Believe it or not, Foreign Policy’s staff knows how to do more than put together a magazine. But most of what we do—even off the clock—has some international flair. This holiday season, our list of gift recommendations features everything from global pantry items to travel gear and wellness essentials. All of the following are sure to provide you or your loved ones with a bit of escapism, wherever you may be.

Scotch Bonnet Pepper Sauce ($7.34)

Believe it or not, Foreign Policy’s staff knows how to do more than put together a magazine. But most of what we do—even off the clock—has some international flair. This holiday season, our list of gift recommendations features everything from global pantry items to travel gear and wellness essentials. All of the following are sure to provide you or your loved ones with a bit of escapism, wherever you may be.

Scotch Bonnet Pepper Sauce ($7.34)

Who doesn’t like a little heat? On a recent visit to Jamaica, I fell in love with Scotch bonnet peppers. These tiny chilis—which come in green, red, and yellow—have a delightful, natural tanginess and sweetness, in addition to a sweat-inducing heat rating between 100,000 and 350,000 on the Scoville scale.

A variety of Scotch bonnet pepper sauces are readily available on Amazon, and I’ve found that they add a lovely touch to everything from salads to grilled meats. A little goes a long way. (They are also a geeky way to explore the history of the global pepper trade.) I’m not an expert yet, but I’ve found Melinda’s Scotch Bonnet Pepper Sauce—which includes some carrots, papayas, salt, and lime—to be my favorite so far.

—Ravi Agrawal, editor in chief

Amazon Kindle Paperwhite ($159.99, currently on sale)

Over the years I’ve worked at FP, certain products have gained a cult-like following among staffers. First it was the Baggu fanny pack, then the Aritzia Super Puff. In 2024, the item my co-workers cajoled me into buying was a bit more intellectual: a Kindle.

Until I ordered my Kindle in April, I was a proud e-reader holdout; I—wrongly—thought there was some kind of superiority to be had in reading physical books. But after paying too many overweight baggage fees to lug around tomes on various trips, I realized that FP’s Kindle zealots might have a point.

Owning a Kindle has been revolutionary. The Paperwhite’s display is the perfect mix of digital and analog; I’m especially fond of the dimming and warming features for reading before bed. Because the Kindle is so lightweight, I pack it wherever I go (it fits in the aforementioned fanny pack) and have found myself reading more as a result. It’s also waterproof, which is convenient for a pool rat like me.

My Kindle has come in handy for work, too: When I’m reading novels for our monthly international fiction column, I can easily highlight and take notes for future reference. Consider me a convert.

—Allison Meakem, associate editor

Lata’s Monthly Discovery Box ($49.99)

One of the best snacks I’ve eaten in the last few years was a tinned fish appetizer at a tapas bar in Denver’s Union Station. Each tin I ordered—mackerel fillets in olive oil and mussels in escabeche, both from Portugal—was perfectly paired with freshly made potato chips, tangy aioli, black salt, and a lemon wedge. Every bite transported me to a beach in Porto—and left me wondering how I could recreate this experience at home.

It can be difficult to get high-quality European tinned fish in the United States. That’s where Lata comes in. Created in 2021 by four Spaniards, Lata offers monthly subscription boxes of gourmet tinned seafood, as well as curated boxes (even a vegan one) and à la carte tins. Most are imported from Spain and Portugal, considered some of the best in the tinned-fish world. I also recommend picking up Anna Hezel’s Tin to Table for ideas on how to pair your new tins.

—Shannon Schweitzer, copy chief

The Barefoot Co. Air-Flex Elite 2.0 ($129, currently on sale)

There is a not-insignificant school of thought that believes regular shoes are bad for your feet. Earlier this year, I finally gave in to it and bought a pair of barefoot shoes. These minimalist sneakers have thinner soles that allow your foot to retain more of its natural shape; although they take some getting used to, I’ve become a fan. (They also no longer look as weird as some early iterations.)

I really felt the shoes’ utility when I went on vacation earlier this year. As someone who frequently takes transcontinental flights, barefoot shoes provided the perfect middle ground between comfort and cleanliness. In other words: I was not wandering around the airplane in my socks.

—Rishi Iyengar, staff writer

Nomatic Travel Pack ($299.99)

For members of the globetrotting FP-reading class who are as skeptical of the concept of checked baggage as, say, a Sputnik headline, there is a now a solution from the aptly named company Nomatic.

Provided that you don’t plan to pack a suit (and who does these days, in the age of hoodie-clad tech tycoons?) the 20-to-30 liter expandable pack allows you to transform the laptop-toting backpack you take to work into something that fits all you need for a three-day trip—maybe even a week if you are a true........

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