This post contains affiliate links. It’s no secret that I am no fan of even the best souvenirs. Not the typical suspects anyway. Give me a typical food item over a key ring any day as a souvenir from your trip. Buy me something silly yet useful, like a mafia apron from Sicily or a Cadbury chocolate from England instead of little attraction miniatures, pencils or snow globes. I have already shown you the alternative guide to holidaying gift giving but this time around, I am taking you across the world for products that you must squeeze into your luggage in select countries, my favourites among the best souvenirs for different countries. So buckle up, empty your suitcase and let’s get shopping.
Japanese Souvenirs
- Kitchen stuff: knives, chopsticks, rice bowls, sushi mat, porcelain
- Fan: Anime and Manga, figurines , stationary, cosplay items
- Useful: latest electronic releases, parasols
- Sweets: KitKats, matcha cookie and chocolate, shichimis
- Drinks: sake, green tea, matcha tea, soda cans, mochi
- Reader recommendations: see-through umbrellas, stationary, towels
German Souvenirs
- Kitchen stuff: Beer mugs, Christmas market mugs, porcelain kitchenware sets
- Sweets: chocolate, marzipan, gummy bears, lebkuchen (during Christmas)
- Drinks: beer, Jägermeister
- Health: Penaten cream
- Decoration: wooden and straw Christmas hangers, baubles
- Reader Recommendations: Kinder surprise (Kinderüberraschung), Kinder chocolates, stainless steel, Birkenstocks
English Souvenirs
- Kitchen stuff: Tea set, cookie tin box
- Sweets: Cadbury chocolate, fudge, rock candy, shortbread
- Drinks: tea, whiskey
- Clothing: something from Primark
- Preloved: second-hand clothing and used books
Swedish Souvenirs
- Kitchen stuff: Glassware, fika cups, cheese slicer
- Kitchen textiles: towel, aprons, oven gloves
- Food: Canned game meat (moose, reindeer etc.), knäckebröd, lingonberry jam, tube cheese
- Drinks: Absolut Vodka, Julmost
- Design: furniture, decoration
Australian Souvenirs
- Food: Tasmanian cheese, Vegemite (to prank your friends)
- Sweets: TimTams, cherry ripe bars
- Drinks: Shiraz
- Decoration: aboriginal art or handicraft, wooden handcraft
- Health: Tea tree or emu oil
Korean Souvenirs
- Food: kimchi, gim, seafood crisps
- Drink: vegetable milk, tea
- Fan: KPop and KDrama articles
- Shopping: socks, caps, rings, cosmetic products, electronics
- Kitchen stuff: silverware
Italian Souvenirs
- Food: olive oil, pasta in different shapes and sizes, cheese, crushed pistachios
- Drink: wine, grappa, coffee
- Kitchen stuff: moka coffee pot, ceramics
- Shopping: leather shoes, designer fashion, lace
- Culture: Venetian masks, paintings, glass
That’s it for now on the best souvenirs. Of course, there are so many other countries out there and before I just spam you with lots of unique, yummy or decorative things that I recommend stocking up on, I want to know what would YOU recommend.
Tell me: Which souvenirs from your travels are your favourites?
This article has also appeared on Kiss from the World.
