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Souvenirs to take from LA to Taiwan

The most heartbreaking thing to hear about an LA souvenir: 'Costco has that.' Three rules: hard to get in Taiwan, actually tied to LA, and packable. Many are LA-born brands, so every gift comes with a story.

Translated from Jasmine’s original Chinese. The illustrated slides are on the interactive reader.

Key points

Full text

  1. Cross these off first | You can buy them in Taiwan

    Taiwan's Costco already has 300+ Kirkland items, and Lululemon has stores in Taiwan and even opened an outlet. On the flip side, Sephora left Taiwan in 2023, so its products actually make great gifts.

  2. No.01 | See's Candies: LA-born in 1921

    The first store was at 135 Western Ave, in what's now Koreatown. A white box of chocolates is the safest gift for elders and clients; in summer it melts easily, so it's safer in your carry-on.

  3. No.02 | Trader Joe's: Pasadena-born in 1967

    The first store was on Arroyo Parkway and it's still open, US only. Little snack packs are the easiest to share; cookie butter and peanut butter count as liquids at TSA, so over 100 ml goes in your checked bag.

  4. TJ's mini canvas totes

    Limited editions: summer 2026's striped bag was $2.99 and the insulated one $3.99; buy them when you see them, they're not always around. 'A TJ's tote is a kind of ID card.'

  5. No.03 | In-N-Out merch: Baldwin Park, 1948

    You can't take the burgers home, but T-shirts, hats and socks you can: the Company Store on the website, or the physical store in Baldwin Park (13800 Francisquito Ave).

  6. No.04 | Dodgers merch: the first LA season, 1958

    Dodger Stadium's main team store is at Top of the Park, open daily 10AM–5PM; Camarillo Premium Outlets also has an official Dodgers Clubhouse.

  7. No.05 | Two LA-born hot sauces

    Sriracha started in Chinatown in 1980 and is now made in Irwindale; Tapatío started in Maywood in 1971 and is now in Vernon. Both are liquids, so they have to go in checked bags.

  8. No.06 | Erewhon merch

    It started in Boston in 1966, opened on Fairfax in 1969, and became synonymous with LA wellness. The smoothies don't travel, but the clothes and bags on the website ship internationally.

  9. No.07 | Alo Yoga: LA-born in 2007

    I can't find any Alo stores in Taiwan, so it's perfect for friends into Pilates and yoga. 'In LA, activewear is the formalwear people wear most.'

  10. No.08 | LA coffee beans

    Go Get Em Tiger opened its first shop on Larchmont in 2013, a local LA brand. Coffee beans are fine in a carry-on or checked bag; pick the most recent roast date.

  11. No.09 | Sephora stuff

    Since Sephora left Taiwan, little Sephora goodies from LA are a big hit back home; lotions, serums and the like over 100 ml go in checked bags.

  12. Who gets what (screenshot it)

    Elders: See's. Coworkers: Trader Joe's snack packs. Besties: Erewhon / Alo / Sephora. Baseball fans: a Dodgers cap. Young people: an In-N-Out T-shirt. Spice lovers: Sriracha. Coffee nerds: LA coffee beans.

  13. What you can't bring back to Taiwan

    No meat products at all, including vacuum-packed and beef jerky, with fines of NT$10,000 to NT$1,000,000; fresh fruit is fined NT$3,000 to NT$15,000, but no fine if you declare it yourself. 'Seriously, don't bring the beef jerky.'

  14. Duty-free allowances

    General goods with a combined dutiable value up to NT$35,000 are duty-free; alcohol, 1.5 liters for 18+; cigarettes, 200 for 20+; capsule and tablet supplements, 12 bottles per type, 36 total.

  15. How to pack it

    Carry-on liquids must be 100 ml or less per bottle, all in one zip-top bag; solid chocolate is fine in either carry-on or checked; hot sauce, spreads, peanut butter and big skincare bottles go in checked bags.

  16. One last line

    Leaving Taiwan, the gift you bring is pineapple cake; coming back from LA, the gift is a story. What you're really bringing home is 'I was there, and I thought of you.'

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An original JSLALALAND field guide by Jasmine Chang (@jslalaland).