Hi
does anyone know where you can buy this in Calgary - Safeway don't sell it and when I ask I keep getting offer ground Allspice which isnt the same. I have a receipe to make it but its so much easier to buy it if it exists here!!

thanks

You can make your own. There are recipes on the internet. I've never done so myself, because I stock up when I'm in the UK, but a local bakery used to make some up for hot-cross buns, and they were very nice.

If you are planning to make mincemeat or a Christmas pudding, you may also have difficulty finding prepared suet. I've never found any in Edmonton. I get raw suet from the butcher and shred it myself.

I recommend making your own mincemeat. The shop bought stuff is awful in Canada.

Try a store that sells Caribbean products.

Thanks - I have the recipe in my good old Good Housing Cook Book but have always brought it in the UK - must remember next time we go back!

I have just found Suet today for the first time in the freezer at Safeway - last year I asked and was told it is a seasonal thing!

Great - will do

It's allspice you get from the Caribbean. Mixed spice is just what it says it is. You can make it by ...gasp... mixing spices - cinnamon, cloves, nutmeg, allspice etc.

thanks - i have the recipe, its just (or was in the UK) easier to buy it ready made - looks like i will be making it here!

And it is British, in the sense that it is traditionally used in British recipes, and as far as I know, not in any other cuisine.

I was in the same predicament last year. It's a spice mix unique to the UK, so you won't find it here. Who knew? I've tried looking and gave up. I guess you might find it in a British store, but it is likely to be old, old, old. When I was researching (googling) I found that pumpkin pie spice, is uncannily similar. The ratios might be slightly different to mixed spice, but I use it as a substitute. My little tin is the Club House brand, and the ingredients are (in order); cinnamon, ginger, nutmeg, allspice, cloves & sulphites.....hmmm gotta love those sulphites! You can of course make your own, but I have found pumpkin pie spice to be a half decent alternative.

PS: Mincemeat in jars is not all bad! I bought Presidents Choice brand last year and made mince pies with them, and it tasted great.

great, thanks for the info - I made some this morning (sans sulphites!) and it smelt about right - PM me if you want the receipe - it made loads but I think it will keep in an airtight jar for a while

A friend here just gave me a large jar of her homemade mincemeat. Lots of raisins, currents, apples, citrus peel, brown sugar, apple juice, spices and DEER MEAT Seems it's traditional in Nova Scotia

Wow - never made it with Deer Meat!!

Found some - new shop in Inglewood (Silk Road) sells it.