Essential French Supermarket Souvenirs – Perfect for 50 Friends & Family

Text & Photos /INSIDR PARIS

Every time you travel, you always want to bring back some souvenirs to share with your loved ones and let them experience a taste of a foreign land. But choosing gifts can be quite a headache—what should you get? How much should you spend? Especially if you have 50 friends and family to give to, supermarkets are the fastest and most efficient option. They offer a huge variety of affordable, high-quality items that won’t break the bank.

Olive Tapenade

Located in the Mediterranean region, the Côte d'Azur in southern France is abundant with plump olives. Because of this, when you travel in France and try the local cuisine, you’ll notice significant differences between northern and southern cooking styles—butter in the north, olive oil in the south. Olive tapenade often appears as an Apero (pre-dinner drink) snack in southern France. You can spread it on toast with halved cherry tomatoes or simply on a slice of French bread.

Olive tapenade isn’t just made of plain black olives. It typically includes olives, extra virgin olive oil, garlic, cane sugar, herbs, paprika, and more, offering a taste quite different from eating whole olives. It’s very healthy, refreshing, and has a smooth flavor. In major French supermarkets, you can find both black and green olive tapenades. We especially recommend the sweeter-tasting black olive tapenade as a souvenir for friends, priced at around €1.8.

LU Biscuits

LU is a classic French biscuit brand and a must-try “old-school” treat for travelers visiting France. The letters L and U stand for the initials of the brand’s founders, Lefèvre-Utile, who established the company in 1846. Their range includes butter cookies, chocolate, fruit, and cinnamon flavors.

Bonne Maman Cookies

Another iconic, well-loved French bakery brand, Bonne Maman offers a wide variety of classic cookies, including butter cookies, apple-filled biscuits, brownies, and more. Their charming French countryside-style packaging is absolutely delightful and makes these cookies a must-buy souvenir in France. They’re guaranteed to be a hit with family and friends.

Bonne Maman Confiture (Jam)

Still got room in your luggage? The Bonne Maman brand also offers a range of natural fruit jams made from fresh produce from Provence in southern France. Aside from spreading on toast or biscuits, the French also enjoy mixing Bonne Maman jam with plain yogurt.

Dijon Mustard

Dijon mustard, also known as French mustard, originated in 1856 when a Frenchman named Jean Naigeon replaced traditional vinegar in the mustard recipe with unripe grape juice. Since he was from the city of Dijon, the mustard became known as Dijon mustard. Authentic Dijon mustard today is typically blended with white wine and Burgundy wine, though regular versions may use one or two types of wine as secondary ingredients.

In France, Dijon mustard is commonly used in salad dressings, sweet-and-sour honey mustard sauces, or as a dip for steak, pork chops, and duck breast. It’s readily available on supermarket shelves, and its intensity can vary slightly by brand. Price is around €1.4.

Elephant Infusion (Bedtime Herbal Tea)

Many French people enjoy a caffeine-free bedtime tea, called an infusion, to unwind after a long day and improve sleep quality. The Elephant brand offers a variety of bedtime herbal teas, including orange, mint lemon, apple cinnamon, and chrysanthemum tea. A particularly popular choice is the tangy and sweet red berry tea, Fruits Rouges, made with strawberries, cherries, and raspberries. Each box contains 25 tea bags, priced at about €2.3.

Kusmi Tea

Kusmi Tea is a century-old tea brand that needs no introduction. It offers classic tea blends, floral and fruit infusions, as well as herbal mixes. The classic line includes pure teas without any added floral, fruity, or spicy elements—such as Earl Grey, Ceylon black tea, and Darjeeling. The floral and spice blends come in many varieties, each with unique benefits.

Kusmi’s elegant packaging makes their teas perfect for gifting or personal enjoyment. If you don’t have time to visit a Kusmi boutique, most major French supermarkets carry their teas, though the selection may not be as extensive. Currently, the detox tea in the yellow package is a crowd favorite. Alternatively, if you’re unsure which tea to choose, go for a mixed tea set.

Le Petit Marseillais Body Wash

Founded in 1982 in Provence in southern France, Le Petit Marseillais is a body wash brand that uses locally sourced natural flowers and fruits. It emphasizes pure, natural ingredients and is a favorite among locals.

Le Petit Marseillais offers a wide range of shampoos, body washes, hair care products for wet or dry hair, and soaps. Each product line comes in over 10 different scents, from floral and fruity to olive and honey. The fragrances left on the skin are incredibly pleasant and soothing. Widely available in French supermarkets, each bottle is priced around €1.7.

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