Top 10 Roman Food Souvenirs to Bring Home

Bringing a taste of Rome home is one of the best ways to keep your travel memories alive. The city offers an incredible array of edible souvenirs, from staple ingredients that form the backbone of Roman cuisine to delightful sweet treats.

For a true culinary deep dive and to learn more about the origins of these delights, consider a Roman food tour. Many shops mentioned below might also offer gourmet Italian food hampers perfect for gifting.

Top 10 Roman Food Souvenirs to Bring Home

1. High-Quality Extra Virgin Olive Oil (Olio d’Oliva Extra Vergine)

• Description: Italy is renowned for its diverse olive oils, and Lazio (the region around Rome) produces excellent varieties, often with fruity, peppery, or grassy notes. Extra Virgin Olive Oil (EVOO) is the highest quality, made from the first cold pressing.
• Where to Buy:
  • Eataly Rome: A massive multi-floor food hall with an extensive selection of regional olive oils from across Italy. You can find high-quality, often single-estate, bottles here.
  • Local Frantoio (Olive Oil Mill) Shops: While rare in the city center, specialty food shops or salumerias often stock oils from small local producers.
  • Supermarkets: For everyday consumption, larger supermarkets like Coop or Carrefour will have good, affordable options.
• Packing Tips: Always purchase olive oil in a sealed, sturdy bottle. For checked luggage, wrap it thoroughly in bubble wrap and then seal it in a vacuum-sealed travel bag or multiple plastic bags to prevent leaks. Place it centrally within your luggage, cushioned by clothes.

2. Pecorino Romano DOP Cheese

• Description: A hard, salty sheep’s milk cheese, essential for Roman pasta dishes like Cacio e Pepe, Carbonara, and Amatriciana. Look for the “DOP” (Protected Designation of Origin) stamp to ensure authenticity.
• Where to Buy:
  • Antica Caciara Trasteverina: A historic and highly recommended cheese shop in Trastevere, known for authentic Pecorino Romano and other local cheeses.
  • Roscioli Salumeria con Cucina: In Campo de’ Fiori, this renowned deli offers a superb selection of cheeses and cured meats.
  • Mercato di Testaccio: Many cheese vendors here offer high-quality Pecorino Romano.
  • Local Salumerie (Delis) & Supermarkets: Most good delis will have a range, and supermarkets carry pre-packaged wedges.
• Packing Tips: Hard cheeses like Pecorino Romano travel very well. Request for it to be vacuum-sealed if it isn’t already. Pack it in your checked luggage.

3. Guanciale

• Description: Cured pork jowl, the undisputed secret ingredient for authentic Carbonara, Amatriciana, and Gricia. It renders into crispy, flavorful bits, and its fat creates the creamy base for the pasta sauces.
• Where to Buy:
  • Paciotti Salumeria (Prati): A fantastic deli known for its cured meats and specialty products.
  • Roscioli Salumeria con Cucina (Campo de’ Fiori): Excellent selection.
  • Mercato di Testaccio: Look for specialist cured meat vendors.
  • Local Salumerie: Most traditional delis will stock guanciale.
• Packing Tips: Ensure it is vacuum-sealed for freshness and to prevent odor or leaks. Pack in checked luggage.

4. Artisanal Dried Pasta

• Description: Move beyond basic supermarket pasta. Look for high-quality, bronze-die pasta (trafilata al bronzo) from Gragnano or other renowned Italian pasta-making towns. The bronze dies give the pasta a rougher texture, allowing sauces to cling better.
• Where to Buy:
  • Eataly Rome: Has an extensive pasta section with many artisanal brands.
  • Mercato di Testaccio or Campo de’ Fiori Market: You’ll find vendors selling colorful or unusually shaped artisanal pasta.
  • Pasta Imperiale: A fresh pasta shop with locations near Navona, Colosseum, and Policlinico, also sells artisanal dry products.
  • Local Food Shops: Small alimentari (grocery stores) and specialty shops often carry good quality, locally sourced pasta.
• Packing Tips: Pasta is sturdy and easy to pack in checked luggage.

5. Truffle Products (Truffle Salt, Oil, Sauce)

• Description: Italy is famous for its truffles. Truffle salt is a versatile finishing salt that adds an earthy aroma to many dishes. Truffle oil and sauces offer a more intense flavor.
• Where to Buy:
  • Paciotti Salumeria (Prati): Known to carry truffle products like Savini Tartufi.
  • Eataly Rome: Has a dedicated truffle section with various products.
  • Gourmet Food Shops: Look for specialty food stores in the Centro Storico or Testaccio.
  • Airport Duty-Free: Can sometimes find pre-packaged truffle products here, but often at a higher price.
• Packing Tips: Liquids (oils, sauces) must be in checked luggage and securely sealed. Salts are generally fine in either.

6. Limoncello or Other Italian Liqueurs

• Description: While originally from the Amalfi Coast, Limoncello (a bright, sweet lemon liqueur) is widely loved across Italy. Other popular liqueurs include Amaro (bitter herbal digestifs) or Grappa.
• Where to Buy:
  • Supermarkets: Good selection of popular brands at reasonable prices.
  • Enotecas (Wine Shops): Offer a wider range of artisanal or regional liqueurs.
  • Airport Duty-Free: Convenient for larger bottles that might be difficult to pack, and duty-free prices can be competitive.
• Packing Tips: These are liquids and must be packed in checked luggage. Securely wrap bottles in clothes or a vacuum-sealed travel bag to prevent breakage and leaks.

7. Biscotti (Cantucci)

• Description: Italian dry, crunchy cookies, often made with almonds (known as cantucci from Tuscany) or other nuts. Perfect for dipping in coffee or dessert wine.
• Where to Buy:
  • Biscottificio Artigiano Innocenti (Trastevere): A renowned, long-standing bakery specializing in various types of biscotti.
  • Forno Campo de’ Fiori: Excellent bakery that might offer biscotti.
  • Pasticceria Regoli (Esquilino): A historic bakery known for its wide selection of traditional Italian pastries, including biscotti.
  • Supermarkets: Pre-packaged biscotti are widely available.
• Packing Tips: These are relatively sturdy but can crumble. Pack them securely in a hard-sided container or well-cushioned within your luggage.

8. Artisanal Chocolate

• Description: While Piedmont is the capital of Italian chocolate, Rome also boasts several excellent artisanal chocolatiers. Look for unique pralines, bars, or spreads.
• Where to Buy:
  • SAID – Antica Fabbrica del Cioccolato (San Lorenzo): A historic chocolate factory in Rome, operating since 1923, known for its exquisite pralines and bars.
  • Moriondo e Gariglio (Centro Storico): Another historic artisan chocolate shop near the Pantheon.
  • Grezzo Raw Chocolate (Monti & Jewish Ghetto): Unique raw, vegan, gluten-free chocolate.
  • Venchi: A well-known Italian chocolate brand with several shops around Rome, often with chocolate waterfalls.
• Packing Tips: Chocolate can melt, especially in warmer months. Pack it in your carry-on if possible, or in a well-insulated section of your checked luggage.

9. Coffee Beans

• Description: Bring home the taste of Rome’s iconic coffee culture. Many historic coffee bars sell their own roasted beans or ground coffee.
• Where to Buy:
  • Sant’Eustachio Il Caffè: Famous for its unique blend and rich crema. You can buy their beans or ground coffee.
  • La Casa del Caffè Tazza d’Oro: Another legendary coffee bar near the Pantheon with its own blend.
  • Local Bars: Many smaller local bars might have their own beans or stock popular Italian brands.
• Packing Tips: Coffee beans are generally easy to pack in either carry-on or checked luggage.

10. Local Jams & Honey

• Description: Look for small-batch jams made from regional fruits (e.g., fig, cherry, apricot) or local honey, often from the Lazio region.
• Where to Buy:
  • Mercato di Testaccio or Campo de’ Fiori Market: Farmers or specialty vendors might sell local preserves.
  • Eataly Rome: Excellent selection of artisanal jams and honeys.
  • Smaller Delis & Gourmet Food Shops: Often stock unique, regional brands.
• Packing Tips: Jars are considered liquids and must be packed in checked luggage. Wrap securely to prevent breakage.

Affiliate Angle Enhancements for Your Culinary Haul:

• Vacuum-Sealed Travel Bags: Invest in vacuum-sealed travel bags to secure any cheese, cured meats, or even olive oil bottles, preventing odors and leaks in your luggage.
• Recipe Books: Pair your edible souvenirs with Italian recipe books so you can recreate authentic Roman dishes at home.
• Spice Kits: Curate your own Italian spice kits (e.g., dried oregano, peperoncino flakes, rosemary) from local markets to complement your pasta and olive oil.
• Gourmet Italian Food Hampers: Consider buying pre-made gourmet Italian food hampers from Eataly or specialty shops if you want a curated gift ready to go.