Italy
Bright lemon liqueur from southern Italy, usually served chilled after dinner.
Italy
Hard aged cheese with nutty, savoury flavour; ideal for pasta, risotto and snacking.
Italy
I would put Balsamic vinegar of Modena on the list for Italy because it is the kind of thing that feels useful once you are home, not just another airport purchase. Oils and vinegars work well when the bottle is small, sealed and wrapped in clothing inside checked luggage. The reason it works is that it gives you a quick reminder of the trip without needing to keep a fragile ornament safe forever.
Italy
Crunchy Tuscan almond biscuits traditionally dipped in vin santo or coffee.
Italy
When I think of an easy, crowd-pleasing thing to bring back from Italy, artisanal pasta is a good pick because it does not need much explanation when you hand it over. Grains, pasta and rice are not glamorous, but they are useful, cheap and often taste different from the UK supermarket version. I would rate it higher when it is locally made, clearly labelled and easy to use at home, and lower when it is just tourist packaging.
Italy
This is exactly the sort of thing I like bringing back from Italy: small enough to fit in a bag, but specific enough to remind you where you bought it. Look for a boxed version with a decent date on it, especially if you are buying it near the start of the trip rather than at the airport. It is also the kind of thing you can talk about when someone asks what you brought back, because there is usually a little story attached to where you found it.