Written by British Corner Shop

As Christmas draws closer, those who no longer live in the UK begin to hanker for aspects of the British Christmas that they grew up with. As expats go about their festive duties in wonderfully new cultures, memories of home-cooked traditional British Christmas grub feature in nostalgic reminiscing about Christmas’s of the past! Favourite confectionary boxes are missed, tasty treats for stockings aren’t easily found, and simple things like Christmas crackers and tasty stuffing are craved.


How do we know this? British Corner Shop is the world’s number one online supermarket for British expats, offering 11,000 products and shipping to 138 countries worldwide. When Christmas comes around, we see products literally fly off the shelves and dispatched to all corners of the world. It’s incredibly interesting to see what British products are missed at Christmas, and with 110,00 customers, we sure have a well-rounded picture of what is needed by expats.

We have revealed the top 10 British foods expats miss at Christmas – do you feel any of these can help bring a touch of British happiness to your festive cheer?

10. Beverly Manor Top Iced Christmas Cake
A Christmas without a delicious dessert would be pretty traumatic! Ok, so it’s not that bad, but it’s not ideal to serve up a stellar spread without a quality Christmas cake to finish it off with. Beverley Manor are the expert bakers who have been bringing out lovely cakes for over 30 years. This rich fruit cake topped with apricot and sugar icing is a perfect end to a feast – serve with a drizzle of cream or custard to really provide a lovely dessert.

9. Terry’s Chocolate Orange
This well-loved round chocolate orange is a time-old favourite in Britain. Terry’s Chocolate Orange has been around for years and is especially popular at Christmas time! Peel back the foil and inhale the chocolaty-citrus scent before sharing with friends and family… or devouring it by yourself. We won’t judge!

8. Jacobs Cream Crackers
If a sweet dessert isn’t what you’re after at Christmas, cheese and crackers is a sure fire way to finish your meal! Jacob’s Cream Crackers is a quality brand that is always a year round favourite with our customers. They were first made in 1885 and is a cherished brand by the nation! We see they get especially popular at Christmas as they’re the perfect nibble to have in the house for guests or when you want to have a cheeky quick snack.

7. Cadbury Chocolate
Cadbury chocolate is certainly one of our big sellers. Expats exclaim their delight when they first discover us as British chocolate is usually one of the tops things they miss when moving overseas. From Cadbury Dairy Milk Biscuits to the Cadbury Santa Selection Box, and from Cadbury Roses to Cadbury Heroes; the chocolate company have many products that can be enjoyed at Christmas! The Cadbury Santa Selection Box is a top seller due to its festive packaging and the variety of British chocolate bars inside!

6. Nestle Quality Streets Tub
If Cadbury isn’t your chocolate treat of choice, then perhaps the Nestle chocolates we have could be what you’re looking for? The Nestle Quality Streets tub is chock full of 12 different flavours making it a tub for all tastes. Christmas wouldn’t be Christmas without a quality selection box, or in this case, tub! Always a good thing to have for when friends drop by or even as a gift to another who is missing British chocolate as much as you are!

5. Tom Smith Red, Cream and Gold Crackers
It’s not just British food which is missed by expats! Other traditional bits and pieces help add to the festive feeling in your home, and Christmas crackers are a must! Pull them open with a bang and don the paper hats whilst cracking amusing jokes before digging into your Christmas lunch. We find these Tom Smith crackers are the favourites for expats!

4. Robertsons Classic Mincemeat
For those who like to dabble in some home baking, we have an extensive home baking section where you can grab the necessities to whip up some goodies. Robertsons Classic Mincemeat is an essential ingredient to any mince pie or Christmas cake, and everyone appreciates a baked dish lovingly made by hand. This jar of dried fruit and spices make a delicious filling to any pie so try some festive baking this year!

3. Bisto Gravy Granules
"Ahhh Bisto" sighs everyone when they smell the thick gravy poured over turkey. Gravy granules can be tricky to get hold of and when it’s Christmas, the craving for it can come out in full force! This is the nation’s favourite gravy brand offering a classic flavour with a smooth texture, and can be pepped up with some juices from the roasted turkey. Whichever meat you serve this year, Bisto can add to the flavour and provide the finishing touch to a meal.

2. Walkers Luxury Mince Pies
Our second most popular British product is of course, mince pies. Walkers Luxury Mince Pies have overtaken Mr Kipling’s Mince Pies due to their all butter pastry and rich mincemeat. You can certainly taste the Walkers quality making it terribly hard to stop with one! Be sure to get the kids to place the pies for Santa’s arrival on Christmas eve, or just enjoy with some custard or brandy butter.

1. Paxo Sage and Onion Stuffing Mix
Our most popular Christmas product is of course Paxo Sage and Onion Stuffing! If it comes as a surprise, then perhaps you haven’t tasted it yet? Paxo sure know their stuff(ing) as they’ve been in the business for over 100 years. This highly popular stuffing mix is perfect for roasts as the herbs really enhance the flavours of the meat, plus it’s super easy to prepare which is handy when there is a lot on your to do list in the kitchen. As the number one Christmas seller for us, we know that it’s hitting the spot for lots of British expats worldwide!

We hope we got you in the Christmassy spirit after reading this list and remembering fond memories of the taste of British food at Christmas! To help you get hold of some top British products at Christmas, just use RIGHTMOVE1515 to get £15 off your first order (over £75)!

Terms and Conditions:

  • Voucher is valid until 19th December 2015.
  • You must spend £75 or more to claim the discount.
  • Use code at check-out.
  • Be aware that delivery times can vary during peak periods.