In the past few years, imported Italian groceries have become increasingly common in US stores. Yet, every time we come back from Italy, we bring along a full suitcase of hard-to-find Italian food that help us mitigate successfully our homesickness.

This is our top 10 list of Italian products that we regularly bring back after a trip to Italy:
– Coffee (the most popular brands are Lavazza and Illy).
– Extra-virgin olive oil. The choice is wide, but a lot depends on how much you want to spend. Usually the ones sold in dark green glass bottles are the best.
– Tuna in extra-virgin olive oil.
– Spices for meat and fish dishes. The most famous one is called Ariosto and it’s a blend of the main aromatic herbs used in the Italian cuisine.
– Cookies and pastry products: everything which is branded Mulino Bianco and Ferrero is worth trying.
– Nutella, the original one.
– Senape (mustard). Orco is the brand we recommend. Italians use the senape with their meat dishes, especially sausages, but also chicken and pork.
– Panna Cotta mix, a smooth, silky and creamy dessert.
– Fiesta sponge cakes by Ferrero filled with orange cream and covered with chocolate.
– Gianduja chocolate, the original with hazelnuts specifically grown in the Piedmont hills.

What do you bring back from your trip to Italy?
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