What to buy in Israel??

[ola]

My husband is in Israel for two weeks visiting relatives. Any suggestions on food items to bring home to a 16 year old wanna be chef?

[smartie]

I love the sticky apricot sheets which are rolled up.

Sesame seed snaps

[akq]

I'd bring back dates. YUM.

[rockycat]

All the dried fruit is great. Just be careful when checking it through in your luggage. Apparently dried fruit shows up just the same as plastique explosives on airport X-ray machines. Our 5 lb. plus of dried fruit gave us a few difficult moments at Ben-Gurion.

[bards4]

I recently brought back fresh-baked pitas from a stand in Acco. Yummy to eat on the plane, and then put in the freezer when we came home.

[Cheese Boy]

Za'atar, tahini, halvah (חלבה), olive oil, and any cheese [shahat, tiltan, tavor].

[cresyd]

Definitely go for the cheeses. Especially the sheep and goat milk ones.

[chazzer]

And baharat.

If you read Hebrew, pick up some old copies of "Al HaShulchan" magazine (kinda like the Israeli Gourmet/Bon Appetit/ etc.) at Steimatsky at half price. Some of the Al HaShulchan books are nice, too.

[Sean]

I have heard that they make some wonderful olive oils.

[ola]

Thanks, Sean. great idea.

[RaleighRocker]

spices, tachina, shug

[mlgb]

Just remember that anything liquid (or liquidy, like tahini,) will need to be checked through. If you might bring something liquid back, it's worth carrying a few plastic containers that will survive the flight with you.

Some animal products are not going to be permitted, such as soft cheeses and meats.