Typically British things? Ideas?
 

Hi
I am putting together a small gift for a couple of Canadian friends and I wanted to get a few typically British items for them. So far I have come up with shortbread, mince pies, christmas cake, crumpets and pork pie.

Do any of you have any other ideas that I can include? Are there any typically British drinks/chocolates you can think of?

Re: Typically British things? Ideas?
 

cocoa, ale & cider

Re: Typically British things? Ideas?
 

Marmite.

Re: Typically British things? Ideas?
 

PG Tips
Mushy Peas
Lard
Fish'n'chips
Balti Pies
Powdered gravy
Frozen TV dinners
Frozen oven chips
Hideous tasting ground coffee made of floor sweepings and snot
:eek:

Rich.

Re: Typically British things? Ideas?
 

Proper piccallili; Branston pickle; Marmite; real bread; Horlicks; Ovaltine; a couple of bags of Barker & Dobson sweets - any kind, they're all good; I don't s'pose chip shop chips would keep, would they.....nah, you'd eat them before you packed them........why is it we always think of food! :D

Re: Typically British things? Ideas?
 

Not meaning to rain on your parade but Shortbread can be purchased here as can Mincemeat to make mince pies, Fruit cake is also readily available although for some reason most North Americans wouldn't thank you for it. Crumpets also readily available.

Now Pork Pies they are a different matter. I've seen and tasted them on Vancouver Island available at the Coombs Market just west of Parksville. They were great and very much enjoyed. Haven't seen them anywhere else. :( Mind given the fat content it's a good thing I haven't. :rolleyes:

Cheers
Steve

Re: Typically British things? Ideas?
 

Badly cooked vegetables.
Sweet corn (in anything and everything).
Stale sandwiches in wasteful plastic containers.
Soggy, limp, overfatty chips.
Offal.
Ready meals.
Pot Noodles.
Salad cream.
Hula Hoops.
Quorn.

Re: Typically British things? Ideas?
 

...brawn, pigs trotters, chitlings, sheeps knackers, cow stomach, ox tails, etc.
Only eaten by rough northern types, natch.

Rich. [pukes]

Re: Typically British things? Ideas?
 

As are jellied eels, tripes, mussels and cockles.....pass me a brown bag someone....... :eek:

Re: Typically British things? Ideas?
 

Surely a Satanic culinary invention. Crushed dried powdered mixed regurgitated sawdust, anyone ? :confused: :mad:

Rich.

Re: Typically British things? Ideas?
 

I used to have a regular consumption of Black Pudding for my lunch in the 'Koffee Pot', when I worked in Edinburgh.

For those who aren't familiar with it, here is a snapshot.

http://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedi..._breakfast.jpg

Hungry Yet?

Re: Typically British things? Ideas?
 

Which recipe book is this from?
Put them all together and make a nice stew. :eek:

Re: Typically British things? Ideas?
 

I have to tell you, chocolate is not the same here. You can buy Cadbury's chocolate here - the same name - say fruit and nut - but it's totally different. I don't care for Canadian chocolate. To me its kind of gooey in your throat. But the same chocolate bar in England is much, much better. Once you have tasted English chocolate you won't like the Canadian stuff. People have discussed this many times on here and some are skeptical - but it really is true!

Re: Typically British things? Ideas?
 

Thanks everyone, your list of goodies help me out as we are moving to NS in Jan and I was going to put a box of goodies in with my shipment. Already had planned to take gravy granules, oxo cubes and English mustard and a good amount of chocolate ;)

As Nova Scotia seems more Scottish than Scotland, can somebody tell me if I can easily buy shortbread, oatcakes, pickled beetroot and porridge oats. Can I expect to be able to purchase a haggis for Burns Night (Jan 25th)?

Can you buy HP brown sauce in Canada? Any tips on anything else we take for granted over here but is not available in Canada would be gratefully received :D Thanks

Re: Typically British things? Ideas?
 

Rather a sweeping statement BUT in the main I would agree.