333742 Thu Oct 12 23:57:58 -0700 2006 8 44 South Asia 0 1942440 My parents are going on a tour of Northern India, so I have to ask: are there any small but wonderful food items I should ask them to bring back? Something a local Indian market might not have? (I'm in the S.F. Bay Area.) Or something that would be much more expensive in the U.S.? Any ideas would be appreciated. Thanks. Thu Oct 12 23:57:58 -0700 2006 11231 Glencora 1 1953160 Not exactly food, but Mittal Teas in Sunder Nagar Market in Delhi is a really nice shop with teas of fantastic quality and freshness -- the prices might be high for India but are really low in US terms, and they have all sorts of packages, including souvenir types in kashmiri boxes and silk pouches as well as plain boxes and tins. Here's a link to their website to give you an idea of what they carry: www.mittalteas.com Tue Oct 17 22:36:50 -0700 2006 1942440 47470 Hickory 1 1958098 I saw really nice saffron in markets in Jodhpur last year....now I wish I had bought some. Much cheaper in India than it is here. Make sure they get real stuff though, lots of spice shops try to trick you. They can probably find this in Delhi and other North Indian cities as well, but if they do go to Jodhpur, the spice markets there are really great. Thu Oct 19 19:05:24 -0700 2006 1942440 21930 Dave MP 1 3765492 Hing (Devil's Dung; Asafoetida). Not the powdered and adulterated stuff that you get in the US (even reputable spice merchants like The Spice house sell this junk). The real stuff comes in chunks of pure dried sap. The Iranian ones are the best and are available in India. India has their own version as well. Mon Jun 09 20:14:44 -0700 2008 1942440 13402 Joe MacBu 1 3768780 Cookbooks! There is a whole range by Indian TV celebrity-chef Sanjeev Kapoor which contained dozens of fabulous recipes. Tue Jun 10 19:41:07 -0700 2008 1942440 143097 klyeoh 1 4227400 Besides saffron, highly quality black cardamon and telicherri peppers are cheaper. Sun Dec 07 12:57:46 -0800 2008 1942440 123478 percyn 1 4456732 I am planning a trip to India too but have been warned that U.S. Customs will confiscate any food items--it might be wise to double check before going to the trouble of shopping and schlepping. Fri Feb 27 03:00:29 -0800 2009 1942440 270246 Krissythecook 2 4465321 dry stuff like teas and spices or breads and sweets, oils or jams, for example, will not be confiscated by customs, at least Ive brought such items back repeatedly over the years. Meat, certain milk products, and fresh fruit and veg products, leaves, roots, anything that could carry disease or dirt, on the other hand will not be allowed. Mon Mar 02 07:27:38 -0800 2009 4456732 11130 jen kalb 2 5209659 I just got back from India with a suitcase full of spices, jam, and a few other food items without any problems. Thu Nov 26 08:54:46 -0800 2009 4456732 136251 Fromageball