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Italian Supermarket recommendations

10 replies

Crispbuttyandamugoftea · 19/02/2026 13:44

Off to Italy. There are quite a few threads on French supermarket must buys but can’t see any on Italian ones. What are your favourite buys? Things I can’t easily get here, must try etc. All ideas welcome. And suggestions for vegan products too please.

OP posts:
R00tat00tt00t · 19/02/2026 18:09

Are you driving or will you just have suitcase space if flying?
If you have space the first things I think of are: 1) lots of good local wine 2) ALL the pasta! So many varieties to choose from including lots of shapes we don’t have here 3) pistachio pesto 4) delicious hazelnut & cocoa biscuits 5) cantuccini/bicotti.

101jobs · 19/02/2026 18:26

You luck thing OP!

Star stock cubes

Roberts talc

Felce Azzurro talc

Plum Cake (pronounced “plume”, it’s not the fruit plum)

Mulino Bianco biscuits

Laundry soap bar (so cheap, smells lovely and MUCH better than Vanish for removing stains)

Leocrema face/body cream

Simmenthal (if you like potted beef)

Rio mare tinned tuna

Have a lovely time!

Crispbuttyandamugoftea · 20/02/2026 09:48

Thank you! I’m even more excited now!
sadly no car but we have a checked bag and I think since were staying in an apartment with a washing machine that I can probably get a weeks worth of clothes in my underseat hand luggage, so a fair bit of space for shopping!
pistachio pesto sounds amazing and thank you for that great list @101jobs

OP posts:
crumpet · 20/02/2026 09:50

Calve mayonnaise- both the standard and the tuna.

twilighteaser · 21/02/2026 19:59

Everything already mentioned.

Melatonin

Ciobar chocolate mix, so thick you need a spoon to eat it !

Pocket Coffee chocolates ( chocolates with a shot of espresso in them)

Proper Balsamic vinegar, but beware the good stuff costs

Taralli, tiny round wheat snacks, the fennel and also chili ones are great

Porcini funghi

Extra Virgin Olive oil , look for the DOP sign meaning it's Protected Designation of Origin

Wine, look for the DOC or even better the DOCG sign, you know it's good quality then.

If buying Prosecco make sure it's Conegliano Valdobbiadene Prosecco DOCG or Asolo Prosecco DOCG

Sachets of Saffron powder, a sheet contains 4 sachets, we use it to make Risotto Milanese, I have never seen this in UK

Near the tinned fish you'll find Cantabrico Anchovies ( Spanish but everywhere in Italy) the best and so nice in a salad or with bread and butter

Chocolate, we have some wonderful brands, the Esselunga supermarket 'Top' brand is made by Domori, which is a brand that usually costs a lot. Well worth buying.

Get Pesto from the fridge section, the stuff in a jar tastes noting like proper Ligurian pesto. Brands that are popular here are Pesto di Prà or Pesto Novella, if you have an Esselunga super market where you are, their 'TOP' brand is good too. Check the label though as a lot of Italians buy it without garlic as they want to avoid garlic breath, it will say 'Senza Aglio', you don't want that one! If you are anywhere near Genoa you will be spoilt for choice with pesto, it's where it comes from. Red Sicilian Pesto Pesto Siciliano) is less common in the fridge section, well here in north Italy anyway, but still worth a look.

I'd say cheese & Salame but not sure you can take back to UK these days, although all airports sell it in Duty Free. I still take it back to UK tbh never been stopped, just make sure it is vacuum packed 😉

Marvis toothpaste, not in the supermarket but many Pharmacies sell it and lots of other goodies!

Mossstitch · 21/02/2026 20:06

Mulino bianco biscuits definitely much better than ours in the Uk🍪😋

Crispbuttyandamugoftea · 23/02/2026 13:06

Wow, thank you all. @twilighteaser that is a fabulous list! Any specific brands of balsamic vinegar you recommend?
sadly I don’t think we’ll be near an Essalunga(staying in Aosta) but I’ll look out en route

OP posts:
Teaandsugar · 23/02/2026 13:17

we drive to Italy every year, so our boot is full of food.
Star brand Chicken/vegetable/carne misto (mix of beef and chicken) broth.
Calve mayonaise.
Pasta sold in Italy is superior quality, dried slower, easier to digest.
Rio mare tuna.
parmesan cheese, sold in markets for ravioli filling.
Gran Padano cheese is cheaper and nicer on top of pasta.

twilighteaser · 24/02/2026 20:05

Crispbuttyandamugoftea · 23/02/2026 13:06

Wow, thank you all. @twilighteaser that is a fabulous list! Any specific brands of balsamic vinegar you recommend?
sadly I don’t think we’ll be near an Essalunga(staying in Aosta) but I’ll look out en route

For the balsamic vinegar, at supermarket level they won't have the really, really good stuff that can cost between €40-€150 a bottle which you might find in a Deli ( Gastronomia) I don't buy it tbh, instead I usually Due VIttorie brand in the supermarket, it's nice.

Twoweeksandcounting · 24/02/2026 20:26

We stocked up on olive oil at the supermarket when we went to Italy last year. I also got these delicious sugared almonds, which had a layer of white chocolate in between the almond and the shell! Wish I’d bought more. Also pasta, they have really cheap packs of the kind you would get in a fancy gift hamper back in the U.K.

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