Food gifts from the US

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Snacks from traders Joe’s. Everything else is pretty much available in London. There are costco stores and plenty of shops that cater to all the Americans in London like partridge’s. Bring canvas TJ bags stuffed full of your favorite TJ snacks, everything bagel spice, etc.

I’m Canadian and I second this. We want the TJs products, it’s what I request anytime a friend goes stateside.

[Anonymous]

They love Hidden Valley Ranch dressing there.

[Anonymous]

Real maple syrup.
Maybe a boxed cornbread mix? That's an unusual food in the UK.
Peppermint patties (trust me).

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Snacks from HMart

There are two HMarts in London.

[Anonymous]

My Brit friend and their kids love jelly beans. It's crazy expensive there. So when we went a few years ago, we bought a tub of it at costco for them.

Costco also does these really great roasted and salted nut combination. I buy 3 cans of it myself.

Don't buy chocolates here. Their chocolates are much better than ours.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:My Brit friend and their kids love jelly beans. It's crazy expensive there. So when we went a few years ago, we bought a tub of it at costco for them.

Costco also does these really great roasted and salted nut combination. I buy 3 cans of it myself.

Don't buy chocolates here. Their chocolates are much better than ours.

It's a lot of fun to compare the American and British versions though.

[Anonymous]

I don't even know if this exists anymore, but a surprise request I had from more than one host family (not London, but Spain, France, and Germany) was Big Red or other cinnamon gum. Random, I know, but there was no local equivalent and it was quite the novelty.

[Anonymous]

There is very little American food that is not obtainable in London. They have stores that sell nuts, peanuts, M&Ms, maple syrup, cereal, etc. None of these items are particularly novel.

The only things that really come to mind might be Peeps (if you're going soon enough that Easter is relevant), GS cookies, and Old Bay. Maybe a bottle of a lesser-known California wine.

[Anonymous]

Please don't waste your baggage space on taking cereal over to Europe.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Snacks from HMart

No shortage of HMarts and Oseyos (owned by HMart) in London.

[Anonymous]

Stuff I won’t buy my kids bc of the artificial colors has been happily received in Europe (by kids and young adults). Dinosaur Egg oatmeal and blue jello. Disgusting but brought lots of laughs.

Peanut M and Ms.

If you’re looking for upscale, I can’t help you.

[Anonymous]

My UK relatives got a big kick out of Goldfish crackers. They don't have Pepperidge Farms over there.

[Anonymous]

Our friends request Old Bay and grits (the good stone ground kind).

[Anonymous]

Real maple syrup, peanut butter and TJ snacks.

But you may want to check on TSA peanut butter regulations. Now that I’m thinking about the couple times I’ve taken peanut butter on the plane in baggage, I have a of inspection on my bag and the peanut butter has been stabbed (through the foil lid). Coincidence or policy, not sure.

[Anonymous]

A search for 'peanut butter' on a first UK supermarket chain that came to mind yielded 74 results.
https://www.waitrose.com/ecom/shop/search?&searchTerm=peanut%20butter
I don't understand where this idea that peanut butter is not available in Europe comes from. Maybe it was so a couple of decades ago? Same applies for all kinds of nuts as well.

Of course, it's always nice if someone brings a small gift or otherwise shows they wanted to do something nice for you. That's what people react positively to, not the fact that they finally got their hands on your preferred brand of peanut butter.