My little international trade

Things you find in one place in the world and nowhere else.

Here we're not talking art trade or large-scale business. Not really souvenirs either. Just small things that you like to bring back home. Of course, with globalization, this is becoming narrower and narrower. Quite often, the things that you've carried across half the world can actually be found at an exotic shop near your home... How frustrating.

There is one category which still gives plenty of room for discovery: candy and treats.
I believe that what defines peoples is what they consider a treat. Is it candy? candied fruit? dried squid? Even within the realm of western food, shapes, tastes and brands wildly differ from one place to another, perhaps more than any other item...

Here is a selection of my global shopping sample.

From China
Green tea marshmallows
Okay I'm still not sure of the origin. The packaging is definitely Japanese in style, but I think I remember they are made in China. Anyway, my source is at the Shanghai airport shops.
Imagine a marshmallow with green tea flavor and a mellow heart inside. Mmmmh.
Also exists with black sesame flavor, equally good.
Update: they can also be found at Miniso mini-stores.





Chinese medicine.

Favorites:
桂林西瓜霜 Guilin's watermelon frost: nothing frosty really, and it doesn't contain watermelon, but it is an effective cure for pharyngitis.

贴膏 Plaster with ointment, against back pain.









Tea drinking bottle (with filter inside)











From India

1469 T-shirts (at Connaught Place, Delhi)
Quirky embroidered t-shirts











From Spain

Ham (jamón), cured pork loin (lomo)

Pan de pipas, Rosquilletas

Aniseed "oil crackers" (tortas de aceite), ideal for Sunday morning breakfast











From Mexico

Wrestler masks












From Germany

Aronal toothgum care toothpaste






From the US

Pretzel nuggets, crunchy and filled with peanut butter, mmmh.












From Korea

Magic neckties (zip-on) from Dongdaemun market












From Sweden

Candy! Eating candy is like a national sport, candy shops are found at every corner. Family favorites: wasabi crunchies and "blueberry" hard candy.





From the Czech Republic

Kafka wafers. Nice, crunchy and chocolatey. Plus they bear Kafka's portrait, which makes them highly desirable.








From Japan

Bowls! Even when mass-produced, Japanese bowls can be really nice and of high usage value.










From Belgium

Fresh waffles and fancy chocolate!


















From Italy

Pecorino con zafferano (saffron-flavored cheese)












From Tunisia

Tunisian pastries !








From Thailand

Dried exotic fruit

From Canada

Maple sweets

From Poland

Paper napkins with traditional paper-cut prints