With the holiday season almost over, many holidaymakers will be scrambling to get a last minute getaway booked to avoid the dreaded holiday blues setting in. But holiday favourites like regional pizza and pasta dishes are almost impossible to recreate without authentic local ingredients.
Experts at Eurocamp have revealed top tips for bringing home popular holiday food and drinks. From liquid restrictions on cabin baggage to new rules for bringing food and drink into various countries post-Brexit, many holidaymakers have been left confused over whether their new favourite Italian salami or French Brie is allowed to come home with them.
Chris Bennett, travel expert from Eurocamp, has explained the rules around bringing home food and drink from foreign countries, as well as revealing some tips to ensure it doesn't get ruined in transit:
Know the rules and restrictions
Since the UK exited the EU, there have been many changes to the different rules on travelling. The good news is that, whilst there are some food products that are prohibited from crossing the UK border into EU countries (think meat and cheeses), on the way home to the UK, there are very few restrictions.
You can bring as much meats, cheeses, bread, pasta and alcohol as your suitcase allows, although you can expect to be questioned by border control if your alcohol haul goes above the limits below:
Beer: Over 110 litres
Wine: Over 90 litres
Spirits: Over 10 litres
Fortified wine: Over 20 litres
So whether you want to bring a winter supply home of your new favourite wine, or a selection of cured meats for your next Charcuterie, you can travel safe knowing you aren’t breaking any rules.
Pack it properly
With Europe having some of the world's best meats and cheeses these can be popular products brought home by holidaymakers.
With these fresh, locally made items often coming with strong odours, although it may make your suitcase easier to find at baggage claim, it also runs the risk of making all of your clothes and belongings smell.
To avoid the smell of food getting on your belongings (and stinking out the plane) it's best to store them in Tupperware or ziplock bags. If bringing food containers didn’t make the packing list, don’t worry as you can always ask a local restaurant for a spare tub that you could use.
You could also use plastic bags collected from any holiday shops to wrap up the food before storing to make sure it's still nice and fresh when you get home.
I’d always recommend keeping your food items at the top of your bag to keep an eye on them, as well as stopping them from getting squashed. If using a bag that is in contact with your body, consider having the food product on the outside so that it doesn’t get heated up by your body warmth.
Hand or hold luggage?
Liquid restrictions vary massively between what type of luggage you choose to take with you on holiday.
For those who opt for hand luggage only, each one of your liquids must be under 100ml, and all of them must fit in one ziplock bag. This means that whilst standard wine bottles are a no go for bringing home, you can still bring home your favourite foods - although watch out for soft cheeses as when these melt, they can sometimes be classed as liquids.
If you have a hold bag, then you have many more options over what food and drink you bring. With no limit restrictions on liquids, and fairly chilled temperatures in the hold section on the plane, it can be like storing your foods in the fridge and a great way to transport items.
Utilise all your baggage
If you are travelling with just hand luggage, a lot of airlines allow you to bring two bags in the cabin with you, one small bag for under the seat in front of you, and a bigger one to store above you.
With European destinations such as Italy being globally known for fantastic cuisine, you may consider using one of your bags exclusively for your foodie finds.
By using two bags, you can separate your products and ensure that all your clothes are kept smelling fresh, and not of food.
Cushioning is your best friend
We all know that gut wrenching feeling of getting home and discovering you have had a suitcase spill. Whilst it's usually from a squished sun cream bottle, travelling with food and drink definitely makes it more risky.
With delicate products like pasta, wine or glass jars of local delicacies at risk of breaking, I would recommend wrapping them in lots of cushioning. Pyjamas or beach towels are the perfect products to help protect your belongings and help to minimise breakage.
Choose your route
With alternatives to flying, such as driving or the Eurostar, coming with unlimited liquid restrictions, you could consider other options for your next trip. This means that you can stock up on your favourite European cheeses and wines without having to worry about liquid and baggage restrictions.
You could always look at shipping your products too. When strolling around the beautiful streets of your next destination, look out for local wineries. Some local wineries offer shipping discounts, so if you’re low on luggage space or only have a cabin bag, talk to the locals and see if they can ship it for a reasonable price.
