British Expatriate Network

Hi - I'm not an expat, but hope you do not mind me posting on here to pick your brains? Every Christmas I send a small "treats" parcel to a friend in the US (she sends stuff back) and every year I agonise what to send - I don't want to send her stuff which she can already get (she's in St Louis). Can anyone suggest stuff that we get in the UK which they don't get in the US - light stuff like chocolates, cake or biscuits. I know she can't get Jaffa Cakes, so that is definately going in. How about Mr Kipling cakes like mince pies (do they have mince pies and christmas pudding?), battenburg or bakewell tart? Any suggestions greatly appreciated!

I believe the new regulations regarding mailing food may make it tricky -I should check with the post office what they will accept before you shop. Almost certainly the mince pies will not make it -if they get through customs (which I doubt) they'll be squished beyond recognition. Also, my sis told me the last date for small packages to the US was last Friday, so you'll need to get a move on!

Regards what to send...... how about British sweets (if the PO will accept) like Licorice allsorts, Cadbury's eclairs, Humbugs, aniseed balls........I've ordered some choc limes from my MIL this year. Some Brits like to get Angel delight, but imo it's not so different from puddings here (all yucky! ;))

Brits almost always welcome tea, but she can probably get anything but PGtips where she is and Americans don't always like PG etc. because of the way they make tea, I suspect :shock:

Why not look on American Expats for non-food ideas -they had a thread on it recently -you could ask what they would like and pick their brains about what will get through the mail. Click Here One idea that jumped out at me from that thread which might work for you is a British cookbook.

Hi Monster. Thanks for your help. Please can you tell me if the restrictions you talk about are at the US end because there are none I can see on our Post Office website? Anything I send her is factory sealed rather than fresh stuff that will perish/carry disease and it has never been a problem in the past. The final posting date for airmail to USA is 12 December. Thanks for your sweet suggestions.

Sorry I'm rushing out -can anyone else help with a link/experiences? i'll be back later

Is this any good for you

http//www.usembassy.org.uk/ukcust1.html

That's brilliant - thanks. It says cakes, cookies and candies are all ok.

It also says

This applies to any manufactured food for either humans or animals but does not apply to homemade or manufactured foods being sent as a personal gift to individual persons in the USA but you should clearly indicate this on the Customs Form if this is the case. If you don't your parcels or packets containing food may be returned to you or even destroyed. This act also doesn't apply to personal importation of food products carried by Air Passengers.

I always put that the items are personal gifts on the customs form and on my address label, so no worries.

Thanks again for your help.

Any advice as to whether they get mince pies, christmas pudding, english cakes liek bakewells etc would be appreciated. I'm sure I can box it up so they don't get squashed.

I'm nowhere near St Louis I'm afraid so not sure what your friend can get locally, but I can tell you in my area I've seen Christmas puddings in the supermarket, but not mince pies. Though they do sell the jars of mincemeat so it is possible to make them.

I've not seen any Mr Kipling cakes. We do get similar style boxed cakes here by 'Little Debbie' etc but in my opinion not a patch on good old Mr Kipling. I haven't seen anything similar to Bakewell tarts or Battenburgs though.

Like Monster suggested, the sweets idea is nice. I've seen Bassetts Licorice allsorts in my local Shoprite, but the quarter of type sweets eg, lemon sherberts etc would be good.

On the buscuit front, I usually buy from British stores, Jammy Dodgers, Happy Faces and Toffypops - though my husband would go for chocolate hobnobs.

I think it's lovely of you to do this for your friend grin

I would cut you up for chocolate Hob-Nobs...

...wish my friends were this cool about sending goodies to me.

Personally, Double Deckers, Sainsbury's Red Label teabags, colemans sandwich pickle.

You want some choccie HobNobs????

You only have to say...I can get them here!

Debs x :smile:

Hi everyone. Thanks for all your suggestions - it's a great help. I've given them hobnobs before along with jaffa cakes - it was the jaffa cakes that they raved about! I LOVE hobnobs! I get the feeling that they are cake people rather than biscuit people. Someone also mentioned Colmans pickle. When they came over a year ago I gave them Branston pickle to take home. it must have been the only jar left in the country - luckily I bought it a few weeks before and in the meantime there was a fire in the Branston Pickle warehouse and everything was lost and you couldn't get any for love nor money. Ahh - the great Branston Pickle shortage cry

So it's going to be some cakes and the sweets you suggested. Incidentally she emailed me today and asked me for a french brand of mints she had in Paris (I'm going on a booze cruise Saturday) or some Mint Imperials or Trebor Extra strong.

In return I'm getting some Payday bars. She sent me some for my birthday and they were the best things she's sent so far, though I also loved the baked beans she bought over, but are too heavy to post. I've also asked her for some Oreo cookies given that I read on this board that the ones we get here are not the real thing.

Thanks again!

Yeah, when I got back to blighty, I just about ate a whole box of Mr. Kiplings bramley apple pies. I forgot how 'exceedingly good' they were.... :wink:

How about a big container of Bisto gravy granules? I know its not candy but it's the only thing I can't get here in Cally! razz

Because the powers that be are convinced they cause mad cow disease....... :???: :roll:


Welcome to Britnet, Kay!