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Hey everyone! As I work in a shop that sells British food, I figured I would give some tips to help you wade into the waters of UK snacks and candy!
- Don’t be afraid to try something new.
- One thing I learned when I started working here is that the British prefer things to be savory more than sweet. You’ll be hard-pressed to find plain salty chips. Instead, you’ll find Prawn Cocktail or Roast Chicken. Don’t let that dissuade you! They’re actually very tasty.
- US Cadbury is NOT UK Cadbury.
- Yes, you can find Cadbury in the US in stores like Walmart, but these will not taste the same as the imported kind. Hershey’s bought the right to sell Cadbury eggs (particularly at Easter time with the Creme eggs), but the formula was changed to make them taste a little more like Hershey’s. And trust me, there is a major difference. Always, if you can, go with UK Cadbury. You’ll thank me later.
- You cannot buy the Kinder Surprise here in the US.
- Unless you’re very lucky and a store manages to get some Kinder Surprise in, you’ll most likely see the legalized Kinder Joy “eggs” instead. This is because the FDA does not allow the import of candy that has a toy inside. The Joy managed to get allowed because the toy is separate from the candy. The taste isn’t the same, either. I have tasted both, and the Surprise is much, much better.
- Learn to love sausage.
- One thing that I have noticed working here is that British people LOVE their sausage, also called “bangers.” A popular dish is called “bangers and mash,” which is basically sausages over mashed potatoes. Another popular dish is sausage casserole. But not all sausage is alike! Some have more bread crumbs than others, so each one tastes different. However, all sausage is good!
- Tea, tea, tea!
- Yes, the stereotype is true. British people love their tea. In England, they can get bags of over 1000 tea bags for around $5 in our money, and they will go through that in a few months! I’ve had people tell me they drink over 6 cups of tea a day, and that is the norm!
- Learn the lingo.
- Chips are not the chips we think of. Those are crisps. Chips are what we call french fries. Bangers, as I stated, are sausages. Pudding is a generic term for desserts. Biscuits are cookies, and digestives are just another type of biscuit. Crumpets are like our English muffins. And, of course, the “loo” is the bathroom, but I’m sure you already knew that.
- If you like spicy or Indian food, you’ll fit right in.
- A popular item in England is curry. They put it over everything! There are different levels of spiciness for those of us who cannot take the heat. The love of Indian cuisine is a remnant of when India was part of the British Empire (though my research shows it still as a Commonwealth).
- Fish is key!
- Another popular item is fish. Being an island, the sea is always an important staple of food. The British are not much different. They love cod, haddock, kipper, and prawns. That’s why Prawn Cocktail is a very, very popular crisp flavor. Then you have the famous “fish and chips,” which are a very cheap yet delicious dinner!
- If you get it wrong, you’re fine.
- English people, from my experience, have always been very nice. They’ll always be happy to politely correct you and help you learn the proper terms and customs. I’ve rarely met a rude Brit, and I think you’ll be hard-pressed to find one.
For anyone who wishes to see what kind of British Food there is or wants to put an image to the name, you can visit my workplace’s website at The British Pedlar!
bangers, british, British Pedlar, crisps, curry, fish, India, lingo, prawn cocktail, work
