Label.

Travel by label. Heard of such a thing? If you haven’t, you’ll soon know what I mean.

I have this thing I do. These days we are in the habit of checking the label and seeing where something is made. We check and see if, yup, these crackers are indeed made in, say, Scotland. We are satisfied. They are indeed quality shortbread cookies.

I check the labels from time to time for different reasons. I check them so that I can travel. The other day we were at the local grocer and I spied the TESCO section. Stroopwafels were what exactly I spied.

I had an idle moment. So I approached the packages resting neatly on the shelf. Turning them about I finally saw what I was looking for: Product of EU. Netherlands.

Satisfied, I placed the package back on the shelf. Just like that I traveled to the Netherlands. In my mind? My heart? Spirit? I just don’t know. But it felt good knowing these things came from abroad. I otherwise have three packs of these things at home. I enjoy a sliver with every morning coffee. I’ve even tried the spiced ones, but they’re simply not the same.

To the point. There is something satisfying about travel by label. We can’t always go where we want to, but these products take us there. They have the ability to transport us by proxy to ‘that place’. In my case, Amsterdam. I’ve only ever been to Schiphol Airport, but I imagine wafels purchased there are nearly, nearly like the ones I could purchase right by those glorious canals. Oh, and what of the cheese? The beer? The views ofd Amsterdam! Sigh.

One day . . .

So if you’re like me, reading the label is more than just finding out how much fat or calories are in that plum jam you’re turning about in your hand. Labels also point to the place they come from (authentic or not). And they have the power to take us there. Whether with every bite, sip or glance we can travel all around the world.

The next time you’re feeling a little antsy for some trekking, go to your favourite shop and have a look at a quality treat from abroad. Whether or not you buy it, just look. Who knows, with enough views you might even eventually break down and buy a plane ticket to that place . . .

Then it’ll be you sitting on the steps of a cathedral crunching on a scone while the birds twitter about on a misty morning.

Be there–or be square.

Happy shopping!

Hello, Stroopwafels from Amsterdam . . .