T+L Asia Editors Share Their Offbeat Souvenir Rituals

What remains after an adventure-packed and scenery-soaked vacation is a heart full of memories, and well, a suitcase full of souvenirs. These keepsakes linger on, in the cosy nooks of our casas, condiments in our kitchen, and scene-stealing attires. And while fridge magnets and shot glasses are a recurring classic, Travel and Leisure Asia editors just dished out quirky souvenir rituals from their travels that are anything but “routine”.

From handcrafted collectables to time-honoured swords, here’s the mixed bag of souvenir inspiration we’ve been gatekeeping.

Also, explore our guide to 20 cultural souvenirs that bring the world into your home.

A whiff of culinary flavour – the perfect travel souvenir

From spice mixes to local sauces and instant coffee, bring home a slice of flavour and culinary heritage.

“I like to bring back local spices from each city I travel to. As I enjoy trying local food (especially vegetarian dishes), I believe the local spices help me understand the cuisine. Some examples of what I have brought back with me are paprika from Budapest, Italian seasoning from Rome and cinnamon from Colombo,” shares Divya Jain, Regional Managing Editor – Digital Growth, Travel+Leisure Asia (India, South Asia, Southeast Asia, Hong Kong and Macau).

Joining the culinary bandwagon, Esha Dasgupta, Senior Digital Writer, Travel+Leisure Asia (India, South Asia, Southeast Asia, Hong Kong and Macau), says, “I love buying condiments, fresh or cured ingredients, and spices from places I visit.” She swears by the charm of rustling up international cuisine in her kitchen, using the ingredients she picked up on her travels. “I came back from Spain with a vacuum-sealed pack of Iberian ham, speciality cheese from Mashobra, fish sauce from Thailand, white pepper from Cambodia, Sepu badi from Mandi, and Goan chorizo and dried fish from Goa,” she adds.

Fellow tea and coffee lovers, a supermarket haul also means enjoying Singaporean kopi or Vietnamese cà phê long after your holiday ends.

“Be it Nero from London, Starbucks beans from Milan roastery, speciality coffee from Vietnam and Pondicherry or Green Tea from Japan, there is always an addition done to my coffee nook after a getaway,” shares Nishtha Grover, Senior Editor – Growth, Travel+Leisure Asia (India, South Asia, Southeast Asia, Hong Kong and Macau).

Arnab Hota, Content Trainee at Travel+Leisure Asia (India, South Asia, Southeast Asia, Hong Kong, and Macau), also shares his souvenir ritual of purchasing ‘white tea’ every time he travels to Assam or Meghalaya, as it is only available in Northeast India.

Culture connect: Purchasing antiques

Have a penchant for history and craftsmanship? Purchasing intentional artwork and symbols of ancient history is a remarkable way to bring back souvenirs that narrate tales of heritage and serve as great conversation starters, too.

“I like to collect swords and knives, especially from antique dealers on my travels. Hong Kong has been great for this with so many antique shopping streets which have great stories and quaint shops,” shares Akshita Bhanj Deo, Editor-in-Chief, Travel+Leisure India and South Asia.

Also read | Hong Kong Shopping Guide: The Best Malls And Streets To Shop For Every Kind Of Product

Stationery – because it’s the ultimate pick-me-up!

Be it journals, calendars smeared in local art, or fountain pens, the charm of stationery stands uncontested, unanimous, and unbound by age.

“I have an ungodly amount of letterpress postcards stacked in acid-free envelopes, handmade paper still crisp with the scent of pulp, and notebooks too beautiful to mark. In Bangkok, I wandered through the glossy aisles of Loft and left with souvenirs like a leather-bound journal, rice paper notepads, and a hand-stitched planner designed by an emerging Thai illustrator whose work I’d seen at a street exhibition,” said Sneha Chakraborty, Digital Writer, Travel+Leisure Asia (India, South Asia, Southeast Asia, Hong Kong and Macau).

Her love for stationery followed her to Singapore, where she bagged a set of water-based felt-tip pens, a pocket-sized cable organiser, envelope folders with embossed linen textures, red money packets from Chinese New Year displays, and washi tape printed with MRT station names (how cool is that!) and old shophouse motifs.

“In Tokyo, I tracked down a store in Ginza that sold vintage brass clips and refillable ink blotters, then spent an hour choosing between grid, dot, and ledger paper made in regional paper mills,” she adds.

Inspired much?

Chakraborty’s flair for ink pens is straight out of Pinterest – think gingham tablescapes, ink pen scribbles, and musings enveloped in old world charm. In Germany, she picked a Pelikan Souverän, green-striped, paired with a bottle of Königsblau ink and a slim leather pen sleeve from a small Berlin atelier. “In Ho Chi Minh City, I spent two hours searching for a lacquer-finished fountain pen, a nod to Vietnam’s long tradition of calligraphy and handwritten storytelling,” she says.

Global liquor, a travel souvenir you can’t go wrong with

Reflect on your travels after returning, one sip at a time. Because what can match the joy of narrating holiday anecdotes over international liquors, like Africa’s Amarula, chocolate wine from France, and Sake from Japan, while rejoicing with your friends and folks?

“I am a beverage fanatic and my home bar is a proud display of my travels – wine from Spain, local limoncello from Italy, Feni and Cabo from Goa, and Arrack from Sri Lanka remind me of my time at these destinations,” shared Grover.

Beyond being a spirited addition to your home bar, they also make for great souvenirs for gifting.

Build your Pandora bracelet, one holiday at a time

I got my hands on a delicate Pandora bracelet back in 2018, and there’s been no looking back. Every time I travel, I add a new charm as a souvenir, specific to the destination, to my bracelet stack. Right from dangling lighthouses and blue waves to iced lattes, it’s a joy wearing your memories on your wrist!

Thoughtful travel souvenirs: Bring home things you used on the holiday

The bookmarks on the last three books I read were boarding passes from my recent travels. Museum and gallery passes have a separate drawer in my study, and book-pressed flowers have finally been framed! Simply put, everyday articles from our travels also double as great souvenirs. “I tend to save some currency always and add it to my collection after every international trip,” says Grover.

She also maintains a journal, which includes boarding passes from all her trips, along with museum entry tickets and live show tickets —fundamental tidbits that bring back memories from her travels.

“Yes, it’s very common, but it feels like retaining a piece of me and who I was in that place. From currency, ticket stubs, hotel room luggage tags and local pamphlets to wristbands and even a branded beverage cup from a festival/concert – I keep them all,” remarks Divya Arora, Assistant Editor, Affiliate Content, Travel+Leisure Asia (India, South Asia, Southeast Asia, Hong Kong and Macau).

Those with pets, take notes! Arora’s holiday ritual of bringing back an ‘I LOVE’ stuffed toy (or any other) for her dog is worth replicating! “I bought a small stuffed camel for my dog, from Dubai, that had ‘I Love Dubai’ embroidered on it,” she adds.

Local handicrafts are the all-time popular travel souvenirs

Albeit more common, purchasing local handicrafts never goes out of style. Think kintsugi and lacquer art from Japan, leather goods from Italy, and hand-painted fans from Seville.

“I always look for handcrafted and unique art pieces to bring back as souvenirs. I picked handcrafted Lac bangles from Jaipur, a camel showpiece from Udaipur, a thread necklace from Agra (sold just outside Fatehpur Sikri), and a wooden flute from Dalhousie,” says Vanya Jain, web producer, Travel+Leisure Asia (India, South Asia, Southeast Asia, Hong Kong and Macau).

Another option is to pick fragrances that bottle local ingredients – a multi-sensory reminder of your holiday. “I love picking souvenirs like locally made soaps and incense on my travels. It is a simple way to carry home the scent and mood of a place,” says Ishita Banerjee, Content Trainee, Travel+Leisure Asia (India, South Asia, Southeast Asia, Hong Kong and Macau).

It’s hard to go wrong with a cherry blossom-infused cosmetic from Japan, lavender from France, and Jasmine from India! These items – soaps, aroma oils, candles – also make for luxe gifts. “I get my friends and family essential oils, incense sticks, handcrafted bags, and shawls – all of which are locally made,” shared Dinal Jain, Digital Writer, Travel+Leisure Asia (India, South Asia, Southeast Asia, Hong Kong and Macau).

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(Feature image credit: Valeriia Miller/Pexels)

Related | Must-Have Thai Souvenirs: Ruang Khao Siam Sapphire, PAÑPURI, And More

Note:
The information in this article is accurate as of the date of publication.

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