Sherry Martin Peters, a flight attendant and founder of Atlas + Wild, has revealed her favourite foreign supermarket buys, from Portuguese sangria to South African rooibos tea. She says these items are often available at dirt-cheap prices compared to specialty stores in the US.
Peters, who has visited supermarkets worldwide during her career, recommends stocking up on specific products: Lisbon sardines in artful tins, salted butter from France, fresh Italian pasta, Brazilian mate, and Korean collagen face masks. She also highlights lavender honey from French markets as a sleep remedy.
The trend of 'supermarket tourism' has gained traction on social media, with over 50 million posts on TikTok. Travel giant Expedia identified it as a major trend for 2025, predicting more travellers, particularly Gen Z, will seek out foreign supermarkets for unique viral products.
Peters notes that while some of these items might be found in US specialty stores, they are far cheaper when purchased abroad. She describes the practice as creating 'edible memories' and a way to claim a place as lived, not just passed through.
