Ahh, summer travel in Europe. There are so many things to look forward to: snacking on pinchos in northern Spain, langouring alongside Italy’s sparkling shores, or ambling down French boulevards drinking in the café culture. But, there is also so much you can miss from India—things that could help you feel more comfortable as you explore a continent that’s a clear favourite for summer travel.
Here are 10 essential items to bring from India on your next trip to Europe:
Travel-sized jet spray
It is absolutely devastating when you reach out to the right for the jet spray only to be left groping at thin air. And while you may encounter a stray bidet or two, the all-too-common separation of lavatory bowl and bidet most definitely features an unfortunate design flaw, forcing users to adopt a rather inconvenient crabwalk. If you truly want the kiss of clean, opt for a travel jet spray, a wonderful addition to every backpack. There are a whole host of options online, varying in design and water power.
Hajmola
In other digestion-related woes—especially at destinations like Spain or Germany where an inordinate amount of meat and bread often eclipses even the vaguest notion of putting vegetables on the menu—Hajmola gets things moving like a laal batti in Mumbai traffic.
Samahan
Is your throat a little sore? Whether it is from screaming your heart out at a Taylor Swift concert or you just feel a little gunky after sitting on a flight next to an uncle who has coughed on you for eight hours straight, this Ayurvedic tea sachet (which is from Sri Lanka but rather popular in India) gets the job done—kicking your congestion in the keyster the natural way. It works so well that loyal fans like Naomi Campbell and Amitabh Bachchan have publicly voiced their love of the tea.
Spice
Europe is a standout continent for great meals… but for a continent filled with countries that have historically exploited Asia for its spices, they sure hold back on using them, with otherwise superlative cooking often missing that extra kick of flavour. For those after a simple dash of piquancy to sneak on your plate when the maître d’ isn’t looking, pocket-sized Tabasco and Siracha bottles with keychain rings can get the job done. If you’re looking for a bit of desi heat, trial packs of pickles (from red chilli to amla) and chutneys (from coriander to black garlic & mushroom) can easily fit into purses and fanny packs. Otherwise, if you plan on renting an apartment with a kitchenette but don’t want to purchase a whole spice closet, check out the travel-sized spice containers on Etsy, so you can bring just the right amount of hing and garam masala to amp up your dishes.
Snacks
When you’re travelling outside of metro areas in Europe, finding places to eat at can be a task while everyone in town is enjoying their afternoon slumber. While it’s easy to tease that one friend who always travels with a stash of thepla, you’ll be thanking them when their supply gets you through siesta time.