Last updated on January 8th, 2025
What makes Trentino-Alto Adige or South Tyrol) different from any other region in Italy is that it’s a melting pot of Austrian, German, Hungarian and Italian cultures, making for a very diverse and uniquely different cuisine from the rest of Italy.
The real beauty of the Dolomites is that they have made their own, distinctive cuisine without betraying its Germanic roots nor its Italian identity.
So, are you wondering which food souvenirs you should bring back with you? I can help! I love visiting the Dolomites both for hiking in the summer and skiing in the winter, so I’ve had plenty of time to sample the regional cuisine.
Let’s take a look at my favorite food souvenirs to bring back from the Dolomites!
I will also list the most popular foods you will find but that are restricted by most other foreign countries to bring home(womp womp) . So enjoy them while you can and choose from the list below for items that are permitted.
Tip: Always check with the most recent laws and regulations in your country of destination to avoid bringing in illegal food items.
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Where To Buy Food Souvenirs In The Dolomites
Most food items can be purchased at small shops in villages in the mountains. When you are actually up in the mountains (hiking, cycling, and exploring), it’s unlikely you will find many food souvenirs (and who wants to pack them down anyways!).
Look for food souvenirs at the following types of Italian stores for the best products:
- Enoteca – wine shop
- Torrefazione – sweets/coffee store
- Mercato – open air markets
- Pizzicheria – deli
- Caseificio or negozio di formaggio – where cheese is produced but often sold as well/cheese shop
- Maso – farm or the farm’s shop (often in a town or village)
- Alimentari – small mom and pop grocers
- Supermercati – grocery stores
Food Souvenirs From The Dolomites
The Dolomites doesn’t have the widest selection of food items to bring home as souvenirs and gifts but what it does offer is of excellent quality worth your luggage space!
Grappa
Grappa isn’t specific to the Dolomites but if you didn’t notice, it’s one of the most popular after dinner drinks (known as a digestivo) on the mountains.
I personally prefer the grappa al miele (made with honey) which is sweet but well balanced.
Wild Berry Jams
Wild berries grow extremely well in the Dolomites and each season brings a new fruit.
Check out any small alimentari or mom and pop store and ask for what is seasonal. Chances are it might be corbezzolo (strawberry tree), mirto (myrtle), mirtillo (blueberry), fragolina (wild strawberry), mora (blackberry) or gelso (mulberry).
Local Cheeses
The Dolomites make so many different cheeses and is home to some of the best dairy in all of Italy. And of course they do with all the cows they raise! These are some of my favorites to choose from:
- Alta Badia – a cheese with a rich, nutty flavor, much like Gruyere but with a more pronounced intensity in terms of flavor and smell. It matures over approximately six months before hitting the shelves.
- Vinschger – a semi-hard cheese, characterized by its firm texture and small holes, is produced from the milk of cows that graze in the scenic Vinschgau Valley in South Tyrol. Although not in the Dolomites, you can easily find it.
- Luis Trenker – an aged cheese that offers a creamy yet firm texture, dotted with salt crystals and wrapped in a distinctive black rind. It’s made with various seasonal fruits and honey which change depending on the year.
- Gran Capra – a hard cheese made from goat’s milk, known for its sweet taste and floral aroma. It features a slightly grainy and crumbly texture, making it a perfect addition to any cheese board.
Packing Tip: Be sure to ask for your cheese vacuum packed and keep it in your carry on to better control its temperature on your trip home.
Crauti
Crauti is sauerkraut made from chopped cabbage that is naturally fermented with various spices. It’s sour and crunchy, the perfect side to heavy meats and richer meals. You can buy it jarred in many small shops and bring it home to serve with sausages and beer!
Polenta
Polenta or cornmeal flour is big in northern Italy. Many main dishes and sides are made with polenta, either fried crisp or served creamy with cheese.
Making your own polenta with real stone-ground corn flour is so good and completely different from the instant stuff.
Tip: Be sure to seal it in another plastic bag in case it pops open in your suitcase.
Make It: Polenta is an easy one-pot meal to make at home doctored up with cheese and plenty of butter. For something a bit more hearty, try Polenta With Cannellini Beans And Kale.
For Your Travels: Bretzel
Bretzels, large, soft pretzels made from flour and water, is always my favorite snack to travel home with from the Dolomites.
I wouldn’t classify it as a food souvenir because it never makes it past the second hour of my journey but it’s a great last food item to enjoy from the mountains before I say goodbye.
Food Items You Cannot Bring Back From The Dolomites
It’s sad to say but there are several food items that are culturally important in the Dolomites but that you cannot bring back to most foreign countries including:
- any form of cured meat including prosciutto and speck
- sausages
- fresh cheeses (cheese that hasn’t been aged such as mozzarella)
- fresh produce and fruit
- yogurt and milk
Curious to learn what else you should bring back from other cities and regions in Italy?
Find the best souvenirs and gifts from Amalfi Coast – Cinque Terre – Dolomites – Emilia-Romagna – Florence – Milan – Naples – Piedmont – Puglia – Rome – Sardinia – Sicily – Tuscany – Umbria – Veneto – Venice.
Or, check out my Condensed Region-by-Region Guide.
