Give me the best of crass, commercial America
May 26, 2023 8:08 AM   Subscribe

I'm seeking ideas for pedestrian American items that make good gifts for friends and family abroad.

I know when I go to a foreign grocery store or hypermarket, I'm easily able to pick out those items that are boring to locals but feel local/special to me (new chip flavors! fun sandwich spreads! drink mixes! costume jewelry!). Our family abroad enjoys when we bring them "boring" local things as well but it's difficult to separate which things are interesting/unique for our area and which things are already easily available to them or not suited to local tastes. This is a broad net, but: any ideas for basic, pedestrian American things that might make fun or interesting gifts for friends and family abroad?

Most often we need to buy things for our South Asian family but I also have upcoming trips to see friends/coworkers in Europe and Africa, if that helps speak to local tastes. Easily packable (e.g. not prone to melting or breaking, not too bulky) is obviously a big plus, although not a hard requirement.

Here are some things that have gone over well in the past and that they regularly ask us to bring: barkthins chocolate, various flavored nuts, toffee candy (particularly almond roca), anything from burt's bees baby line, t-shirts from under armour and local sports teams, baking mixes, gummy vitamins, flavored vodkas, school supplies with prominent American brands/characters. Things we've bought that have been less successful include: fruity candy like starburst, most pampering/cosmetic items including candles and soaps, flavored crackers/chips like goldfish and cheez-its. Toys and home goods are appreciated but I don't think anything I've brought is all that different from what they can already get. I'm sure some of those are more about our family's specific taste, but hopefully that's a useful illustrative list.

(Yes, I know that locally-made stuff and specialty items are always a great gift and we try to bring some of that too, but they always seem to particularly enjoy the really commercial stuff that they might see in the media but can't get locally, so that's what I'm interested in here).
posted by mosst to Shopping (48 answers total) 10 users marked this as a favorite
 
I would hit up the Trader Joe's aisles for packages of trail mix and cookies. And your mention of Almond Roca, which originates in my great state made me think of the other hometown favorite of Frango Mints.
posted by brookeb at 8:20 AM on May 26, 2023 [6 favorites]


We make frequent trips to Germany and our friends love these things from the USA:

Big Red chewing gum (they don't seem to have a lot of 'hot cinnamon' flavors), Butterfinger candy (GMO paranoia got it banned in 1999 but they still remember it), and Thomas' English Muffins (buy it right before you leave and have your friends freeze them right away).
posted by JoeZydeco at 8:22 AM on May 26, 2023 [1 favorite]


If flavored vodka was a hit, maybe some Fireball or hard seltzers? I don't think I've ever seen either of those in Europe.
posted by backseatpilot at 8:22 AM on May 26, 2023


I just thought of something else - powdered drink mixes. Kool Aid, Country Time Lemonade. If they have any fascination with media related to US-style colleges, then Solo cups (although I think I saw some knockoffs in the grocery store last time we were abroad).
posted by backseatpilot at 8:25 AM on May 26, 2023 [2 favorites]


Pop tarts
Cans of clam chowder
Spicy Mexican candy
Butterfingers
Tootsie rolls
posted by vacapinta at 8:28 AM on May 26, 2023 [1 favorite]


Little Debbie Snack Cakes, Slim Jims/beef jerky, spray cheese
posted by castlebravo at 8:30 AM on May 26, 2023 [4 favorites]


An American living in Vietnam had his family bring him tinned smoked fish. His local friends liked it too. I asked about it, surely there is no shortage of fish available in Vietnam? Yes, but they don't smoke it!
posted by SaltySalticid at 8:40 AM on May 26, 2023 [1 favorite]


A friend from Norway purchased Cap’N Crunch, string cheese, Rotel and queso in a jar. None of these seem particularly packable to me, but wanted to share in case it provided some inspiration.
posted by Juniper Toast at 8:47 AM on May 26, 2023 [1 favorite]


Uniquely American or Mexican products that aren't available in Asia, such as food items.

I was thinking Red Vines, or similar type candies, or something like Dr. Pepper.

However, make sure you verify you CAN take the stuff through customs. I'm pretty sure no customs will allow you to take meat through, and canned stuff will get extra scrutiny.
posted by kschang at 8:50 AM on May 26, 2023


Canned pumpkin. May be more of an expat thing, but more than one person from more than one place has requested it.
posted by atomicstone at 8:51 AM on May 26, 2023


Cans or small bottles of regional sodas? The U.S. has tons. Cheerwine, Faygo, Cel-Ray...
posted by mandolin conspiracy at 8:52 AM on May 26, 2023


Lego sets are available in most places but in many of those places they are astronomically expensive. You can show up with a $20 set and look very extravagant by local standards. You can show up with a $60 set and look like Bill fkn Gates spreading your wealth around. Obviously check local prices where you're going before you try this strategy.
posted by potrzebie at 9:00 AM on May 26, 2023 [2 favorites]


I have a cousin visiting from Germany right now, and she loves Lucky Charms. She says the American cereals are sometimes available in her supermarkets, but they're pretty expensive so she never buys them. So some of our classic, sugar laden cereals?
posted by yasaman at 9:01 AM on May 26, 2023 [2 favorites]


Oh also if you happen to be a Costco member, their big canisters of nuts are an amazing value, extremely fresh compared to most nuts you can buy anywhere else, and the containers are very reusable and seal nicely to keep things dry. A fantastic host gift if you're going someplace that doesn't have Costco. In general I feel like the whole Costco ~thing~ is especially American.
posted by potrzebie at 9:03 AM on May 26, 2023 [1 favorite]


My mom (American who lived in Australia) would always bring back jars marshmallow fluff, See's Candy, and french fried onions.
posted by fillsthepews at 9:20 AM on May 26, 2023


Peanut butter everything! It's like... Not a thing elsewhere. Oh and fudge!
posted by socky_puppy at 9:24 AM on May 26, 2023 [8 favorites]


My friend in Europe loves refrigerator magnets from local stores in the US. I sent them calendar magnets from my local Deli and they asked if I could send a few more for their friends. Now, I take magnets and matches from everywhere that gives them out and send them across the ocean. Maybe some classic bumper stickers like "Wall Drugs" or "This Car Climbed Mt. Washington". Key chains?

I am not sure if they are available over there, but I always bring some spicy Slim Jims when I travel and expect to do a lot of hiking or walking. Friends love them.
posted by JohnnyGunn at 9:25 AM on May 26, 2023 [1 favorite]


If you haven't done Funfetti yet, Funfetti.

I would recommend moonshine but the jar is part of the gimmick, right?
posted by kingdead at 9:47 AM on May 26, 2023


Look for Virginia peanuts. They’re a particular variety of peanut, bigger and with a better texture, fantastic for snacking. I don’t really like peanuts much but I’ll include Virginia peanuts in my rotation of walnuts cashews and hazelnuts.

Do your recipients have popcorn as a common snack in their cultures? There are all kinds of fancy varieties of popping corn in stores now, which travel brilliantly since they’re just dried corn kernels. You might pair it with a microwave popcorn bowl from Nordicware, which is an American manufactured brand that makes great cookware and a bunch of microwave accessories that actually work.

The best place to buy truly mysterious and hideous decorations and tchotkes is Home Goods. If you’re lucky enough to have one nearby, visit and let the spirit of discount seasonal decorations move you. Count the gnomes. Question the point of labeling everything in spare elongated black lettering. Make a journey through heavily discounted table linens and find an actually very nice tablecloth for a family occasion. They also usually have a lot of packaged snack things.
posted by Mizu at 10:14 AM on May 26, 2023 [2 favorites]


That Costco comment made me remember another crass, American thing you can bring: painkillers.

In Germany you can't get Ibuprofen or even Aspirin off a supermarket shelf. You have to go to a pharmacy and talk to a pharmacist, and even then you get a single box of 12 tablets for €15.

When we visit we bring 500 count bottles of generic ibuprofen that we bought for $12 and they're blown away. It's possible that this is not totally legal to bring into the country but we've never been questioned about it. But we also don't bring more than 1-2 bottles. So maybe ask ahead if anyone needs anything like that.
posted by JoeZydeco at 10:21 AM on May 26, 2023 [8 favorites]


Peanut butter everything! It's like... Not a thing elsewhere.

Specifically, the combination of peanut butter and chocolate weirded out my UK niblings.
posted by HeroZero at 10:23 AM on May 26, 2023


When traveling in Europe, I noticed multiple stores specializing in American sweets. A lot of that was the fruity and brightly-colored candy you said wasn't popular, but they also had sugary cereal, which as yasaman mentioned, is much more expensive than in the U.S.
posted by Mr.Know-it-some at 10:29 AM on May 26, 2023


Response by poster: Thank you all, this has given me so many ideas already, please do keep 'em coming!

Also, I do want to note that while I love and embrace of all our most artificial and junky options (I mean, I did mention flavored vodka), I'm also open to any suggestions that are a bit more on the sophisticated or surprising end. They also don' t have to be "classic" American staples - recent stuff that's just plain good is great too! I feel a responsibility to show that American food is more expansive than convenience store staples!

If I can add my own ideas to the list, now that I've been thinking on the topic, here are some things I've been thinking about bringing:
-boxed mac and cheese (especially Annie's)
-everything bagel seasoning
-pickle in a pouch
-dot's pretzels
-biscuit mix
-cajun seasoning
-ranch dressing mix
posted by mosst at 10:36 AM on May 26, 2023 [2 favorites]


Anything peanut butter. No other country in the world does peanut butter right. There's a whole range of peanut butter snacks ranging from "cheap as hell" to "bougie to the max".
posted by rhymedirective at 10:46 AM on May 26, 2023 [5 favorites]


I can only speak for the UK but everyone in my office who goes to the US on holiday is under strict instructions to bring back Reese’s Peanut Butter Cups.
posted by greycap at 10:48 AM on May 26, 2023 [9 favorites]


This is a great question! I came back to the US from England with a deranged love for Cadbury Flake bars (they're weird and dry and bad but somehow completely compelling, anyway), and they didn't show up here for decades. I also remember when you couldn't get Ritter Sport in the US, and that was similarly difficult. And it's still hard to get rum trauben nuss. Ritter Sport! Quadratisch! Practisch! Gut!

Every time I go to a new country, I tend to come back with:
-pocket/paring knives
-toiletries, especially deodorant and toothpaste
-nail polish

My friend's mom brought paregoric back from Germany and they kept it in a high cupboard. They let me try some once when I had a mild temporary GI condition about which I will not go into detail, and it was amazing. Fixed me right up. So therefore I concur 100% that if you're going to a place where the people can't freely access ibuprofen when they want it the only moral thing to do is pack an entire carry full of beautiful blue generic ibuprofen gel capsules and hand massive barrel-sized bottles of them out to everyone you encounter. (It's probably not true, but blue gel-caps seem to work faster than the hard tablets.) If I lived somewhere where ibu was accessible only by prescription and where I had to sit around in unmedicated pain listening to doctors yack about "paracetamol," I'd emigrate.

What about stuff that is the same as the stuff they'll have but they might not have the American version with the iconic American branding? Like, say, Morton salt?
posted by Don Pepino at 11:00 AM on May 26, 2023 [3 favorites]


My son's classmates in Germany got a big kick out of American Halloween stuff - it's hard to remember specifics, but things like decorated pencils and stickers. They knew about Halloween because of Peanuts cartoons. That may not be true anymore, but perhaps it's in other kinds of American media?

My German friends also liked the holiday M&Ms - pastels for Easter, red and green for Christmas, etc.
posted by FencingGal at 11:23 AM on May 26, 2023


Maple syrup (or maple butter).
posted by sebastienbailard at 11:58 AM on May 26, 2023 [8 favorites]


Anything barbecue related: sauces, dry rubs...
posted by kickingtheground at 12:12 PM on May 26, 2023


On the peanut butter kick, those Costco (and I'm sure others) peanut butter-filled pretzel bites will make you the coolest. friend. ever.
posted by xedrik at 1:01 PM on May 26, 2023 [1 favorite]


A friend from Norway purchased Cap’N Crunch

A box I brought her was a much-appreciated gift to a Japanese chum who'd lived in California for a few years. Another, in the same situation, really misses dried cranberries.
posted by Rash at 2:48 PM on May 26, 2023


Girl Scout cookies.
posted by slateyness at 3:19 PM on May 26, 2023 [3 favorites]


+many to maple syrup, ranch dressing mix, and Girl Scout cookies! My addition to the food pile is candied pecans - I have taken bags from TJ’s to three other continents (and didn’t to a fourth because I was flying from one of those three) - I haven’t found pecans anywhere but the US.

For folks who haven’t had good peanut butter abroad, travel to Kenya! Fresh g-nut butter (and 50/50 g-nut/sesame, “simsim”) is DIVINE
posted by rrrrrrrrrt at 4:26 PM on May 26, 2023 [1 favorite]


I second the ideas for quality foods like jams, maple syrup, natural peanut butter, salsa, special chips like Route 11, and sweets like caramels or hard candies that speak to the flavor profiles they enjoy. I think you are wise to focus on the more elevated, homestyle and/or simple items! I'm from the US, and I love fast food more than most so no snobbery. However, I mostly eat healthy and find overprocessed American products disgusting and would not want to offer them to others, especially international friends, unless they have specifically asked to try it. If people drink alcohol, a small bottle of a local spirit or even a nice bottle of Tito's Vodka can be really special. If people drink coffee, some Kona coffee or other Hawaiian products like flavored macadamia nuts, yum!
posted by smorgasbord at 5:46 PM on May 26, 2023


Fluff, Doritos, and Karo syrup (for making pecan pies) are popular with a Frenchwoman I know who has been to the US.
posted by wenestvedt at 7:09 PM on May 26, 2023


Gatorade powder packs
Hot cheetos
Everyone already suggested the food I was going to suggest.

In terms of things other than food I feel like a good bet is hitting one of those rest stop megamarts -- I feel like they specialize in kitschy products that would be hard to find/replicate abroad.
posted by virve at 7:24 PM on May 26, 2023


My (American) friend living in Europe made me bring a giant shaker of Mexican seasoning and baking powder (apparently totally different than French baking powder). I like the cereal idea and those small multi-packs would be cool. Specialty or unique hot sauces. Really big clothes or cheap clothes, athleisurewear. Comic books. Field Notes have cool very American blank notebooks and are small so would be easy to carry.
posted by Bunglegirl at 7:54 PM on May 26, 2023


+1 to maple syrup and also maple candy is a thing
posted by deludingmyself at 8:17 PM on May 26, 2023


Velveeta, rice krispies treats?

Are crocs popular in other countries? EVERYONE is wearing them in my state in the US.

Also, same idea as Legos, hot wheels sets are expensive in many countries.
posted by never.was.and.never.will.be. at 8:17 PM on May 26, 2023


-professional sports teams gear, etc. For example The Chicago Bulls hats or tees were coveted so much and still are! So local teams to you or just the champion teams
- Disney stuff. Grogu/Baby Yoda?!
- political bumper stickers and paraphaneilia
-Super Mario Bros. Stuff
-Gag gifts from your local gift boutique
-stuff from the mall. Do they have Hot Dog on a Stick t-shirts? 😀 Cinnabon, etc.
-fortune cookies
posted by AnyUsernameWillDo at 8:20 PM on May 26, 2023


Those plastic yellow corn-on-the-cob holders (with two metal skewers at one end) that look like tiny ears of corn.
posted by Harvey Kilobit at 9:57 PM on May 26, 2023 [1 favorite]


Oh I remembered a specific product! My expat aunt and uncle, who lived in Seoul for the majority of their adult lives, would buy Lawry’s fajita seasoning packets in bulk every few years when visiting my aunt’s family near Austin, TX. Korea has a big grilling culture and a lot of Texan cooking melds beautifully with their flavors, techniques, and ingredients, but when my aunt needed a taste of home it was Lawry’s all the way.
posted by Mizu at 10:56 PM on May 26, 2023


My friends and family in Italy love:

Peanut butter anything
Maple syrup
Pancake mix
Mac and Cheese from a box
Meat rubs and spice mixes
posted by lydhre at 4:50 AM on May 27, 2023


Local foods, such as Pork Roll/Taylor Ham if you are near NJ
Your profile says DC, so Old Bay Seasoning?
posted by fings at 8:14 AM on May 27, 2023 [1 favorite]


Anything Native American made, or that references Native history. In Canada Inukshuks come in all sizes.
Small plastic or wood models of animals native to your area - armadillo, beaver, alligator, moose, etc.
posted by Enid Lareg at 11:27 AM on May 27, 2023


Oh, gosh, yes, Old Bay! Smart. Also Tabasco.
posted by Don Pepino at 6:36 PM on May 27, 2023


When I studied abroad in Britain, my British housemates were completely obsessed with whether we actually drank out of red Solo cups and they lost their minds when my mom sent over some boxes of Girl Scout cookies, since both of these items primarily existed simply in movies they had seen.
posted by mostly vowels at 11:02 AM on May 28, 2023 [1 favorite]


Target or trader Joe's limited non-perishable snacks
posted by brujita at 4:53 PM on May 30, 2023 [1 favorite]


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