Hoping someone will have some new ideas for me! I always bring a box to Spain to mail to my friends in Madrid. It has for years had the following items — boxes of Vanilla Chai tea bags, Dentyne gum, canned pumpkin, and maple syrup. These are things they miss from their year spent in my little university town, but I am wondering about adding some new things this year. Any ideas? Items that can be used in baking that would not be easy to get in Spain would be the great.
One friend has suggested Marshmallow Fluff but I am at a loss to know how anyone uses or eats that.
BE CAREFUL of transporting Marshmallow Fluff! I carried several jars of the stuff to a friend in Spain some years back. Although the plastic jars were tightly sealed and packed in my checked baggage, they leaked during transit and got on everything in the suitcase. ICK!
I did some research afterwards and discovered that the aerated marshmallow mix "boils" and expands at low atmospheric pressures in the baggage hold. Having had the experience of having to put everything in a hotel shower to wash off the marshmallow, I have a couple of suggestions to reduce this risk.
1. Tightly seal the lids.
2. Secure the lids with strong tape - duck tape comes to mind. The seal has to be airtight and capable of withstanding increased pressure from the expanding contents - under low atmospheric pressure - in the baggage hold.
3. Place EACH separate jar of Marshmallow fluff in a SEPARATE zip lock bag - to contain the anticipated mess. Expect the mess. If you contain it in the plastic bags, it will be easier to clean up. Atmospheric pressure is an unpredictable thing.
NOTE: Marshmallow Fluff - or similar items - are considered liquids by the TSA, and other country's security folks. SO, you CANNOT carry it onboard. It must go in your checked luggage.
NOTE - 2: Someone suggested that I open the container and remove a portion of the contents pre-packing. That might help, as it provides expansion room for the marshmallow mix under low pressure.
I have not tried this as my friend has not requested that I bring more Marshmallow Fluff. But, if I were doing this again, I would figure on removing about 25% of the original volume and packing it in another clean container, following the above protocol. Be sure to label it properly to explain what is in the container, should the security folks get curious.
NOTE - 3: Having lived in Europe for several years earlier, I well understand the craving for favorite foods one misses from another country. However, at that time, I had access to US military commissaries on NATO bases. So, I could obtain most anything in those supermarkets.
Another possible source of supply might be Amazon in your European country (e.g. Amazon.es or Amazon.co.uk). Shipping from one EU country to another is far easier, especially for a major firm like Amazon. Try a Google or Bing search locally for "Marshmallow Fluff" or "Whipped Marshmallow Cream."
You might get lucky. In fact, I do recall seeing something like "whipped marshmallow creme" in a Spanish supermercado, at some point in time. It was right next to the "mantequilla de mani" - peanut butter.
In the end, it is sugar, whipped / mixed with flavoring and air. If you can make whipped cream, you can make Marshmallow Fluff. Just sayin...
Hope this helps. See, you can find out about all kinds of esoteric stuff here in the Forum!
Tom
(I don’t know why, maybe a memorable trip to San Francisco?). It’s always hand delivered upon arrival, but I like your idea of mailing it from within Spain. 
