10109 What I Always Bring Back From Italy

We have spoken a lot about which products from home we miss when we go to Italy and which ones it is advisable to take with you as they are difficult to find: ie Bovril, Marmite, Oats for porridge, etc., however, I don´t think we have mentioned those Italian products we take back home with us.
Well, this is my favourite one: [B][I]Acqua alle Rose by Manetti and Roberts[/I][/B], a fabulous rose water tonic which costs some 2 euros and is the best on earth:
[url=http://www.touchofeurope.net/9777/Manetti+Roberts+Acqua+Distillate+Alle+Rose+(Distilled+Rose+Water)+300+ml,+10+fl+oz.html]Touch Of Europe: Manetti Roberts Acqua Distillate Alle Rose (Distilled Rose Water) 300 ml, 10 fl oz[/url]
Can you share your own list? I'm curious

Category
General chat about Italy

Just the bare essentials

A big chunk of Parmesan
Some local Toma cheese
Whiskey & Gin - cheaper than UK, or France [where we pick up the 'boozing' wine]
Limoncello

I'm asked to bring dried porcini mushrooms from the greengrocers who puts them under sottovuoto for me. Handy.

Until the airline security clampdown, we would bring back wine from local sources, certainly about three bottles each, in cardboard sleeves, and sometimes two each.
The laws must have made a big drop in small fattorias' etc incomes.

I do not buy alcohol to bring back home (Spain) because we enjoy very good prices here and we also have quality wines. I make a few exceptions from time to time when I find something very special, such as "vin santo" that I want to share with family and friends. But here are some other things, besides funghi porcini, which I always bring with me:

Pasta in interesting shapes and flavours.
A good supply of the "herbe toscane" mix.
A few bags of "minestra garfagnina" soup mix
Some packets of sweet chestnut flour, to make "castagnaccio" that goes very well with the "vin santo".... I will give you my special recipe one of these days
Some jars of "funghi cardoncelli della Murgia" (Puglia)
"Pasta di acciughe all'Olio di Oliva" Yummy!!!!!
"Aglio e Peperoncino" from the local Conad supermarket
"Pomodori Secchi" from a lovely deli shop in Lucca. I later put them in sterilized jars and cover them with olive oil. Very handy.
A great liquid washing detergent called "Gran Bucato di Toscana" made with olive oil and it smells beautifully. I get it at the local Esselunga.

There are certainly more things I like to bring back with me, but I usually get in trouble with my husband regarding my shopping...:rolleyes:

[quote=Gala Placidia;94043]We have spoken a lot about which products from home we miss when we go to Italy and which ones it is advisable to take with you as they are difficult to find: ie Bovril, Marmite, Oats for porridge, etc., however, I don´t think we have mentioned those Italian products we take back home with us.
Well, this is my favourite one: [B][I]Acqua alle Rose by Manetti and Roberts[/I][/B], a fabulous rose water tonic which costs some 2 euros and is the best on earth:
[url=http://www.touchofeurope.net/9777/Manetti+Roberts+Acqua+Distillate+Alle+Rose+(Distilled+Rose+Water)+300+ml,+10+fl+oz.html]Touch Of Europe: Manetti Roberts Acqua Distillate Alle Rose (Distilled Rose Water) 300 ml, 10 fl oz[/url]
Can you share your own list? I'm curious[/quote]

Only €2. Goodness. I see to buy it online you pay $9!!! Also this same company I see also produce other skin/bath/shower products and are available from supermarkets. - [url=http://www.neutroroberts.it/it/]Neutro Roberts[/url]

Hey best keep it to essentials then Gala. You need Rafael to carry it all!!! lol

Salvia & menta (sage & mint) toothpaste. And panforte.

Hmm. There may be a connection there.

[quote=Gala Placidia;94043]We have spoken a lot about which products from home we miss when we go to Italy and which ones it is advisable to take with you as they are difficult to find: ie Bovril, Marmite, Oats for porridge, etc., however, I don´t think we have mentioned those Italian products we take back home with us.
Well, this is my favourite one: [B][I]Acqua alle Rose by Manetti and Roberts[/I][/B], a fabulous rose water tonic which costs some 2 euros and is the best on earth:
[url=http://www.touchofeurope.net/9777/Manetti+Roberts+Acqua+Distillate+Alle+Rose+(Distilled+Rose+Water)+300+ml,+10+fl+oz.html]Touch Of Europe: Manetti Roberts Acqua Distillate Alle Rose (Distilled Rose Water) 300 ml, 10 fl oz[/url]
Can you share your own list? I'm curious[/quote]

Pavesini for my Tiramisu recipe and Borotalco ROBERTS......"La migliore polvere per la pelle" - so it states! But it's the smell which takes me back to years long gone and a must on my return to the UK.
Rosemary

Great links to buy Italian goodies online.

[url=http://something-italian.com]We bring the best of Italy to your door! - HOME[/url]

[url]https://www.nifeislife.com/[/url]

There are many Italian beauty products and toiletries which are excellent and that I always bring home, such as the Manetti Roberts. I would also add:

Crema Retinolo, made by either the pharmacy at Taggia (Imperia - Liguria).... beautiful products or the old Annunziata pharmacy (16th Century) in Florence, near the glorious Ospedale degli Innocenti.

The "Project" line of cosmetics sold by the UPIM stores.

"Agrumi di Sicilia" by Monotheme Venezia, a delightfully refreshing "eau de cologne" also sold by UPIM.

"Pino Silvestre", "eau de toilette" for men.

And many more.....

[quote=Rosemary;94081]Pavesini for my Tiramisu recipe and Borotalco ROBERTS......"La migliore polvere per la pelle" - so it states! But it's the smell which takes me back to years long gone and a must on my return to the UK.
Rosemary[/quote]

More than the material things which I inevitably bring back from Italy are the memories. New experiences, renewed acquaintances etc are added to the memory tank to be recalled upon at lib.

Next week sees us returning to our area, home and friends and as we drive towards home and see 'our village' perched on the hilltop, I'll attempt to sing: "Paese mio che stai sulla collina come un vecchio addormentato" by Ricchi e Poveri. We will work .... always lots to do and chill out too - after all, it's almost " Ferragosto." We will play pranks ( we are noted for this!) and talk serious.Neighbours have known us older members since we were knee high to a grasshopper, the local dialect would be the norm.and more memories created & stored.
As we say goodbye we'll look up at "Paese Mio" and I sadly think of the words from the same song" "Paese mio ti lascio e vado via"........" BUT.......... we'll be back!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

Rosemary

On the practical side, another Italian product I find superb:

"Gocce occulari Care for You", excellent eye drops made by Bouty S.p.a. from Milan and available at supermarkets. They contain distilled thyme and camomile water. Very refreshing.