What to Bring Back from Israel?
Putting together a list of foods to bring back from Israel was a bit of a puzzle this time. Israeli cuisine pulls together Jewish flavors from all over the world - from Poland to Iraq - so I'd already had the chance to taste plenty of the local treats in the countries they came from. Still, three Israeli specialties did find room in my backpack.
So what are my picks for the best food souvenirs from Israel?
Israeli Bisli Snacks
Bisli are Israeli snacks shaped like pasta, made from seasoned wheat flour. They're the second most popular type of snack in the whole country, and you can pick from a long list of flavors. A small bag makes the perfect snack for the road.
Price for a small bag of bisli snacks: 3 ILS (0.80 EUR)
Israeli Bamba Peanut Puffs
Bamba is practically identical to the peanut puffs we know back home in Czechia. It's made from puffed corn with a peanut butter flavor, so the basic recipe is the same as ours. In Israel, though, bamba is a phenomenon: it has held a quarter of the salty snack market since 1964. There's a kosher version, and alongside the original you'll find strawberry, chocolate, onion and caramel flavors.
Price for a bag of bamba puffs: 5 ILS (1.40 EUR)
Israeli Ptitim Pasta
Ptitim is a rice-shaped pasta, a distant relative of tarhonia. It came about in the 1950s at the request of Prime Minister Ben Gurion: the young state was short of rice and needed a substitute. The food manufacturer Osem developed a wheat pasta that mimics the shape of rice grains - which is why ptitim is still called "Ben Gurion's rice" today. You'll also see it called Israeli or Jerusalem couscous.
Price for a 500 g bag of ptitim pasta: 8 ILS (2.20 EUR)
I'll admit that this time I had less time to hunt for delicacies than usual - the schedule was busier than ever and food had to settle for a supporting role. Even so, I didn't head home empty-handed, and I consider these three souvenirs a decent catch.
Which treat would you bring back from Israel?
