Through the years, I’ve gotten emails from folks asking what to deliver again from the U.S. for his or her French family and friends members, so immediately I’m going to reply that query. If you happen to’re searching for the proper American presents to deliver French folks from america, preserve studying as a result of I’ve obtained you coated!
Excellent People presents to deliver French buddies
I don’t learn about you, however I discover it actually difficult to select the proper reward for folks. After being on the receiving finish of well-intentioned presents that weren’t, how let’s assume, my fashion, properly I’m pondering many people on the market have hassle with reward giving. There’s a lot that would go fallacious! However it’s the thought that counts, proper?
To assist guarantee your reward will likely be a banger, it’s at all times a good suggestion to maintain the recipient’s preferences and pursuits in thoughts. When you have French buddies or relations, you might need to give them one thing that displays your American tradition whereas additionally being considerate and sensible.
Your relationship with the particular person additionally comes into play. If you happen to’re assembly your boyfriend’s dad and mom for the primary time, I’m pondering a bag of sweet may not reduce it. Extra on that beneath. Positively learn the room when deciding what People presents to deliver French buddies.
Additionally, don’t stress an excessive amount of. When purchasing for presents for French folks from the U.S., I believe the novelty facet of the reward will assist add to the cool issue. It’s one thing new to them and could seem a bit unique, in order that’ll positively work in your favor.
Earlier than moving into my listing of reward concepts for French folks from America, there are two issues to remember:
Appreciation for artwork
France is understood for its artwork and tradition, and the French folks take nice pleasure of their creative heritage. From the Louvre to the Musée d’Orsay and all the opposite well-known museums in France, France is house to a number of the world’s most well-known artwork collections.
The French respect artwork in all its varieties, from work and sculptures to music and literature. Now it goes with out saying, not EVERY French particular person takes artwork severely, however if you happen to’re searching for a present for an art-loving French buddy, contemplate a e book a couple of well-known artist or a print of a well-known portray.
Love of meals and wine
French delicacies is sort of a faith and everyone knows the French take their meals severely. They have a tendency to worth high quality elements, conventional recipes, and the artwork of cooking and having fun with their meal.
If you happen to’re searching for a present for a French gourmand(e), contemplate one thing that celebrates their love of meals, equivalent to a cookbook, kitchen instruments, an ornamental dish towel… you get my drift.
Wine can be an vital a part of French tradition, and a bottle of excellent wine is at all times a welcome reward. Simply be sure to select a high-quality wine from a good winery and pack it correctly on the airplane.
Alrighty, now into my listing of reward concepts from the U.S. for French folks.
Regional meals merchandise
When touring round France, I at all times cease by vacationer retailers which have numerous produits regionaux which might be new to me. From sea salt, to sardines, to specialty sweets, wine, cookies, and extra, purchasing native is a good way to pattern a area’s specialty meals merchandise.
Why not do the identical within the U.S.? In case your space of america is understood for a specific sort of product or meals, I extremely advocate going this route on your reward. It’s my best choice for People presents to deliver French family and friends.
The French respect high quality meals merchandise as I defined above, and as you recognize, mealtime and consuming properly with family and friends (typically at a extra leisurely tempo than we’re used to!) is a part of French tradition. You possibly can’t go fallacious with a high quality regional meals merchandise from your property state or area on your French particular person reward.
Notice: Spicy meals should not tremendous frequent in France, so don’t purchase something with an excessive amount of warmth until you recognize the particular person can take it. Additionally, cinnamon/pumpkin spice isn’t a preferred taste right here (neither is cranberry), so in case your French particular person likes that type of factor, it might be a great course to go in.
This might embrace meals specialties equivalent to taffy, chocolate, BBQ sauce, scorching sauce, California wine, locally-made jams and honey, and a lot extra.
These considerate presents won’t solely introduce your French buddies to new flavors but additionally present them that you simply put some effort into their reward.
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Regional memento
So many areas of the U.S. have wonderful memento retailers and native boutiques that it ought to be a no brainer to cease in and peruse the choice. Retailers like this typically characteristic native artists’ wares and are an incredible place to select up a singular reward.
A present my in-laws beloved was an ornamental ceramic trivet that had a very well-done graphic of New Jersey, my house state. They like to cook dinner and use it on a regular basis (whereas getting a bit of geography lesson within the course of).
In Florida, I obtained my mother-in-law an exquisite silk scarf that had an analogous sort of lovely graphic outlining all the principle areas of Florida in a very visible, colourful means. One other time, I obtained her some Florida-themed slippers that she beloved and wore till that they had holes in them (French folks love slippers).
At a pleasant boutique in Spring Lake, NJ, the final time I used to be there, I picked up a regionally made candle with an ocean scent for my mother-in-law as properly.
You realize your folks finest, however issues like handcrafted pottery, jewellery, tub & physique merchandise, leather-based items, housewares, and so forth. are glorious choices.
At any time when attainable, I attempt to purchase regionally made souvenirs for myself and others as an alternative of a mass-produced magnet or keychain, so completely go the regional path to share a chunk of the place you come from in a considerate means.
In case your French particular person is into pictures and/or journey, you may need to contemplate a framed photograph of a specific space if it has particular significance to you or them. Most vacationer areas have stunning photographs on the market if you happen to aren’t a lot of a photographer your self. A wall or desk photograph calendar can be a good suggestion.
Credit score: www.depositphotos.com/jshanebutt
Basic American meals merchandise
One other enjoyable thought is to deliver meals presents which might be quintessentially American. You possibly can go the junk meals/sweet route or decide up issues that may have extra dietary worth. No matter you get, simply be sure to go for meals merchandise they’ll’t readily discover in France.
The French folks in my life love making an attempt new meals, so go nuts. And in the event that they hate it, properly, extra for you. ;-)))
Let me additionally preface this class with a fast disclaimer. A few of these American meals merchandise that deliver again fond reminiscences of our childhoods won’t have the identical impact on a French particular person. They could even come throughout as unusual or careless presents, relying in your relationship.
It’s particularly vital to know the way a seemingly random meals merchandise is perhaps obtained. Sweet is at all times a success with youngsters, nevertheless it most likely goes with out saying that giving a field of Pop Tarts to your new boyfriend’s dad and mom for Christmas isn’t going to chop it.
Additionally, since I’ve moved to France, increasingly more previously hard-to-get American meals are actually accessible right here like peanut butter, nut milks, Doritos, and Greek yogurt. Nonetheless no mac & cheese, egg whites, and flavored espresso creamer. although.
5 Widespread American grocery retailer gadgets you received’t discover in France >>
A few of my favourite American meals to deliver again for French folks:
–Sweet:
- Reese’s peanut butter cups (whilst you can generally discover the unique ones today in France right here and there, you received’t discover the extra attention-grabbing varieties which have potato chips or pretzels in them)
- Tootsie pops & Blow Pops
- Twizzlers
- Jolly Rancher candies
- Nerds
- York Peppermint Patties
- Warheads (for the bitter lover)
- Chocolate-covered pretzels
- Raisinets
- Any sort of cookie dough chew or cookie dough product. They’re not tremendous standard in France.
- Fudge. There are nice retailers on the Jersey Shore and my in-laws have beloved the fudge I’ve introduced again. It’s not one thing you discover in France.
- Cinnamon gum. When you can in fact purchase gum in France, cinnamon actually isn’t a taste you see right here.
- Toll Home semisweet chocolate chips for the baker in your listing. In France, the luggage of chocolate chips you purchase on the grocery retailer are tiny and fairly costly, to not point out the chip sizes are just about all mini chips. Additionally they primarily are available in darkish or milk chocolate — no semisweet.
Credit score: www.depositphotos.com/homank76
NOTE: If you happen to’re within the U.S. round a vacation interval like Christmas, Easter, or Halloween, the festive packaging is at all times a good selection. In France, you’ll discover Easter and Christmas packaging principally however on a a lot smaller scale than within the U.S., the place it looks as if there are 100 selections.
I as soon as introduced the French Air France flight attendants on my flight a collection of Halloween-themed sweet and one lady beloved it a lot that she instructed me she was holding it for her daughter (vampire Bitter Patch Children have been a success!).
–Cheetos. SO GOOD and will work properly for an apéro snack. Cheddar goldfish crackers and Cheez-Its are additionally good tacky snack gadgets.
–Actual maple syrup (the perfect I ever had was made in Vermont and likewise Canada.) It’s nice drizzled over yogurt.
–Pop Tarts. Whereas nutritionally doubtful, the novelty of a Pop Tart is value it.
–Beef Jerky. There are SO many types of beef jerky within the U.S. in addition to different sorts of meat jerky. Seize a bag for the French meat lover in your life.
–Marshmallow Fluff. These things is type of bizarre however tops my listing for a novelty product.
–Ranch salad dressing. No rationalization wanted. SO GOOD.
Tech presents
If you’re searching for a higher-end reward, remember the fact that tech gadgets like an iPhone are going to be cheaper within the U.S. than in France. The retail value is decrease and with a robust U.S. greenback, it is sensible to purchase your electronics within the U.S.
All the time do a value comparability, however cell telephones, computer systems, train trackers, sensible audio system, and so forth. are all good reward concepts. I’ve additionally discovered wonderful tech-adjacent presents at locations like Marshalls and TJ Maxx — issues like chargers, cables, cellphone circumstances and that type of factor.
Presents that mirror American tradition
In the case of choosing presents for French folks from the U.S. that mirror American tradition, there are a number of choices to contemplate that’ll provide help to make a great impression:
Sports activities memorabilia
Sports activities are a big a part of American and French cultures, however they’re completely different sports activities, so why not deal with your French sports activities lover to some American sports activities memorabilia. American soccer, basketball and baseball-related presents all make nice choices.
Listed below are a few of my faves:
-Group jerseys, hats, or t-shirts
-Autographed sports activities gear or memorabilia
-Tickets to a recreation or sporting occasion in France like The Harlem Globetrotters. Additionally, you should buy a Tremendous Bowl cross so you possibly can watch it on TV.
-A soccer. Easy however enjoyable! My nephew nonetheless throws across the American soccer we obtained him 5 years in the past.
American literature
American literature has a wealthy historical past and is understood for producing a number of the world’s most well-known writers. In case your French buddies are literature fanatics, you possibly can reward them some basic American books or up to date literature. Listed below are some strategies in case your French particular person enjoys studying in English:
- “To Kill a Mockingbird” by Harper Lee
- “The Nice Gatsby” by F. Scott Fitzgerald
- “The Catcher within the Rye” by J.D. Salinger
- “The Adventures of Huckleberry Finn” by Mark Twain
- “The Colour Purple” by Alice Walker
Remaining ideas
There’s no scarcity of reward concepts from the U.S. for French folks, so with a bit of legwork, I’m certain you’ll discover the proper reward. Do your finest to keep away from overly generic and low-cost presents each time attainable.
Lastly, keep away from shopping for something that must be plugged in until you’re certain a easy adapter will do the trick. There’s not simply the problem of voltage however hertz as properly. Most American laptop chargers work simply wonderful with an adapter however hair instruments won’t. Mine really caught on fireplace, so on your security, keep away from in any respect prices even when the worth is true. USB is the best way to go right here.
I hope my submit gave you some concepts on what to deliver again French folks from the U.S.
Pleased purchasing!
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