Sorry if it's been done before but I was just wondering what other ex-pats stock up on when they visit England. My list always features Branston pickle, lemon curd, marmite, custard powder, teabags (of course), Walkers crisps, and, if there's room, huge packs of decent breakfast cereal. It was odd when I visited the English shop in Heidelberg for the first time - it was as if they'd seen my list and stocked up on everything from it specially. Are we all that predictable?

Usually manage to sneak a few cans of beer, and bottles of Hendersons. Better half just loves malt loaf, so a few of those as well. Never had the guts to sneak pork pies in, but make sure to fill up when we're over there. Now, if only there was a way to preserve fish, chips, and mushy peas.

Apart from all the usual stuff I miss, I particularly like that chewing gum that is made from strong mentol and eucalyptus called Airwaves. I picked up a few packets from the paper shop near my Mum's and later wished I'd got more. I also like Andrews Liver Salts. That effervescant drink that's good for hangovers and indigestion. I get Branston and PG Tips tea bags here so I don't "jones" for those anymore. Germany is different though. My cousin who lives in Geldern has Heinz salad cream sent over.

Heinz Baked Beans! I haven't managed to find them here or salad cream, or Heinz soup even. I don't like U.S baked beans, they are way too sweet:gag:

Now then folks, I am happy to provide all you wish for as regards to English specialities - in exchange for board and lodgings for two weeks :thumbsup: So come on, roll up, who wants an English visitor? :hihi:

Originally posted by Hels
Now then folks, I am happy to provide all you wish for as regards to English specialities - in exchange for board and lodgings for two weeks :thumbsup: So come on, roll up, who wants an English visitor? :hihi: I would as long as you payed your own air fare! I don't miss anything enough to pay out for someones plane ticket - apart for my friends and family of course, but they'd never fit in your suit case:D

Originally posted by tulip
Heinz Baked Beans! I haven't managed to find them here or salad cream, or Heinz soup even. I don't like U.S baked beans, they are way too sweet:gag:
Try Bush's baked beans the vegetarian variety. I think they come in as a close substitute for Heinz.

Bush's Boston beans are great.
We stock up on tea, bacon, bangers, bisto, bovril, and aero bars
We take over coffee, english muffins ( unavailable in UK ) pancake mix, corn syrup and maple syrup

Originally posted by buck
Bush's Boston beans are great.
We stock up on tea, bacon, bangers, bisto, bovril, and aero bars
We take over coffee, english muffins ( unavailable in UK ) pancake mix, corn syrup and maple syrup The english muffins here are really nice! I could get English muffins when I lived in Woking but they were horrible.

I have tried Bush's baked beans, I did get vegetarian variety, Funke88 but even though the are similar to Heinz I still find them too sweet. I don't think my taste buds have adapted yet;)

My son lives in Texas and he would agree about the beans, they tend to be in barbeque sauce there rather than tomato sauce.

I have to take him Hendersons & Tetley tea bags and comming back my case is full of mexican sauces & chillis, & granolabars & cheap jeans for my daughter.

I'm beginning to wish I hadn't started this now. Why did someone have to mention fish & chips with mushy peas. Oh, the pangs!

But how about people who've made the move in the other direction? What do you miss from your homeland? For a German friend living in England I've had to take back such strange things as candles and German butter. Not sure I can quite see the point of that meself!

Hi Sauerkraut!

Here's my list which I picked up recently on my last visit:

bacon, all you can get here is that tulip danish bacon which is more fat than meat! :gag:

Sliced white bread (oh the simple things in life!).

Tea bags are a neccessity :nod:

and I too am a Branston fan. :thumbsup:

HP sauce

Guiness in cans (for a German friend)

As for taking things to England.... Beer, beer, Vodka and more beer.

Just thought of a wierd request from a German friend of mine. I was asked to bring back toilet paper as he reckons it's not as soft over here :loopy: :hihi:

Do you know I'm starting to get a taste for that tulip bacon now. Chop it up small and fry it long enough so all the fat runs away and you're left with some nice crunchy bacon bits. "It's bacon, but not as we know it!"

And I agree about the toilet paper. We take our own when we visit England now. :blush:

Well my shopping lists have changes over the 40 year span.

I use to bring back, china, wedgewood, crystal, sheffield silver, (that i wasn't interested in when i lived there), also lamp shades, great ones made in the uk, but found out they didn't fit over here.

Later on in years it was food, you name it i had it in my suitcase, mostly sausage & bacon, a place down hillsborough packs it up just for bringing overseas now.

Now adays i can get most english stuff over here, you pay more as it's imported but it's still cheaper than i would pay for it in the uk.

Originally posted by Ally68
Hi Sauerkraut!

Here's my list which I picked up recently on my last visit:

bacon, all you can get here is that tulip danish bacon which is more fat than meat! :gag:

Sliced white bread (oh the simple things in life!).

Tea bags are a neccessity :nod:

and I too am a Branston fan. :thumbsup:

HP sauce

Guiness in cans (for a German friend)

As for taking things to England.... Beer, beer, Vodka and more beer.

Just thought of a wierd request from a German friend of mine. I was asked to bring back toilet paper as he reckons it's not as soft over here :loopy: :hihi:

:D You can't hve everything - you get better summers than us! (usually!)

I would think anybody who misses mushy peas should pay a visit to the dried beans ,lentils ,peas section of the bigger supermarkets.
Look for Marrowfat peas.This is the dried pea for mushy peas.
Soak them overnight ,rinse, cover with water pinch of bi-carb.Boil till they turn the consistency you like .
Watch for them sticking and burning

Originally posted by sweetdexter
I would think anybody who misses mushy peas should pay a visit to the dried beans ,lentils ,peas section of the bigger supermarkets.
Look for Marrowfat peas.This is the dried pea for mushy peas.
Soak them overnight ,rinse, cover with water pinch of bi-carb.Boil till they turn the consistency you like .
Watch for them sticking and burning Thats how my mom made mushy peas but I can't find Marrowfats peas here:(

Tulip I sent you a pm

If and when I return to england, I'll be stocking up on some Olbas Oil!

My sister-in-law always takes back to Mallorca


Hendersons relish
cheese
Heinz salad cream
midget gems
sometimes bread

Blades t-shirts
Pear drops
Bon-bons
Hendersons relish

Regards CB

Muffins from Sainsbury's - made in Sheffield and said to be the best in the world.

my daughters live in germany ,they take hendersons relish and baked beans back,also yeast and flour for the breadmaker:)

YES, flour - that's another one! I'd never heard of flour moths before I moved here but having encountered them several times I now bring flour from England whenever I can. Self-raising isn't available here in any case and it just isn't the same trying to add the right quantity of baking powder...

You've all missed one. Try getting a bottle of "Non-Brewed Condiment ", in Kent. Fish and chips aint the same.

Originally posted by Jossman
You've all missed one. Try getting a bottle of "Non-Brewed Condiment ", in Kent. Fish and chips aint the same.

I bought a bottle when I first came over. I think I still have the same bottle almost 14 years later! I have got used to chips with just salt or with mayonaise + ketchup.:wink:

Got used to that kind of fritz when in the Navy, visiting Europe Ally.

Hi Sauerkraut!

Here's my list which I picked up recently on my last visit:

bacon, all you can get here is that tulip danish bacon which is more fat than meat! :gag:

Sliced white bread (oh the simple things in life!).

Tea bags are a neccessity :nod:

and I too am a Branston fan. :thumbsup:

HP sauce

Guiness in cans (for a German friend)

As for taking things to England.... Beer, beer, Vodka and more beer.

Just thought of a wierd request from a German friend of mine. I was asked to bring back toilet paper as he reckons it's not as soft over here :loopy: :hihi:
Tulip Bacon, all fat! Thank-you!;) ;) ;) ;)

My parents live in france and when I go to visit I have to take.....
Walkers salt and vinegar crisps
Bassets licquorice allsorts - several bags
Lyles golden syrup
proper pork Sausages - theirs all stink of garlic
Custard powder
Gammon - apparently mum hasn't yet found it in shops only in restaurants

We have also had to take daffodil bulbs and parsnip seeds neither of which you can get over in france - at least not where my parents are!

Paint - french paint is very expensive and watery!

When we come back we fill up with Fruit liquer, lots of wine and raclette cheese, plus french books and games for the kids.