UK Food that Foreigners and Expats ask for.
Discussion
CharlesdeGaulle said:
Usually driven by tax as you say, but often the other way round. The UK gin and spirits available to me on the Continent are 47 proof, not the 39 you get at home.
I’ve just looked at my gin collection and I can’t find one that’s 39%. One of the reasons I drink Tanqueray No.Ten is that it’s export strength (47%). Most of my collection is 42-43% and when I’ve made my own that’s what I’ve always aimed for.djc206 said:
CharlesdeGaulle said:
Usually driven by tax as you say, but often the other way round. The UK gin and spirits available to me on the Continent are 47 proof, not the 39 you get at home.
I’ve just looked at my gin collection and I can’t find one that’s 39%. One of the reasons I drink Tanqueray No.Ten is that it’s export strength (47%). Most of my collection is 42-43% and when I’ve made my own that’s what I’ve always aimed for.I live in the Netherlands and the last time we're took the car back to the UK I requests from colleagues for Bovril and Branston pickle. My wife also brought back a supply of marmite.
One of my colleagues went to the expat shop the other day and came back with dairy milk, which I personally find a bit inferior to the local chocolate.
One of my colleagues went to the expat shop the other day and came back with dairy milk, which I personally find a bit inferior to the local chocolate.
I live in France and we are not asked to bring much back for friends except for Stilton cheese and Gammon joints. Dulux exterior paint is popular as French quality is very poor.
The one thing that I really miss is decent beer, so if anyone asks if I want something it is any decent bottled beers. My wife asks for quality sausages from Waitrose or M&S.
There is a heck of a lot more in France that friends want us to bring when we return - Wine, lots of wine, Fois Gras and Figs and Walnuts that grow, in abundance in our garden.
The one thing that I really miss is decent beer, so if anyone asks if I want something it is any decent bottled beers. My wife asks for quality sausages from Waitrose or M&S.
There is a heck of a lot more in France that friends want us to bring when we return - Wine, lots of wine, Fois Gras and Figs and Walnuts that grow, in abundance in our garden.
I reckon i must be running an international import and export ring !
Birds Custard , Mature Cheddar and Jaffa cakes to the US
Mostly in exchange for Apple Pie spice mix
Vast amounts of dried baby milk powder to China ...
And proper tea bags to anywhere in the world where the in-country supply is limited to liptons
Birds Custard , Mature Cheddar and Jaffa cakes to the US
Mostly in exchange for Apple Pie spice mix
Vast amounts of dried baby milk powder to China ...
And proper tea bags to anywhere in the world where the in-country supply is limited to liptons
GT03ROB said:
Cheese ….cheddar extra mature, can never find it anywhere
I'm on a British expats in the Netherlands FB group and they always get very excited when Lidl/Aldi does a British week and has Cheddar on. Personally much as love a decent cheddar, a good aged Dutch cheese is way better than what Lidl/Aldi stock.descentia said:
When I lived in Europe I used to request Heinz baked beans :
I've seen Heinz beans in an Italian supermarket ,Esselunga BTW ,but they were an obscene price so passed on buying anywhilst there.
I was in local Asda this week and one chap had 1/2 a trolley full of 3KG pasta bags ,must have been at least 30KGs in there.
Pericoloso said:
descentia said:
When I lived in Europe I used to request Heinz baked beans :
I've seen Heinz beans in an Italian supermarket ,Esselunga BTW ,but they were an obscene price so passed on buying anywhilst there.
I was in local Asda this week and one chap had 1/2 a trolley full of 3KG pasta bags ,must have been at least 30KGs in there.
The things I miss most and stock up on (or ask people to bring me):
Crisps, especially Wheat Crunchies and Pickled Onion Monster Munch. The UK really is spoilt when it comes to crisp selection
Fizzy cola bottles
Oxo cubes
Pork scratchings
Cider (locally made stuff, even if it is a UK brand is far too sweet)
Yorkshire teabags (available here, but more expensive and only in some stores)
I really miss bacon, decent sausages and especially good pies but they seem a little less practical to transit across the Atlantic. There's a British food store not too far from me that sells them but they're pretty expensive, not as good and in relatively limited supply, it seems.
Crisps, especially Wheat Crunchies and Pickled Onion Monster Munch. The UK really is spoilt when it comes to crisp selection
Fizzy cola bottles
Oxo cubes
Pork scratchings
Cider (locally made stuff, even if it is a UK brand is far too sweet)
Yorkshire teabags (available here, but more expensive and only in some stores)
I really miss bacon, decent sausages and especially good pies but they seem a little less practical to transit across the Atlantic. There's a British food store not too far from me that sells them but they're pretty expensive, not as good and in relatively limited supply, it seems.
Tallow said:
I really miss bacon, decent sausages and especially good pies but they seem a little less practical to transit across the Atlantic. There's a British food store not too far from me that sells them but they're pretty expensive, not as good and in relatively limited supply, it seems.
Transport isn't too bad - I have a local butchers who pack meat into polystyrene cases with ice packs for me & it's good for 48 hours - so depends on your baggage allowance 
Fine for within Europe, but I'd be more concerned with import declarations & checks outside the EU......
Tallow said:
I really miss bacon, decent sausages and especially good pies but they seem a little less practical to transit across the Atlantic. There's a British food store not too far from me that sells them but they're pretty expensive, not as good and in relatively limited supply, it seems.
There are an increasing number of US farms doing british style bacon and shipping in the US. Alternatively you can make it yourself fairly easily.RammyMP said:
When I was 6 my family moved from Newcastle to London (so 40 odd years ago), when any of my Geordie relatives came to visit my dad would get them to bring down bottled Newcastle tap water as he didn’t like the southern water.
Shouldn't take the piss out of London water.Though I wish someone would.
I'll get my coat.
Was in Santa Margherita Ligure (next door to Portofino) earlier in the year and the local Deli had stuff from all over the world - but the British section of the window had Shreddies, Lyon's Golden Syrup, and - just in case you saw an amazing car and nobody believed you - A tin of Bird's Custard Powder.
English living here in Brazil.
As mentioned by others already. Cadburys is my thing, whole nut, dairy milk and fruit and nut. I'm coming back in May for a trip and the first shop at heathrow is going to get a visit!
Also miss Bourbon biscuits, proper mcvities chocolate digestives. I like Jaffa cakes too but actually found similar the other day.
In terms of real food I can't go and buy ready made stuffing or dumplings anywhere. And tikka masala sauce isn't a thing here. I started eating meat again after 17 years so am dying to trying chicken breast with tikka masala instead of the Quorn I used to have.
As mentioned by others already. Cadburys is my thing, whole nut, dairy milk and fruit and nut. I'm coming back in May for a trip and the first shop at heathrow is going to get a visit!
Also miss Bourbon biscuits, proper mcvities chocolate digestives. I like Jaffa cakes too but actually found similar the other day.
In terms of real food I can't go and buy ready made stuffing or dumplings anywhere. And tikka masala sauce isn't a thing here. I started eating meat again after 17 years so am dying to trying chicken breast with tikka masala instead of the Quorn I used to have.
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