The best food and drink to bring back from Europe
Be a savvy shopper on your holidays this year – keep an eye out for our favourite European bargains, all of which cost less than they do in the UK.
If you're driving off to Europe on holiday this summer, you might want to make some space to bring home some local delicacies. As well as the pleasure of buying them at source, buy in bulk and you'll also save some money too.
Here are some of our top choices by country.
Italy
Italy’s best for its fresh vegetables in terms of cost, but courgettes and aubergine are unlikely to travel well. Instead focus on dried meats (salami, Parma ham, etc.), olive oils, balsamic vinegar and jars of sun-dried tomatoes. Cafetiere coffee makers are two-a-penny in Italy, and the coffee itself is also cheaper. Over in Venice you can buy homemade biscuits for half the price of those here, and Sicily is the place to pick up cheap bottles of Limoncello – the island is swimming in the stuff. Try ordering in Italian and you might get it even cheaper.
France
The French markets are ripe with regional cheeses, olive oils, strings of garlic, mustard and top quality wine, all of which can be bought at knock-down prices compared to what we’re used to. High-end chocolate is usually cheaper in France, especially in the huge superstores, although for the best bargains head over to Belgium, where prices are up to 50% cheaper than they are in the UK, despite the exceptional quality.
Spain
Stock up on herbs in Spain – rosemary, thyme and oregano feature heavily in the Spanish diet and are a fraction of the price we pay, whether dry or fresh. Saffron is cheaper too, and is used to colour paella dishes – indeed, if you can fit it in your vehicle, a paella pan would also cost you less over there. Like in Italy, dried meats and bottles of olive oil are relatively cheap, as are olives and regional cheeses such as Manchego, made in the La Mancha region of Spain from sheep’s milk. Bargain bottles of red wine and sherry should also come home with you.
Germany
Unfortunately bratwurst doesn’t travel too well (although ‘knackwurst’ might) – but jars of sauerkraut and pickles do, both of which are generally better quality in Germany than they are over here. Bars of Ritter Sport chocolate, based in Waldenbuch near Stuttgart, are sometimes half the price than they are in the UK, and German grocery stores typically sell up to 30 different flavours. Turkish and Middle Eastern spices are also plentiful in Germany, and you’re likely to find a range of different paprikas on sale, from rusty red to smoky black in colour.
What bargains do you pick up on your overseas holidays? Share your knowledge in the Comments box below.
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