Expats may move overseas for love, lifestyle or work, but there’s one bag they must pack when they go off on their travels – and it’s not a suitcase.
Apparently the most missed of life’s little luxuries is a cup of tea.
Somehow, tea just does not taste the same abroad despite the easy availability of tea in just about every country in the world.
A fifth of British expats who took part in an online expat supermarket survey cited tea as part of home they could not replace in another country.
British Corner Shop compiled the figures.
Feeding the imagination
The web site is just one of a clutch that exports British branded foodstuffs to expats worldwide.
Other firms post out baby formula, Scottish pies and add-water beer mixes to recreate the taste of a pub pint.
“Our business operates on the premise that most expats believe they won’t miss the tastes and smells of food from home, but you would be surprised at the number who are homesick for British food,” said British Corner Shop managing director Mark Callaghan.
Besides tea, other British delicacies sorely missed by expats include cheese, bacon, sausages, meats and black pudding.
British chocolate is another much loved taste – along with the 6% with a longing for Marmite.
Biscuits, sauces, pickles, gravy and baked beans also rated in the research.
“The big surprise is that British favourite brand of baked beans did not get more votes and rate higher,” said Callaghan.
Not so full of beans
“Tea was the obvious winner though, because although tea is pretty much available everywhere, it’s the British blends expats can’t get and they do make a difference to taste.”
Surprisingly, another firm targeting the expat market is Red Hot Cuisine from Nottingham, which sends out curry recipe packs to Brits abroad.
Ordering a shop online can present problems in some countries.
Many nations restrict the import of foodstuffs – especially Australia. Most online stores for expats will be familiar with customs restrictions in many countries and will remove any offending items from an order and refund the cash automatically.
Cost is another factor. Air freighting in just five kilos of must-have food will cost at least £50 – and waiting for a cheaper land or sea freighted option could be too stressful for anyone with a pang for a British cuppa or a curry.
Weight can soon mount up for a few tins or jars of food plus safe packaging.
