mommylawyer Posted July 10, 2013 Share Posted July 10, 2013 I have an online friend who lives in Australia. I'd like to send her some "uniquely American" items - candies, chocolate, maybe a magazine, a toy or two for her kids, etc. - but I'm not sure what is already available in Australia. I don't want to get something she can easily purchase. Any suggestions? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
mommylawyer Posted July 10, 2013 Author Share Posted July 10, 2013 By the way, I know about the quarantine. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Rosie_0801 Posted July 10, 2013 Share Posted July 10, 2013 It's hard to say. American lollies and such are becoming more readily available, so unless she lives out woop woop (not in a city) she may have tried many. Chocolate is always a good thing though, in my opinion. :p Postcards and maps to put on the wall are good too. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Word Nerd Posted July 10, 2013 Share Posted July 10, 2013 They don't make s'mores there. At least they didn't when I lived there. I went on a camping trip with a big group, and no one knew what I was talking about. Just browsing on Google, it doesn't look like they're common there, anyway. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Rosie_0801 Posted July 10, 2013 Share Posted July 10, 2013 Nup, they're not. We eat our marshmallows right off the stick. :) Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Um_2_4 Posted July 10, 2013 Share Posted July 10, 2013 I sent a bunch of candy to france for nieces/nephews. I looked for local items/specialties. But do remeber the heat right now. I sent ghiraldi (sp?) choc(made in CA), some brach's candies they might never have seen, see's choc(another local place) and one of those enormous hershey bars. Does your area have a local speciality? Taffy or the like? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Starr Posted July 10, 2013 Share Posted July 10, 2013 Maple sugar candy? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Rosie_0801 Posted July 10, 2013 Share Posted July 10, 2013 Maple sugar candy?I've only ever seen that once, but I was too broke to buy any. :( So that is a good idea. :) Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
wingedradical Posted July 10, 2013 Share Posted July 10, 2013 Many years ago, a friend in Perth wanted me to send her Kit Kats and Skittles because she'd heard of them and never eaten them. It's been a while, though, so they might have them now. I've been to Australia a couple of times and going into a candy store or convenience store wasn't much different than here except the candy stores always had Turkish Delight. I happily tried it with great anticipation (being a Narnia fan) only to discover that the White Witch wouldn't have gotten me that way. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Rosie_0801 Posted July 10, 2013 Share Posted July 10, 2013 I can't remember when we didn't have kit kats and skittles. Those Western Australians must be so backward. :p (She says, because it is almost inevitable one or two will read this. :D ) Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Word Nerd Posted July 10, 2013 Share Posted July 10, 2013 You could send some Smarties--which are completely different in the US than in Australia. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Rosie_0801 Posted July 10, 2013 Share Posted July 10, 2013 You could send some Smarties--which are completely different in the US than in Australia. Are they hard sherbet type things? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
JeneralMom Posted July 10, 2013 Share Posted July 10, 2013 Yup we have skittles, Kit Kat, Starburst, etc. here in WA ;) My dh says the Mars bars are different here (i'm allergic to choc so I don't know). So that might be fun to send for comparison. They are really strict on fruit, nuts, seeds, wood, animal fur/skins, and honey here in WA - can't even come in from other states. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
sewingmama Posted July 10, 2013 Share Posted July 10, 2013 Twizzlers.....do you have those or are they Canadian only. I love those things. We have a few shops selling American candy now ( that hardly anyone buys after tasting it once because our candy is much better) :) My kids ask for the rainbow goldfish crackers when my mum sends stuff over although I think they are vile. Junk cereal might be good...we don't have any of your cereals and the kids might think they are fun. We wouldn't eat them for breakfast though....I've never eaten anything so loaded with sugar in my life...but the kids would like the novelty and eat them as a treat. Especially the ones with the little marshmallows in them. Oh yeah...marshmallows...those big giant huge ones. We don't have ones like that and they actually taste better then the ones we have. I wouldn't send any Hershey's...most Australians can't stand it...it tastes like low quality chocolate to us. I don't know how people can eat that stuff for a treat. It's nasty and we can get it here anyway. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Melissa in Australia Posted July 10, 2013 Share Posted July 10, 2013 we don't have OHenry bars here. though I am not sure if they are a Canada only thing or not. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
mumto2 Posted July 10, 2013 Share Posted July 10, 2013 People in the UK really like Lucky Charms and Captain Crunch as "American Presents" but stores selling them are opening all over this year. Reeses peanut butter cups and Butterscotch chips are a curiosity too. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
JeneralMom Posted July 10, 2013 Share Posted July 10, 2013 Oh butterscotch chips....how i miss those. Can't make my oatmeal butterscotch cookies Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Rosie_0801 Posted July 10, 2013 Share Posted July 10, 2013 Oh yeah...marshmallows...those big giant huge ones. We don't have ones like that and they actually taste better then the ones we have. How big can marshmellows be? Mum used to buy huge ones, at least double the size of the normal ones at Franklins. Way back in the day... Reeses peanut butter cups and Butterscotch chips are a curiosity too. Butterscotch chips sound civilised, but it is beyond me why anyone eats those Reeses peanut butter cups. I wouldn't believe anyone liked them if I hadn't heard personal testimonies! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Melissa in Australia Posted July 10, 2013 Share Posted July 10, 2013 :lol: Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Melissa in Australia Posted July 10, 2013 Share Posted July 10, 2013 I tried the really big American marshmallows that Aldi had last week for American week. I thought they tasted awful. Sort of a cross between furniture foam and sponge. Dh reckons the Australian ones taste like Candies ( lollies) I tell him that is what they are. :001_cool: Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Laura Corin Posted July 10, 2013 Share Posted July 10, 2013 I tried the really big American marshmallows that Aldi had last week for American week. I thought they tasted awful. Sort of a cross between furniture foam and sponge. Dh reckons the Australian ones taste like Candies ( lollies) I tell him that is what they are. :001_cool: We had the Aldi marshmallows too. They tasted okay toasted, but raw they were a lot sweeter than the ones we get here normally - in addition to the sweetness in the marshmallow, there was a sugared texture on the outside. I've no idea if this is the norm in America or if this is just what Aldi came up with. L Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
mommylawyer Posted July 10, 2013 Author Share Posted July 10, 2013 Well, thank you all very much! You've given me some great ideas! If you think of anything else (even non-food things) that would be great! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Word Nerd Posted July 10, 2013 Share Posted July 10, 2013 Are they hard sherbet type things? Yes, they're candy wafers that are very sweet and kind of chalky. http://www.smarties.com/product/smarties/ I'd much rather have Australian Smarties! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Deee Posted July 10, 2013 Share Posted July 10, 2013 Peanut butter M&Ms . Yummy, and outrageously expensive and hard to find here. Maple syrup is really expensive (we have a fake flavoured syrup for those too tight to pay for the good stuff). And maple sugar is almost unheard of. I love it but its VERY sweet. D Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Hunter's Moon Posted July 10, 2013 Share Posted July 10, 2013 Are peanut butter and Nutella the same texture there? How about Fluff? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Karen in CO Posted July 10, 2013 Share Posted July 10, 2013 What about Legos for the kids. I don't know about Australia, but my ds always takes legos back to Japan for his students because we have many here that are either unavailable there or hugely expensive. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Rosie_0801 Posted July 10, 2013 Share Posted July 10, 2013 Yes, they're candy wafers that are very sweet and kind of chalky. http://www.smarties.com/product/smarties/ We have those things. I guess they're not popular because I don't know what we call them! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Laura Corin Posted July 10, 2013 Share Posted July 10, 2013 We have those things. I guess they're not popular because I don't know what we call them! I think they might be called Fizzers in the UK. L Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
kiwik Posted July 10, 2013 Share Posted July 10, 2013 I don't know a huge number of things we can't get anymore (I am in NZ no Australia but we are usually behind). It used to be when I was reading American fiction there were heaps of things I didn't recognise now it is only over the counter medicines which aren't really appropriate. I was looking at snap circuits the other day and they are much cheaper here. Eta. From my experiences working with Americans tastes regarding lollies are quite different. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Laura Corin Posted July 10, 2013 Share Posted July 10, 2013 I'd go with books, postcards, etc. Maybe a children's book about American holidays with some history included; and a book about (for example) American quilts for the mum. L Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
sewingmama Posted July 11, 2013 Share Posted July 11, 2013 we don't have OHenry bars here. though I am not sure if they are a Canada only thing or not. Yes we do...I've seen them at the dollar stores. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
sewingmama Posted July 11, 2013 Share Posted July 11, 2013 We have those things. I guess they're not popular because I don't know what we call them! They are popular with my kids ...they are called Fizzers Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
amy58103 Posted July 11, 2013 Share Posted July 11, 2013 How about trying to think of things that are original to your region of the country, even if they now distribute internationally. For me that would mean: Tastykakes from Philadelphia Salt Water Taffy from the Jersey Shore Pretzels from Pennsylvania Dutch Campbell's Tomato Soup from Camden (with Pepperidge Farms Goldfish and/or instructions on how to make a grilled-cheese sandwich) Hershey's Kisses from Central PA Apple Butter from a local Orchard Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Melissa in Australia Posted July 12, 2013 Share Posted July 12, 2013 How about trying to think of things that are original to your region of the country, even if they now distribute internationally. For me that would mean: Tastykakes from Philadelphia Salt Water Taffy from the Jersey Shore Pretzels from Pennsylvania Dutch Campbell's Tomato Soup from Camden (with Pepperidge Farms Goldfish and/or instructions on how to make a grilled-cheese sandwich) Hershey's Kisses from Central PA Apple Butter from a local Orchard Careful sending some of these things. Non-commercial foods like apple butter will be seized by customs. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
awisha. Posted July 12, 2013 Share Posted July 12, 2013 If I was your package receiver I would love post cards, US state books, souvenir type things. And a couple of US coins. That sort of stuff interests me more than food things lol. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Rosie_0801 Posted July 12, 2013 Share Posted July 12, 2013 Anything about the native peoples of your area would be of interest, I would think. Our libraries tend not to stock much. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
DianeW88 Posted July 13, 2013 Share Posted July 13, 2013 Well, when I was there, nobody had heard of marshmallow fluff, so that was fun to send. They also aren't big on cinnamon gum, if I recall. Peanut butter products as well. Now, when my friends in Oz send me packages, I get Violet Crumbles, Cherry Ripes, Freddo frogs, vegemite (which my dh loves, but I can barely stomach), Milo, TimTams, thirst and musk Lifesavers, and musk sticks (which my oldest son loves...I can't eat perfume flavored food). I also have gotten fun keychains, t-shirts (skivvies), hats, pins, postcards, CDs of Aussie artists and folk music, etc. Now I'm craving a Cherry Ripe. Dang it. :D Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Grover Posted July 13, 2013 Share Posted July 13, 2013 I've always wondered just what a graham cracker is. And a goldfish cracker. And what you call biscuits do not look like what I call biscuits. And I like boxes filled with Laffy Taffy. My children are always very happy to receive American cereal (candy) for treats, and the gluten free snickerdoodles from trader joes were a huge hit. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
FLDebbie Posted July 13, 2013 Share Posted July 13, 2013 Violet crumbles. Yum! I loved those when I was in OZ years ago. Haven't thought of them in ages. For food items, I remember taking Jolly Ranchers and beignet mix. I took lots of non-food items too, but they were particular requests. For example, I took a ton of embroidery floss since it is so cheap here and freezer paper (they didn't have it there at the time). Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
wingedradical Posted July 13, 2013 Share Posted July 13, 2013 I can't remember when we didn't have kit kats and skittles. Those Western Australians must be so backward. :p (She says, because it is almost inevitable one or two will read this. :D ) Well, it was a long time ago. I'm 61 and I was younger then... However, upon reading your comment about W.A., I guess that you must be a Vic. :-} Been there, too. I love Australia and Australians. I considered immigrating there when I was young - but then I met my current husband. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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