“Typical American food” gift that can be shipped internationally?

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:OP here - Thank you all so much for the great ideas!
Of note, a fluffer nutter sandwich made on German bread would be an absolute TRAVESTY

Good point, yes it would. But surely they have some white(ish) bread available from the influences of other European countries

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Peanut butter and marshmallow fluff tend to be exactly the kinds of things that are stocked on the shelves in the "American" section of grocery stores in Europe, along with some other oddities like crispy taco shells and a few types of American cereal. So, they might not be as hard to find as you might think anymore. But, they're certainly more expensive there! I think Kraft Mac n' Cheese could be a good option, that's ubiquitous in the US but I've never seen it in Europe.

That being said, when I went to eastern Europe pre-pandemic, people requested Reese's Pieces specifically. Not reeses cups, just the pieces.

Old bay is a good idea, along with any Tex-Mex ingredients (taco seasoning, etc).

Note that packages are taking an absolute eon to clear customs right now, so be sure to pack something that is very shelf stable.

Found this: https://www.expatfocus.com/columnists/courtney-martin/the-best-american-foods-you-wont-find-in-germany-1494/
and this
https://www.reddit.com/r/germany/comments/5fpvb2/snacks_that_are_not_available_in_germany/

Both of which mirror a bunch of the comments on this thread. BBQ sauce is a good one.

Yeah, but I bet the American grocery sections stock the crappy peanut butter like Jiff or Peter Pan brand and the faux Fluff by jetpuff

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Peanut butter and marshmallow fluff tend to be exactly the kinds of things that are stocked on the shelves in the "American" section of grocery stores in Europe, along with some other oddities like crispy taco shells and a few types of American cereal. So, they might not be as hard to find as you might think anymore. But, they're certainly more expensive there! I think Kraft Mac n' Cheese could be a good option, that's ubiquitous in the US but I've never seen it in Europe.

That being said, when I went to eastern Europe pre-pandemic, people requested Reese's Pieces specifically. Not reeses cups, just the pieces.

Old bay is a good idea, along with any Tex-Mex ingredients (taco seasoning, etc).

Note that packages are taking an absolute eon to clear customs right now, so be sure to pack something that is very shelf stable.

Found this: https://www.expatfocus.com/columnists/courtney-martin/the-best-american-foods-you-wont-find-in-germany-1494/
and this
https://www.reddit.com/r/germany/comments/5fpvb2/snacks_that_are_not_available_in_germany/

Both of which mirror a bunch of the comments on this thread. BBQ sauce is a good one.

Yeah, but I bet the American grocery sections stock the crappy peanut butter like Jiff or Peter Pan brand and the faux Fluff by jetpuff

Yes on the peanut butter but no on the fluff. I've only ever seen the "authentic" stuff. YMMV.

[Anonymous]

Def peanut butter, Reeves, peanuts in general, Coke/Pepsi (they taste different).

Maple syrup.

[Anonymous]

Someone above mentioned pralines and I've always found them to be a big hit, even among my friends who usually say "oh, American desserts are too sweet." [And, yes, I realize that makes no sense since pralines are mostly sugar.]

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Good American wine---Vermont ice wine? Pecan pie/pumpkin pies. NYC bagels with cream cheese. Twinkies/moon pies/pecan log rolls. Anything with maple syrup.

Jesus, no. German here. Eiswein is a thousand times better there. Maple syrup and the pies, maybe. Bagels definitely. American pies tend to be too sweet for German tastes. I've been here 5 yrs and still can't eat most of them.

[Anonymous]

California wine or if you’re in Maryland or Virginia Maryland or Virginia wines.

Nuts (pistachios) or the flavored nut mixes (candied and flavored) (I never ate the sweet nut flavors till I came to the US - other than nuts in chocolates). Something along these lines (particularly pecans) but mixes would be great to try different flavors:
https://www.peanut.com/flavored-nuts.html

I wouldn’t send popcorn, cookies, chocolates from here to Germany. Particularly popcorn can be very misunderstood, especially if she gifted you liqueur and got popcorn in return. Sauces are also great but not something your colleague can easily share with her lab cause would need to prepare or buy something that is eaten with those sauces.

[Anonymous]

Pp. don’t know if you can ship pecan pie, that would also be special.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Pp. don’t know if you can ship pecan pie, that would also be special.

Pecan pie is horrible and sickly sweet. No one will like this.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Good American wine---Vermont ice wine? Pecan pie/pumpkin pies. NYC bagels with cream cheese. Twinkies/moon pies/pecan log rolls. Anything with maple syrup.

Jesus, no. German here. Eiswein is a thousand times better there. Maple syrup and the pies, maybe. Bagels definitely. American pies tend to be too sweet for German tastes. I've been here 5 yrs and still can't eat most of them.

Unless you have a service that guarantees that they'll be delivered within a few days, I'd say no on any fresh baked good. Envision it sitting in the FedEx hub for 2 weeks.

[Anonymous]

If she got liquor, I'd go the same back - something classic American ,like Jack Daniels or Jim Beam. Maybe Woodford reserve?

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:If she got liquor, I'd go the same back - something classic American ,like Jack Daniels or Jim Beam. Maybe Woodford reserve?

This.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Maple syrup?

+ 1

[Anonymous]

Macadamia nuts were a big hit with our German relatives. We sent each a small case of the roasted salted canned ones.

[Anonymous]

Peanut brittle. I don’t think you find it in Europe?