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Topic: Backwards question - finding British products in the US?  (Read 1882 times)

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Backwards question - finding British products in the US?
« on: June 24, 2008, 03:29:08 AM »
I want to try some British products, and I found this website: www.britishfoodshop.com [nofollow]

This got me wondering, do Brits drink much coffee? I had to search "coffee" on the website to find it, and even then, not much, or at least not half as much as the amount of coffee in all it's varieties here in the US.

Also, what products would you recommend? I'm guessing... curry?  :)

Edit: I also found these other websites which seem to have more products and variety:
www.jollygrub.com [nofollow]
www.britishdelights.com [nofollow]

« Last Edit: June 24, 2008, 03:32:01 AM by JonathanCid »


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Re: Backwards question - finding British products in the US?
« Reply #1 on: June 24, 2008, 04:07:19 AM »
I want to try some British products, and I found this website: www.britishfoodshop.com

This got me wondering, do Brits drink much coffee? I had to search "coffee" on the website to find it, and even then, not much, or at least not half as much as the amount of coffee in all it's varieties here in the US.


No, coffee is usually considered an 'American' drink and tea is the 'British' drink. Since most of the sites cater to British expats in the US, they won't stock coffee because it's readily available and is better quality in the US, with much more variety (I don't drink coffee, but I believe most British stuff is instant - Nescafe/Gold Blend/Maxwell House/Kenco). Instead, they will stock various varieties of tea because tea is not as easily accessible in the US.

Quote
Also, what products would you recommend? I'm guessing... curry?  :)

Edit: I also found these other websites which seem to have more products and variety:
www.jollygrub.com
www.britishdelights.com

Personally, I miss British chocolate, biscuits and sweets, rather than savoury food like curry, but then I'm not a big curry eater. If I ever come across a British food shop here, I only go for the sweet stuff: Cadbury's Dairy Milk, Galaxy, Twirls, Crunchie, McVitie's chocolate digestives etc. And I really miss Heinz Baked Beans (UK version) and Heinz Salad Cream.

Just a word of warning though - those sites are ridiculously overpriced, especially when you add on the shipping too. Each item costs 2 or 3 times the UK retail price (like the 250g Dairy Milk bar is $7 on the britishfoodshop site, but it only costs $2-$3 in the UK!) and then they charge you a lot for shipping on top of that! I have considered ordering food from them before, but I always chicken out at the last minute because I can't justify spending $1.70 on a tiny chocolate bar that would only cost me the equivalent of 80 cents or so in the UK.

Before you order anything, I would check the Yellow pages for international food stores in your city - a lot of the Indian/Asian food stores also import British food items. The prices aren't much cheaper than the websites because they have to import the items, but at least you wouldn't have to pay extra for shipping.


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Re: Backwards question - finding British products in the US?
« Reply #2 on: June 24, 2008, 04:14:37 AM »
 :)  My grandpa used to work for Cadbury's!  When we were little, our visits would include a trip to the factory (which was more meeting people and watching machines than indulging in treats).

Still, I can't have too much chocolate in the house or I will eat it all.  Mom thinks she's doing me a favor by sending a box of treats at Christmas (everything, in moderation...)
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Re: Backwards question - finding British products in the US?
« Reply #3 on: June 24, 2008, 04:15:23 AM »
Thanks! Very good advice and explanation. I suppose I'll try that, then - calling some local spots.

This brings up another question, however. How easy is it to find good quality coffee in the UK?


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Re: Backwards question - finding British products in the US?
« Reply #4 on: June 24, 2008, 05:07:03 AM »
In a few grocery stores here in Dallas, there are small sections of British foods, but they are very pricey compared to what one would pay in the UK.  Tea is readily available, and relatively cheap.  Some common brands you can find in your local stores are probably Twinings and PG Tips.  As for coffee, my husband and his family drink as much coffee as tea, however, its true they usually drink instant, as they use electric kettles to heat up water, and few people own percolators.  Most American coffee is WAY better than much of what they have there.  But in the small section at my local Tom Thumb, they carry Heinz Salad Cream, McVities Digestives, lemon curd, Maltesers, and various sweets like Winegums, etc.  They also have Heinz beans, both in this aisle, and in the kosher aisle (the vegetarian ones are in the kosher section). Be prepared to pay the price for these goodies, though!  We have Central Market here, and they carry loads of imported stuff, (clotted cream, etc.) so you should be able to find lots of things there, however, again, prices are high.  Sadly, I can't find HP sauce (brown sauce) anywhere, and that is my fave English product so far.  I have him bring bottles across for me.  There was a UK imports shop here a few years ago, but it has since closed down, and I haven't been able to find anything like it since then.  Depending on your area, I might check the local stores before ordering items online.  Good luck!


Re: Backwards question - finding British products in the US?
« Reply #5 on: June 24, 2008, 05:13:28 AM »
This brings up another question, however. How easy is it to find good quality coffee in the UK?

Do you mean for making at home, or coffee bars?   If the latter, we have Starbucks, Costa, Caffe Nero (my favourite!)... all pretty well known chains, but i obviously i dont know if you consider their coffee to be good quality.  Different strokes, etc.

For coffee at home, why not go Italian?  Lavazza, Illy, etc.   There's zillions of different coffees you can buy online, if you can't find what you want in the supermarket.


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Re: Backwards question - finding British products in the US?
« Reply #6 on: June 24, 2008, 06:18:57 AM »
The people who work in my office drink lots of coffee - no different than an American office.


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Re: Backwards question - finding British products in the US?
« Reply #7 on: June 24, 2008, 09:45:44 AM »
unfortunately, i'd say the best of british food is stuff you can't get online--fresh produce & cheeses.
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Re: Backwards question - finding British products in the US?
« Reply #8 on: June 24, 2008, 11:55:16 AM »
HP sauce is available at every grocery store in Canada.  Go North!  (Or South, if you're in Alaska).  There must be something like it in the US, though.. everyone likes brown sauce, don't they?



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Re: Backwards question - finding British products in the US?
« Reply #9 on: June 24, 2008, 12:03:33 PM »
They had brown sauce at Wegmans last time I went, as well as jaffa cakes and other stuff like that. 


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Re: Backwards question - finding British products in the US?
« Reply #10 on: June 24, 2008, 12:36:26 PM »
The people who work in my office drink lots of coffee - no different than an American office.

Same, I only know one or two British people who don't drink Coffee, I don't think its considered an "american" drink at all.


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Re: Backwards question - finding British products in the US?
« Reply #11 on: June 24, 2008, 12:48:37 PM »
Lots of coffee drank here in my office

I have a coffee pot, I can get plenty of good coffee (albeit expensive) in tesco

Don't know where you are in the US, but Stop and Shops (in New England) have a good selection of british-esque foods.

If you can find a World Market, you'll be able to find lots of goodies.

If you're in South Florida, there is a great store called the British Marketplace, which has all kinds of yumminess and a tea room, for great cream teas. 
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Re: Backwards question - finding British products in the US?
« Reply #12 on: June 24, 2008, 12:49:10 PM »
there was a whole british section in the super shop & stop in falmouth, ma- which i noticed day before last. 
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Re: Backwards question - finding British products in the US?
« Reply #13 on: June 24, 2008, 01:26:27 PM »
there was a whole british section in the super shop & stop in falmouth, ma- which i noticed day before last. 

Same in my S&S in Providence. But I wonder if Florida would have as many English foods as are available in New England.  :-\\\\
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Re: Backwards question - finding British products in the US?
« Reply #14 on: June 24, 2008, 01:28:27 PM »
Same in my S&S in Providence. But I wonder if Florida would have as many English foods as are available in New England.  :-\\\\

That's why I made the disclaimer on S&Ss in NE
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