Best things to buy in Italy?

[Endlessdark]

What’s your go to buys in Italy, e.g best supermarket hot chocolate, soaps etc! We have a huge Familia supermarket near us so I would love to get some goodies!

Pocket coffee
Everything else I can get at home too

These bites of pure heaven!

if you’re going to a local market their spice/seasoning mixes are amazing too.

Limoncello.

Pan di stelle biscuits. Pan di stelle anything!
Enormous wedge of Parmesan
Big bag dried oregano
Extra virgin olive oil and balsamic vinegar

Pistachio Cream Spread

These

I second balsamic

There was this creamy pistachio liquer I often reminisce of, €4 a bottle so not considered fancy there apparently

We will be picking up

fonzies (cheese crisps)
pan di stelle
san pellegrino cocktail / crudino / similar - don’t understand why they don’t sell that in England!
tarrallini and friselline
big pieces of speck
kraft mayonnaise (dh goes crazy for that)
pocket coffee

if we’re in the car we usually get a few 5 litre cases of wine, the local stuff that is far too drinkable and cheap as chips!

They do sell Crodino in England!

Cuor Di mela biscuits
San Benedetto the alla pesca (peach tea)

Yep found it once in Waitrose, I was so shocked at the price! i prefer san pellegrino version but haven’t been able to find that anywhere?

Any type of Novi chocolate bars especially the “panna” (cream) milk chocolate in the blue wrapper.
Before he became diabetic (or maybe because of it!) DF used to ask for Fiesta individual chocolate sponge cakes with orange liqueur.
You might have trouble transporting chocolate in August, however!

@fridaseyebrows I second tarallini/taralli.

Forever in search of the sugared taralli in the UK but have never been able to find them or a good equivalent.

What do you do with this?

Pan di stelle
Pasta shapes we can't get so easily here

And we always go to the mozzarella shop at the airport!

@LivStanshall I have it on toast for breakfast but it's delicious on its own and can be used in baking as a filling etc.

Parmigiano Reggiano, it can survive a journey. And yes to the pasta that's not so available here. DD1 is crazy about Cuor di Mela biscuits, so those

Literally NO idea why a Google search for cheese just showed up on my post!

Italian tomatoes, ds went to Italy with school & there was a supermarket near their hotel, he went in every day & bought crusty bread & plum tomatoes, he said they were the best tomatoes he had ever eaten.

I'd grab some nice cantucci

San Pellegrino Crodino available here:

https://www.delicatezza.co.uk/products/campari-crodino-10x100ml-delicatezza?_pos=1&_sid=41b43d114&_ss=r

Ciobar hot chocolate sachets
If you are a baker buy some vanilla flavoured baking powder sachets - all my cakes turn out amazing with them.
Stock cubes

(We usually travel hand luggage only hence only bringing back small things)

If I was going by car and had lots of space I'd bring back lots of cans of chinotto.
If you live in a town with an Italian deli you can probably find pan di stelle/cuor di melee biscuits in the UK, and they are expensive in Italy too so not much of a saving bringing them back.

Ohh thanks for all the suggestions! Definitely going to grab some spices from the market, they looked amazing! I was also checking out the pocket coffee yesterday afternoon so will definitely pick some up! We don’t drink alcohol so my bag will be loaded with pasta, biscuits and chocolate 🤣

Pizza and pinsa flour. Famila should sell both. Pinsa is the new pizza .... oval shaped with a softer crust. Prep dough and keep in fridge 24-48h before making.

The sourdough pizza mix is super quick .... 90 mins. You literally just add water and a tbsp oil. I use it for pizzas and pizzette (mini pizzas).

YY to origano .... but find a market as you can buy a big bag for €5. Or buy the flower stalks.

Also, paper napkins. A pack of 500 will cost around €2. Get different colours if planning a party.