Suitable gift for Chinese colleague? Advice needed

[Platypus]

I had a recent business trip to China and was rather embarrassed when the (female) colleague I was visiting presented me with a gift and I had nothing to reciprocate. Her gift was a large bag of Chinese savoury snacks, so nothing elaborate, but a literal "taste of China". Probably cost her £5.

I'm seeing her again shortly and would like to redress the balance by buying her something typically English, business appropriate and that wasn't made in China!

Any ideas from you well travelled cosmopolitans?

Question for the CUK ladies, are there any typically English toiletry products (perhaps like Molten Brown) that you could recommend? Not Yardley!

[vetran]

Tetley Tea?
Cadbury's Chocolate
A Jaguar Saloon

And for something CMD hasn't been spouting about:

Horse Kebab?


Seriously I would suggest English Muffins / Scones + Jam.
Or Walkers crisps

both go down really well with some of our European friends who can't get them in country.

[Troll]

Chinese Gift Symbolism, Gift-Giving, Gift Advice, Taboos

Help with Giving Gifts in China
Do not give knives, scissors as they symbolize breaking a relationship. Also avoid clocks, or anything in sets of four (four is an unlucky number as it sounds like “death”). Six, eight and nine are a lucky numbers.
For business relations, foreign cigarettes, cognac, fine whiskey, and quality wines are great gift ideas.
Insider Tip: If you know that your contact likes chocolate, consider bringing some high-end chocolate, as Chinese chocolate is waxy and lacks flavor. Anything you can get at a Western market or grocery story will suffice, but specialty chocolate will be sure to leave a lasting impression.
Chinese avoid giving each other clocks as gifts are because the phrase “give a clock as a gift” is “song zhong”, which in Chinese sounds like you are “wishing someone death.” This does not apply to watches, just clocks.
Never slice a pear in two and offer a half to someone (especially if you like them). This is symbolic of breaking up, because the phrase is “li kai”, which has the double meaning of “cut a pear” and “break up”.

Gifts of Love in China
If you love someone, you can buy them a belt. It means that you want to “hold them” forever! Watches and wallets are also good gifts for lovebirds. Traditional western “love” gifts (like chocolate and roses) are becoming more common.
Insider Tip: For the Mid-Autumn Festival, or “Zhong Qiu Jie”, (roughly falls in September) you should give a box of moon cake and give walnuts.

White Chrysanthemums should never be given as a gift. They are used in funerals. Avoid white flowers in general.
A flower arrangement is an acceptable gift, but never give white chrysanthemums, or any white flowers for that matter, as they are traditionally used for funerals.
Giving an apple basket is nice because apple, or “ping guo”, sounds like peace.
If someone has just moved into a new house, it would be appropriate to give a vase, or “hua ping”, as it also sounds like peace.
Insider Tip: If someone opens a store or starts a business, give the bamboo flower or “shui zhu” as a gift. By giving this gift, as represented by the many rings in the bamboo stem, you are wishing them continual growth and income.
Gifts can be wrapped or presented in a gift bag, but do not choose the color white. Red and gold are the best colors for gift paper, bags, or boxes.

HTH

[doodab]

A tiger's penis.

[Alias]

raid the stationary cupboard!

HTH BIDI

[darmstadt]

Frau D. works in Frankfurt Airport and the 2 largest selling items to Chinese are German cigarettes and Haribo sweets (Gummibär, Colorado, etc., the shop has all different types and they go gaga for all the variations)

[sasguru]

A tiger's penis.

I'm afraid I'm not available.

[minestrone]

A book on hacking?

[Platypus]

HTH

Thanks, but she's teetotal.

[Platypus]

Frau D. works in Frankfurt Airport and the 2 largest selling items to Chinese are German cigarettes and Haribo sweets (Gummibär, Colorado, etc., the shop has all different types and they go gaga for all the variations)

Nice idea. If only this wasn't do expensive:

Union Jack Fine Chocolate Selection