Octang Frye

Parental units flying from UK on Christmas Day. I'd like to ask them to bring a couple of Christmas puddings. Anyone know if they will be allowed through by US Customs?

Thanks.

Mary Christmas to you all

Celsius

There's not usually any meat product in a Christmas pudding is there? If so, there shouldn't be a problem. If there's any coins in the puddings, they may set off metal detectors...

Jerseygirl

I've brought one through many times. I normally stick it in the suitcase and just put 'foodstuff and candy' on the customs form to cover all the goodies I bring back from the UK. Of course I don't bring in meat, cheese, fruit etc.

jen_andreson

Should be fine--we used to bring them with us when we lived in the UK and came here for the holidays. Always tucked them in a case with the other treats we brought with us. When we visit the UK we regularly bring back half of a case packed with goodies.

Octang Frye

Lovely. Thanks for the replies. Going to edjermercate these Merkins on brandy butter and mince pies.

(I was given an American version of a mince pie. It was about the size of a Chipotle burrito, and had real meat in it. I almost tossed my cookies on the spot.)

franc11s

Most foods are allowed into the USA except uncooked foods (meats and veggies and fruit)..

Everytime I come back from the UK I have a couple of good sized cardboard boxes checked into the hold full of UK food goodies. Also, if it's sold in the USA (British food supermarkets), it means you can bring it in personally.

Jerseygirl

I saw recipes last week for mince pies....containing beef, apple, raisins etc. I think there must be some confusion between mincemeat and minced meat.

Bob

it's usually venison....only philistines would use beef

but anyway, it's surprisingly good if made properly....but not the same as the fruit goop

jen_andreson

I agree. Someone at work asked me if my mince pies were 'the fruit ones or the meat ones'. She was in need of a 'fruit one/no meat' recipe.

genteel_old_tosser64

Just bought some Walkers mince pies from World Market they tasted like shit I threw them away best to make your own

Jerseygirl

I've got some...taste OK warm with cream.

genteel_old_tosser64

actually they contain meat products aka suet
look up the ingredients

genteel_old_tosser64

? where was that I make them all the time no meat only the suet part rest fruit etc

Lothianlad

The traditional British Christmas pudding can vary slightly with the ingredients but basically they contain the same basic stuff more or less. Tesco and M&S are doing some great ones this year with loads of rum, brandy and grand marnier and stuff, but this is the basic recipe:

http://www.britainexpress.com/articl...as-pudding.htm

They all contain suet but you can get both beef suet or vegetable suet.

jen_andreson

I've got the ingredients--make my own every year. This woman I work with had a family recipe like this one using actual meat (4 lb meat and 2 lb suet), and she doesn't care for it.

http://www.ehow.com/how_7000_make-mincemeat-pie.html

She heard me speaking to someone else about mince pies and then asked me the 'meat or no meat' question, and I gave her my recipe...after about 8 of us spent 30 minutes discussing mincemeat (is it meat, meat or no meat, veggie options, what is suet, etc).