Re: Stupid Question - Cordial
 

This is the shopping center http://www.sunnysidemall.ca/pages/shops.php and the shop is called Pete's Frootique

http://www.petesfrootique.com/

Re: Stupid Question - Cordial
 

GloriousGlenn don't worry, no you cannot easily find cordial - I too went through gallons back in the UK as I don't like water!! All I can offer is that when you arrive, get in contact and I will happily ship you your favourites. All other expats too, let me know your demands and I will provide price lists and shipping costs. Just PM me.

Re: Stupid Question - Cordial
 

They sell Ribena in Costco (at least out West), $6.99 for 1l.

Ikea has Elderberry, Blueberry or Lingonberry for $5 a pop too.

Re: Stupid Question - Cordial
 

We miss good old Robinsons. We sometimes get cordial from the British Shop in the mall, but it's pricey at about $8 - and it's Sainsbury's high juice, not Robinsons! Ribena is available in most of the supermarkets in Edmonton. We don't like the crystals much, but we do like the frozen juices that you dilute with water (once defrosted) - stick it in a jug (cheap one from Dollarama), dilute and refridgerate - it's pretty good.:thumbsup:

Re: Stupid Question - Cordial
 

I may well take up Brillufamily's offer every now and again, but I was hoping there was a Canadian equivalent at a 'normal' price instead of paying the imported price.

I have had the frozen juices before, but I can only remember it being in the alcoholic drink 'slush'!!!

14 days until we travel!!

Re: Stupid Question - Cordial
 

GloriousGlenn you will be welcome to contact me and anyone else for that matter, I found it really difficult to find quite a few "basics" that we had in the UK - Marmite, robinsons, HP Sauce, Salad Cream even Arrowroot for thickening sauces (can get cornflour but personally prefer arrowroot). After speaking to friends out west and family in the US I found a few websites that sell the products but their prices were either ridiculous or they had minimum orders of $30-$50 and shipping isn't that cheap either. So I decided to work with my contacts back home (I have a freight forwarding background) and was able to secure a fantastic price for shipping a monthly or so package of basics. Once friends knew they were adding to my shopping-list and paying their shipping this side. I work out the add-on for their part of the shop using weight/volume calculations for the overall package hence keeping the prices down (the more i can pack in the lower the price - obviously teabags are high volume and robinsons is heavy but it still works out well for us all). At the end of the day we are all newbies finding our feet and here to help each other out, sometimes a taste of home eases the home-sickeness a little. So as I mentioned to the moderators :D I am not "currently" a business just a helping hand but who knows what will happen in a year or so? Once I start shipping pallets things might change - but don't all go too mad yet ok, I am busy running around after a one-year old!!!!:rofl:

Re: Stupid Question - Cordial
 

its weird how things vary by location

Marmite...used to be in most supermarkets around here, but with the baking stuff! (Yeast connection must throw them?) Not seen it as much lately...probably not selling much of it.

Arrowroot.. supermarket or the bulk barn. Bulk barn is good for all sorts of hard to find items actually

HP sauce...again, with the condiments in the supermarket
Salad cream... Seen Heinz in the supermarket, but wasnt tempted to buy it given all the other proper dressings out there.


A lot of times its not the product itself people want, there are often close enough local substitutes (although thankfully no sign of marmite madness being contagious yet), its just the comfort of familiarity expats crave, and that passes with time. Has for me anyway.

If I went back to the UK I would probably crave crazy canadian things that I dont really think about much day to day here.

Re: Stupid Question - Cordial
 

Interesting that you can't find HP Sauce, but then I noticed you're in Quebec. HP Sauce is actually quite common in Canada, but for one reason or another, it's completely foreign in Quebec.

Edit: HP Sauce is also foreign in the USA, but Canadians tend to eat it with breakfast sausages, so you can find it in every grocery store and almost every restaurant has it (outside of Quebec, of course).

As for cordial, welcome to the North American equivalent. Get used to it. :p

http://www.sonoco.com/NR/rdonlyres/7.../190_juice.jpg

Re: Stupid Question - Cordial
 

Lot's of things seem "foreign" here in Quebec but at the same time have found some fab alternatives to home. Unfortunately, the squash alternatives really needed addressing (being a non-water drinker), the sugar-free stuff started changing the colour of my teeth (NICE!) - I drink 3l diluted a day! However, on the plus side... the beer is fine!!!!!:thumbsup:

Re: Stupid Question - Cordial
 

How do you get around CFIA regulations? (Importation of foodstuff).

Re: Stupid Question - Cordial
 

CFIA are actully really helpful when you speak to them! I am not into bending the law!

Re: Stupid Question - Cordial
 

It was not my intention to imply that you were doing anything dodgy, I just know (as do you) that importing foodstuff into Canada is a little more complex than importing dry goods.

Re: Stupid Question - Cordial
 

I know, it's a headache at times! What's life without a challenge or two?? We got through the immigration process - we can get through anything!!:p

Re: Stupid Question - Cordial - try this
 

When we arrived my daughter only drank robinsons Apple and Blackcurrant cordial, yes that is all she drank, she wouldnt drink anything else only sip at things, to the point if it wasnt available she become dehydrated (long story ended up in hospital due to it, other things also too long to explain) anyhow.......

......we shipped 40x 4L bottles with our furniture and it lasted 8 months, we did find it in the English shops but was very expensive. We then discovered Life (shoppers drug mart) raspberry flavored water, it tastes so similar to cordial.

Riddle89

Re: Stupid Question - Cordial
 

Er, no it isn't. I have some. Most of the supermarkets we use sell it.