What Gift from India?

March 9, 2013 10:25 AM

I live in the Midwest (if it matters) and I have a friend going home to India. He's offered to bring me back something. I don't want to miss an opportunity to get something I can't get in Iowa.

Contrary to popular belief we can get most things here. Many of the things I would want I doubt he can get through customs (booze, food). I would want the expense to be reasonable and the item to be easily transported.

So what do I ask for besides a baby elephant?

He's from Nellore, South India.

posted by cjorgensen to travel & transportation around Nellore, India (17 answers total)

Spices might not be a problem to bring back. Fabric would be safe, if you have uses for it.
posted by zadcat at 10:30 AM on March 9

How about a custom-made sari?
posted by JoeZydeco at 10:38 AM on March 9 [1 favorite]

Just returned from India -- you probably know this, but India offers textiles of all kinds (rugs, clothing, wall hangings, bags), spices, tea. Also cashews, wooden carvings, hand-made instruments. Really the textiles stood out for me.
posted by ClaudiaCenter at 10:54 AM on March 9 [1 favorite]

My mom usually brings back spices, sweets, and clothes for people. I think it's fine to bring back cooked food and dry spices (just not live plants). I think Andhra is supposed to be famous for certain sweets and snacks. If you give your friend your measurements, maybe he could bring you back a nice shirt or a kurta pajama. Are you interested in any kind of art? I've never been to Nellore, but other cities in Andhra Pradesh are famous for stone and redwood crafts, so maybe there is some similar (small-sized) craft of note from Nellore. You could also ask for some kind of textile. Some regions in India are known for a certain kind of fabric often in sari/clothing form, but also as wall hangings or cushion covers. (ex. kalamkari)
posted by bluefly at 10:54 AM on March 9

...you probably know this...

India is one of those regions in the world where all I know are the stereotypes (lots of people, hot food, poverty and wealth, etc.) and a bit about the dominant religion.

I do like musical instrument. Thanks for the suggestions. Keep 'em coming. He leaves Tuesday.
posted by cjorgensen at 11:12 AM on March 9

To feel less baffled, bear in mind that just because an item can be obtained here doesn't mean a shopping trip in Iowa or even on the Internet will readily yield wonderful results.

Our friends brought us back brightly colored, visually interesting sheets & pillowcases, which for some reason we have great difficulty in finding in the US.

If you trust your friend's aesthetic judgment, you might simply ask him to pick you out an especially nifty X, where X is something generically useful or that you've been meaning to buy yourself. Examples might include a new wallet (same friends brought us fascinating photoprint wallets), or a statue of Ganesh (for a different value of 'generically useful').

Or if it would play better to your friend's shopping strengths, you could request DVDs. E.g. I'm told some Rajnikanth movies are unavailable here, and Nellore isn't too far from Chennai, where they are made (although it's a different, neighboring region).
posted by feral_goldfish at 11:18 AM on March 9

So many gorgeous handcrafted textiles...

I probably wouldn't ask for a sari, since you'll never wear it, nice ones aren't cheap, and it couldn't be tailored to fit you anyway.

If it were me, I'd want a shawl (there are lots of different regional styles and materials), a dupatta (kind of like a scarf, but usually LOTS of fabric), or something made of khadi.

I'm not familiar with the signature textiles of Andhra, but your friend might be or might have a female relative who is.
posted by Sara C. at 11:23 AM on March 9

I should go with your original thought.
posted by adamvasco at 12:15 PM on March 9 [2 favorites]

I like practical things, do you? Do you travel much, or like small portions of some things? In India it is done out of necessity (many people with small, small budgets) but many, many products are available for purchase in single-use sizes. Laundry detergent, shampoo, coffee, bouillon, ... you name it you can buy it in a tiny, tiny portion. It would be a fun way to try new things and keep a practical item on hand for your next overnight bag.

The last time a friend went back to India to see family, I received some elephant dung stationery. That was also awesome, practical and a bit silly.
posted by whatzit at 12:22 PM on March 9

Ask him to bring you back a drone box, AKA an electronic tanpura. Check out the one in that link—it's got a knob that controls the mix of ladies and gents! That's pretty much all you need to know.
posted by ZipRibbons at 1:54 PM on March 9

CDs! Always CDs.
posted by Potomac Avenue at 7:16 PM on March 9

Which province is your friend's hometown in? Perhaps there is a 'specialty' of the region. Spices and textiles can vary vastly from region to region.

A great souvenir from the USA may very well differ depending on whether you're getting something from Iowa, or Oregon, or New York, or Louisiana - or heck, Iowa vs. Minnesota/Wisconsin/Illinois/Missouri/Kansas/Nebraska/Dakotas(S or N).

Personally, and iirc from your previous posts, I might ask for a hand-forged traditional knife/weapon (assuming that it's ok with customs to bring back in checked luggage).
posted by porpoise at 8:26 PM on March 9

I'm in India now!

Get an idly steamer and packets of idly mix.

Also, ask for a hundred different 1-rupee (about 2cents) packets of stuff: mouth 'freshener' (no pan), shampoo, amla, candy, hair oil, jal-jeera (masala for fruits or vegetables), etc.
posted by maya at 9:02 PM on March 9 [1 favorite]

I decided to ask for some spices, a non-western cut shirt or 5 yards of fabric, or cheap musical instruments. I also said any kind of street carving/art or knickknacks would be fun. I'll report back with what he brings. He'll probably get it confiscated at customs.
posted by cjorgensen at 4:13 PM on March 11

Only the spices pose any risk of being confiscated. There are people who plan entire trips to India just for the shopping. Handicrafts, textiles, instruments, and such will be fine.
posted by Sara C. at 5:08 PM on March 11

last year i came back from india with over 10kg (22pounds) of spices for friends. i had to find a way to make use of the baggage allotment, as i had 13 pounds of personal luggage. it could have been a dumb idea, but i was totally fine and no one batted an eye. i brought back handsealed small bags as well as commercially packed boxes of spices.

some of what i brought back:

saffron threads, vanilla pods, tea masala, green coriander, cumin powder, mango powder, dried liquorice, nutmeg, star anise, black cardamom, pink and black salt rocks, green cardamom, yellow mustard seeds, black mustard seeds, dried parsley, turmeric, fenugreek, cumin seeds, red chili, brown mustard rye, dried ginger, garam masala, nigella

my favorite thing from the south is puliyogare, a tamarind rice with nuts. you can get mixes to dump into large amounts of hot, plain rice for 40-60cents.
posted by maya at 10:02 PM on March 11

I got some cool cloth. He goes back next year, so I now know what to ask for. Thanks.
posted by cjorgensen at 12:15 PM on April 8