Apricots, Marble & a Vermouth you can trust 🌞 #66

Buonasera from Vinschgau Valley!

Welcome to this week’s installment of what’s hot in brands & products.

Just got back from Marillen & Marmor in Laas.
Yeah — apricots and marble. Together. That’s a thing in South Tyrol.

But I have to admit, I like the contrast of these two. And Laas is apparently home to the clearest marble in Europe. (Sorry, Carrara. You had a good run.)

While an upside-down Marillen cake is doing its thing in the oven, I figured this week’s theme should follow suit:

Let’s talk taste. Real taste. Not just “aesthetically pleasing” — actual, edible, tongue-hits-the-roof-of-your-mouth taste.

On the same note, if you’re traveling through Europe, check out the European Coffee Trip app. It’s basically Google Maps for espresso nerds.

If you’re new around here: Every week, I share 5 of the nicest products from Europe I’ve discovered in the past 7 days.

I scout, you explore. Let’s get to it.

With love 🌞
Jakob

P.S.: Missed last week's edition? The minimalistic portable light was the most clicked product.

Manuel Vermouth [🇪🇸]

I was customer #2 on their site — the online shop is super new. This Basque vermouth brings spice, herbs, and just the right kind of bitterness. Mix it with tonic, swirl it into a Negroni, or — my current personal favorite — top it with ginger beer, lime juice and ice. Vermouth that doesn’t try too hard — and still steals the show just standing there on your shelf.

Shake things up

Watercolor Ceramic Jar with Sea Salt [🇬🇧]

Halen Môn sea salt — harvested by hand from the Menai Strait off Anglesey, Wales. It comes in a chunky, hand-glazed ceramic jar and is giving “I cook” energy — even if all you do is sprinkle it on takeout.

Finally, salt that deserves a spot on the table, not in the cupboard.

Scoop the salt

Garum Collection [🇮🇹]

Garum — yes, it sounds like a sneeze — but the Bolzano-based startup Re.Garum is right next to my office and they’re reviving Rome’s OG fish sauce (don’t worry, they have vegetarian options as well).

Just a dab will send your marinades into the stratosphere. Tiny bottle, colossal umami. If you cook and don’t own this yet, you’re missing history (and flavor).

Unleash the magic

Ripple Mason Jar [🇩🇪]

The mason jar was invented in 1858 by an American tinsmith named John Mason — and somehow became the unofficial mascot of pickles, preserves, and Pinterest moms everywhere.

This German update by Lieblingsglas swaps the rust-prone tin lid for stainless steel. No corrosion. No weird smells. Just clean design, built to last. Perfect for fermenting kimchi, brewing kombucha, or lining your shelves like you’ve got your life together. A 160-year-old idea, finally upgraded.

Jar up your goods

Coffee Cup [🇪🇸]

Designed in Valencia by Mas Creations and handmade by a local craftswoman, this ceramic coffee cup is playful, sculptural, and just weird enough to start a conversation. Terracotta & yellow is my favorite.

Take a sip