One of the posts I read had a comment about the delicious jars of "Chocoladepasta Puur" they took home. (even better since it sounds like it is calorie-free!! Now that's Bonaire chocolate)

That got me to thinking-what are some other BT'ers favorites they buy from the grocery store that we don't find back home?? (whether to use while on Bonaire or to bring back)

Only 3 weeks and slowly counting-can't wait to get back to our favorite place!!

I have a client who loves Stroopwaffle cookies or something like that and those small speculas cookies served with coffee at some spots. I bring back Dutch Chocolate on occassion and some Indonesian sauces and spices. I used to bring back cheese when it was affordable. Some folks love Ponche Cuba which I bring as a gift. There are small cutie pie bottles of the stuff. It's like Baileys (Yuck)

LOVER'S YOGURT!!! It's so good, and creamy and good!! I found it at Sand Dollar Grocery, next to Chat n Browse...

Ponche Cuba sounds lush. Where can you buy it?

Douwe Egberts coffee. More for Less has the best prices for it, though it's available almost everywhere. I always bring some for my family-they love it. If my mom's in NYC, she'll go to the cafeteria in Trump Tower just because they serve it. DE is so good, I can't figure out why so many people bring their own coffee to Bonaire (it's way better than Folger's, Michael, and you know it, LOL!).

Douwe Egberts is our favorite!!! We have it every morning on Bonaire.

Ruth, dear, you really like DE?? I can bring you some... (although I prefer StarBucks... )

I think DE is as good if not better than Starbucks.

Although not a grocery store, one shop that every visitor to Bonaire should look around is Bonaire Superstore (aka; Bonaire Stupid Store).

It houses the biggest load of crap that I have ever seen in my life. My Dad was in tears of laughter looking at some of the ornaments.

I did buy a hammock from there. On my first attempt to use it, it snapped. When I returned it to the shop, I was told that I couldn't have a replacement as they were not meant to be sat on!

Brilliant...

Which taste do you like? The roodmerk?

rose, ponche cuba is available (sometimes) at bonaire gift shop, cultimara, and warehouse...and other places probably. it's a little like bailey's (ann, i really love bailey's) but thicker. i think the other similar flavor is ponche crema...lovers ice cream sometimes has that flavor.

I always bring home the flavored sea salt grinders - several each trip. Along with plain sea salt grinders. Available downtown in several shops. Try Bonaire Gift Shop. It is all I use at home for flavoring for most basic dishes.

I am going to have to try Pat's recommendation of ponche cuba and ponche crema. Sounds great.

We tried the white stuff that was in a tall slim "A" shaped bottle ( like the curacao) and others. It was very dissapointing, bit like a tasteless custard. Is that different to Ponche Cuba? I have taken back small bottles beer before now as pressies( tho its made in Venuzala, sorry cant spell it!!!

Thanks for the suggestions; We haven't yet tried any Lover's Ice Cream, but sounds like that will be on the shopping list.

Antony-thanks for the Bonaire Superstore idea. We haven't been there yet - where is it? Sounds like a place not to miss, at least to get a few laughs. I think Bonaire hammocks are to literally be used "On Beach" only-you're safe that way! Lol...

I used to lug jars of Sambal Olek home...I'm addicted....but I can get it here now.

Same goes for a little ginger candy called Ting Ting Jawe, I think(someone will let me know if I'm wrong).....

Barbara - What exactly is "Sambal Olek"?

It's a chili paste. There are a couple of them, one a little setter than the other to my tongue. The label I'm reading says "chili, salt, distilled vinegar, xantham gum. I remember "J" posting a satay sauce recipe in which it featured large...

Martin, I like the red Douwe...it's the only one that's consistently available here (I've had the Silver and Gold; silver is good, gold is too strong; I didn't think either was worth the extra price).

Antony-I took my Mom to Super Store for 2 reasons: 1. So she can see why I buy so much when I'm in the states..., and 2. Because it's hilarious! She now understands why I can spend hours in Walmart, Target, Marshall's, Bed-Bath & Beyond....

Shiela K.
Turn right at the traffic circle and Bonaire Superstore is on the left.

Ruth.
You are so right. It was always good for some entertainment on a rainy afternoon.

Some friends came to stay with us and to celebrate the 50th birthday of one of them. My wife and I bought 20 of the worst things that we could find from B.S. as gifts for her.

We were all aching with laughter as she unwrapped one disappointment after another. Luckily we have it on video.

I find the tons of cheap junk at Bonaire Superstore nothing but depressing. To me, most of what that store stocks is a sea of useless, poorly made trash, which shortly after purchase will fall apart and end up in the Bonaire land fill. When you buy this stuff for a brief laugh, you just encourage more of it to be produced and shipped to the island. Let's find other sources of humor besides subsidizing the wasteful use of earth's resources for the production, shipping, and trashing of useless junk. I offer this suggestion as a reformed buyer of joke junk. And before someone jumps all over me, I do understand that there are some useful items of adequate quality sold in the store, I've bought a few of them. I also understand that some do not have access to more durable, perhaps more expensive, goods. Perhaps a good alternative for a joke gift might be to give a picture of an item and the receiver can be relieved that the actual item was not given. Or, find the most hideous item you've stashed away in your attic and re-gift it. The receiver can then re-gift it again, and so on, keeping it out of the landfill, providing an on-going source of humor to subsequent recipients, and relief to each person who hands it off. No shipping allowed. Which reminds me, our family and friends have over the years been re-gifting an attic find of a huge, heavy, ugly abalone shell embedded in lumpy lucite tray. I wonder who has it now.

To address the original question, my family likes Wilhelmina Mints, Hagel (chocolate sprinkles), Gember Ballen (sp?, ginger balls in syrup), and lemon sorbet from Lovers.

Nathalie.

Just to assure you that the planet was not destroyed during the making of said video. Each item that was bought was already broken (that was part of the joke). As such, said items would have been dumped on Bonaires already full landfill had I not purchased them.

The goods in question were taken back to the UK and still reside in a box in the attic of the aforementioned person.

In conclusion, my purchases have not only provided amusement for four adults, but have helped towards the salaries of indigenous workers and removed the offending items from the island.

I await your gratitude.

I'm relieved and will sleep better tonight

I call it the "Bonaire Stupid Store" subtitled, "Bonaire Comedy Club"

I bring back O'Lacy speculaas cookies and sometimes coconut macaroons when I can find them.
Last trip I needed a basic pair of flip-flops to wear down to the water (don't have boot fins) and got some at Bonaire Superstore. They lasted 2 days before falling apart.

On island now...Bonaire Superstore doesn't seem to be there anymore... Maybe it fell apart??

The Douwe Egberts coffee is grand!! So smooth with no bitter aftertaste. Never had it before coming to Bonaire. But can't you find it in stateside stores?

My favorite is the Tung Fong general store near KFC, the flip flops from there lasted months in BON. We bought car towing cables to securely hang the hammock, a very good bike pump and all kinds of odds and end.

I like the chimichurri sauce for steaks and other grilled meats/fish. This originates in Argentina - it's a green sauce full of herbs.

Superstore's still open-it's a big white bldg w/blue trim, set kinda back from the road and the parking lot has gates-not sure if they close for lunch, pretty sure they close around 6pm. It's after Playa Trading but before Toyota.

DE coffee is available as "Senseo" in the US; it's in those packets for the Senseo coffee machine. I've never seen it as the "bricks" we have here.

Ruth, good information on the DE "bricks". I'm not a coffee drinker, but Steve has the Senseo at home and at work, and we have only found the pods here. Will bring back a few bricks next time ! ----Sigh---- but when will next time be???

We had a nightmare experience at the "Stupid Store" and have not stepped foot in since! I have to say that in the end, he made right by the purchase, but we went through all kinds of hell & put our friends on Bonaire through all kinds of hell (we were back in the states when the problems started so had to ask friends to help) before the situation was corrected. Lesson learned indeed....we're sure to give them the one finger salute each time we drive past :o) We like Tung Fong a lot, we buy all our toiletries there. Once we bought a heavy duty extension cord & it didn't work. No problem, they took it back & gave us our money....unlike that other store.

We would love to bring the gouda cheese home, but figured it wasn't allowed. I have since read on here though that some folks do...so if someone can tell me how they keep it cold & if they claim it on the customs forms I'd really appreciate it.

We will try the Douwe Egberts coffee our next trip in Dec. Thank you BT folks for another great tip!!!!

Got to bring some DE "bricks" home in October.

Kelly and Steve - if you want some let me know. After I return I will drop them by or you can ride over and pick them up at my place.

We buy DE Kenyan coffee for £1. Is that a good price. Its quite common here in the UK.

We always bring home gouda, the oude (old) kind, and it's legal, though I generally don't mention it in order to avoid an extra stop in customs. When it was spotted in an X-ray, the guy just said, "Cheese?" and waved us on. The whole wheels stay cold easily in the midst of clothes in a checked bag - which is stored where it's cold, anyway.

as long as the cheese is whole there are no problems ... keeping it cold??? not an issue as it is in wax for unrefrigerated transport ..

I do believe BT'ers have all the answers! Thanks for all the great ideas for goodies to bring home. We have also brought home lots of cheese on previous trips and have had no problems. We usually take down one or two of those large "Freezer" style insulated bags and then wrap those in our towels...no problems so far.

Only 18 days till Bonaire bound!!

Thank you Larry, Pietri & Sheila for the cheese tips. I will try it this Dec.

Sheila....I am sooo jealous! Have a great trip!