro treats.

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  8. Dee Avatar
    Dee

    I’d be glad to send you some Ziploc bags when you run out–and anything else you’d like! 😉

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  9. dancing gal Avatar
    dancing gal

    I come from Greece, I live in Paris, and my suitcase on my way back to Paris is usually stuffed with greek extra-virgin olive oil, artisanal honey from a friend’s dad, and always, always, a tupperware filled with my mama’s spanakopita (traditional greek spinach pie). I know the last one shouldn’t really count, but this is what I miss the most…
    Great post!
    Eliza

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  10. Dorothee Avatar
    Dorothee

    I tend to crave apple cider, good bagels and munchkins – also peanut butter chips for cookies and pecans. After ten years I’m finally going back to the US in summer and can’t wait to stock up again. Why the baking powder? Non-aluminum? Or is there another reason? Will definitely check it out.

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  11. Lucrezia Avatar
    Lucrezia

    Oh Luisa, these comments are full of strong feelings, how beautiful!
    Well, after some years living abroad the italian grocery store products I miss the most and that I can’t find anywhere are probably menthe syrup Fabbri to mix with milk in summer, Doriano crackers and Galatine Sperlari. From Germany instead I always bring Sanddorn teas or jams to Italy, since I can’t find them there. Then I miss every possible kind of summer fresh peaches or figs and cheese but those things are easier to replace…unlike the smell of family kitchen, which is hard to substitute for galatine..

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  12. Georgina Avatar

    I loved this post and all the comments! I’ve never lived outside of Canada, but when I’m in other provinces, I stock up on local things I can’t get at home in the north – mostly Korean spices, microbrew beers, and gluten free oats.

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  13. Giulia Doyle Avatar

    I always import Suchard Express chocolate powder..it’s the only way we make our chocolate milk. I also miss Spruengli croissants and weggli, but those I can’t bring back. My uncle always has me bring Shreddies from Canada to NY and my mom always buys Twizzlers, Cinnamon hearts and Jello to take home to Switzerland. And my grandmother insists that my mom bring prepackaged Roeschti from Switzerland to Canada.

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  14. Ilka Avatar
    Ilka

    When I was a university student in England and my parents visited from Germany, they brought Schwarzbrot and Frühlingsquark. I would also take canned Schwarzbrot to Italy when I went to school there to eat as a special treat with friends from Sweden and the Netherlands.

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  15. Leslie Avatar

    I’m pretty sure my ugly blue Ziploc bags from Edeka are actually Ziploc brand. They seem to be non-leaking and functional, just ugly…

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  16. Leslie Avatar

    I forgot to mention that when I am in America, I of course miss German stuff, particularly fresh seeded rolls for breakfast and those Aspirin-Brausetablette that are like aspirin in alka-seltzer form. I asked for them at Duane Reade once and they thought I was talking gibberish!

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  17. CindyLou Avatar
    CindyLou

    A hundred years ago when living in the Middle-East, it was ketchup, sweet pickle relish, and Fritos. Once a Pan Am pilot friend brought me a jar of peanut butter. I was in comfort food heaven.

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  18. Lora Avatar

    I used to schlep flour back before I figured out the flour thing in Germany. Always peanut butter cups and tootsie rolls So many other things as well until out of desperation I figured out how to compensate, found them in the American section in Karstadt or learned how to make them myself.

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  19. Usha Avatar

    Another Malaysian-Australian here!
    From Malaysia – besides Old Town coffee and kaya, I bring back Kampung Koh Chili sauce and anything Adabi. Also a huge tin of my mother’s home-made Murukku
    From Australia – Tim Tams and Milo!

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  20. Ali Avatar
    Ali

    As an American living in the Netherlands I can get most things, but I too come home stocked with Ziplock bags! I’ve even been known to share with Dutch friends. Other than that, mostly drug store products – Nyquil, Advil and Sudafed – and chili powder.

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  21. Lily @ Lilywanderlust.com Avatar

    I’m an American living in Amsterdam since 2009 and aside from the usual cravings for Mexican food (which shouldn’t be 20euros a plate!) and hot sauce, I also really miss the cold medicine that actually works (paracetamol is not a cure all!) and Arm & Hammer toothpaste!

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  22. orcagna@web.de Avatar
    orcagna@web.de

    Capperi sotto sale, always. The last batch I hamstered at Lipari actually lasted two years, and I’m an addicted heavy user…

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  23. TSJ Avatar

    I’m flying home to Germany from NJ next month. I’ll bring maple syrup, pecans, curry paste, peanut butter, haircare products, and, yes, ziploc bags for my sister. I’ll pick up bagels on the day of my flight. I will eat as many good rolls with nuts and seeds as I possibly can while I’m there! And also yoghurt with anything other than banana strawberry flavor. On my flight home, my suitcase will be stuffed with Milka chocolate, Hanuta, Katjes, Moevenpick coffee, rosehip/hibiscus and other herbal teas, Nivea lotion (it’s just so much cheaper in Germany), and bandaids. I’ll pick up Bretzeln on the day of my flight to bring back for my kids. Oh, and I’ll bring back some Nutella, which I won’t share with anyone. (The Nutella in the States just doesn’t taste the same.)

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  24. Gemma Avatar
    Gemma

    I’m an Australian living in Denmark after spending 4 years in the US and I really thought I was the only one packing all kinds of weird things when I go backwards and forwards. It’s great to see all these lists and know I’m really just one of many.
    From the US I get: baking powder, steel cut oats, chilli powder, baking chips
    Australia: passionfruit pulp in cans, jarrah honey, vegemite
    Denmark (to the US or Australia): rye bread and apple & elderflower jam

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  25. Lynne Avatar
    Lynne

    Heh heh, reading this thread has made me see the truth in this Berlin based comic: http://www.caffeinatedtoothpaste.com/29112012/
    You love your ziplock bags….

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  26. Ada Avatar
    Ada

    Oh, that’s too funny that you bought BTB. My boyfriend is currently living in Switzerland (we’re Canadian) and when I visit or when he’s home, be stocks up on Better than Bouillon veggie as well! He also has a fine stash of Indian spices, a big bag of chocolate chips and a big bottle of vanilla essence since he can’t seem to find it over there. I assume most of these things can be found in specialty stores for a high price or ordered online, but it’s ultimately much easier to just bring them. When he was living in Germany, I also took him a couple of cans of maple syrup, since it was much cheaper than buying it.

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  27. Kamila Avatar
    Kamila

    Canned pumpkin! When I lived overseas, my best friend back home mailed me a can of Libby’s, so I could make pumpkin pie. The postage cost ten times more than the can itself – it was one of the best gifts I’ve ever gotten!
    And I remember washing out Ziploc bags and drying them over the faucet to reuse. 😉

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  28. Rima R Avatar

    Wow, the Ziploc situation is dire throughout the world, eh? I am an American living in Beirut, where Ziplocs are plenty available, as are many American goodies. But there are some things that I always stuff my bag with – magazines, books, “the-economy-sucks”/end-of-season sale clothes, and electronics. Food-wise, I would pack Trader Joe’s if I could, but usually it’s a special bag of coffee or chai tea (though I recently learned how to make that). But the real food transport is from Beirut to Chicago – homemade quince, apricot, and mulberry jams; baklava, zaataar, olives, olive oil, freshly baked pita bread.
    Love this post…made me feel part of an international food/item-sick community 🙂

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  29. Rima R Avatar

    Oh, and a very unique item from the U.S. to Beirut: Vegeta!

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  30. Bea Avatar
    Bea

    Niederegger Marzipan, I can’t leave Germany without it.

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  31. Dana Avatar
    Dana

    Hi! Love this post 🙂 There’s something so common place about people no matter where we hail from where we long for and crave our comfort food or items that present a whiff of home. I usually hail from Beirut zaa’tar, spices (Lebanese 7 spice blend, shawarma spice blend,summac, mastic), pine nuts, kibbe herb blend (dried rose petals +marjoram+basil+cumin and others),baklavva, orange blossom jam, blanched tender grape leaves, and on one occasion one kilo of fresh chevre 🙂

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  32. Jennifer Avatar
    Jennifer

    Funny that my US kitchen is currently stocked with all but one of those. Homesick flavors are certainly more of a big deal when flying overseas, but the Boston things that I long(ed) for are/were:
    When in college in Minnesota, sharp white cheddar cheese. I would bring a pound back after every Christmas and spring break. The orange Wisconsin cheddar was never right. The reappearance of white cheddar was one of the best parts of moving back to the East Coast.
    Certainly not viable on a plane trip, but I still miss the Hood’s ice cream “sports bar” vanilla and fudge ice cream, coated with chocolate…best eaten while sitting in Fenway park.
    Torrone from Modern Pastry in the North End. Now they have all sorts of wacky flavors, but the plain is enough to make me happy.
    And a particular anise cookie from an Italian store in Brockton…I’ve never found a local replacement here in DC, nor found a recipe, although maybe I’ll have to try.

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  33. na Avatar
    na

    For european butter, may I suggest a good alternative with Straus European Style Cultured Butter or Organic Valley Pasture Raised Cultured Butter. Both excellent substitutes 🙂

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  34. Eva Avatar

    Oh boy…I love that so many Americans have similar lists!…I always bring pecans, whiskey, dark chocolate, vanilla beans, grade B maple syrup, cranberries, wild rice, loads of natural peanut butter, masa harina, dried Mexican chiles, chipotles en adobo…and Dr. Bronner’s soap because South American detergents give me crazy rashes. Oh and razors, too. But really, if Trader Joe’s would only open up some stores down here my life would be complete…

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  35. Sara Avatar

    I just inhaled a bag of blenheim apricots from Trader Joe’s. So good.

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  36. Clara Avatar

    Oh! Such excellent choices you made. When I was living in France, it was all about ground chile (reminder of Tucson), Oreo’s, and M&M’s.

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  37. The Brussels Cook(er) Avatar

    I live in Brussels/Belgium but am from Bremen (North Germany) and miss Tchibo shops the most here – so brilliant for “kitchen stuff”… Food-wise I always load up on sweet Bavarian mustard, sweet pickled gherkins (“Sweety” brand), Kasseler and other “Aufschnitt” (cut hams etc), a big bag of assorted Brötchen (bread rolls)- and Duplo (chocolate fingers) for my two children. AND a Gans (goose)for Xmas/New Year – and a big fat vacuum-packed Räucheraal (smoked eel) at least once a year!

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  38. jstew52 Avatar
    jstew52

    I always have my British friends bring Pizza Express house dressing to me in California. Love that stuff! We also request black currant tea.

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  39. Julia Avatar
    Julia

    From Uruguay when I lived in Minnesota: yerba mate Canarias and dulce de leche Conaprole.
    Now I’m back in Uruguay, from Minnesota: maple syrup, wild rice and spices (cardamom and caraway).
    Not everything always makes it through customs, must be said.

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  40. Rachel Avatar

    I think this has to be a ‘home thing’ as I don’t think I will be bringing any grocery supplies back to England with me when I move back from Los Angeles, but I do get my Mum to mail me my favourite stock cubes!

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  41. Peter Avatar
    Peter

    I’m from Ireland now living in California. My daughter is celiac (or coeliac if you prefer!) and we discovered Birds Eye Potato Waffles last time we went back to visit my family. These have always been gluten free (long before that became trendy). They are now a fixture in the suitcase as there doesn’t appear to be any equivalent in America. I also freeze and hide some gluten free breakfast sausages (again, no America equivalent). I also stock up on Tayto Cheese and Onion Crisps for myself and chocolate treats from my childhood that my kids now love (Flakes, Twirls, Curly-Wurlys…) And if there’s room, a few tins of Beamish Stout (so much better than Guinness).
    Going the other way, I’m not allowed in the door unless I bring at least 5lbs of See’s Candy. Can’t believe no one has mentioned that so far 😉

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  42. The Brussels Cook(er) Avatar

    Would the Röstis be made by Hero? That brings back so many childhood memories of visiting Switzerland and stocking up in Migros or co-op… And I always bring back Bündnerfleisch (Bresola) from there as well! AND every year we make a pilgrimage to the Lindt factory shop at the Zürichsee to buy literally kilos of their fantastic wares to take back to Belgium – go there if you can!

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  43. Jenni Avatar
    Jenni

    I’ve been able to buy Lyle’s Golden Syrup at Whole Foods before! It’s usually hidden, but I think it’s with the maple syrups and such.

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  44. Jenni Avatar
    Jenni

    My husband is Australian, and whenever we make a trip out there, we always come back with a suitcase full of Shapes, Nutri-Grain, Weet-bix, Tim Tams, Mint Slices (which you can sometimes find at World Market, thankfully), and my personal favorite, Nice biscuits. We try to make it all last as long as possible, but it’s all so tasty!

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  45. Paula Avatar
    Paula

    Lovely post! It’s so interesting to read all of your reader’s responses!
    First off: I am also a “Better Than Bouillon Vegetable Base” fiend. It is just awesome (I’d never thought about actually eating out of the jar as Max is tempted to do but….you know, he might be on to a marmite-vegemite-like delight. Then again, I’ve been known to drink pickle juice and once, I’ll confess under the cover of the cyber-sphere, ate a jar of tomato pasta sauce. No, I was not pregnant.
    You might also want to try, on your next visit to the US, the Rapunzel brand vegetable bouillon cubes. They are really, really good (I think the Sea Salt & Herb ones are excellent). I get them at Trader Joe’s.
    I grew up in Colombia, but it’s been about a decade since I’ve been back. Stuff to ask people to bring: herbs called “guascas” to make a terrific soup called ajiaco. You can actually buy the herbs on amazon, but I have not yet done so. I should. Their flavor is inimitable (I think they’re called gallant soldier in English). Dulce de leche (or arequipe as its called in Colombia) is definitely high on the list as well (they actually sell the most famous Colombian brand in certain places in the US, but those batches are unfortunately made in Florida with local milk and, well, it just doesn’t taste the same).
    I do long to go back and munch all my nostalgic bakery goodies Colombia has a really unique range of savory and sweet indigenous pastries, some made from yucca-based flour and salty cheese while another favorite is a challah-like roll filled with guava paste. It’s really yummy. I wish more people in the US would become familiar with guava paste (I think it has the same versatility as the well-known quince counterpart). Anyhow, my mouth is starting to water so I think I’ll leave it at that!!

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  46. Emma-Kate Avatar
    Emma-Kate

    I live in Singapore and am from South Africa. Unfortunately, the things I miss most from SA I can’t really bring back here, or not much anyway – affordable, good-quality beef and lamb, and cheap, delicious red wine (I can bring a couple bottles, any more and I have to pay pretty high sin taxes). Will just have to have lots next time I go home!

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  47. Luisa Avatar

    Love guava paste so much!

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  48. Luisa Avatar

    I couldn’t tell you exactly why, but American baking powder “works” better than German baking powder, in my totally anecdotal experience.

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