The Best British Treats To Send In A Care Package

Dakota Murphey|July 12, 2018 4:50 am EST

Have you got loved ones dotted around the globe? Out of sight doesn't have to mean out of mind and sometimes it's nice to send them a parcel full of treats from home to remind them that you care. If there's a birthday, anniversary or holiday celebration coming up – or if you simply want to send a surprise gift, here are the best British treats to include.

Cadbury's Chocolate

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Rowntree Fruit Pastilles, Maynards Wine Gums and Percy Pigs

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If your recipient has a sweet tooth, chances are they're missing some other types of British confectionary. Rowntree was taken over by international conglomerate Nestlé in 1988 but finding Fruit Pastilles can still be tricky outside of the UK (they're known as 'Wonka Fruit Pastilles' in Australia and 'Frutips' in Canada).

Wine Gums don't seem to have spread outside of the Commonwealth countries either, so best put a bag of these in your care package, too, along with everyone's favourite porcine character from the British institution that is Marks and Spencer.

Monster Munch, NikNaks and other zingy crisps

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Lots of destinations have their own take on crisp flavours, but few countries offer the smorgasbord that we have here in the UK. Sure, there's delights like 'prawn cocktail' and 'roast chicken', but we can also enjoy lobster, tomato or haggis and black pepper, if the mood takes us.

It's not really surprising that one of the snacks that's most-missed by Brits abroad is pickled onion Monster Munch, followed by the lurid orange spiciness of NikNaks. Pop some in your care package to give your recipient a tangy taste of home.

Biscuits, biscuits and more biscuits

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Biscuits are quintessentially British. Bourbon biscuits, Hobnobs (with and without chocolate), chocolate fingers, digestives... see a full – and somewhat controversial – list here for more inspiration. Don't forget garibaldi biscuits and Jammie Dodgers, and shortbread and Jaffa Cakes both deserve honourable inclusions, too.

English Breakfast teabags from Twinings

Of course, there has to be something to dip those biscuits into!

Depending on where in the world they are, your loved one is probably struggling to find a proper cup of tea. Tea culture in Europe is minimal and it is virtually non-existent in the US, where they predominately enjoy coffee. Even in countries where tea does happen to be the prevailing beverage (like Egypt, India or China), it's not easy to find a nice cup of strongly-brewed English Breakfast.

Beverages

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Non-food items

Although your travelling friend or family member might be missing the taste of home, don't forget to include a few non-food items, too! Maybe there's a national holiday coming up? How about sending them some small traditional items, in case the country they're currently in doesn't celebrate in the same way?

If not, then a handwritten card, some photos of family and friends and some knick-knacks from a local shop (or somewhere fancier) are little things that ease any homesickness that your loved one might be feeling. You could always ask if there's anything that is less available or affordable where they're staying – things like British magazines, toiletries or cosmetics.

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Finally, here are a few tips when it comes to packing and sending your parcel:

• Check that you're not sending prohibited items inadvertently. For example, canned produce sent to France must clearly state its country of origin. For more information on sending cheap parcels to France see online parcel broker, RANDlogistics.

• Use a reputable courier company to ensure your goodies don't get lost or damaged in transit.

• Don't waste space. Your recipient is going to appreciate finding that every nook and cranny has been packed with treats more than they'll enjoy a pretty presentation.

• If anything has bulky packaging, get rid of it.

• Put edible items into a Ziploc bag to make sure they stay airtight during shipping.

• Don't bother wrapping presents – the chances are that a nice customs officer is going to have to rip it off as part of their job, anyway.

• Triple-check the address. You might want your package to be a surprise, but if you mis-write an international address, you may as well not send anything at all.

If there's anything you think we've missed off of this list, let us know!