What to bring back from Sicily?


Sicily (and Italy in general) is gastronomically very rich, so my tips on what to bring from Sicily will be more extensive than usual. And yet it will not be possible to cover even a small part of what Sicily offers. So, what did I bring from my last trip to Sicily?

Sicilian cheeses

There is a lot to say about Italian cheeses, along with dried ham, cheeses regularly make up the largest part of what I bring home. Near Palermo, you can look for the so-called “lost cheese” tuma persa, which is produced only by cheesemakers in the village of Castronovo di Sicilia. Pecorino siciliano is one of the oldest cheeses produced in Europe. You can also try the giant cheese maiorchino. This time I brought cheeses from smaller local producers. The price for cheeses varies, depending on the type of cheese and the size of the package.

Sicilian cheese Ricotta al Forno Dura
Sicilian cheese Ricotta al Forno Dura

Sicilian pasta

Busiate are a Sicilian type of pasta twisted into spirals, which are hollow inside. They remotely resemble the twisted telephone cables used in the past. Busiate are typical for the area of Sicilian Trapani. I like to buy whole grain pasta, and this was no exception. This half-kilo package cost just under 4 EUR.

Sicilian pasta busiate
Sicilian pasta busiate

Caserecce are another typical Sicilian pasta, ideal for use with sauces, as their twisted shape allows them to absorb a lot of liquid. In Italy, almost all pasta is made using bronze dies, which should give them a rougher surface and ensure greater sauce adhesion. Since there are a huge number of pasta types in Italy, I always try to bring local types, and in the case of Sicily, these are caserecce and busiate. This half-kilo package cost just under 2 EUR.

Sicilian pasta caserecce
Sicilian pasta caserecce

Sicilian olives

At the markets, you will find many stalls offering olives, either by weight or packaged. Before purchasing, the seller will gladly offer you one or two olives to taste, so you can choose the ones you like the most. Vacuum-packed olives will pass through airport security without any problems (if they are not in brine). This package cost just under 2 EUR.

Sicilian olives
Sicilian olives

Sicilian candied orange peel

In sunny Sicily, oranges and lemons thrive and are incorporated into many recipes. You will encounter candied orange peel, for example, in the filled tubes of cannoli. This package cost just under 2 EUR.

Candied orange peel
Candied orange peel

Sicilian Modica chocolate

Chocolate from the Sicilian village of Modica has a specific and original recipe, using hand-ground cocoa beans, which gives the chocolate a unique grainy texture and distinctive taste. You can buy the chocolate plain or, for example, with the flavor of Sicilian oranges or salt from the Trapani region. The price for the chocolate is just under 4 EUR.

Sicilian Modica chocolate
Sicilian Modica chocolate

Sicilian anise cookies

Anise or mint are my favorite plants, and I encountered anise cookies for the first time in Palermo. The taste is pleasantly refreshing, not too sweet. I recommend them as an unconventional gift. The package of cookies in the picture is made just a few kilometers from Palermo, so you will also support a local producer. This package cost 2.50 Euros.

Anise cookies
Anise cookies

Italian herbal liqueur Amara

The liqueur is often consumed after a meal. It has a bittersweet taste. There are many types of this liqueur. In this “Amara” version, the peel of red Sicilian oranges is used. It is also possible to buy a 100 ml bottle, which you can take on board the plane without any problems. This small package cost 5 EUR.

Italian herbal liqueur Amara
Italian herbal liqueur Amara

Ceramics with Sicilian motifs

You don’t have to buy ceramics only at markets, they are often available in supermarkets, where you can get them really cheap. The plate in the picture cost 2 EUR in the Palermo supermarket Famila.

Ceramics with Sicilian motifs
Ceramics with Sicilian motifs

The plates have an average diameter of 45 cm, so they are not small dishes. The price for this pattern is also 2 EUR.

Ceramics with Sicilian motifs
Ceramics with Sicilian motifs

If you are not limited by the weight of your luggage and the amount of liquids you carry, then a separate chapter of what to bring from Sicily, would be great Sicilian wine.

Happy shopping!