THE SOUVENIRS YOU SHOULD BE BUYING IN PARIS
Here are my recommendations for the 10 things you should be buying in Paris. Just note that you could definitely extend this to the whole of France as you will be able to find most of the items all over.
Food and Drinks!
The supermarket might seem like an odd place to start if you’re on the hunt for souvenirs but Paris was once hallmarked as the food capital of the world after all. You will find all of these at Carrefour, Monoprix, or for a fancy shopping experience try La Grande Epicerie in the 7ème.
1. Mustard
My first recommendation is French mustard! We’ve all heard of Dijon mustard but you probably didn’t realise that there are actually lots of other varieties of French mustard that you may not have tried or even heard of. There are so many different fancy flavour combinations, and all sorts of beautiful decorative jars right at the supermarket. This would make such a nice (and affordable!) gift from your time in France.
2. Herbs and Spices
Make your way to the spices aisle in the supermarket and grab yourself some pre-blended Herbes de Provence. You can literally put this on anything, it goes so nicely on a grilled chicken breast, a roast chicken, roasted veggies, in an omelette, to season soup - it just makes everything better. If you'd rather buy individual herbs, French thyme is well loved.
3. Salt
The famous Fleur de Sel is a French salt, made from the salt crystals that form on top of salt pits. It is the most delicate of salts and is typically used as a "garnishing" salt, rather than to flavour during the cooking. This fancy salt can be found in adorable little round pots at the supermarket, but also in bigger bags which are definitely worth stocking up on.
The famous Fleur de Sel is a French salt, made from the salt crystals that form on top of salt pits. It is the most delicate of salts and is typically used as a "garnishing" salt, rather than to flavour during the cooking. This fancy salt can be found in adorable little round pots at the supermarket, but also in bigger bags which are definitely worth stocking up on.
4. Confitures
If the popularity of Bonne Maman jams in the UK is anything to go by, checking out the confiture section of the supermarket will give you lots of choice for souvenirs everyone will love. Do yourself a favour and get a jar (or two, or three) of Confiture de Lait. You can't buy this in England and it's honestly an addictive jar of deliciousness. It's essentially a thick butter caramel in a jar - spread it on soft bread, use it in millionaire shortbread, eat it by the spoonful - I won't judge.
If the popularity of Bonne Maman jams in the UK is anything to go by, checking out the confiture section of the supermarket will give you lots of choice for souvenirs everyone will love. Do yourself a favour and get a jar (or two, or three) of Confiture de Lait. You can't buy this in England and it's honestly an addictive jar of deliciousness. It's essentially a thick butter caramel in a jar - spread it on soft bread, use it in millionaire shortbread, eat it by the spoonful - I won't judge.
5. Alcohol
Would a trip to France even be complete without sampling some French wine? If you're travelling by plane, maybe this is one souvenir you should buy and test out whilst still in France. Any supermarket in the city will have a decently stocked up wine section, but if you want the extra good stuff head to a 'Cave', a wine cellar, and they will sort you out. Wine isn't really my thing but the Oh My Pamp! grapefruit rosé is scarily easy to drink.
For something a little more special, you could pick up a bottle of French Champagne - they are only allowed to brand sparkling wine as champagne if it comes from the Champagne region of France, so getting some in France would be even closer to its origins. Or, you could be a little adventurous and get a bottle of absinthe. This green spirit rose to popularity over 100 years ago among Parisian artists and writers.
Would a trip to France even be complete without sampling some French wine? If you're travelling by plane, maybe this is one souvenir you should buy and test out whilst still in France. Any supermarket in the city will have a decently stocked up wine section, but if you want the extra good stuff head to a 'Cave', a wine cellar, and they will sort you out. Wine isn't really my thing but the Oh My Pamp! grapefruit rosé is scarily easy to drink.
For something a little more special, you could pick up a bottle of French Champagne - they are only allowed to brand sparkling wine as champagne if it comes from the Champagne region of France, so getting some in France would be even closer to its origins. Or, you could be a little adventurous and get a bottle of absinthe. This green spirit rose to popularity over 100 years ago among Parisian artists and writers.
6. Drinks syrups
In the UK we dilute cordial with water to make squash - but in France cordial doesn't exist. They use syrup to make a 'squash' drink, and there are so many different flavours of syrup available. Most come packaged in an aluminium bottle, but supermarkets also carry glass bottles of syrup which are actually perfect for cocktails! Supermarket own brands are much cheaper than buying Monin syrup in the UK (think €3.5), but you can also get Monin here inexpensively too.
In the UK we dilute cordial with water to make squash - but in France cordial doesn't exist. They use syrup to make a 'squash' drink, and there are so many different flavours of syrup available. Most come packaged in an aluminium bottle, but supermarkets also carry glass bottles of syrup which are actually perfect for cocktails! Supermarket own brands are much cheaper than buying Monin syrup in the UK (think €3.5), but you can also get Monin here inexpensively too.
Beauty!
7. French Pharmacie finds
There is no greater love affair than France and pharmacies. There are pharmacies on every corner and multiple on every street. I am planning on writing a list of recommendations for French pharmacies, but if the fan favourites are anything to go by, definitely pick up: some Bioderma micellar water, this stuff works wonders; La Roche Posay and Caudalie are both brands you can find in the UK, but are much cheaper in France; Nuxe Reve de Miel hand cream and lip balm are both incredible too.
There is no greater love affair than France and pharmacies. There are pharmacies on every corner and multiple on every street. I am planning on writing a list of recommendations for French pharmacies, but if the fan favourites are anything to go by, definitely pick up: some Bioderma micellar water, this stuff works wonders; La Roche Posay and Caudalie are both brands you can find in the UK, but are much cheaper in France; Nuxe Reve de Miel hand cream and lip balm are both incredible too.
8. Savon de Marseille
Savon de Marseille is everywhere in France. This soap, which traditionally used only olive oil, has been in production in the Marseille province for over 600 years. The typical Savon de Marseille comes in blocks, but the popular brand Le Petit Marseillais sells the soap in liquid form. In fancier shops, the Savon de Marseille will be handmade and packaged up perfectly too.
Random!
9. A beret
This is a bit of a joke suggestion which veers on the side of tourist crap but buying a beret in France is a pretty funny souvenir to bring home. You will have hours of laughs as all of your friends try to make it work - just a hint, they never work. This is the one thing I would recommend heading to a tourist shop for, as you can buy one for €3.
This is a bit of a joke suggestion which veers on the side of tourist crap but buying a beret in France is a pretty funny souvenir to bring home. You will have hours of laughs as all of your friends try to make it work - just a hint, they never work. This is the one thing I would recommend heading to a tourist shop for, as you can buy one for €3.
10. Books or posters from Seine riverbank vendors
Bouquinistes is the official name for the booksellers who set up on the banks of the Seine with their little dark green boxes. These riverside vendors are so well known that UNESCO has declared them a world heritage site. If your language skills are up to it, picking up a classic French book from the Bouquinistes is a perfect souvenir from Paris (even if you can't read it, think of the room decor potential). Most also sell prints and postcards of the city which often have that 'hand-painted' vibe.
These are 10 souvenirs you may not have thought of when coming to Paris, but I stand by them being a lot better than tacky 5 for €1 Eiffel Tower keyrings. Bring yourself and your loved ones back a gift they will love!
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