I'm a Brit who's lived in the US for 8 years. Here are 10 foods I miss every day.
Janine Clements
- I've lived in the US for eight years now but still miss some of my favorite foods from Britain.
- I grew up eating Skips shrimp-cocktail crisps and Mr Kipling's cherry Bakewells.
I don't think the Cadbury chocolate in the US compares to the UK stuff.
I grew up in the UK but now live in the United States, and moving comes with plenty of adjustments — including food.
Cadbury chocolate is the food item my family and I miss the most. Whenever we have a visitor coming to stay from the UK, we ask them to bring some.
Although you can find Cadbury chocolate in the US, it's manufactured by Hershey here and simply isn't the same, in my opinion.
There's a long-standing debate about the taste difference, but I think the British version is creamier, sweeter, and overall better.
Cadbury Dairy Milk Caramel bars and Flakes are at the top of my list, and my kids prefer the Giant Buttons and Crunchies.
I haven't found any sausages I'd consider as good as the ones back home.
I really miss British pork sausages. And for a while, I could usually only find sweet or hot Italian ones here, which don't quite taste the same.
I was delighted when I recently found an Irish butcher not too far away from me that sells them, so I can stock up when I'm nearby and make my favorite dish, bangers (common slang for sausages in the UK) and mash.
Crumpets are a quintessential British food.
Crumpets are a classic British food usually enjoyed toasted for breakfast or afternoon tea.
These round, savory griddle cakes are made with a batter of water, milk, flour, and yeast. They're fluffy on the inside and contain lots of small holes.
You can make them yourself, but I love store-bought crumpets, as well. You pop them in the toaster and they're ready in an instant.
They're usually served hot with butter and strawberry preserves, or with other toppings such as marmalade, cream cheese, or Marmite (a yeasty, savory British spread).
I've found them in US supermarkets, but I think they taste heavy and not nearly as good.
I grew up eating Shreddies, and my kids now love them, too.
Shreddies are a whole-wheat cereal that I love almost as much as my kids do.
The crunchy, high-fiber squares have a delicious, malty taste when you add milk. And unlike many other cereals that have a lot of sugar, one serving only contains 5 grams.
When I first arrived in New York, I found Shreddies in our local grocery store, but they stopped selling it and I haven't found the cereal anywhere else.
Jacob's cheddar crackers are some of my favorite British snacks.
Jacob's Cheddars are delicious, baked snacks flavored with cheddar cheese.
These light, crispy bites have a similar texture to Ritz crackers but have a tangy, cheesy taste. I used to eat them when I was a kid and still love them.
They're tasty enough to eat on their own or with different toppings, like cream cheese and cornichons (a variety of pickles).
I loved Skips when I was a kid.
I enjoyed these crisps flavored like prawn cocktails growing up. On the whole, British chips come in some strange flavors, like pickled onion, Marmite, ketchup, and Worcestershire sauce.
Launched in 1974, Skips are reminiscent of the seafood dish and make your tongue tingle as they melt in your mouth.
I often took a pack to school in my lunch box when I was a child, so I feel nostalgic if I eat them now.
Mr Kipling's cherry Bakewells remind me of my grandmother.
Named after the Derbyshire town of Bakewell, these classic English pastries are made with a short-crust pastry filled with jam, frangipane (a velvety almond cream), and glacé icing, all with a cherry on top.
They have a unique sweet and flavorful taste like nothing else I've ever eaten. They remind me of my grandmother because we used to enjoy them together for afternoon tea.
Although you can buy the sweet treat freshly made in bakeries, I think Mr Kipling's cherry Bakewells are the best.
Roast lamb isn't the same without Colman's mint sauce.
Eating a Sunday roast at home or at a pub is a big tradition in many British families, including mine. And I kept up the custom when I left the UK.
My favorite roast dinner is lamb, usually served with potatoes, vegetables, and mint sauce.
In the UK, you can buy Colman's jarred sauce made with spearmint leaves, vinegar, and a small amount of sugar. I recently found it at a store near me that sells British products.
My absolute favorite British sweet treat is millionaire's shortbread.
Every time I go back to the UK, I go to the nearest supermarket and buy a millionaire's shortbread bar.
Also known as caramel squares, these gooey, decadent treats supposedly have Scottish origins and are made with a shortbread base topped with a layer of caramel and milk chocolate.
Although you can make millionaire's shortbread from scratch, the store-bought ones are just as good.
Lucozade was a great pick-me-up whenever I felt ill.
I think Lucozade is the perfect drink if you're feeling under the weather. Whenever I had a cold or cough when I lived in the UK, I drank a bottle, and it made me feel a lot better.
This bright-orange, fizzy energy drink comes in an iconic bottle and contains a high amount of glucose, so it gives you an energetic buzz.
Although I'd say Gatorade is somewhat similar, I don't think it tastes nearly as good.
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