I would suggest that something locally manufactured which would remind them of you and your current country would be appropriate. The Germans I know, relatives and friends, really seem to like trinkets that have some meaning attached. Food is a touchy area. I don't know about all of Germany, but my parents always thought of corn (including popcorn) as food for animals. Germans also manufacture wonderful chocolate products which most Germans whom I know consider superior to all other chocolate products. So I would stay away from that. I have always stuck with tasteful, locally manufactured, decorative trinkets and locality-specific souvenirs and never ran into problems. Elsa Kahler