By Shannon Sarna/The Nosher

When I head to Israel, I typically have a laundry list of food items I must bring back to enjoy all year, making sure to leave plenty of room in my suitcase ahead of time for the yummy provisions. Many food stalls and shops will happily vacuum seal your items or wrap wine and olive oil bottles in bubble wrap if you tell them you are bringing items back home, so don’t be shy about asking.

Note: In accordance with U.S. regulations, we do not recommend traveling with fresh fruits, vegetables, seeds, soil, meat or livestock of any kind.

1. Za’atar, Sumac and Other Spices

Whether you go to the Carmel Market (Shuk Hacarmel) in Tel Aviv, the shuk (Mahane Yehuda Market) in Jerusalem or the Talpiot Market in Haifa, the abundance of spices to cart home can be exciting and overwhelming. Buy smaller amounts of lots of spices, instead of large quantities, since spices do lose potency over time. Go for za’atar, smoky paprika, sumac, harissa, cardamom, ras el hanout or try one of the custom meat, fish, chicken, or salad blends that many spice stalls sell.

2. Halvah

As you wander the lanes of the outdoor markets, you won’t get very far without encountering every variety of halvah you can imagine: with chocolate, coffee, pistachios, the list goes on. Ask to try a few varieties.

3. Olive Oil (and Vinegar)

Israel produces an abundance of olive oils and corresponding products. If you come across Olia olive oil and its fig balsamic vinegar, make sure to buy two bottles – it’s one of my favorite products ever.

4. Wine

One of the best ways to enjoy the diversity of the land of Israel is to travel north and visit some wineries. Some of our favorites include the Mount Tabor (Har) line of wines from Tabor; any of the white wines from Sphera Winery; and the Pink Floyd from Na’aman (I mean, what a cool name, right?). Wines from Carmel, Yatir, Clot de Gat and Pelter all have excellent selections as well.

5. Amba

If you plan on enjoying some sabich while in Israel — an Iraqi vegetarian sandwich made with hard-boiled egg, potato and eggplant – you will likely encounter some amba, a sweet, savory and spicy mango sauce. Amba is made by pickling mangos with vinegar and spices, and it’s not terribly common outside of Israel.

6. Marzipan Rugelach

We know the famous Marzipan Bakery rugelach are now sold in the U.S. But if you have the chance to head to the mothership in Jerusalem and grab a kilo of warm, gooey chocolate rugelach, it is a truly unparalleled experience.

7. Bourekas

There is nothing like the bourekas in Israel – pillowy pockets of spinach, cheese, potato or mushroom. For some of the best in Israel, head to the Levinsky Market in Tel Aviv where some of the first Turkish-Jewish bourekas stalls first opened.

8. Arak

Throughout the Middle East, Arak is a popular drink. The most common way you will see Arak served is with some slushy, mint lemonade as a refreshing cocktail. No matter how you drink it, you’ll want to make sure to grab a bottle before heading home.

9. Hibiscus Tea 

Ok, it’s not just hibiscus tea. Israel’s outdoor markets also feature mounds and mounds of various herbal teas. Hibiscus tea is my favorite. It can be sold alone, or in a mix with rose petals or chamomile. Either way, it’s perfect hot or iced, and incredibly healthy: packed with antioxidants and vitamins, it can help with lowering blood pressure and cholesterol.

10. Chocolate

I love many of the flavors of chocolate bars made by Elite, including the Mekupelet bars, Kif Kef (similar to Kit Kats) and the white chocolate cookie bars. Krembos, Twist  chocolates and Klik chocolates are some other Israeli favorites to try. You can grab these treats anywhere from the shuk (outdoor market) to the corner makolet (grocery store).

11. Tahini

Make sure to grab some high-quality tahini! Look for one where the oil and solid aren’t separated in the bottle, and that says it is made with 100 percent humera seeds (sourced from the Humera region of Ethiopia). And then slather it, drizzle it, glop it on everything from falafel to salads to brownies once you’re home.