South Indian foods allowed to carry to Switzerland

Food & Drink, Events and Entertainment
1
Hey

Attention to Indians who have traveled to Switzerland recently

We are flying into Switzerland by British Airways. I would like to carry with me some home-made dry powders that we use for South Indian cooking, like - sambar powder, rasam powder, and fries - vadagam etc.,

I have lived in the USA for three years and have always carried these into the country from India. So I was wondering if I could do the same this time.

2
So far I never had any issues flying in herbs etc for cooking. Meat is forbidden from outside the EU.

If you want to be sure, check out the Customs website

3
You have to check them in, don't bring them in your carry-on.

4
What kind of... "herbs?"

5

No, not those :-)

I may be Dutch but these were never part of what I have flown in into Switzerland

6
It should be fine. I do it all the time and so do my parents. We even bring in pickles etc.

When are you inviting us for a sappadu/virundhu?

7
My general impression is that airlines don't particular mind what you take in cabin (within the bounds of reason). It's more something airport security controls and this can vary from airport to airport. Maybe send a mail or call the airport concerned to ask whether that is OK, and to be on the safe side, print out the reply and take it with you.

Unusual things I've had with me in cabin include (not all on the same flight mind you)

- box of drill bits (surprised this was allowed seeing knitting needles are banned)

- a whetstone

- about 2kg of fresh lemons (the same amount of juice in a bottle would have been banned)

- cable strippers

- this telephone (and obedient as I am, I didn't make any calls during the flight, even though the absence of an off button meant i couldn't comply wit their request to switch it off):

[](https://www.englishforum.ch/attachments/food-drink/116108d1467978608-south-indian-foods-allowed-carry-switzerland-phone.jpg)

8

Spices and herbs are no Problem but fresh meat is prohibted and will be confiscated

9
Wolli is back !!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! Welcome back!

10
Fresh herbs like curry leaves are prohibited though the dried ones are considered ok. But this is based on what I understand talking to a friend.

11
Pretty sure there's no problem with fresh curry leaves. Dried ones are anyway useless.

However it is easy to find frozen ones in most Indian shops.

12
Fresh curry leaves were still banned the last time I tried to buy them. If you can find them, do let me know.

Dried ones are not so bad, in a pinch. Frozen ones are the best.

13
It is about a year since I last saw fresh ones, I admit. I was told they had simply replaced them with frozen which didn't bother me as I usually had to freeze most of the fresh ones anyway

14
Last Saturday, I did find fresh curry leaves in the Indian stores in Zurich-Oerlikon. They get it occasionally I guess.

15
There are several Indian and Asian stores in Zürich that always have fresh curry leaves in stock. You can also dry them out or freeze them if you don't use the whole bag. Actually you can get most items in Zürich with a bit of searching, unless its a really unusual ingredient or a special brand.

16
Something that surprised me last time I came back from Chennai was that someone checked in a box of mangoes! I was waiting for my bags and the box went cruising past on the conveyor...

I'm doing this next time!

17

They might have checked them in, but getting them past Swiss customs may be a different story.

18
Happy to hear, pickles are not bannned 😀, I’m coming to uzwil for a month, can I find frozen chapatis / rotis in any supermarkets in uzwil /Wil / st gallen ?