One of the great things about traveling is the discovery of local cuisine. If you ask us, it’s pretty much half of the experience, because just like visiting historical sites and museums, appreciating a place's food means getting a taste of its culture and social values.
You can’t go to Istanbul without taking a long afternoon break with a cup of strong Turkish coffee and some delicious lokum. And if you’ve been to Portugal and haven't tasted a freshly baked pastel de nata paired with a glass of Douro Port wine, then you have missed the quintessential Portuguese dessert (and we suggest you consider going back).
Unfortunately, as the old saying goes, all good things must come to an end, and that includes exotic trips to faraway countries. The next thing you know, you’re back home wishing you could have just one more bite of that local delicacy you used to munch on every day on your South American trip.
Yes, we all know the feeling very well but we also have a solution: Amazon. It’s sometimes easy to forget that as the world’s largest online retailer, you can find pretty much anything on Amazon, and that includes your favorite chocolate-covered alfajores shipped straight to your door from Argentina. Or maybe you are just dying to try authentic Ouma rusks that your friend was raving about after she came back from South Africa. You’re just a few clicks away from them.
And while we’re not saying that getting a box full of those mouth-watering dulce de leche cookies is nearly the same as eating one in a coffee shop in Buenos Aires, it's the next best thing when you’re thousands of miles away.
Scroll down to see our favorite international snacks that you can soon have in the comfort of your own kitchen.
Chestnut Spread from France
The beloved French crème de marrons will make you think twice next time you reach for the peanut butter jar in the morning. While it is great on toasts and crêpes, it can also be enjoyed as a side to ice cream or fromage blanc. And for the bakers among you, we recommend you try your hand at preparing the classic Ardéchois cake with crème de marrons, originating from south-central France.
To buy: amazon.com, $9.87
Flourless Almond Cake with Lemon from France
We haven’t forgotten for those of you who have adopted a gluten-free diet. This cake comes straight from Provence and it is only made with four natural ingredients—almonds, eggs, butter, and lemon extract. The family-owned company that produces it has been around since 1833 and started out its business by focusing on local products like almonds, apricot kernels, and cherry stems.
To buy: amazon.com, $11.99
Kim Nori from Korea
If you are looking for a low-calorie, zero-cholesterol healthy afternoon snack packed with minerals, protein, and fiber, then roasted seaweed sheets known in Korea as gim-gui are your best bet. The difference between Korean and Japanese nori is that Japanese seaweed sheets are usually not as seasoned as Korean and their color is much darker. Another way to enjoy nori is with sushi or in your soup.
To buy: amazon.com, $14.56
Lazzaroni Amaretti from Italy
The history of the amaretti dates back all the way to 1719 when a couple who owned a bakery in Saronno, Italy, decided to make a special biscuit to celebrate the visit of a Milanese cardinal. Almost three centuries later, the original recipe hasn’t changed— ground apricot kernels, sugar, and egg whites. Sometimes the best things in life are very simple, right?!
To buy: amazon.com, $19.76
Stroopwafels from the Netherlands
Stroopwafels (or syrup waffles) are thin layers of waffle dough with syrup filling in the middle. They were created in the Dutch town of Gouda, also famous for its cheese, by a baker who sweetened leftover breadcrumbs with syrup. Stoopwafels are best enjoyed warm with a cup of tea or coffee.
To buy: amazon.com, $26.99
Lokum from Turkey
Also known as Turkish delight (a term coined by an English traveler in the 18th century), the Turkish name lokum comes from the Arabic rahat-ul hulkum which means “to soothe the throat.” While we can’t guarantee its healing powers, we can promise you these colorful sugary cubes are absolutely addictive.
To buy: amazon.com, $10.00
Wine Gums from the UK
Contrary to what their name suggests, there is no wine in these chewy sweets so you can have as many as you want as an afternoon snack at work. Fun fact—according to Cadbury, 80 percent of people prefer the red and black gums that taste like raspberry and black currant.
To buy: amazon.com, $22.05
Kashmiri Mix from India
This spicy blend of split mung beans, potato sticks, noodles, and cashews is seriously addictive. Mung beans have actually been part of Indian diets for thousands of years, as they are packed with protein, fiber, and antioxidants.
To buy: amazon.com, $8.99
Arare Senbei from Japan
You’re not going to even think about buying another pretzel bag from the vending machine at work after you taste these Japanese crackers made from glutinous rice and soy sauce. They come in different sizes and flavors (both sweet and savory) and some are wrapped in seaweed.
To buy: amazon.com, $48.20
Obleas from Mexico
Those of you with a sweet tooth will appreciate the rich taste of the caramel filling (in this case made with goat’s milk) of the obleas, or wafers. We’re not going to sugarcoat it for you (pun intended)—this is a calorie bomb, but that’s what cheat days are for, right?
To buy: amazon.com, $8.99
Alfajores from Argentina
Legend has it that the alfajores were brought to Latin America from Spain where they are to this day considered a Christmas confection. But unlike in Spain, people in Argentina consume this delicious dulce de leche cookie sandwich year-round, often with a cup of coffee or tea or just as a post-dinner dessert.
To buy: amazon.com, $18.99
Ouma rusks from South Africa
These double-baked biscuits are the perfect companion to your morning or afternoon coffee (fair warning—they are pretty hard so you must dip them in a hot beverage before eating). Their story dates back to the Great Depression when a woman in the South African town of Molteno came up with the recipe and then sold them at the local church bazaar. Needless to say, they were an instant hit.
To buy: amazon.com, $19.99
Gjetost from Norway
Even though gjetost (pronounced yeh-toast) is technically a type of cheese, you probably couldn’t tell by looking at its caramel-like color and shiny surface. Made from goat’s milk whey, it is often served on a piece of rye toast or as a dessert.
To buy: amazon.com, $23.14
Cadbury chocolate bars from the UK
Why order only one kind when you can have all of your favorite British chocolate bars delivered to your house? The Great British Treats box contains ten of Cadbury’s top selling chocolate bars such as (our favorite) Double Decker: delicious nougat and cereal crisps coated in milk chocolate.
To buy: amazon.com, $17.99
Lebkuchen from Germany
Yes, we know that lebkuchen are traditionally consumed during Christmas season in Germany but, honestly, these ginger cookies are so tasty that we don’t see a reason to wait another 11 months to treat ourselves. Plus, the Catholic monks that first made them in the 14th century believed they had healing powers, because of all the spices and nuts that go in them so, really, eating lebkuchen is good for you.
To buy: amazon.com, $15.99
Baklava from Lebanon
While the exact origins of this decadent dessert are not very well documented, one version is that Assyrians in the 8th century B.C. layered flat bread with chopped nuts in between that they would cover in honey and then bake. Nowadays, baklava is claimed as a national dessert by many countries on the Balkans and the Middle East, and each country has its own twist on the original recipe.
To buy: amazon.com. $16.99
Daifuku from Japan
This traditional Japanese confection is made with a mochi shell (a rice-based dough) and cream filling. While the original recipe calls for red bean paste (anko in Japanese), nowadays you can choose from a variety of flavors. It’s interesting to note that what we, in the West, call “mochi ice cream” is actually a type of Daifuku called Yukumi Daifuku.
To buy: amazon.com, $8.25
