What should I put in a christmas hamper for exiled Aussies in Surrey and Aberdeen? I’m looking for things that wouldn’t easily be avaliable in the average British supermarket (Except that I may include a small jar of Vegemite anyway. Some things just have to be…)
So far my list is:
Cherry Ripes
Tim Tams
Macadamia Nuts
Pannetone (not strictly an Aussie foodstuff, but pretty popular in Melbourne at the moment and I’m sure way too European for an Aberdonian supermarket)
What else do I want? I’m slightly disturbed by the lack of savoury things on my list … my family arent big sweet-eaters
Most of those goods are common now. I have Berocca and Tim-Tams in the kitchen at the moment. It depends on location; they may be hard to get in Aberdeen, but easy in London, thanks to places like this. At least one of the major supermarket chains is offering Australian biscuits, and my local Sainsbury’s has had an Australian section for some time now.
Ive no idea about the availability of the other stuff you mentioned (or even what they are), but you can get Macadamia Nuts and Pannetone in Aberdeen without much hassle, were not that uncultured up here :D.
I think you have some funny ideas about Aberdeen. I can think of 4 italian delis in the city centre, and Pannetone is sold in pretty much any decent sized supermarket. Macadamia nuts wouldn’t be a problem either.
Cherry ripes and tim tams are a good idea. If you’re looking for savories, how about Cheezels, or Parkers Pretzels? Oh, and the obvious one is vegemite, which is often hard to find.
Anzacs! :smack: and lamingtons! :smack: (adds to list)
Violet Crumbles are a good idea in general (and … the same as Crunchie??! Why, that’s like saying that Vegemite and Marmite are the same! Or Milo and Ovaltine! The true connoisseur knows better). But I suspect my parents may consider them sickly sugary spawn of the devil. No taste
I think I may be filling out my foodbasket with local wines and pretentious tourist-trap foods featuring kangaroo pate and gumleaves…
It may to worth canvassing our UK Dopers to avoid sending over Aussie wine that’s already exported to the UK (i.e. your Lindemans, Jacob’s (butt) Crack, Wolf Blass, Penfolds, etc.) You may have to resort to a smaller winery.
Now, nicecupofteaandasitdown.com, has UK-specific info on Arnott’s Gaiety and Tim Tam biscuits here, and ANZAC biscuits (they are actually cookie-ish, but if you calling them ANZAC Cookies is the last capital offence in Australia) here.
Trouble is, most of the savoury stuff (meat pies etc) is perishable.
dney recently and had a trawl round looking for authentic Aussie food stuffs to take back to the guys in the office.
I ended up buying a fair few sweets and biscuits, many of which were simliar to stuff we have here, but it was interesting seeing the subtle differences in the Cadbury products, for example.
However, the one item that we had never tasted the like of before, and er lasted far longer than sweets usually do around here, were Lifesavers Musk.
What next? “Polo Sport” cordial ? “Chanel no 5” flavour jelly beans?
Yes I know we have rose and violet creams and Parma Violets, but we shouldn’t.
