What English stuff do Americans like?

[mrsminniemouse]

Hi! At WDW next month we will be meeting up with a couple of friends from New Jersey. We met them online but have since met in real life twice, once in NYC and once in WDW. They are wonderful people and we cannot wait to meet again to share our love of Disney.

They are very generous and send our DD great toys and clothes from Macys and their travels to WDW and DL. They send great things at CHristmas and on her birthday. They have even sent Goldfish crackers as they know we have trouble getting them here and DD loves them!

I like to return their generosity and take gifts when we meet them, I have taken Cadburys choc, English tea, biscuits and sweets. I have bought gifts from Harrods at the airport too. This time I have a Lilliput Lane English cottage ornament but am at a loss as to what else to buy.

Anyone got any idea which English products are desirable to Americans?

Like us, they are DVC members so if all else fails I could order a DVC themed gift from Disney florist from their room but I would rather take something 'English'

Thanks so much,
Mandy

 

[jen_uk]

Marmite?

 

[Queenie]

Marmite?

That's exactly what I was gonna say!!!

 

[Rex Rules]

I like Lemon Curd and Clotted Cream that I was able to get at a shop in Florida. Yum!

 

[jen_uk]

How about Xmas crackers and Xmas pudding, they dont have them over there so you could share some English traditions with them??

 

[mrsminniemouse]

I like Lemon Curd and Clotted Cream that I was able to get at a shop in Florida. Yum!

Lemon curd! That's a good idea. Marmite- yuck, imagine if it broke in your case!

THanks, keep 'em coming!

Mandy

 

[Rex Rules]

Lemon curd is one of those things that I would eat even on a cardboard box.

Hollandaise is my other favorite.

 

[Pootle]

Both of my suggestions are Scottish rather than English. Big tin of M & S shortbread or Caithness glass paperweight. Bassetts Jelly Babies have also proved popular as well as lemon curd. I'm looking forward to others' ideas too since I always have this dilemma having a few American friends. Oh and I once took a big tin of Uncle Joe's mintballs (made in Wigan) - along with a copy of the words to Mike Harding's song about them

 

[Booknut]

Sorry to be the bearer of bad news but you might have trouble getting Christmas crackers past customs. I couldn't even take them to Portugal! I had to give them to a nice Indian family at Heathrow who was dropping off their daughter, they were very pleased

I'm originally from Canada and grew up loving all things English. I would have loved any of the following (and still do!):

Books on Great Britain, preferably with lots of pics.
Traditional jams/teas etc. Especially the ones with old fashioned labels.
Perhaps a very good model of a double decker bus (corny but the Routemasters are fab!).
Something from one of the big museums (perhaps a print/poster).
Anything from M&S (don't ask!)

I agree with the lemon curd, again, not sure about customs but its so lovely

Good luck

 

[wicket2005]

Rock from the seaside with their names in. Don't you have to be careful with what food stuff you take into the USA?

Crisps in the assorted flavours we can buy other than the plain and barbecue ones you get over there.

Dandelion and burdock or cream of soda if that is the right name, green fizzy drink.

English fruit wine, Merrydown make some nice English wines.

DS16 just suggested something to do with castles because he thinks Americans like castles.

 

[Ash aka sky]

I moved to the US from the UK and here are a few things that I have found americans love:

This one would be difficult for you to do... but my american family (my hubby espically) loves trifle!!!
Scones (you can buy scone mix) they have 'biscuits' here but they are nothing like fruit scones... oh with english jam of course.
Jammie Dodger biscuits.
My hubby absolutely loves Bassetts Licorice Allsorts.
Another one that is difficult/weird... Yorkshire puds.
I no this s not english but they are easier to get there than here and kids love them... Haribo jelly sweets.
Funsize chocolate bars always go down a treat at work.

Ash

 

[Ash aka sky]

Rock from the seaside with their names in. Don't you have to be careful with what food stuff you take into the USA?

Basically the only problem is with anything that contains meat, fresh dairy products and fresh fruit and veg.

Ash

 

[Ash aka sky]

Oh forgot to mention... if your flying out of heathrow stop in at the Harrods duty free shop and buy them something with the Harrods name on... Harrods is something I am asked about quite often.

Ash

 

[DisneyDotty]

Oh yummy--clotted cream, lemon curd and scones. Mmmmm!

 

[mrsminniemouse]

Wow! Thanks for all the GREAT ideas. I cannot wait to go shopping now to get some English stuff! Thanks!

I know they loved Jammie Dodgers, Jaffa Cakes and Twinings tea last time.

Mandy

 

[Mr-D]

I always thought the one thing they love is our accent. How about a CD with all our different dialects on

D

 

[wendym]

You mentioned your daughter loved goldfish crackers - well our Tesco is selling them now except they are called finz but they are the exact same thing! May be worth checking for them.
As for gifts, we have given quaichs (loving cup), whisky and calendars always go down well.
Wendy

 

[daisax]

They have even sent Goldfish crackers as they know we have trouble getting them here and DD loves them!​

Ha! I was just in the grocery store last night and there's a new kind of Goldfish -- looks like regular, but turns your mouth green. Definitely something kids would like Might be a temporary thing, so you might ask your friend to grab some while it lasts. A few years ago that was a fad with cookies -- they'd turn your milk blue, etc. I thought it was over with, but I suppose some things never wear out their welcome when it comes to children!

I second the shortbread suggestion, though I realize it's not English. Tea would be great for tea drinkers, though you'd have to provide one of those tea ball things and instructions how to make proper tea!

 

[mrsminniemouse]

Thanks for the info re Goldfish crackers at Tesco. I did look before but never saw anything similar. Are these Finz in similar packaging? I can buy Goldfish crackers at an import shop at our local shopping centre (Lakeside in Essex) but they are very expensive. I will bring a few packets home from this trip to Orlando. The problem with Goldfish crackers is that they taste nice but boy do those crackers smell horrid! Like fish food!


Our friends recently sent colourful Goldfish crackers. DD 2 loves telling me what colours they are (red, green, orange etc) I haven'y noticed if they make your mouth change colour. I will look out for that!

Thanks everyone for your interesting replies!

Mandy

 

[Amyrlin]

When my daughter goes over she has been asked to takew some squash with her as well as chocolate and tea.