Moving on from my last post on the food I still import from Australia, part of the reason that this list has reduced since I moved to Austria, is because I discovered that some of my essentials could be sourced more locally. So when I head to Italy or the UK, these are the top ten foods that fill my suitcase:
English muffins
As the name says, these are best sourced in England. They’re light and easy to stuff in your bag, and they don’t squish like bread does. Oh, and they freeze well.
Crumpets
I love me a good crumpet, and although I prefer the Aussie version, one thing crumpets are good at is going mouldy, so I don’t risk bringing these back from Oz. Luckily for me, I (at least used to) get to the UK once or twice a year on business trips and can indulge in a pack to bring home with me.
Tea
Call me unsophisticated, but my favourite tea is good ol’ Tetley. And Austrians do a lot of things really well, but black tea is not one of them. Although Brexit has put a bit of a dampener on things, we always make sure we have a good stock of Tetley in the house.
Raisin toast
Raisin toast is one of my all-time favourites to have for morning tea or as an after dinner snack with a cuppa. In Austria we do have Reindling and other breads that are similar, so I can get by, but if I’m in the UK and there’s space in my bag, I’m bringing one of those mini loafs back with me!
Milo
I think it’s more the nostalgia than the taste itself that makes me want to drink Milo, but I do enjoy it especially as an after dinner drink instead of hot chocolate. I included this one here even though I’ve never actually bought it from the UK, and I have recently been informed that it’s not the same. Turns out this one should have been included in my last blog!
Golden syrup
I’ve heard of ways you can create golden syrup substitutes, but nothing beats the real thing. Naturally the UK has plenty of it available, though it is both heavy and a liquid so it’s only something I can get when I travel with baggage.
Cadbury chocolate
Although I do find the Cadbury chocolate from the UK to be inferior to Australian Cadbury, that’s not to say I turn my nose up at it. Bringing back or being gifted a box of Milk Tray is a fun and tasty piece of nostalgia that I never pass up!
Salt & vinegar chips
I’ve never found a salt & vinegar chip here in Austria that has come close to my favourite… the humble Samboy crinkle cut. However transporting chips on long haul flights is difficult because they tend to blow up due to air pressure and can burst in transit. So I have found suitable versions in the UK for when I have space in my hand luggage.
Bran sticks
Don’t ask me why I need them in my muesli, I just do, ok! And I have never seen bran sticks in Austria, but luckily, a quick trip across the border to Italy and there they are in the cereal section. So whenever we head to the beach in summer, we stop by the supermarket on the way home.
Custard powder
In Austria they make vanilla sauce from powder, which is essentially a thin custard, so I can get my fix here without too much trouble. But for me the thickness and richness of custard is just something I can’t quite let go. I tried to make custard from scratch once, and yeah, it’s possible, but not something I’m going to partake in on a regular basis. So it’s custard powder all the way in my Austrian pantry.
an aussie in austria 