Finding the perfect gift for travel lovers can be an exciting journey in itself. Whether they are seasoned globetrotters or armchair adventurers, the right present can fuel their wanderlust and enhance their travel experiences, even from home. This curated guide offers a range of gifts that cater to different types of travel enthusiasts, ensuring you find something exceptional for the travel lover in your life.
Valrhona Feves for baking, showcasing various types of gourmet chocolate.
Gourmet Chocolate Gifts for Traveling Foodies
For travel lovers who are also passionate about food, gourmet chocolate makes an exceptional gift. Chocolate is more than just a treat; it’s an experience, much like travel itself. Presenting a selection of fine chocolates can transport their taste buds to exotic locations and bring a touch of luxury to their journeys or stay-at-home evenings dreaming of travel.
Valrhona Fèves: Introduce them to Valrhona, a French chocolate company renowned for its high-quality baking chocolate. Their fèves, or chocolate beans, are perfect for bakers and chocolate aficionados alike. Consider gifting Guanaja for bittersweet richness, Manjari for fruity notes, or Jivara milk chocolate for creamy indulgence. Their cocoa powder, with its deep color and intense flavor, is also a baker’s dream. These chocolates inspire culinary creativity and bring a gourmet touch to any kitchen, reminiscent of fine European patisseries.
Guittard Chocolate: A fantastic American brand, Guittard offers excellent quality chocolate accessible even at local supermarkets. Their bittersweet and semisweet wafers are ideal for baking and savoring. Gifting Guittard allows travel lovers to create delicious treats at home, perhaps recreating desserts they enjoyed on their travels.
Trader Joe’s Pound Plus Bars: For the practical chocolate lover, Trader Joe’s Pound Plus bars are a delightful and affordable option. These bars are perfect for everyday baking and snacking, providing a generous supply of quality chocolate without breaking the bank. Stocking up on these ensures they always have chocolate on hand for their culinary adventures, whether at home or in a vacation rental kitchen.
Essential Kitchen Tools for Culinary Travelers
Equipping travel lovers with the right kitchen tools can enhance their culinary experiences both at home and while traveling. For those who love to bake and cook, especially after being inspired by global cuisines, quality knives are invaluable.
Offset serrated knife from Shun, highlighting its ergonomic design and scalloped edge for chopping chocolate.
Offset Serrated Knives: An offset serrated knife is a game-changer for chopping chocolate, a common task in baking. A reasonably priced option is perfect for everyday use, while a splurge-worthy knife like the Shun offset serrated knife offers superior quality and ease of use. These knives are not only practical for kitchen tasks but also inspire a sense of professional culinary artistry, much like the precision needed when planning a perfect trip.
Exquisite Chocolates for the Discerning Traveler
For travel lovers with a taste for luxury, exquisite chocolates from renowned chocolatiers are the perfect indulgence. These are chocolates meant to be savored, each piece telling a story of craftsmanship and exceptional ingredients, much like discovering a hidden gem in a far-off land.
Selection of chocolates from Stick With Me Sweets and Dandelion, showcasing artisanal chocolate creations.
Stick With Me Sweets: These chocolates are true works of art, both in appearance and taste. Ideal for special occasions or as a luxurious treat, Stick With Me Sweets offers phenomenally delicious and visually stunning chocolates. Gifting these is like giving a piece of edible art, perfect for someone who appreciates the finer things in life and seeks out unique experiences, just like a seasoned traveler.
Dandelion Chocolate: From San Francisco, Dandelion Chocolate is a bean-to-bar maker that emphasizes quality and flavor. Their chocolate bars are wonderful for nibbling and baking, and their Gâteau Basque is a special treat. Dandelion represents artisanal quality and a dedication to the craft, appealing to travelers who value authenticity and unique local experiences.
Mah-ze-dahr Bakery Chocolate Toffee: If your travel lover has a sweet tooth and appreciates unique confections, Mah-ze-dahr’s chocolate-covered toffee is a must-try. This treat is perfect for sending a taste of New York, offering a rich and satisfying indulgence that can be enjoyed anywhere in the world.
Chocolate enrobed English toffee from Mah-ze-dahr, highlighting its rich and decadent appearance.
Global Flavors for Adventurous Palates
Travel is often about exploring new flavors, and bringing global culinary experiences home can be a fantastic gift for travel lovers. These flavorful gifts can ignite their culinary curiosity and allow them to recreate international dishes in their own kitchens, keeping the spirit of adventure alive between trips.
Fly by Jing Spices: Introduce them to Fly by Jing’s Sichuan Chili Crisp, a condiment that adds an explosion of flavor to almost any dish. For a comprehensive gift, consider the Lucky 88 spice pack or the Triple Threat sauce set. These spice collections are perfect for adventurous cooks who love to experiment with bold and exciting flavors, reminiscent of street food markets around the globe.
The Lucky 88 spice pack from Fly by Jing, showcasing a variety of vibrant and aromatic spices.
Seed and Mill Halva and Tahini: For those who appreciate Middle Eastern and Mediterranean flavors, Seed and Mill offers exquisite halva and organic tahini. The seasonal halva mix is a sweet treat, while their tahini, especially the za’atar flavored one, is perfect for cooking authentic dishes. These gifts bring the authentic tastes of the Mediterranean right to their pantry, ideal for travelers who cherish culinary discoveries.
Winter Specials Halva Box from Seed and Mill, displaying a colorful assortment of sesame-based sweets.
Booneville Barn Collective Chiles: Gift the unique flavors of Piment d’Ville chile powder from Booneville Barn Collective. Grown from Espelette pepper seeds, this chile powder is pungent, mildly hot, and slightly sweet, adding depth to a variety of dishes. This is a thoughtful gift for those who love to experiment with unique ingredients and appreciate farm-to-table quality, reminiscent of exploring local markets on travels.
Piment d'Ville collection from Boonville Barn Collective, presenting a range of chile products in rustic packaging.
French Experiences and Books for Francophile Travelers
For those captivated by French culture, gifts that evoke the charm of France are always appreciated. Whether it’s through culinary experiences in Paris or immersive books, these gifts allow travel lovers to indulge in their passion for France from anywhere in the world.
Paris Food Tour Gift Certificates: A gift certificate for a food tour with Paris By Mouth is an unforgettable present for anyone planning a trip to Paris. Known for their knowledgeable guides and expertly planned tours, Paris By Mouth offers an authentic taste of Parisian culinary life. This gift promises a memorable experience filled with delicious discoveries and cultural insights, perfect for planning future travels.
Gift certificates from Paris by Mouth, showcasing the logo and branding of a renowned food tour company.
La Cuisine Paris Cooking Class Gift Certificates: For a hands-on French culinary experience, a gift certificate to La Cuisine Paris is ideal. This top-rated cooking school offers classes in English, taught by French instructors. It’s a perfect gift for someone who dreams of mastering French cuisine and experiencing Parisian culture firsthand.
Gift certificates from La Cuisine, presenting the logo and branding of a popular Parisian cooking school.
Books Set in France: Transport them to France with captivating books. For mystery lovers, Louise Penny’s “All The Devils Are Here”, M.L. Longworth’s Provencal series, and Jean-Luc Bannalec’s Brittany mysteries offer engaging stories set in beautiful French locales. These books provide an armchair escape to France, perfect for cozy evenings at home or while traveling.
Book cover collage featuring French mystery novels and memoirs, showcasing titles like "All The Devils Are Here" and "My Life in France".
French Memoirs and Culinary Literature: For those who love to delve deeper into French culture and cuisine, consider “My Life in France” by Julia Child, “As Always, Julia” letters, “My Place at the Table” by Alexander Lobrano, “Mastering the Art of French Eating” by Ann Mah, and “Drinking French” by David Lebovitz. These books offer rich narratives and insights into French life and food, ideal for inspiring travel dreams and culinary adventures.
Book cover collage of French memoirs and culinary books, featuring titles such as "My Life in France" and "Drinking French".
“Paris in Stride” and French Calendars: Jessie Kanelos Weiner’s “Paris in Stride” is a charming watercolor book capturing Parisian scenes. Her 2022 New Victory Garden calendar also brings a touch of French artistry into everyday life. These visually delightful gifts are perfect for brightening up any space and evoking the beauty of France.
Jessie Kanelos Weiner's "Paris in Stride" book cover, showcasing watercolor illustrations of Parisian scenes.
Cookbooks for Culinary Journeys at Home
For travel lovers who enjoy cooking and exploring global cuisines from their kitchen, cookbooks are wonderful gifts. These books are not just recipe collections; they are passports to different cultures, offering culinary adventures without leaving home.
“Filipinx” Cookbook: “Filipinx” by Angela Dimayuga and Ligaya Mishan explores the vibrant heritage recipes of the Filipino diaspora. This cookbook is an exciting culinary journey through Filipino flavors, perfect for adventurous cooks and those interested in global cuisines.
“Mooncakes and Milk Bread” Cookbook: Kristina Cho’s “Mooncakes and Milk Bread” is inspired by Chinese bakeries, featuring beautifully photographed and detailed recipes for dumplings, buns, and cakes. This book is a delightful exploration of Chinese baking traditions, ideal for those who love to bake and explore Asian culinary arts.
“At the Chinese Table” Memoir and Cookbook: Carolyn Phillips’ “At the Chinese Table” combines memoir with recipes, offering a personal and culinary journey through Taiwanese cuisine. With delightful illustrations by the author, this book is perfect for those who appreciate food writing and the stories behind recipes.
Cookbook collage featuring "Filipinx", "Mooncakes and Milk Bread", and "At the Chinese Table", highlighting diverse culinary themes.
“Pasta: The Spirit and Craft of Italy’s Greatest Food”: Missy Robbins and Talia Baiocchi’s “Pasta” is a comprehensive guide to Italian pasta, offering a tour of Italy through its regional pasta dishes. This book is a must-have for pasta lovers and those dreaming of Italian culinary adventures.
“Taste: My Life Through Food” by Stanley Tucci: For fans of Stanley Tucci and Italian cuisine, “Taste” is a delightful memoir exploring his life through food. This book is engaging and personal, perfect for those who enjoy food writing and celebrity memoirs with a culinary focus.
“Mediterranean” Cookbook by Claudia Roden: Claudia Roden’s “Mediterranean” offers treasured recipes from a lifetime of travel, celebrating the diverse and vibrant cuisines of the Mediterranean. This cookbook is a classic, ideal for anyone who loves Mediterranean flavors and appreciates culinary expertise.
Cookbook collage featuring "Pasta", "Taste", and "Mediterranean", showcasing a range of international cuisines.
Conclusion:
Choosing the perfect gift for travel lovers involves understanding their passions and preferences. From gourmet chocolates and global flavors to French-inspired experiences and cookbooks for culinary exploration, these gifts are designed to inspire wanderlust and bring joy to every type of travel enthusiast. Whether they are planning their next big adventure or enjoying the journey from home, these thoughtful gifts will surely delight and enhance their love for travel.
