Swedish gummies, Parisian linens and Moroccan mint tea: what journey specialists all the time convey dwelling from their journeys | Life and magnificence

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Food

Speciality tea

Photograph: SJ Bright/Alamy

I like discovering native teas wherever I journey, whether or not it’s Moroccan mint, Japanese inexperienced or natural blends I’ve by no means come throughout at dwelling. I gave up espresso final yr, and since then, tea – significantly matcha from Kyoto, which is absolutely sturdy – has grow to be my day by day ritual.
Adrienne Adhami, wellbeing coach and podcast host

Spanish olives

When in Spain, I all the time come dwelling with Aceitunas gazpachas – these cut up manzanilla or hojiblanca olives are marinated with pickles and spices, and so they’re utterly addictive. I replenish in native natural meals retailers, which are likely to have one of the best choice.
Phillippa Fern Kenyon Shutes, personal chef

Armagnac prunes

I grew up within the Gers area of south-west France, which is legendary for preserving prunes in armagnac, so I all the time attempt to convey a jar of them again from the native Château de Cassaigne. They are available in these pretty tall glass jars and take advantage of scrumptious after-supper deal with.
Patrick Williams, inside designer and founding father of Berdoulat

Coffee beans

Photograph: Jose Antona/Getty Images

I all the time begin my day with a pour-over espresso, so I be sure to replenish on beans at any time when I journey. I like ones from Ethiopia or Kenya, particularly once they’ve been naturally fermented, as they have a tendency to have a stunning fruitiness and acidity, with notes of strawberry, candied orange peel or pineapple. Once I get dwelling, I freeze the beans to protect their freshness.
Patricia Zhou, choreographer

Makrut lime leaves

Photograph: Pornsawan Baipakdee/Getty Images

Visiting Bangkok’s many markets (there’s one for every part) is all the time a spotlight of a visit to Thailand. Phra Khanong is the place native individuals purchase their groceries. There aren’t any vacationers, it’s very reasonably priced and the distributors are pleasant. I all the time decide up my annual provide of makrut lime leaves for 50 baht (about £1) there.
Kash Bhattacharya, journey blogger @budgettraveller

Local spirits

I purchase alcohol from just about each nation I go to. Looking at my assortment, I’ve gin from Eritrea and Botswana, native spirits from Tanzania, and even a bottle from Laos with some kind of worm in it. I don’t truly open a number of them – I simply love having them there as reminiscences of various locations. If I’m travelling to an enormous wine-producing nation, similar to South Africa or Italy, I all the time convey a particular wine suitcase with me, which holds 12 bottles.
Jessica Nabongo, journey author

Swedish gummies

Whenever I’m in Stockholm, I replenish on tender, chewy pick-and-mix sweets from any grocery retailer, similar to Hemköp – they’ve massive bins of them. Not only a packet or two – however a complete carry-on case stuffed with them.
Kate Berry

Extra virgin olive oil

I all the time come dwelling with one thing edible. In Greece, Italy or Portugal, that’s often a bottle of remarkable olive oil – typically domestically pressed – or a number of bottles of the native wine we found over dinner and wish to get pleasure from once more as soon as we’re dwelling.
Natasha Shafi

Macarons

Controversial opinion: Ladurée macarons, with their charming pistachio-green packing containers, should not, the truth is, the best macarons in Paris. For these, head to Carette. The flavours are just a little punchier (my favorite is salted caramel), the filling is extra beneficiant, and at about €3 (£2.55) apiece, they make the proper candy deal with for the journey dwelling.
Jess Cartner-Morley

Clothing

Chic however low-cost youngstersswear

Nowhere on the earth offers you as a lot stylish in your cash because the childrenswear division at French retailer Monoprix. Think Bonpoint vibes at H&M costs. When my youngsters had been little, I’d replenish each Paris style week, however there are branches throughout France. They additionally do probably the most lovely paper napkins which – being cheap, small and light-weight – make the proper presents to convey dwelling.
Jess Cartner-Morley, Guardian style editor

Evil-eye bracelets

Photograph: Getty Images/iStockphoto

Have you even been to Greece and never come dwelling with a minimum of one evil eye hanging out of your wrist or ankle? I do know it’s formally summer season when mine is again on my arm.
Lucy Williams, stylist and content material creator

Luxury scarves and shirts

I all the time purchase a shawl from Hermès and a Charvet shirt in France – plus socks from Mes Chaussettes Rouges and Tabio, as a result of they personalise with embroidery.
Kate Berry, US editor at Cabana journal

Vintage jackets

Whenever I’m in Paris, I all the time find time for Skat Vintage and, if it’s the weekend, a wander round Saint-Ouen flea market. I can hardly ever resist a classic silk scarf or jacket, though they’re typically claimed by my daughter earlier than they make it into my wardrobe.
Natasha Shafi, CEO at Mr & Mrs Smith

Beauty

White flower oil

I all the time decide up this oil from Hong Kong. With menthol, eucalyptus and wintergreen, it supplies immediate reduction from complications and bug bites, and even helps clear the sinuses. Just dot a number of drops in your wrists, temples and behind the ears.
Divia Thani, international editorial director at Condé Nast Traveller

Pudin Hara

In India, Pudin Hara is a conventional ayurvedic formulation. It’s a vibrant inexperienced mix of mint extract and peppermint oil that works shortly to ease all types of tummy-related points, from cramps and acidity to bloating and indigestion.
Divia Thani

Continental colognes

The first time I went to Spain, I keep in mind catching a particular waft of cologne at any time when I handed a go well with on their approach into their workplace in Barcelona. It was totally different from the muscular scents of dwelling on the time; gentle, summery and considerably continental. I lastly plucked up the braveness to ask somebody what they had been sporting, and it turned out to be Nenuco Agua de Colonia. Now I purchase it at any time when I am going to Spain and actually bathe in it as a result of it solely prices a number of euros. A Spanish buddy just lately advised me, nevertheless, that it’s principally used for infants. In France, I all the time purchase Le Petit Marseillais Lait bathe gel for a similar olfactory associations with summer season seashores.
Andy Pietrasik, Guardian journey editor

Artisan candles

If you’re passing via Athens, it’s a must to decide up one thing from The Naxos Apothecary. They take advantage of lovely artisan candles, physique merchandise and fragrances from Greek flora.
Lucy Williams

Melatonin

I replenish at a CVS pharmacy at any time when I journey to the US. I’m a superb sleeper, however for these uncommon nights after I’m not, their over-the-counter melatonin is a lifesaver. CVS can also be one of the best place to search out sensible little magnificence buys you’ll be able to’t get at dwelling – similar to Pacha Soap Co’s natural deodorant.
Teresa Tarmey, facialist

Handmade razors

Photograph: Huizeng Hu/Getty Images

In Italy, I all the time search out the standard males’s toiletries retailers and often come dwelling with a home made razor, brush or pair of scissors. Italians do issues like this so nicely: sensible, timeless and made to final.
Kate Berry

Natural deodorant

I just lately found the perfume retailer Zielinski & Rozen in Amsterdam and fell in love with their natural antiperspirant. I’m drawn to the scent of important oils, so now I all the time hunt one down after I come throughout their boutiques.
Phillippa Fern

French pharmacy moisturiser

French pharmacies are a treasure trove. I all the time replenish on Ducray Ictyane emollient cream. It’s low-cost as chips, and the one product that doesn’t go away my husband’s pores and skin feeling tight.
Teresa Tarmey

Colgate Wisps

These little on-the-go toothbrushes are one among my must-buys at any time when I’m within the US. They’re excellent for journey.
Natasha Sullivan, cabin crew

Homewares

Luxurious sheets

As quickly as I set foot in Paris, I head straight to Merci. The retailer was the primary to make washed mattress linen and napkins really feel really lovely. Over the years, I’ve slowly added to my assortment, so now I’ve obtained virtually each shade.
Lucinda Chambers, co-founder of style curation website Collagerie

Vintage digestif glasses

Photograph: BT1976/Getty Images/iStockphoto

I hardly ever come dwelling from a visit with no tiny glass and a bottle of regardless of the nation is finest recognized for. The glass often comes from a market or dusty vintage store, and the bottle is all the time one thing native that’s arduous to search out at dwelling. I final picked up a Manuel Vermouth whereas in Biarritz.
Kirthanaa Naidu, stylist, cook dinner and artistic producer

Vases and different ceramics

Photograph: Laurence Leenaert

You should hunt round Marrakech’s souks, however that’s a part of the enjoyable. I’ve introduced again fantastically colored vases – which I take advantage of as carafes – and mugs. I like LRNCE studio, which brings collectively textiles, artwork and ceramics, with a use of color that feels refined and distinctive.
Lucinda Chambers

Jugs and bowls

Kostas Depastas in his workshop in Greece. Photograph: James Strachan/Getty Images

Sifnos is named Greece’s ceramics island, because of its ample clay provide, and it’s dwelling to some unbelievable potteries which were producing items for generations. Up in Cheronissos Bay, you’ll discover Kostas Depastas, who nonetheless makes use of a foot-operated wheel. He brings his love of engineering to his work, cleverly designing jugs and bowls alongside easy, spiral-decorated items.
Lucy Williams

Silicone baking mats

E Dehillerin in Paris has each kitchen instrument you possibly can presumably think about, particularly for desserts and pastry. Their own-brand silpats (silicone baking mats) are my favorite – stylish inexperienced and white. I’ve about 10 in numerous sizes.
Imogen Kwok, chef

Antique buttons and baskets

Photograph: Stuart Bur/Getty Images/iStockphoto

I all the time make some extent of visiting the native flea market wherever I am going – I can’t resist selecting up exquisitely made vintage buttons to stitch on to garments, in addition to previous image frames. I’ll additionally all the time discover a approach to convey dwelling a few baskets – the most secure approach is in a big plastic striped market bag with a superb shoulder strap. I like that just about each tradition world wide has its personal custom of weaving with pure supplies.
Hikari Yokoyama, founding father of design studio Naum House

Rugs

Photograph: Pete Karici/Getty Images

We’re typically in Istanbul visiting my spouse’s household, and I all the time find time for Şişli’s Feriköy flea market. You can discover all types of treasures there, together with lovely rugs at extremely reasonably priced costs.
Patrick Williams

Art supplies

In Milan, I got here throughout Pellegrini Brera artwork store after visiting the Pinacoteca di Brera, and now I am going again each time I’m there. They have these sensible structure drafting stencils, which I take advantage of when placing collectively proposals for meals installations – excellent for after I want a break from the pc.
Imogen Kwok

Secondhand cameras

Photograph: Yoshikazu Tsuno/AFP by way of Getty Images

A spotlight of any Tokyo journey needs to be a go to to the Akihabara district – you’re feeling such as you’ve stepped into the longer term. There’s an abundance of used digital camera retailers, and at Camera Kitamura I’ve picked up a mint situation, secondhand Fujifilm X10 at half the standard value. Lemon Camera and Imtiaz’s Camera Market are additionally nice locations to hunt for a discount.
Kash Bhattacharya




This web page was created programmatically, to learn the article in its unique location you’ll be able to go to the hyperlink bellow:
https://www.theguardian.com/lifeandstyle/2026/aug/07/what-travel-experts-bring-home-trips
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