Indian women - can I ask a favour?

[SambucusEbulus]

Please? I am going to Bengaluru soon on a work trip to meet my team for the first time (we all work in Tech) and I've been trying to think of presents to bring them. I live in France, so I'd like to bring them something frenchy.
Gemini suggests a Longchamp Pliage bag, L'occitane hand cream, or a French silk scarf.
I'm not sure about any of those options, tbh. Would people really be pleased to receive a nylon bag? Or a silk scarf, when I'm pretty sure India already has lots of nice silk scarves?
We are all middle-aged women, except for one in her twenties, and my budget is from hand cream to a Pliage bag. 😀
Thanks!

I forgot to add, I’ve been working with most of them for a number of years now, but this is the first time we'll actually meet in person. I'm highly excited!

I can't help at all but I just wanted to say you sound a lovely kind, generous, thoughtful person. I hope you have a wonderful trip!

French food would go down a treat. I wouldn’t do expensive creams and lotions.

Yes French or just even European food items that are long lasting and can survive the journey. I work with multiple people in different counties in my tech role and our favourite topics are mostly food related! I'm not Indian, but just thought I would share my thoughts if I met my Indian tech colleagues in person.
I hope you have an amazing trip!

I would say take food if you can - depending on import regs. If you can’t do that the handcream or silk scarves - which should be French will be great eg Eiffel Tower on or Paris or whatever would go down well. Take something for the boss too even if you don’t work with him. Chocolate is good with the Eiffel tower on. Enjoy!!! I have loved every work trip I have done to India..

@SambucusEbulus I’m half Indian and would love whatever you bring as it’s thoughtful.

Yes we can get scarfs in India but the ones we buy wouldn’t have the same value as a thoughtful one from a lovely colleague xx

And yes to hand creams, my Indian cousins love l’occitanne xx

Chocolate in India takes like crap.

sone nice French chocolate would go down a treat.

wine is becoming more popular in India but non indian wine is very heavily taxed. So perhaps some decent wine ( if you know they drink)

I’m not Indian but DH is of Indian heritage. Food items sound like a good idea, but I wouldn’t bring chocolate as it might spoil quickly in Indian weather. Maybe some fancy biscuits and tea (Mariage?). Or nougat - it’s similar to some Indian sweets, which are often nut and honey based - or jam.

Do not take anything containing meat ingredients, as a lot of Indians are vegetarian, and even those who are not generally don’t eat beef or pork.

Pliage bags also a lovely idea.

Alternatively, nice hand soaps or diffusers (eg Roger et Gallet, Fragonard, Officine universelle Buly)?

Thank you all, that's all very helpful. I am taking notes and making a list.
Biscuits from provence and mariage tea sounds very doable and I'll certainly be including those, as well as some more treaty things.

DH is Indian, I’ve been taking gifts over for20 years, some favourites are tubs of body butter, all the women I know take extremely good care of their skin and moisturise morning and night. It’s the biggest request I get when I ask what to take.

biscuits go down really well, as does chocolate as theirs tends to have an additive to stop it melting, but unless you know there is a fridge available probably give that a miss. But snack foods are really popular.

taking a scarf to India would be like taking whisky to Scotland, though I’m sure anything will be loved.

you sound really thoughtful, I’m sure they will love anything you take over.

Macarons!

Chanel No. 5 !!

Please don’t take tea to India. Where do you think Mariage buys their tea from?…

You sound lovely OP, and wanting to take them gifts is so thoughtful. When I go to India to see my relatives obviously it’s a bit different because I know them so buy individual gifts, but I always take general gifts too like sweets and biscuits. Chocolate can travel - but not always! Skin care stuff is always well received - you can get basically everything in India now, but some foreign brands are really expensive. I’m sure L’Occitane would be well received.