Valentine’s Day Gift Guide: The Best Global Specialty Ingredients For The Culinary Traveler

One of the best aspects of travel is discovering new flavors and ingredients while visiting new destinations.

Whether it’s an incredible dish you tried at a restaurant while traveling, or a spice you discovered in a regional cooking class or at a local market, these flavors and ingredients stay with you long after you’ve returned home.

Food and travel are intrinsically linked, and some of the best gifts to give a frequent traveler are those flavors that remind them of their most cherished journeys.

Burlap & Barrel Spice Passport

This spice passport ($10) takes you around the world in the same way a traditional passport might, but with flavor instead of miles. The passport contains 8 recyclable pods, each of which has a half-teaspoon of spices, including Cobanero Chili Flakes, Royal Cinnamon, Smoked Pimentón Paprika, Purple Stripe Garlic, Robusta Black Pepper, Sun-Dried Tomato Powder, Flowering Hyssop Thyme, and Black Lime. It’ll be a perfect way to impart a touch in flavor in anything that comes out of your kitchen.

The Caviar Co. Osetra Caviar

This caviar ($642 for a 125g tin) is sourced from Israel and dates back centuries. It is known for its elegant large pearl eggs that have a nutty flavor and are smooth and buttery. It’s the best of caviar and perfect for a special occasion.

SlofoodGroup Saffron, Super Negin Cut Afghanistan

Sourced from Central Afghanistan ($31 for 5 grams), this saffron is incredibly sought-after but at a surprisingly affordable price. Slofoodgroup has done it for you! Use this warm and sweet spice to take your soups, stews, risotto, and seafood dishes to the next level.

Wagyuman Japanese Wagyu for Shabu Shabu

You don’t have to travel to Japan to experience the opulence that is true Japanese wagyu. This Wagyuman 2-pound shaved striploin ($299) is everything you want in a top-end piece of meat, from sumptuous marbling to delicious melt-in-your-mouth texture. Try it in Shabu Shabu, a beautiful meal of thinly sliced beef and vegetables in simmering broth.

Tocable Hand Blended Wild Rice Pancake Mix

This wild rice pancakes ($12) will be unlike any you’ve experienced before because they are made of wild rice flour that is hand blended with Sonoran wheat flour. The result is a rustic and fluffy homemade pancake that supports Indigenous and local farmers.

Sky Valley Sambal Oelek Chili Paste

Sambal is a very popular condiment and cooking ingredient in Malaysia, Indonesia, and Singapore, but you’ll see it used throughout Asian cooking. A mainstay of everything from stir frys to marinades, this chili sauce ($10) is a delicious blend of red jalapenos and garlic.

Yai’s Thai Panang Curry Ready Made Thai Curry Sauce

Thai curry is a delicacy that people will travel thousands of miles for, but making it at home can sometimes feel overwhelming and intimidating with tons of hard-to-find ingredients in order to do it right. Yai’s Thai Panang Curry ($8) is a mild and approachable curry loaded with wholesome ingredients. It’s a super easy sauce to use, just mix in your favorite proteins and veggies, and serve with rice.

FarmSteady Mexican Fresh Cheese Making Kit

There’s nothing like cooking with authentic Mexican flavors, and you can’t get more authentic than making the ingredients yourself. This kit ($30) helps you to make Oaxacan Quesillo, all you need to do is add milk!

Umamicart Pantry Subscription Box

Sometimes the key to cooking our regional favorites is simply having the right ingredient arsenal. The Pantry Subscription Box ($45) is so fun, and will be a monthly shipment of pantry essentials and t Asian American brands. Each month’s box has a theme, making it perfect for trying new recipes and trying new cuisines.