Food not available in the UK

For Christmas this year, instead of filling my Christmas stocking with toiletries, my mom and my aunt want to give me non-perishable food items that aren't available in the UK that I might be looking for as I transition into cooking full time in the UK.  The only things I can think of is Jell-O and Powdered Creamer.

Any suggestions?  (stuff doesn't need to be small for it to be stocking stuffer. My family is known for turning a stocking into a basket or gift bag full of things that didn't fit!)

I was also thinking of putting baking soda on the list, since I remember reading that UK baking soda isn't as potent as US baking soda and I'd be using (at least temporarily) my US recipes.

Access in the UK to US foods/ US type products does seem to vary greatly based on where you are living.  I might suggest favorite spices/ spice combination, Frito/pretzels, any Mexican ingredients you are used to using,  Hersey's syrup or your favorite kind (they have them here but you might like to have your favorite), local foods (honey, jams, sauces), or just make a favorites list of regular items that they have here but it would nice to have your preferred brands: deodorant, shampoo, spaghetti sauces, etc.

 

Powdered Creamer? I just bought some Coffee Mate 2 weeks ago at Farm Foods and I've seen it at Co-op as well...

You can gett Jell-o in the UK, but it's not the Jell-o brand and they call it jelly.  We had some Rowntrees black currant jelly with our tea last night...delicious.  I've also seen loads of powdered creamer (usually Coffee Mate brand) in town and in the shops at our tiny village.  So I think both of those should be readily available for you (unless you just want a specific flavor that you don't think will be available here).  

To get a better idea of certain things that are (or are not) available, you can go online to websites like ASDA and take a look around the grocery section.

ETA:  Also if you think a certain product isn't available, you might want to double-check that it isn't called something different.  I spent a long time looking for 'trash cans' until my hubby told me to look for 'rubbish bins'...should have been common sense but I was looking at a lot of stuff and didn't think about little things like jelly (for PB&J sammies) is called jam.

Jello Gellatain is available here, but its Rowntree's or store's own brand.  Some places like Waitrose / Ocado will sell them, but at a higher rate.  If you have a favourite flavour like Cherry or Grape I'd recommend stocking up as those aren't flavours you'll find readily available here, as Blackcurrant and Strawberry are more prominent flavours.  Jell-o puddings aren't available here, but there is Angel Delight (or store's own brand), but you won't find all the same flavours ie) Pisachio etc.  Again you may find the puddings available in Waitrose or from an online import shop, but you'll be paying through the teeth for them.

Coffee Mate Creamer is sold powdered in the UK, its just you won't find any flavoured ones - so if you have a certain flavour that you like buy that one.  However, you can buy flavour syrups to add to your coffee if not buy flavoured coffee beans.  

I've not heard about the baking soda, as you can buy Arm & Hammer over here, although it make take you a bit of searching to find it.  You may be thinking of Baking Powder which is double acting in the US, but single acting in the UK.  The single acting baking powder begins to release the gas as soon as it becomes wet while the double acting releases the gas in two parts, one with the liquid and the other with the heat.  With the single acting baking powder you cannot mix up a batter and then set it aside for any period of time, you must bake it immediately.  So if you have cookies that need refrigerating you'll see they won't turn out the same here if you use UK baking powder.  

Weighty items that are next to impossible to buy or extortionate if you can find a place that sells them:
- Miracle Whip (any variety)
- Karo Syrup
- Pumpkin Pie / Pumpkin Puree

Graham Crackers
Ranch Dressing packets if you like Ranch Dressing as the stuff sold in the UK is pretty vile.  Any other salad dressings you may like ie) French, Thousand Island, Russian etc, as salad dressings here are pretty different here unless you have a recipe for your favorite of choice.

Like Mistress TarnLover said check and see as some foods are under different names.  ie) Fig Newtons are Fig Biscuits here.  If you like Girl Scout Thin Mints you might want to try Mint Penguins, but I'd personally recommend Sainsbury's own Mint Polars.  It can be a bit hit or miss finding substitutes, but it can be a lot of fun trying the different foodstuffs along the way!  

You may be thinking of Baking Powder which is double acting in the US, but single acting in the UK.  The single acting baking powder begins to release the gas as soon as it becomes wet while the double acting releases the gas in two parts, one with the liquid and the other with the heat.  With the single acting baking powder you cannot mix up a batter and then set it aside for any period of time, you must bake it immediately.  So if you have cookies that need refrigerating you'll see they won't turn out the same here if you use UK baking powder.  

Thank you thank you thank you!!!

I've been reading up on this (with a view to making buttermilk biscuit dough in advance for Thanksgiving) and no where could I find out whether UK baking powder was single or double acting. Brilliant!

http://talk.uk-yankee.com/index.php?topic=58574.0


Jewlz started this thread before she went back to the US... I have it bookmarked for my first trip back since there's loads and loads of items on there I would totally forget about.

I would ask for cosmetics though if I were you in addition to food products.  At least for me, I either haven't been able to find the stuff I used in the US, or it costs a small fortune to buy it.  Even nail polish (varnish).... I spent like 4 quid on the tiniest bottle ever the other day at Tesco...


Side note: I can't wait for Christmas... putting the tree up on Sunday!!!!

Side note: I can't wait for Christmas... putting the tree up on Sunday!!!!

OH ME TOO! YAAAAAAAAAY!!!!!!!!!!!

Ummm...my Christmas tree is already up...lol...

Personally, I wouldnt bother with the excess weight this will add to your luggage/shipped boxes.   The vast majority of the things you are used to in the States are available in some form or another somewhere in the UK.   
I brought Miracle Whip, but then realized that the Heinz salad cream stuff was really quite similar (IMO)

I brought Hidden Valley Ranch dressing and then found it here. 

I have been complaining about the lack of black beans, but have found them in Waitrose. 

Pumpkin pie filling is actually readily available in many places.

I have also been complaining about the lack of canned green beans for green bean casserole (my Thanksgiving favourite), but found that frozen work just fine.

Tortilla chips are not the same here, but you cant really pack them very well.

I found Lucky Charms at a local Garden Center of all places.

Graham Crackers are very similar to Digestive biscuts if you are using them to bake with.

I even found Amy's frozen foods at store near my house!

I agree with JessicaKate, that cosmetics and face and hair products seem to be a bigger problem for me than food.
   

the only thing I go out of my way to bring back from the states are graham crackers.  Yes, digestives will do in a pinch if you're making graham cracker crust for pie, but if you just like to eat them like I do, you need the real thing!

I agree with JessicaKate, that cosmetics and face and hair products seem to be a bigger problem for me than food.

I definitely agree with JessicaKate and mirrajay on this.  I've struggled to find similar hair and face products that I used to use in the US and the ones I have found that are similar or the same are much, much more expensive.  I went to buy eyeliner a few weeks back and what I used to buy for 99 cents at any CVS back home was 4 pounds here!  4 pouds for one stick of eyeliner!!  

As far as food goes, the only things I truly miss that can't be found here are very specific things like Trader Joe's brand of vegan frozen pizzas or the smores flavor of poptarts (only chocolate fudge and strawberry are available here).  Apart from those two items, though, I've found the food thing surprisingly easy to cope with...but I tend to avoid processed / junk food as much as possible in favor or fresh fruit and vegetables, so I don't really go looking for replacements of specific items very often here.  

i went shopping and searching on my recent visit to the uk......with the sole purpose of finding products that i use........here is my list of items i will be stocking up on and bringing over......

ranch dressing mix.....powder type
angel hair pasta
lipton ice tea bags

i did notice that it was difficult to find corn tortillas but i will just have to make them if i cant find them.

honestly i really found that much is the same its just packaged or named differently.

also i color my hair and wasnt sure about beauty supply shops so unless something comes to light im stockin up on my hair color and developer.

hope this helps just a little

angel hair pasta

Not sure if you have tried Sainsbury's brand of angel hair pasta but it is good.

i did notice that it was difficult to find corn tortillas but i will just have to make them if i cant find them.

apparently there's a couple mexican food stores in london that carry them, one that will ship.  they are like £2 for a baker's dozen i think.

there is the old el paso brand of corn tortilla (the big huge ones) in tesco. but if you want the real authentic thing i think your best bet is to make your own.  this company also sells tortilla presses...

http://www.coolchile.co.uk/