What kind of fancy taste/food experiences do you know that I can quickly acquire as part of a birthday gift?

Durian 😈

Some kind of spicy cayenne chocolate would be unexpected

Sichuan peppercorn / prickly ash! Just chew on one and it makes your mouth go brrrrr

Kala namak salt is funny, tastes like egg.

Mentos and Cola.

This will be quite messy though.

Buzz buttons! I tried it once as a cocktail garnish. They’re these edible yellow flowers that give a numbing, tingling (not spicy) pop rocks sensation. Rare to see, but you can plant them yourself or buy some online.

Malort

I don't think it's particularly surprising, but I am a big fan of different flavors of honey from different flower species, and often they sell variety packs of these from local honey places which imo is fancy and interesting.

Jones Soda and Jelly Bellies make odd flavored items that some people really like.

There's also rock candy that looks like pebbles or crystals depending on the version.

There's also online popular candies (often sold by local vendors too) like the fancy marshmellows, cotton candy, and freeze dried candies.

Also yellow kiwis, yellow watermelons, and other surprising colored fruits

Candied jalapeños are fun. Sweet but still spicy!

Flowering tea is pretty cool: https://en.m.wikipedia.org/wiki/Flowering_tea

If you're down for a recipe...

1. Get a couple packs of blueberries
2. Pour them in a bowl
3. Add a couple tablespoons of cocoa powder
4. Add cayenne pepper (twice as much as you think you should)
5. Stir with a spoon to combine
6. Use the same spoon to eat (do NOT eat with your hands)

Should taste equal parts spicy and sweet. If too spicy, dilute with more cocoa powder or blueberries.

My contribution would be candied hibiscus flowers in syrup. They can be used as a garnish on a dessert like a tart or a nice sorbet, but they're perfectly fine to eat on their own. The flower has a subtle warm berry-like flavor. You don't eat the syrup directly but you can mix it in drinks or serve it with desserts.

I don't know how much of a chocolate lover the person in question is, but if they like it a fun thing to try is a sampler of single origin chocolates. It can be fun to taste the difference between chocolates from different regions and see how one is fruity, another is smokey, another is earthy etc.

Is Alcohol an option?

The strong beer "Aecht Schlenkerla Rauchbier". Not very well known, super special.

As an American, most of what I would suggest would be things you regularly have access to.

If you can find a hot sauce that is exotic for your area, that would be a nice addition.

Fever Tree did a fancy summer tonic water, with cucumber & mint. As you said no alcohol, I think a legit fancy and interesting tonic would be good.

See if you can find brined peppercorns.

Go for a spabierengang with your favourite brewskis and watch the sunset from a mountain

What about the Hot Ones wing flight? I know Germans think salt is spicy, so this would be a trip!