Travel experts reveal their must-buy souvenirs, ranging from edible treats like Swedish gummies and Moroccan mint tea to homewares such as Parisian linens and Greek ceramics. These picks offer a glimpse into local cultures and provide lasting memories of journeys.
Edible Treasures: Teas, Olives, and Sweets
Adrienne Adhami, a wellbeing coach and podcast host, loves discovering local teas wherever she travels. She notes, "Whether it's Moroccan mint, Japanese green or herbal blends I've never come across at home," and since giving up coffee, matcha from Kyoto has become her daily ritual. Phillippa Fern Kenyon Shutes, a private chef, always stocks up on Aceitunas gazpachas in Spain—split manzanilla or hojiblanca olives marinated with pickles and spices—from local organic food shops. Patrick Williams, an interior designer, brings back armagnac prunes from the Gers region of France, where they are preserved in the local brandy, often from Château de Cassaigne.
Patricia Zhou, a choreographer, prioritizes coffee beans from Ethiopia or Kenya, favoring naturally fermented ones with fruity notes. Kash Bhattacharya, a travel blogger, picks up makrut lime leaves at Bangkok's Phra Khanong market for 50 baht (about £1), noting the market is where locals shop, with no tourists and friendly vendors. Jessica Nabongo, a travel writer, collects local spirits from every country she visits, including gin from Eritrea and Botswana, and even a bottle from Laos with a worm inside. Kate Berry fills a carry-on case with Swedish gummies from Stockholm grocery stores like Hemköp.
Clothing and Accessories: Chic and Cultural
Jess Cartner-Morley, Guardian fashion editor, praises French store Monoprix for chic but cheap childrenswear, saying it offers "Bonpoint vibes at H&M prices." She also recommends their paper napkins as perfect gifts. Lucy Williams, a stylist, always returns from Greece with an evil-eye bracelet, marking the start of summer. Kate Berry buys luxury scarves from Hermès and shirts from Charvet in France, plus personalized socks from Mes Chaussettes Rouges and Tabio. Natasha Shafi, CEO at Mr & Mrs Smith, frequents Skat Vintage and the Saint-Ouen flea market in Paris for vintage silk scarves and jackets.
Beauty and Personal Care: Global Favorites
Divia Thani, global editorial director at Condé Nast Traveller, picks up white flower oil from Hong Kong, which relieves headaches and insect bites, and Pudin Hara in India, an ayurvedic mint blend for tummy issues. Andy Pietrasik, Guardian travel editor, buys Nenuco Agua de Colonia in Spain, a light cologne often used for babies, and Le Petit Marseillais Lait shower gel in France for its summer associations. Lucy Williams recommends The Naxos Apothecary in Athens for artisan candles and fragrances. Teresa Tarmey, a facialist, stocks up on melatonin at US pharmacies like CVS and discovers beauty buys like Pacha Soap Co's natural deodorant. Kate Berry seeks handmade razors in Italian men's toiletries shops. Phillippa Fern loves Zielinski & Rozen's natural antiperspirant in Amsterdam. Teresa Tarmey also buys Ducray Ictyane emollient cream from French pharmacies, and Natasha Sullivan, cabin crew, grabs Colgate Wisps toothbrushes in the US.
Homewares: Linens, Ceramics, and Vintage Finds
Lucinda Chambers, co-founder of Collagerie, heads to Merci in Paris for luxurious washed bed linen and napkins, collecting almost every shade over the years. Kirthanaa Naidu, a stylist, brings home tiny glasses and local bottles, like Manuel Vermouth from Biarritz. Lucinda Chambers also hunts for vases and ceramics in Marrakech's souks, praising LRNCE studio. Lucy Williams highlights Kostas Depastas on Sifnos, Greece's ceramics island, where he uses a foot-operated wheel to craft jugs and bowls. Imogen Kwok, a chef, buys silicone baking mats from E Dehillerin in Paris, noting "Their own-brand silpats are my favourite – chic green and white." Hikari Yokoyama, founder of Naum House, collects antique buttons, picture frames, and baskets from flea markets worldwide. Patrick Williams finds affordable rugs at Istanbul's Feriköy flea market. Imogen Kwok also purchases architecture drafting stencils from Pellegrini Brera art shop in Milan. Kash Bhattacharya recommends Tokyo's Akihabara district for used cameras, where he bought a mint condition Fujifilm X10 at half price from Camera Kitamura.
