# Any other unique British grocery products I should try? **URL:** \ **Category:** In My Humble Opinion\ **Created:** [June 5, 2007, 5:29pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/any-other-unique-british-grocery-products-i-should-try/406869 "2007-06-05T17:29:33Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 20\ **Page:** 3
**Author:** ![BrandonR](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/779978/32.png) [@BrandonR](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/BrandonR)\ **Post date:** [June 6, 2007, 5:58am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/any-other-unique-british-grocery-products-i-should-try/406869/41 "2007-06-06T05:58:15Z")
Thanks for all the speedy replies! I just placed my order of 44.85 GBP ($90 US!) and I’m awaiting my order, hoping the weather plans on cooperating as not to melt all my chocolate products. My order (in case anyone cares): Item Description Qty Weight Price Line Total Nesquik Banana Milkshake Mix 5 300g £2.29 £11.45 Mcvities Chocolate Hob Nobs Twin Pack 1 600g £2.95 £2.95 McVities Milk Choc Caramel Digestives 1 400g £1.55 £1.55 Colmans English Mustard 1 170g £1.44 £1.44 McVities Jaffa Cakes Tube 15PK 1 187g £1.59 £1.59 Wilkins Victoria Plum Conserve 1 340g £1.99 £1.99 HP Brown Sauce 1 454g £1.89 £1.89 ---
**Author:** ![jjimm](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/j/ba8739/32.png) [@jjimm](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/jjimm)\ **Post date:** [June 6, 2007, 6:16am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/any-other-unique-british-grocery-products-i-should-try/406869/42 "2007-06-06T06:16:01Z")
A care package to make an expatriate weep. Hope you enjoy it! ---
**Author:** ![don\_t\_ask](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/e68b1a/32.png) [@don\_t\_ask](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/don_t_ask)\ **Post date:** [June 6, 2007, 6:23am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/any-other-unique-british-grocery-products-i-should-try/406869/43 "2007-06-06T06:23:24Z")
The three British products I always have on hand are a bottle of Lea & Perrins, a jar of Roses (usually lime) and a Fray Bentos Steak and Kidney pie (when the craving comes I don’t want to have to go buy one). ---
**Author:** ![chowder](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/c/977dab/32.png) [@chowder](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/chowder)\ **Post date:** [June 6, 2007, 6:59am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/any-other-unique-british-grocery-products-i-should-try/406869/44 "2007-06-06T06:59:35Z")
For the Colmans English mustard lovers…I can recommend their Horseradish mustard. Holy crap that stuff is hot, hot, hot…but bloody good spread on a toasted cheese sarnie ---
**Author:** ![Mangetout](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/mangetout/32/19_2.png) [@Mangetout](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Mangetout)\ **Post date:** [June 6, 2007, 9:30am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/any-other-unique-british-grocery-products-i-should-try/406869/45 "2007-06-06T09:30:27Z")
[QUOTE=Szlater] Doesn’t Cadbury Schweppes own Green & Blacks now? [And the president (still) and founder Craig Sams is a pillock, a pseudoscience apologist and a friend of Gillian McKeith](http://www.badscience.net/?p=398#more-398) [/QUOTE] Oh.. Bugger. Still the chocolate was good - I expect Cadbury’s will soon put a stop to that. ---
**Author:** ![Pushkin](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/p/ee59a6/32.png) [@Pushkin](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Pushkin)\ **Post date:** [June 6, 2007, 10:23am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/any-other-unique-british-grocery-products-i-should-try/406869/46 "2007-06-06T10:23:09Z")
[QUOTE=An Gadaí] Import your Cadbury’s chocolate from Ireland, it’s nicer tasting to my tastebuds. [/QUOTE] What’s up with that? You cross the border to buy your lotto tickets and you’re assaulted by an array of Cadbury’s products not available a kilometer back. Last time I was over, Ireland didn’t have the new Cadbury’s bars (long and chunky) there are lots of thinner rectangular bricks. ---
**Author:** ![Mangetout](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/mangetout/32/19_2.png) [@Mangetout](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Mangetout)\ **Post date:** [June 6, 2007, 10:28am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/any-other-unique-british-grocery-products-i-should-try/406869/47 "2007-06-06T10:28:02Z")
Yeah, Cadbury’s of Ireland is a distinct entity - I used to work on the Irish Ferries occasionally and I noticed lots of flat traditional bars in flavours not available in the UK - Rum & Butter, Mint Crisp, Rum & Raisin, ‘Tiffin’, etc. Some familiar products appeared under different brands too (‘Twirl’ is ‘Spira’ - or at least they’re very similar). Cadbury Ireland is a subsidiary, but AFAIK, run somewhat separately, with separate manufacturing too, I think. ---
**Author:** ![Cryptoderk](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/c/f4b2a3/32.png) [@Cryptoderk](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Cryptoderk)\ **Post date:** [June 6, 2007, 10:42am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/any-other-unique-british-grocery-products-i-should-try/406869/48 "2007-06-06T10:42:15Z")
By the way… what about proper real ale or cider? ---
**Author:** ![chowder](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/c/977dab/32.png) [@chowder](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/chowder)\ **Post date:** [June 6, 2007, 10:53am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/any-other-unique-british-grocery-products-i-should-try/406869/49 "2007-06-06T10:53:58Z")
Kit-Kat chocky bars…the big fuck off chunky ones…yummy ---
**Author:** ![Gala\_Matrix\_Fire](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/g/4da419/32.png) [@Gala\_Matrix\_Fire](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Gala_Matrix_Fire)\ **Post date:** [June 6, 2007, 1:23pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/any-other-unique-british-grocery-products-i-should-try/406869/50 "2007-06-06T13:23:17Z")
How about Caley’s chocolates? Are they good? If so, where can I get some? ---
**Author:** ![Rayne\_Man](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/r/df705f/32.png) [@Rayne\_Man](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Rayne_Man)\ **Post date:** [June 6, 2007, 1:42pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/any-other-unique-british-grocery-products-i-should-try/406869/51 "2007-06-06T13:42:01Z")
[QUOTE=bluethree] How about Caley’s chocolates? Are they good? If so, where can I get some? [/QUOTE] I thought the original Caley’s chocolate (made in Norwich) disappeared years ago. The factory was taken over by Rowtrees who made Kit-Kat bars there, but it closed a few years ago. I do have a sneaking suspicion that somebody did revive the brand name , but I have never seen it for sale. ---
**Author:** ![ralph124c](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/r/8797f3/32.png) [@ralph124c](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/ralph124c)\ **Post date:** [June 6, 2007, 1:53pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/any-other-unique-british-grocery-products-i-should-try/406869/52 "2007-06-06T13:53:56Z")
Is this stuff meant for human consumption? As far as i know, it is odorless, flavorless, white stuff-is it some kind of industrial lubricant? ---
**Author:** ![Mangetout](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/mangetout/32/19_2.png) [@Mangetout](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Mangetout)\ **Post date:** [June 6, 2007, 1:55pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/any-other-unique-british-grocery-products-i-should-try/406869/53 "2007-06-06T13:55:38Z")
It’s used for killing birds, hence the name. ---
**Author:** ![Mangetout](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/mangetout/32/19_2.png) [@Mangetout](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Mangetout)\ **Post date:** [June 6, 2007, 1:57pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/any-other-unique-british-grocery-products-i-should-try/406869/54 "2007-06-06T13:57:13Z")
[QUOTE=Rayne Man] I thought the original Caley’s chocolate (made in Norwich) disappeared years ago. The factory was taken over by Rowtrees who made Kit-Kat bars there, but it closed a few years ago. I do have a sneaking suspicion that somebody did revive the brand name , but I have never seen it for sale. [/QUOTE] [http://www.caleys.com](http://www.caleys.com) ---
**Author:** ![Rayne\_Man](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/r/df705f/32.png) [@Rayne\_Man](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Rayne_Man)\ **Post date:** [June 6, 2007, 2:04pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/any-other-unique-british-grocery-products-i-should-try/406869/55 "2007-06-06T14:04:03Z")
[QUOTE=Mangetout] [http://www.caleys.com](http://www.caleys.com) [/QUOTE] As I thought, the name has been revived. But they are bending the truth a bit by saying “since 1883”. As I said, the original company was taken over by Rowntree Mackintosh and the name disappeared for quite a few years. So it’s not the original company. ---
**Author:** ![si\_blakely](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/d9b06d/32.png) [@si\_blakely](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/si_blakely)\ **Post date:** [June 6, 2007, 2:28pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/any-other-unique-british-grocery-products-i-should-try/406869/56 "2007-06-06T14:28:24Z")
[QUOTE=Mangetout] Yeah, Cadbury’s of Ireland is a distinct entity - I used to work on the Irish Ferries occasionally and I noticed lots of flat traditional bars in flavours not available in the UK - Rum & Butter, Mint Crisp, Rum & Raisin, ‘Tiffin’, etc. Some familiar products appeared under different brands too (‘Twirl’ is ‘Spira’ - or at least they’re very similar). Cadbury Ireland is a subsidiary, but AFAIK, run somewhat separately, with separate manufacturing too, I think. [/QUOTE] Cadburys from NZ is heaps nicer than the UK stuff, and they have a much wider range of bars than the UK. Their factory tour is better than the UK one, too. Si ---
**Author:** ![Wee\_Bairn](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/w/90db22/32.png) [@Wee\_Bairn](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Wee_Bairn)\ **Post date:** [June 6, 2007, 2:36pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/any-other-unique-british-grocery-products-i-should-try/406869/57 "2007-06-06T14:36:59Z")
What about Heinz baked beans? ---
**Author:** ![Mangetout](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/mangetout/32/19_2.png) [@Mangetout](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Mangetout)\ **Post date:** [June 6, 2007, 2:42pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/any-other-unique-british-grocery-products-i-should-try/406869/58 "2007-06-06T14:42:36Z")
[QUOTE=Rayne Man] As I thought, the name has been revived. But they are bending the truth a bit by saying “since 1883”. As I said, the original company was taken over by Rowntree Mackintosh and the name disappeared for quite a few years. So it’s not the original company. [/QUOTE] It looks like there has been some kind of corporate continuity, but perhaps only on paper - according to [this Wiki article](http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Norwich)… > [@](#): > > Caley’s was acquired by Mackintosh in the 1930s. It merged with Rowntree’s in 1969 to become Rowntree-Mackintosh; it finally was bought by Nestlé and closed down in 1996 with all operations moved to York, ending a 120-year association with Norwich. The factory existed on the site of what is now the Chapelfield development. Caley’s chocolate has since made a reappearance as a brand, and is still produced in Norwich. So it sounds like a revival of the brand name and location, but not the factory itself - whether the recipes have survived the transition is unclear. ---
**Author:** ![Pushkin](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/p/ee59a6/32.png) [@Pushkin](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Pushkin)\ **Post date:** [June 6, 2007, 3:18pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/any-other-unique-british-grocery-products-i-should-try/406869/59 "2007-06-06T15:18:18Z")
[QUOTE=Mangetout] I noticed lots of flat traditional bars in flavours not available in the UK - Rum & Butter, Mint Crisp, Rum & Raisin, ‘Tiffin’, etc [/QUOTE] Lol, I remember the name Tiffin and the mint crisp (there’s a golden crisp too IIRC.) Ireland also seems to have a tonne of coconut based biscuits, from what I remember of my grandparents’ kitchen. ---
**Author:** ![Lynne\_kilii](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/l/d26b3c/32.png) [@Lynne\_kilii](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Lynne_kilii)\ **Post date:** [June 6, 2007, 3:52pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/any-other-unique-british-grocery-products-i-should-try/406869/60 "2007-06-06T15:52:15Z")
[QUOTE=Telperien] I thought I hated dark chocolate because all I’d had was Hershey dark chocolate. Not so–other kinds are fine. Hershey is now making these sort of fancy high-percentage cacao chocolate bars which might be better but I haven’t tried them yet. [/QUOTE] I don’t mind Hershey’s dark chocolate, and I like dark chocolate in general (won’t eat milk chocolate straight anymore). What I do know is that I tried one of the “fancy high percentage cocao chocolate bars” and it was awful. I guess YMMV, but I just wanted to warn you. [Previous page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/any-other-unique-british-grocery-products-i-should-try/406869.md?page=2) [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/any-other-unique-british-grocery-products-i-should-try/406869.md?page=4)