USA-specific food/gifts for other countries

[doobeedoo]

I am heading on a business trip next week to Peru and I want to bring some trinkets and/or food from the US that may be hard to get there or really unique/special.  If you live in or have traveled to south america, can you suggest any food or other item that would be a great thing to bring on my visit?

[boston340]

We have friends there and they always want jars of peanut butter and bags of chocolate chips.

[alleinesein]

Reeses Peanut Butter cups tend to be popular in other countries.

Different flavored M&Ms (peanut butter, coconut, etc)

Jelly Belly Jelly Beans

[audette]

I've been told little bottles of Jack Daniels would be a hit... Never tried it, though.

Peanut butter is a fairly NA specific thing... It's harder to find outside of the US.

[agnes]

H's Danish friends couldn't get enough of Pop Tarts.

[mbcdefg]

I brought Ritz crackers to Ireland and my friends loved them.

[doobeedoo]

Great ideas, I wouldn't have known/thought about several of these things. Peanut butter is hard to get outside of North America, really? I guess I never sought it out in my non-US travels.

[5thofjuly]

When we went go Belize we took our hosts maple syrup. It was SO expensive there.

Sent from my SM-T530NU using proboards

[jerseyjaybird]

Whiskey has always gone over well, but I've only offered it in Scandinavia

[gardengal]

I've done jelly bellies. People tend to get a kick out of mixing the flavors.

Maple syrup is a good idea too

My husband's friend in Germany constantly is asking for BBQ sauce

I feel like the US non-food items get exported pretty well

[teatimefor2]

Peanut Butter
Maple Syrup
Mountain Dew
Tabasco Sauce
Sour Patch kids
Life Savers
Jelly beans
Hersey Kisses

[Raggedeannie]

Jul 29, 2014 21:00:16 GMT -5 boston340 said:

We have friends there and they always want jars of peanut butter and bags of chocolate chips.

Ditto this and m&ms. My MIL also buys Chips Ahoy every trip to the US. Relatives request BBQ sauce and black pepper grinders.

[alleinesein]

Jul 29, 2014 21:47:31 GMT -5 doobeedoo said:

Great ideas, I wouldn't have known/thought about several of these things. Peanut butter is hard to get outside of North America, really? I guess I never sought it out in my non-US travels.

Peanut Butter is pretty much an American thing.  Our German exchange student thought that it was nasty and couldnt understand why people would want to eat it.  None of our exchange students were fond of peanut butter but they did love Doritos.

[alleinesein]

A few more to add to the list
-Root Beer barrel candies
-Red Vines
-Ranch Dressing

[redredwine]

Wnen I lived abroad I always requested Peanut Butter from visitors! And taco seasonings, but it was Germany-the land of no "exotic" seasonings!!

[daisypaloma]

Hershey's chocolates
Nesquick chocolate/strawberry drink mixes
Snickers chocolates
Canned meats
Jams and jellies
Beef jerky

[wise_rita]

Peanut butter isn't as hard to find abroad as it used to be. You can find it easily in Norway and Norway is a wasteland of good (bad for you) products.

Good, American 98% sugar peanut butter is a different story. Mmm, Jif.

That said, it's kind of like pumpkin pie. If you didn't grow up with it you're more than likely going to find it gross.

[doobeedoo]

Question--having never flown with peanut butter or any significant food items, really. Is there anything I need to concern myself with customs-wise? I assume I can't take PB in my carry on but I will be checking a bag, so it's totes cool to just throw a jar in there?

[doobeedoo]

Oh and I am totally down with the Chips Ahoy and Hershey's Chocolate. May even throw in some Sour Patch Kids and Red Vines even though I find them disgusting! These are all great ideas, really. Thanks so much.

[pattieice]

I traveled to Europe in college and met lots of backpackers. Two stoner type guys smuggled pot home in peanut butter jars. They would wrap up the pot in plastic and leave enough peanut butter in the jar so the drug dogs couldn't smell it.

Not that I suggest you do this! Just wanted to share a random story.

[rupertpenny]

Jul 30, 2014 1:34:32 GMT -5 wise_rita said:

Peanut butter isn't as hard to find abroad as it used to be. You can find it easily in Norway and Norway is a wasteland of good (bad for you) products.

Good, American 98% sugar peanut butter is a different story. Mmm, Jif.

That said, it's kind of like pumpkin pie. If you didn't grow up with it you're more than likely going to find it gross.

I can usually only find skippy :*( I have to go to the expensive grocery store for JIF.

There is Waitrose brand PB here, and that's a British brand so I guess PB is more mainstream now.

[wise_rita]

Jul 30, 2014 7:14:01 GMT -5 rupertpenny said:

Jul 30, 2014 1:34:32 GMT -5 wise_rita said:

Peanut butter isn't as hard to find abroad as it used to be. You can find it easily in Norway and Norway is a wasteland of good (bad for you) products.

Good, American 98% sugar peanut butter is a different story. Mmm, Jif.

That said, it's kind of like pumpkin pie. If you didn't grow up with it you're more than likely going to find it gross.

I can usually only find skippy :*( I have to go to the expensive grocery store for JIF.

There is Waitrose brand PB here, and that's a British brand so I guess PB is more mainstream now.

They've got Skippy at Costco here, but no Jif.  

Jif is the holy grail.

[womet]

When we used to go visit friends in Germany, we brought brownie mix, pancake mix, and maple syrup. My mom would get them Jack Daniels from the PX on base.

[simpsongal]

Ditto the rec for Jif or maple syrup. When I lived in Australia I missed both

[UnderProtest]

RANCH dresssing!!!!! I can find peanut butter and most other items here at the regular grocery store, but ranch dressing really is an American thing. I miss it!