# What good stuff is not available in the US? **URL:** \ **Category:** In My Humble Opinion\ **Created:** [February 22, 2003, 6:56pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-good-stuff-is-not-available-in-the-us/156817 "2003-02-22T18:56:28Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 20\ **Page:** 5
**Author:** ![foostav](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/f/258eb7/32.png) [@foostav](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/foostav)\ **Post date:** [February 24, 2003, 1:23pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-good-stuff-is-not-available-in-the-us/156817/81 "2003-02-24T13:23:57Z")
Cuban cigars? ---
**Author:** ![Edward\_The\_Head](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/e/ce73a5/32.png) [@Edward\_The\_Head](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Edward_The_Head)\ **Post date:** [February 24, 2003, 1:38pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-good-stuff-is-not-available-in-the-us/156817/82 "2003-02-24T13:38:39Z")
> [@](#): > > \*Originally posted by moi \* > \*\*McVitties Milk Chocolate Hob Nobs > > We were able to get them at a local grocer’s just recently, but they’ve stopped carrying them. **Much** to my dismay. \*\* You could get these in the states? I love these things. I had a freind go over to Ireland in September and she brought me some back. I’m going in May and I’m going to bring even more back! There is a English shop in Frederick, MD, at least it was there last time I checked about a year ago, that sells candy bars from England including Aero bars. Or maybe I should just make a killing and bring some back and send them off to some dopers. 😃 ---
**Author:** ![Philster](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/p/13edae/32.png) [@Philster](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Philster)\ **Post date:** [February 24, 2003, 1:59pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-good-stuff-is-not-available-in-the-us/156817/83 "2003-02-24T13:59:24Z")
I always get a kick out of a certain complaints about the U.S.: cell phone service. This is a big country, with hundreds of metropolitan areas and a dazzling variety of localities. We have states (50 of them) that are the size of entire countries. Coast to Coast cell service is just a bit more of a challenge. ---
**Author:** ![Jervoise](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/j/d2c977/32.png) [@Jervoise](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Jervoise)\ **Post date:** [February 24, 2003, 2:01pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-good-stuff-is-not-available-in-the-us/156817/84 "2003-02-24T14:01:56Z")
> [@](#): > > \*Originally posted by Laughing Lagomorph \* > \*\*My next guess was going to be Foster, of Banannas Foster fame.😃 > > I love Australia. Great birding, everywhere you go. My wife and I honeymooned there, then went back five years later. We are due to go back in a couple more years. \*\* Out of curiosity, who or what is “Banannas Foster”? Also, what’s birding. I’m Australian, BTW. ---
**Author:** ![Adridne](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/ccd318/32.png) [@Adridne](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Adridne)\ **Post date:** [February 24, 2003, 2:48pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-good-stuff-is-not-available-in-the-us/156817/85 "2003-02-24T14:48:23Z")
Club soda. And I’m not talking about carbonated water. Real Club brand orange and lemon soda. I had a source for it when the boy was living in NYC, and he brought me 10 litres of orange when he came out here, but Michigan is a vast barren wasteland where Club is concerned. Cadbury products? No problem. I have a steady Crunchie bar supply in the local World Market. Aero bars, too. Now if I could just convince them to get Club… ---
**Author:** ![jjimm](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/j/ba8739/32.png) [@jjimm](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/jjimm)\ **Post date:** [February 24, 2003, 4:16pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-good-stuff-is-not-available-in-the-us/156817/86 "2003-02-24T16:16:27Z")
> [@](#): > > \*Originally posted by Philster \* > \*\*This is a big country, with hundreds of metropolitan areas and a dazzling variety of localities. We have states (50 of them) that are the size of entire countries. Coast to Coast cell service is just a bit more of a challenge. \*\* While I agree, there is also a lack of homogeneity in cellphone service in the US that is very different from other parts of the world. I.e. my Irish cellphone works perfectly across a dazzling variety of European and Asian localities that actually _are_ entire countries. ---
**Author:** ![Floater](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/f/dc4da7/32.png) [@Floater](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Floater)\ **Post date:** [February 24, 2003, 6:33pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-good-stuff-is-not-available-in-the-us/156817/87 "2003-02-24T18:33:06Z")
> [@](#): > > \*Originally posted by jjimm \* > **Boyo Jimboguy** , a Kinder Egg is this cool little German chocolate egg, with a plastic capsule inside it. In the capsule is usually a groovy plastic toy that you have to construct. Sorry, **jjimm** , but they’re Italian. (And I must say that I have had the misfortune of having to eat one once, only to find out that it tasted horrible). ---
**Author:** ![jjimm](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/j/ba8739/32.png) [@jjimm](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/jjimm)\ **Post date:** [February 24, 2003, 7:42pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-good-stuff-is-not-available-in-the-us/156817/88 "2003-02-24T19:42:09Z")
> [@](#): > > \*Originally posted by Floater \* > \*\*Sorry, **jjimm** , but they’re Italian. (And I must say that I have had the misfortune of having to eat one once, only to find out that it tasted horrible). \*\* Well I never - I always thought the “Kinder” was German. You learn a new thing every day. Personally I like the two-tone chocolate in them. Maybe you forgot to remove the toy before you ate yours? 😉 ---
**Author:** ![Binarydrone](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/3da27b/32.png) [@Binarydrone](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Binarydrone)\ **Post date:** [February 24, 2003, 7:53pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-good-stuff-is-not-available-in-the-us/156817/89 "2003-02-24T19:53:47Z")
> [@](#): > > \*Originally posted by Grelby \* > \*\*… > They also don’t seem to sell platanos up here. For those who don’t know, platanos are a starchier cousin of bananas - more of a vegetable than a fruit. Too bad they’re hard to find, juicy fried platanos are GODLY. I’m sure some hunting around could turn up… \*\* Where on earth are you living that they don’t sell Platanos? Hell, even when I lived in Vermont I could get Platanos. Mmmmm…Platanos. I like to slice them green (about 1 inch thick), deep fry them and them mash them flat and then fry them again. Salted and dipped in your favorite dippin’ sauce. ---
**Author:** ![Washte](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/w/dc4da7/32.png) [@Washte](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Washte)\ **Post date:** [February 24, 2003, 8:00pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-good-stuff-is-not-available-in-the-us/156817/90 "2003-02-24T20:00:14Z")
Are you referring to _plantains_? Platanos is the Spanish word for bananas. But yes, they are nice fried. ---
**Author:** ![Binarydrone](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/3da27b/32.png) [@Binarydrone](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Binarydrone)\ **Post date:** [February 24, 2003, 8:27pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-good-stuff-is-not-available-in-the-us/156817/91 "2003-02-24T20:27:05Z")
> [@](#): > > \*Originally posted by Washte \* > \*\*Are you referring to _plantains_? > > Platanos is the Spanish word for bananas. > > But yes, they are nice fried. \*\* \ Platanos is the Spanish word for Bananas in some regional dialects. For example, growing up in Puerto Rico, there were two distinct words for Plantain and Banana (specifically, Platano and Guineo). \ ---
**Author:** ![Tygr](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/t/df788c/32.png) [@Tygr](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Tygr)\ **Post date:** [February 24, 2003, 8:58pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-good-stuff-is-not-available-in-the-us/156817/92 "2003-02-24T20:58:37Z")
I swear, one of these days I’m gonna make a run to Canada and smuggle me back a decent-flushing toilet. _AND_ a showerhead that puts out more than 2.5 gal/minute. Not Cuban cigars. Not high-alcohol beer. I want plumbing supplies! [sub]razza-frazzanSTOO-pid water conservation regulations…[/sub] ---
**Author:** ![Tamex](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/t/ccd318/32.png) [@Tamex](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Tamex)\ **Post date:** [February 24, 2003, 9:12pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-good-stuff-is-not-available-in-the-us/156817/93 "2003-02-24T21:12:04Z")
> [@](#): > > \*Originally posted by GingerOfTheNorth \* > \*\*Red Rose tea \*\* You can get that in the US–in Minnesota, at least. In fact, I’m drinking it right now :). I’ve got a growing menagerie of little endangered animal figurines, too. ---
**Author:** ![CheapBastid](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/c/8baadc/32.png) [@CheapBastid](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/CheapBastid)\ **Post date:** [February 24, 2003, 9:18pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-good-stuff-is-not-available-in-the-us/156817/94 "2003-02-24T21:18:09Z")
> [@](#): > > \*Originally posted by foostav \* > \*\*Cuban cigars? \*\* Actually Cuban _ **anything** _. Cuban Cigars, Rum, and Coffee are a big loss. ---
**Author:** ![Grelby](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/g/a5b964/32.png) [@Grelby](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Grelby)\ **Post date:** [February 24, 2003, 10:37pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-good-stuff-is-not-available-in-the-us/156817/95 "2003-02-24T22:37:15Z")
**Washte** , all I can assume is that you are the victim of a misconception. Platano is the spanish word for, well, a plantain, I guess it’s called. Banana (where I was, at least) was just that - a banana. **Binarydrone** , like I said, I’m sure some hunting around could turn them up. They just aren’t mainstream enough to find in your little suburban supermarket. They are probably much easier to find than, oh, marmite for example. Hmmm, I wonder why? 😉 ---
**Author:** ![Grelby](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/g/a5b964/32.png) [@Grelby](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Grelby)\ **Post date:** [February 24, 2003, 10:39pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-good-stuff-is-not-available-in-the-us/156817/96 "2003-02-24T22:39:21Z")
Oh, don’t get me started on Cuban coffee, **CheapBastid**. Ye gods! I miss it deeply. And one I just thought of: guarapo (sugar cane juice) would be damn difficult, if not downright impossible to find here, unless you but the sugar cane and grind it yourself. Yum, fresh guarapo… ---
**Author:** ![Flymaster](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/f/c4cdca/32.png) [@Flymaster](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Flymaster)\ **Post date:** [February 24, 2003, 11:05pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-good-stuff-is-not-available-in-the-us/156817/97 "2003-02-24T23:05:38Z")
> [@](#): > > \*Originally posted by Tygr \* > \*\*Not high-alcohol beer. \*\* You can’t get high-alcohol beer? I’ve got a 6 pack of 9.8% alcohol beer in my fridge right now, brewed in PA and bought in NY. ---
**Author:** ![irishgirl](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/i/8edcca/32.png) [@irishgirl](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/irishgirl)\ **Post date:** [February 25, 2003, 12:46am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-good-stuff-is-not-available-in-the-us/156817/98 "2003-02-25T00:46:54Z")
Do you have Club Rock Shandy? yummy sweetness, i’m sure it’s not really made from oranges and lemons. Irn Bru. made in Scotland by (or is that from?) Girders. MARKS AND SPENCERS. because sometimes you can’t be arsed to cook, but you’re still a classy lady. Moro bars (Boost bars in the UK). your daily calorie intake handily packaged as chocolate, caramel and unidentified sticky things. Bulmer’s Cider, because it’s fun to drink in a field with your friends when you’re 15. ---
**Author:** ![Gyrate](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/gyrate/32/3588_2.png) [@Gyrate](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Gyrate)\ **Post date:** [February 25, 2003, 12:54am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-good-stuff-is-not-available-in-the-us/156817/99 "2003-02-25T00:54:03Z")
[The Clangers](http://www.clangers.co.uk/videos.htm) on video and DVD. PAL format and Region 2/4 only, I’m afraid. Ditto for a lot of the BBC’s output. ---
**Author:** ![Gyrate](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/gyrate/32/3588_2.png) [@Gyrate](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Gyrate)\ **Post date:** [February 25, 2003, 12:59am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-good-stuff-is-not-available-in-the-us/156817/100 "2003-02-25T00:59:12Z")
> [@](#): > > \*Originally posted by irishgirl \* > **Irn Bru. > made in Scotland by (or is that from?) Girders.** Look, dammit, I realize that Irn-Bru is the national drink of Scotland, but the stuff looks and tastes like concentrated unset orange Jello. Maybe it requires your tastebuds to have been numbed by excessive consumption of single malt first. > [@](#): > > **MARKS AND SPENCERS. > because sometimes you can’t be arsed to cook, but you’re still a classy lady.** Abso-frickin-lutely. I’ve also often been tempted to start a Pit thread cursing M&S for the yummyness of their Extremely Chocolately Orange Mini-Bites. Damn their chocolately goodness, Marks & Sparks!! [Previous page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-good-stuff-is-not-available-in-the-us/156817.md?page=4) [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-good-stuff-is-not-available-in-the-us/156817.md?page=6)