Food Treats Travel Writers Love to Buy on Holiday in Europe
Travel writers share their favorite food treats to buy on holiday across Europe, highlighting regional specialties and popular snacks.
In Belgium, particularly Ghent, shoppers often stock up on Meli honey waffles and honey cake. A visit to the Tierenteyn-Verlent mustard shop is recommended, along with discovering Mokabon cafe, which has been roasting coffee beans since the late 1930s and sells coffee in distinctive yellow and red bags.
France offers artfully arranged shelves filled with Bonne Maman jams in varieties such as mirabelle intense and coings. The country is known for its extensive regional cheeses, terrines, cassoulet, and confit de canard. Popular snacks include Lay’s paysanne tapenade, galettes au beurre, and Haribo Pik Dragibus.
In Italy, fruit jellies like Dufour Big Frut and Baci chocolates are favorites, along with big bags of candies. Typical Italian grocery hauls include olive oil, pasta, balsamic vinegar, and porcini mushrooms. Birra Moretti Limone is a notable beverage, with limoncello considered better when enjoyed in beer form.
Ireland’s specialty shopping includes stocking up on Barry’s tea, Tayto crisps, and farmhouse cheeses such as Gubbeen and Durrus. Boyne Valley Bán goat cheese, Harry’s Nut Butter, White Mausu peanut rāyu, Blanco Niño tortilla chips, Woodcock Smokery smoked salmon, and Burren Smokehouse products are also highlighted.
Germany features in-store bakeries in chains like Edeka and Rewe offering Brötchen and pretzels, with counters emphasizing regional dishes. Treats like Franzbrötchen, Ritter Sport chocolate, Katjes gummies, and licorice are popular. The pfand bottle and can return system is widely used across the country.
