Take posh spice home with you

Pick up a t shirt or a snow globe at a souvenir stand and you won't be the first to give a gift that will collect dust. But for a truly tasty idea, and one that won't take up much luggage space, bag some spices. Why buy condiments in a faraway land when you can grab a jar at your local supermarket? Well, according to Hong Kong-based spice trader Jerome Stewart, supermarket seasonings usually contain preservatives and other odorous chemicals. And, he notes, the multihued heaps at native markets are cheaper — by up to 80%.

Two of...