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Original poster

What to bring back from Spain?

57 replies

Palomapetty · 01/02/2023 14:10

I'll admit, I do love holiday shopping threads about French supermarkets, etc and what to bring back when visiting different parts of the world.

Only my second time visiting Spain (1st time in 15 years!). What should I bring back from Spain?

OP posts:
SeatonCarew · 01/02/2023 16:11

prampushingdownthehighst · 01/02/2023 14:45

Paracetamol and ibuprofen, so much cheaper!

No, you take them TO Spain for friends because they are so much cheaper in the UK. 😊

OP, if you have a case checked in the hold, get yourself some Baco Reserva brandy from Mercadona supermarket. It's glorious, and a total bargain at around €5,95 a bottle. (Don't bother with the Gran Reserva which is twice the price and not as nice, or the cheaper basic one).

What else do I bring back? UHT cartons of cooking cream, litre bottles of Famous Grouse, (€12,95from Costo stores), and gluten free rosemary crackers from Mercadona. Yay! 🤣

MrsAvocet · 01/02/2023 16:13

Grey lentils. Not quite sure what type they are but I have never found exactly the same ones in the UK.
Turron. I like the crunchy type with the whole almonds in and DH likes the soft type. You used to only be able to get it at Christmas but it seems to be more available nowadays.
And unfortunately not easy to bring home, but the pinnacle of Spanish Supermarket shopping is, in my opinion, Eroski's own brand of gazpacho. I have eaten gazpacho in many different places including some very expensive restaurants but honestly, nothing beats a carton of Eroski's own. It's always first day task on our holidays to fill the fridge!

BarbaraofSeville · 01/02/2023 16:40

The mention of Mercadona reminds me about their thick hot chocolate powder, just their own brand, nothing fancy but its lovely.

Also nice tuna in olive oil.

I think a lot of Spanish painkillers are stronger than UK supermarket ones, as well as pharmacists being able to prescribe medication that is doctor only here.

How much luggage allowance do you have going spare OP? Smile

Interested in this thread?

Then you might like threads about this subject:

Holidays
Oldraver · 01/02/2023 16:46

Turon and Valor hot chocolate

Oldraver · 01/02/2023 16:47

Turron, sorry missed out an r 😅

Original poster
Palomapetty · 01/02/2023 19:21

Hmm...good question...maybe half a suitcase? I know that meat and dairy are out because it is in the schengen zone.

OP posts:
LawksaMercyMissus · 02/02/2023 09:44

You can bring back meat and dairy but not take it to Spain with you

Claretmum · 02/02/2023 09:53

Fags!!! 😂

(only joking, unless you smoke of course.....)

Larios gin definitely! It's about 6 euros in Mercandona, about 10 euros in Duty Free.

maddy68 · 02/02/2023 09:59

SeatonCarew · 01/02/2023 16:11

No, you take them TO Spain for friends because they are so much cheaper in the UK. 😊

OP, if you have a case checked in the hold, get yourself some Baco Reserva brandy from Mercadona supermarket. It's glorious, and a total bargain at around €5,95 a bottle. (Don't bother with the Gran Reserva which is twice the price and not as nice, or the cheaper basic one).

What else do I bring back? UHT cartons of cooking cream, litre bottles of Famous Grouse, (€12,95from Costo stores), and gluten free rosemary crackers from Mercadona. Yay! 🤣

Show quote history

I live in Spain. If you buy branded eg nurofen they are more expensive in Spain
Always ask for generico which is unbranded and pence

maddy68 · 02/02/2023 10:02

BarbaraofSeville · 01/02/2023 16:40

The mention of Mercadona reminds me about their thick hot chocolate powder, just their own brand, nothing fancy but its lovely.

Also nice tuna in olive oil.

I think a lot of Spanish painkillers are stronger than UK supermarket ones, as well as pharmacists being able to prescribe medication that is doctor only here.

How much luggage allowance do you have going spare OP? Smile

Mercadona are a very right wing company that funds right wing politics in Spain.
Lots of folk won't use them because of that

Binfire · 02/02/2023 10:03

Another vote for Tretinoin!

MrsAvocet · 02/02/2023 11:09

I think a lot of Spanish painkillers are stronger than UK supermarket ones
I'd completely forgotten til I read this, but yes, one of the things I used to stock up on when my children were little was paracetamol suspension. There is (or at least was then) an absolutely lurid pink version which is 100mg/ml as opposed to the standard UK concentrations of 120mg/5ml or the "six plus" at 250mg/5ml. So you only have to give a fraction of the volume which is very helpful when tackling a toddler medicine refusnik. I have vague memories of there being a more concentrated ibuprofen suspension that was an equally alarming bright orange colour, but I might have made that up. But I definitely used to bring a big bottle of the paracetamol home every year.

upinaballoon · 02/02/2023 11:11

Fans, as someone has already suggested. I mean the pretty ones you use by hand. They are pleasantly effective on a hot summer day. Then you put them away in a drawer and forget where you put them.

Framilode · 02/02/2023 11:34

Mercadona lilac bin bags, strong vinegar for cleaning, mercadona gherkins and their pickled red onions, doggy bags. Don Bernardo manchego cheese. The spices as mentioned previously.

Claretmum · 02/02/2023 14:46

maddy68 · 02/02/2023 10:02

Mercadona are a very right wing company that funds right wing politics in Spain.
Lots of folk won't use them because of that

Show quote history

I never knew that! I love a mooch around Mercadona when I go to Spain.

Mxflamingnoravera · 02/02/2023 14:54

Black soap! Yes, I have been buying and using La Toja black soap for years. I love it.

weebarra · 02/02/2023 15:01

Paprika, vinegars, saffron, President Camembert dip, pimientos del piquillos, paella spice.

SeatonCarew · 03/02/2023 18:42

Palomapetty · 01/02/2023 19:21

Hmm...good question...maybe half a suitcase? I know that meat and dairy are out because it is in the schengen zone.

You can bring meat and dairy back from Schengen into the UK, you can't take it into the Schengen area. I once brought a whole fillet of beef back to the UK from Spain in my hand luggage, the Spanish security guard was quite happy once he'd checked it wasn't somebody's arm or something! 😁

earsup · 03/02/2023 18:45

prampushingdownthehighst · 01/02/2023 14:45

Paracetamol and ibuprofen, so much cheaper!

oh but only 29 p a packet in my local Asda...are they really cheaper in spain...i go over a lot but never bought any.

todaystoday · 03/02/2023 18:46

Tretinoin. You can buy it over the counter in Spain

earsup · 03/02/2023 18:48

Buy Frenadol...for colds and flu....10 euros a box, better than uk stuff.

Antibiotics from pharmacy, cheaper than here and then you have a supply if doctor here says you need them....about half price to uk.

hartof · 03/02/2023 18:49

If you have asthma, inhalers are mega cheap over the counter out there

Overthebow · 03/02/2023 18:49

Saffron, from the supermarket not expensive tourist bottles of it.

SecretVictoria · 03/02/2023 19:15

The sun ☀️