Olive Oil & Vinegar

Can you just check coming back? We have done that when we have wanted to bring back wine and olive oil.

Hello! My solution on a recent trip was to pack a zippered shopping bag that easily folded into my European-sized roller bag. During the trip, I accumulated all of the gifts and purchases in it. Then I snuggled all of the wine, pumpkin seed oil, etc. into my roller bag and checked it for the trip home. Whatever was left was put into the zippered bag and it became my carry-on.

I got this bag from Tom Bihn, but there are lots of cheaper options.

We always take an empty duffle or other bag on the way over, and check a bag on the return. The checked bag will contain wine, liquor, oil, vinegar, jam, honey, or whatever other liquid food product we want. And not tiny bottles. There are protective bags you can buy (lined with bubble wrap) or pack carefully with clothes. Coffee, chocolate and cookies stay in our carryon. All food must be declared. Paying to check one bag has got to be much cheaper than shipping and the customs issue with that.

There's always the duty-free shops in the airport if you have a last-minute urge to buy something.

When I take olive oil home, or encourage friends to take it home, I always buy it in metal tins not glass bottles. Won't break, the spout is well-sealed against leaks, it keeps better than in glass and the rectangular shape fits in a suitcase nearly anywhere. You can get them in any size from 100 ml (3 oz) to 5 litres (a bit more than 5 quarts). Your timing is close to perfect to get it freshly pressed - the harvests in some places have started, in other places it'll be in November. It would be best if you could go to a producer (usually both oil and wine) but I think it's a bit early for Tuscany. Rome will be a better choice but if you're not leaving the city, visiting a producer won't be an option. But Rome has plenty of wine shops (enoteche) who will all carry fresh oil. The wine shops will most likely also carry well-aged balsamic vinegar which you should definitely taste. Sorry I don't have a specific recommendation for a shop, but I'd look for a specialty wine shop not a grocery store.

One specific recommendation when buying tins of olive oil - carefully look at the date it was pressed or the expiration date (1 year later.) I suppose I looked like a tourist, but last year in San Gimignano, a pushy shopkeeper insisted what she gave me was the new oil and it was NOT. It was last year's, near the end of its life cycle.

Another recommendation is to USE it when you get home, and convince your gift recipients to do the same. Olive oil does not keep much over a year. I had to be very forceful with my mother to get her to take it off display and actually use it!

In Italy I have managed to find bottles of olive oil small enough to bring in a carry on in some gift shops but didn't purchase it as I am not knowledgable enough to judge the quality. Your idea of purchasing coffee beans and soaps is excellent. Many cafés sell nice tins of coffee which they will gift wrap for you upon request. Just request: "Può fare un paco regalo, per favore" Same when buying fancy soaps in gift shops. There's an Italian chain, L'Erbolarìo, with stores in most Italian cities which has a wide variety of lovely soaps and lotions. They will gift wrap and give free sample packets.

If you're intent on bringing back liquid items, prepare for packing them coming home by putting bubble wrap or wine skins in your carry on bag on the way there. Ziplocks aren't going to protect glass unless you first wrap things - either in bubble wrap or clothing you don't mind getting stained with oil or vinegar. Bring a packable tote to use as your carry on going home and put the liquid items in a checked bag, as anything liquid or paste would need to fit in a 311 liquid bag if you carry it on. Also pack anything super important in the packable tote, in the off chance your luggage goes awry on return.

FWIW, I found plenty of great food gifts in the regular grocery store for much less than specialty shops - think tubes of Italian tomato paste, coffee, sweets, soaps, etc. Just be mindful of the US regulations on bringing certain food items to the US and make sure to declare everything (even if allowed) on your paperwork when you land. You can read up on the list of prohibited items here: https://www.aphis.usda.gov/traveling-with-ag-products/another-country

Ahh I remember well the magnificent olive oil we bought at a farm in Tuscany; tasted it, it was great. Bought a tin and hauled it home -- industrial grade ugly. On that same trip, before you couldn't haul liquids in the cabin, we got to see people about 3 rows ahead of us have the joy of someone else's olive oil drip from the overhead bin onto them.

Since then we have realized that there is tons of quite varied Italian olive oils available in the US without the hassle. We occasionally put a good bottle of wine in the suitcase and check it when we end up with something good that hasn't been drunk but we no longer intentionally shop for things like this.

If you really want to do it, then check your bag on the way back. Like others here, we carry a folded duffle which we put the laundry in for carry on on the way home and put gifts and such in the checked bag.

YUM! I picked up a small, not inexpensive bottle of truffle-flavor balsamic vinegar that has lasted a long time, drizzled on salads or added as a garnish to pasta. Delish.

The issue with carryon is the liquid limitation, so as mentioned above, coffee & soap are fine, but olive oil & vinegar going to exceed the carryon sized rules. Enjoy your trip!!

We are in Italy now, just ending a RS tour. There are specialty shops all over for olive oil and balsamic vinegar and I’m sure your RS guide will be able to recommend shops in Rome. Be sure to check your dates, still haven’t begun to harvest the olives here in the north. It is considered fresh for 18 months to buy but to use, should last much longer if stored properly. As we were told by the olive farm producer, olive oil is used to preserve, it’s not going to go bad quickly. The real balsamic is going to be very very expensive and we were told to be careful when purchasing because most is just flavored and carmel colored vinegar. This bit of advice came from the chef at our cooking class in Umbria.

Maybe consider, instead of the liquid souvenirs, some special aged Parmigiano Reggiano instead. You can't get the best (like 100-month aged) stuff in the US. And the liquid volume limits wouldn't apply.

Thank you all for sounding in! So many good ideas...in fact, much BETTER ideas than my focus on olive oil! I think our focus might lean more toward cheese and coffee in the food category and soaps in the non-food arena.

Be aware that any cheese needs to be vacuum-packed or you’ll be kissing it good-by at customs when you land. Pretty much any shop will do that for you.

Agree with @Barb. Take a small zippered shopping bag (Baggallini). Buy what you want. On the return trip pack any liquids in your roll-aboard to check in and carry any excess items on board in the shopping bag. Easy-peasy.

It is useless to buy olive oil in October, because you will be buying last year's harvest.
You want olio nuovo, which is sold beginning in November at the earliest and even that is very early.

Concentrate on cheeses. You are not going to have a huge price break, but you can look at the balsamico traditizonale. the most coveted and highest price balsamic vinegar. Used to drizzling over meats, cheeses, etc, NOT for salad dressing unless you are very rich!

If you find an olive oil estate whose oils you like, see if they will ship you their new oil once it is available, this winter.
ALWAYS check the dates on the back of the bottle when buying oils. In the last few years, I've been shipping much of my purchases back to the US---we go about twice a year, mostly to the south. I ship pastas in unusual shapes, pestos, tinned bluefin tuna, oils if I am there in the right season, and I pack my bags with lots of cheese, bottarga, Senise peppers, etc.