If you are a British expat living in the United States, you probably know the feeling: you walk into a local supermarket hoping to find proper British tea, your favourite biscuits, a packet of crisps that taste like home, or the chocolate you grew up with — and the selection is either tiny, expensive, or missing completely.
The good news is that you do not have to rely on small local import sections anymore. You can now buy British food online in the USA and have your favourite snacks, sweets, teas, sauces and pantry staples delivered directly to your door.
At Across the Pond Foods, we help British and Irish expats find the foods they miss most, from everyday cupboard essentials to nostalgic treats that are hard to find in American shops.
Why British Food Can Be Hard to Find in America
British food is popular with expats, travellers, and anyone who has developed a taste for UK snacks, but it is still not always easy to find in the USA.
Many American supermarkets only carry a small selection of imported British products. You might find one or two familiar brands, but not the full range of biscuits, crisps, sweets, cereals, tea, coffee, sauces, jams and spreads that you would expect back home.
For many expats, the hardest part is not just finding British food it is finding the specific brands, flavours and products they remember.
That is why shopping online is often the easiest option.
Best British Foods to Buy Online in the USA
Whether you are stocking your pantry, sending a gift to a British expat, or simply craving a taste of home, here are some of the most popular British food categories to order online.
1. British Biscuits
British biscuits are one of the most missed foods among UK expats. American cookies are not quite the same, especially when you are looking for something to enjoy with a proper cup of tea.
Popular British biscuits include:
- Digestives
- Chocolate digestives
- Rich Tea biscuits
- Custard creams
- Bourbon creams
- Shortbread
- Jaffa Cakes
- Hobnobs
- Ginger nuts
British biscuits are perfect for tea breaks, lunchboxes, office snacks, or care packages for friends and family living in the USA.
Suggested internal link: Shop British biscuits online
2. British Tea and Coffee
For many British expats, tea is not optional — it is essential. While American supermarkets sell tea, it often does not taste the same as the strong, familiar blends many people grew up drinking in the UK.
Some popular British and Irish tea favourites include:
- Yorkshire Tea
- PG Tips
- Tetley
- Twinings
- Barry’s Tea
- Lyons Tea
Whether you prefer a strong builder’s tea, a classic breakfast blend, or something lighter, ordering online makes it easier to keep your cupboard stocked.
Suggested internal link: Shop British and Irish tea
3. British Chocolate
British chocolate is another major favourite for expats in the USA. Many people find that British chocolate has a creamier taste and a different texture compared with common American chocolate brands.
Popular British chocolate products often include:
- Cadbury chocolate
- Galaxy chocolate
- Aero
- Maltesers
- Smarties
- Flake
- Crunchie
- Dairy Milk
- Wispa
British chocolate also makes a great gift for anyone who misses home or wants to try classic UK treats.
Suggested internal link: Shop British chocolate online
4. British Crisps and Savoury Snacks
In the USA, crisps are usually called chips — but British crisps come in flavours that can be much harder to find in American shops.
Some classic British crisp flavours include:
- Cheese and onion
- Salt and vinegar
- Prawn cocktail
- Roast chicken
- Pickled onion
- Worcester sauce
- Smoky bacon
Popular snack brands and products may include Walkers, Hula Hoops, Monster Munch, McCoy’s, Skips, Twiglets and other savoury favourites.
If you miss a proper crisp sandwich or a packet of cheese and onion crisps with lunch, buying online is one of the easiest ways to get them in the USA.
Suggested internal link: Shop British crisps and snacks
5. British Sweets
British sweets are a nostalgic favourite for many expats. Whether you miss chewy sweets, fizzy sweets, liquorice, fruit gums, wine gums, toffees or old-fashioned pick ‘n’ mix, British sweets are very different from typical American candy.
Popular British sweets include:
- Wine gums
- Fruit pastilles
- Fruit gums
- Jelly babies
- Liquorice allsorts
- Toffees
- Sherbet sweets
- Foam sweets
- Fizzy sweets
- Pick ‘n’ mix favourites
British sweets are especially popular for birthday gifts, Christmas hampers, care packages and family movie nights.
Suggested internal link: Shop British sweets online
6. British Cereals
Breakfast can be one of the biggest reminders of home. Many British cereals are difficult to find in standard American supermarkets, especially if you are looking for the specific taste and texture you remember.
Popular British breakfast items may include:
- Weetabix
- Shreddies
- Ready Brek
- Porridge oats
- Muesli
- Granola
- Malted cereals
British cereals are a practical product to order online because they are everyday staples, not just occasional treats.
Suggested internal link: Shop British cereals
7. Jams, Marmalades and Spreads
British jams, marmalades and spreads are pantry favourites for breakfast, toast, baking and afternoon tea.
Popular options include:
- Orange marmalade
- Strawberry jam
- Raspberry jam
- Lemon curd
- Marmite
- Golden syrup
- Treacle
- Chocolate spreads
- Honey
- Chutneys
These products are ideal for anyone recreating a British breakfast, afternoon tea, or traditional baking recipe in the USA.
Suggested internal link: Shop jams and spreads
8. British Sauces and Condiments
British sauces are another category that expats often struggle to replace. Some flavours are very specific to UK cooking and are hard to substitute with American products.
Popular British sauces and condiments include:
- HP Sauce
- Brown sauce
- Branston Pickle
- Colman’s mustard
- Mint sauce
- Curry sauce
- Gravy granules
- Salad cream
- Worcestershire sauce
- Chutneys and relishes
These are essential for bacon sandwiches, roast dinners, pies, sausages, chips, cheese boards and traditional British meals.
Suggested internal link: Shop British sauces and condiments
Why Buy British Food Online Instead of Locally?
Local international shops can be useful, but they often have limited stock. Many only carry a handful of products, and popular items may sell out quickly.
Buying British food online gives you more choice and makes it easier to find the exact products you want.
The main benefits include:
- A wider range of British and Irish products
- Easier access from anywhere in the USA
- Familiar brands and flavours
- Convenient home delivery
- Better options for gifts and care packages
- Easier pantry restocking
For expats who do not live near a British import shop, online ordering is often the most convenient option.
British Food Gifts for Expats in the USA
British food also makes an excellent gift. If you know someone from the UK living in America, a box of familiar snacks can be far more personal than a standard gift basket.
Good British food gift ideas include:
- A British biscuit box
- A tea and biscuits hamper
- A chocolate gift box
- A crisp and snack bundle
- A British sweets selection
- A Christmas food hamper
- A “taste of home” care package
These gifts work well for birthdays, Christmas, Mother’s Day, Father’s Day, university students, new movers, military families, and anyone feeling homesick.
Tips for Ordering British Food Online in the USA
Before placing an order, it helps to think about what you use most often.
If you are ordering for yourself, start with everyday favourites like tea, biscuits, cereal and sauces. Then add treats such as chocolate, sweets and crisps.
If you are ordering a gift, choose a mix of sweet and savoury products. A good British food box might include tea, biscuits, chocolate, crisps, sweets and one or two pantry classics such as brown sauce, marmalade or Branston Pickle.
You should also consider seasonal items. British Christmas chocolates, Easter treats and festive biscuits are often most popular before the holidays, so it is better to order early.
Where to Buy British Food Online in the USA
If you are looking for British food online in the USA, Across the Pond Foods offers a wide selection of British and Irish favourites for expats, families, gift buyers and anyone craving familiar food from across the pond.
You can shop popular categories including:
- British biscuits
- British chocolate
- British crisps
- British sweets
- Tea and coffee
- Cereals
- Jams and spreads
- Sauces and condiments
- Herbs, pantry items and cupboard essentials
- Irish food and snacks
Whether you miss a proper cup of tea, a packet of cheese and onion crisps, a bar of British chocolate, or a cupboard full of familiar staples, ordering online makes it easier to enjoy the foods you love from home.
Browse our British and Irish food range today and get your favourite snacks, sweets, tea, biscuits and pantry essentials delivered to your door.
