Exotic goodies What would you buy?

[Englishlady]

I am very fortunate to have travelled to many parts of the world and have found a few unusual items that perhaps not many other tourists would bring back (food items and toiletries that are/were not available in the UK at that time).

What goodies do you think you would want to buy if you came to the UK and/or Europe?


We are hoping to go to the US again at some point( our dog whom we wouldn't leave died on Black Friday...) and on my list would be:

Cooking ingredients : Vanilla, Cinnamon, Tomato Paste

Coffee.

Vegan treats that are not shippable because they need to live in the fridge ( naturally I would eat them there ....(Feel free to reccomend any favourites!)

If I were to buy FOR others to give as a gift FROM here, I would give quality chocolates, Tea and biscuits.

What foreign gift would rock your world?

[daughter of pearl]

Sorry to hear about your dog...that's very sad!

In Canada, we can get a lot of English products, but one thing that hasn't made its way here that I have very fond memories of as a child is Cadbury's Mini Rolls. I love them. Mmmmm!

Also in Belguim, there are fruit jellies that are out of this world good!

[Grainlady]

My son-in-law is an Army Officer and he brings me tea from places he's been all over the world.

Our friends travel twice a year in the middle East and bring us chocolates or other sweets.

Aldi store has German items occasionally, and it's fun to give them a try. Our daughter and son-in-law lived in Germany for 4-1/2 years and they always sent us "goodies" from Germany and other places they visited in Europe.

When any family members get to Canada to visit relatives, we have to bring home Scotch mints and bars of Macintosh's Toffee, sold in the red plaid boxes for everyone back home.

My sister lives in South Texas and sends us all kinds of spices from Mexico, and naturally, a large bottle of vanilla.

I live close to a little town that has a Swedish heritage and I can get Swedish foods there.

I get to a shop that sells International foods about once a year, and I have a ball shopping there. That's when I stock up on Lyle's Golden Syrup.

[TheRootedNomad]

While I haven't traveled overseas myself both of my brothers have spent time overseas for the Airforce.

~ I would love to hit the crystal bazaars in Germany!!!!

After that I'm sure it would be hunt and find.

[rosey7415]

thanks englishlady...great thread idea!!!!! i love trying just about everything at least once.. i only travel in the states though. ever since i went to alaska i only buy smoked salmon. i buy community coffee from la. when i visited new orleans ......great food there!!!!.... i just ordered some crawfish and alligator boudin. here where we live we have portuguese products: sweet bread, malassadas, chourico, courcila, etc. we have cranberry products from ocean spray which is right down the street from us, coffee syrup, stuffed quohogs, clambakes and boils, etc. i only use vermont maple syrup....that is all i can think of for now.

[valerian]

I have loved my travels through the UK and Ireland and tea is always big with me! I really love the black teas. Earl Gray is my alltime favorite, but I also like English Breakfast, Irish Breakfast, PG Tips, etc. I also love McVities Digestives...yum, yum, yum! They are to die for! I haven't had any in a while, but I can still taste them in my mind! Oh, and I almost forgot...your Cadbury's taste better than ours...I love the Cadbury's with almonds...oh mercy...now I want some chocolate! Ooh, English sausages...I can eat those, but can't stomach the ones over here...ours are so greasy and nasty. Nice thread...

[valerian]

Oops! I remembered some more...black currant jam (yum!) and lemon curd...the cheeses...yum!

[KathleenCG]

You come up with the most interesting threads, Englishlady!

Belgian lace (Bruges!) and chocolate (NOT Guylian or Godiva, Yuk!), Belgian tapestry handbags, French needlework supplies, English antiques, Kent hairbrushes, anything from Harrod's Food Court, anything from Fortnum & Mason, Edinburgh Thistle pattern crystal, French cheese, Italian truffles, Florentine leather goods,also from Sorrento, Welsh woven fabric, Italian mosaic work, lots of books from WH Smith, teas from Chelsea, books from the British Museum, tweed jackets from England, perfumes from the Pharmacy in Florence, Wensleydale cheese and ginger ice cream from Yorkshire. Mashers and bang, a fat breakfast sausage from England, I think the name starts with a D----shire, Yorkshire pudding, ploughman's lunch, Mulberry leather goods from England, canteloupe ice cream from France, Icelandic sweaters and mittens. I better stop here; these suitcases are getting heavy. . .and the ice cream is starting to melt!

[Linus]

I have a few goodies that I like (and I know many might consider them a tad taboo) but..

- A good cigar from a small cigar shop (not necessarily Cuban either)
- a good pipe and unique tobacco from a region
- a good whiskey/port

When I want to give something exotic or unique, I try to find things that I wouldn't necessarily find elsewhere. For example, if I'm giving something to a friend in the US, I'll find something uniquely Canadian: maple syrup (there is a difference between American and Canadian maple syrup), Inuit art, King Cole Tea (only found on East Coast of Canada), Niagara Ice Wine, chocolates that one can't get in the US, etc.

I've yet to get to the UK but it is on my list of places to do long distance bicycle touring.

[monkeywrangler71]

Cadbury makes a little chocolate bar that I love and can never remember the name of. I can get them here in the imported shops but they are about $2 each, I got I think ten for a pound at the cadbury outlet.

The best food I brought back from England was cheese from the cheddar gorge cheese factory.

[Linus]

Cadbury makes a little chocolate bar that I love and can never remember the name of. I can get them here in the imported shops but they are about $2 each, I got I think ten for a pound at the cadbury outlet.

The best food I brought back from England was cheese from the cheddar gorge cheese factory.

What's in the Cadbury chocolate bar? (you might be able to find the name here: Cadbury Global :: Our Brands :: Cadbury.com : Our Brands) I'm just thinking that if someone can ship them to you in exchange for something..

[Contrary Housewife]

Last time I was in England I stuffed my bags with Jaffa cakes and chocolate digestives. They are both difficult to find here and expensive. I love all the different flavors of crisps you have over there (I mean we think we have a lot of strange flavors but, wow!) but they are harder to bring home safely.

I used to go for English tea, but lately have discovered some excellent Ceylon single-source brands that are far superior. (sorry)

I would love to get some of the non-pasteurized Dutch cheese I had years ago. I don't think it can be imported due to our food safety regulations, though.

[Libby]

Cadbury makes a little chocolate bar that I love and can never remember the name of. I can get them here in the imported shops but they are about $2 each, I got I think ten for a pound at the cadbury outlet.

The best food I brought back from England was cheese from the cheddar gorge cheese factory.

Flakey?

Every time my cousins visit - we have to go to the English Food stores and they stock up on Cadbury chocolates. Flakey is their fave.

[valerian]

I'd like to get dh some more Gentleman's Relish...interesting...

[monkeywrangler71]

Flakey?

Every time my cousins visit - we have to go to the English Food stores and they stock up on Cadbury chocolates. Flakey is their fave.

No, my husband buys the flake bars. Curly Wurly I think, we used to have a bar here called a wigwag when I was a kid and it tastes the same.

I wouldn't have them shipped, I'm sure it would cost as much as buying them here. Besides, my thighs don't really need too many of them.