Need some ideas for American gifts to take to my European friends this summer.

[Anonymous]

About to head to Bulgaria. I introduced my girl to peanut butter on apples slices a few years ago and she loved it. (The reason most Europeans don't like peanut butter is because the shit you buy in Europe is dry, salty and filled with husk. That and they think nuttella is good on bread because they hate Orangutans.)

I was thinking I'd bring a few bottles of local wine over. (BG wine isn't that great, sweet vinegar, yet neither is our midwestern wine, kook-aid with vinegar.)

There are a couple regional chocolate makers that do interesting things - like hot pepper/chili chocolate or other combinations which i've never seen anywhere else. Might try that out. (MILKA chocolate sucks worse than Hersheys.)

I have seen plenty of suggestions for sports apparel - so maybe a Bulls hat/shirt... something because b-ball is big there. I'm sure only the color really matters as E.Europeans seem to think they are fashionable. (The 80's agree.)

I'm not splurging on computers, appliances or other large electronics nor carrying heavy stuff through the 2 connections of flights. So it needs to be small enough to fit in my my bag with 1 month worth of personal items.

Jones soda would be a cool gift but a silly novelty. Perhaps some local wood crafts, blown-glass, worked steel etc, but that's just awkward to deliver and specific to personality.

Anyway, x-mas sucks and I hate being forced to pretend I like to give or receive gifts as dictated by this increasingly fascist holiday's need for irresponsible consumption.

[Anonymous]

peanut butter!

[Anonymous]

My European dh and all of his family think peanut butter is gross. My go-to gift is Kiehl's - they love it.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

I was thinking I'd bring a few bottles of local wine over. (BG wine isn't that great, sweet vinegar, yet neither is our midwestern wine, kook-aid with vinegar.) .

Bulgaria is one of the oldest winemaking countries. I wonder what wines you tasted. Obviously, like with any other countries there are good and bad wines, but you can hardly say that all BG wine is not that great. Try the red Bulgariana sold at Total wine, rated 91 points by wine spectator.

As for gift ideas, and as an European who has lived in the USA for 15 years, I agree that flavored coffee and American candy are not a hit in Europe. I bring the big bags of mixed candy bars and MM. My family and friends are happy to see me and not picky about the gifts I bring.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote: That and they think nutella is good on bread because they hate Orangutans.

Part of me wants to know what this was supposed to say before autocorrect got it, and part if me hopes this is just exactly what you meant to say.

[Anonymous]

I work for the UN so most of my euro friends have access to PB, pancakes, brownies, cake, syrup, candy, and basic condements at the commissary. So I have to get a little more creative.

Craft bourbons and smaller batch rums are really hard to find in Europe (I am starting to see a little Woodford and Buffalo Trace at fancy bars). Loved the idea of high quality spicy chocolate. Good Mexican chili powder, chipotle powder, ancho, hot sauce. Carribean jerk seasoning or banana pepper sauce. Good salsa and corn chips (you can find some flavorless salsa sometimes) Regional cookbooks. Regional seasonings like "Slap Yo Mama!" Cajun seasoning. Local BBQ sauces are unheard of! American sodas, especially craft (rootbeer. saspirilla, Dr. Pepper, ginger beer). American beer (extra hoppy, chocolate stouts, grapefruit shandy, other unique stuff). Native American handy-crafts. Mexican handy-crafts. Americana antiques. Local arts and crafts.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote: That and they think nutella is good on bread because they hate Orangutans.

Part of me wants to know what this was supposed to say before autocorrect got it, and part if me hopes this is just exactly what you meant to say.

I think I love your comment even more than the orangutans

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Bring them a bible.

Sadly too many people have turned their back on Christ in Europe, with the current economic troubles the inevitable consequence.

This is one of the most hilarious posts I've ever read on DCUM.

Why hillarious?

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Bring them a bible.

Sadly too many people have turned their back on Christ in Europe, with the current economic troubles the inevitable consequence.

Sure, because Europeans can't get bibles. Dumb ass!!

They may actually read it if given as a gift. It might bring conversation.
I'm sure they can have anything American that's been shipped to them.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:A really American thing that is a novelty but they may hate is root beer. Euros think it is "quaint" and like to taste it b/c it's so American, but generally thinks it tastes gross. Kids love gross things though. Kinda like anyone visiting Maine and swigging a Moxie to get an authentic experience.

Hi, I'm French and I did try the root beer and yes, I didn't like it. But not because it's gross, but because it taste like a medicine kids take in France, which I used to take. So I think it could taste good if it was not related to a medicine in France

There are many countries in Europe. I don't see why everyone keeps lumping them together. What's popular in Southern California isn't always the same as southern states. I think we have authentic Mexican food in So Cal. I have I've been to a lot of Mexican restaurants in southern states that don't come close to so cal. I think its diverse in Europe and of course if ur where they make awesome chocolate they will be choosier. Please list the country your speaking about. It would be more helpful.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Bring them a bible.

Sadly too many people have turned their back on Christ in Europe, with the current economic troubles the inevitable consequence.

Sure, because Europeans can't get bibles. Dumb ass!!

They can get translations, but it is very hard to find one in the original American in many countries.

In the original "American" wow, and I thought people weren't this stupid.

What would you prefer he or she said old King James, New King James, NIV, the living translation?
Doesn't sound like the name caller has grasped the truths of the Bible even though they might know the name of a translation.
That's interesting that not all versions are world wide.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:I always take reeses peesed large bags of snack, or milky-way-ish large bags of small snacks with M&Ms, twix, etc. - as an addition to a small gift.
baseball caps are a hit

Isn't chocolate better in Europe? Why take Hersheys? Just wondering.

I grew up going to convenient stores buying American candy. I love junk food candy.
My friends who grew up in America on junk food candy and can't get the "American" "Fast Food kind" of chocolate.
Not everyone has champagne taste. Some people like butter popcorn and a soda with there cheap chocolate

[Anonymous]

Do they have popcorn to pop in Europe? Isn't that very "American"?

[Anonymous]

Orangutan haters and "original American" bibles. Doesn't get much better than this. Thank you, DCUM.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:I am an European living in California for 3 years now... please don t bother bringing american candy to Europe, or chocolate... we hate it... i really can 't stand any of the reese's, or any american chocolate, we generally dislike peanut butter, oreos are gross, tootsie rolls awful... unless someone ask for them, don't bother. Europeans also don't like boxed cake mixes, we find the gross, as we do everything from scratch. Chocolate covered macadamia nuts yes, but good quality ones. My sister also loves the marshmallow fluff, and all the fun marshmallows, if they are special edition , colors, etc. Any cupcake decorations would be a hit, as we don't find as many in Europe, so if your friends like to cook they would love that. Good ideas: Electronics are a good idea, Apple products, ipods, ipads, iphones, and accessories are also appreciated. Kindle. Jewelry is much cheaper in US as well, like silver or diamonds. American brand cosmetics like Estee Lauder, MAC, Bobbi Brown or Clinique. Things from JCrew . Cookie cutters in various interesting shapes. Essie OPI nail polish. FRESH perfumes and lotions. Living Proof hair products. Blue Bottle coffee. I once brought my sister a big box of Sprinkles cupcakes. Hot mexican sauces. baseball caps. trucker caps. Video games. Sets of DVD's like "Friends" or National Geographic. Martha Stewart crafts supplies, or kitchen gadgets. Nice measuring cups and spoons. I take back home big bottles of Omega-3 pills for my parents, much cheaper in US. Laptops, tablets. Anything from Shopbop.com ... they deliver for free in Europe, and this is how I send gifts to friends and family. Things from Anthropologie. Spanx. (lol) Rebeca Minkoff , Michael Kors bags, walets, belts etc. Classic american old movies. KitchenAid stuff.

One of those people who comes to the USA and whinges all the time about how their country is better while living in ours. *yawn* Obviously overly concerned with name brands and not thoughtfulness.

Where do you see it? I think it is fairly accurate description. Most of Europeand don't like american sweets. The fact that I don't like peanut butter doesn't make my country better.