The 10 American things I can’t get in the UK... so I import them

[@evan]

Thanks to Opera for sponsoring! Try out the new Opera One R2 Browser today! (The features are really cool) opr.as/Opera-browser-evanedinger

[@uploader755]

I'm going to the states in May.... want me to bring some back? 😂

[@rondowar]

Melatonin is over the counter in the netherlands as well, but as someone who needed it for to try to correct severe insomnia (5 hours of sleep for over year); I'd warn anyone willing to listen that melatonin is something to be VERY careful with If your body's natural production cycle goes out of wack, you will not be happy, not at all, it can take months if not years to correct fully, and you will be miserable for that entire time They're not sleeping pills, and should not be treated as such and every person has a different response, so be smart, take none or very little, and if you have a bad sleep issue, consult with a professional before trying to take any, since taking melatonin can actually prevent accurate swab samples if they're needed

[@piddlydiddly]

I dunno, going to my dr for insomnia they happily prescribed promethazine, mirtazapine and even seroquil long term (I don't have any psychotic disorder), but melatonin, noo, that's too dangerous?

[@gigteevee6118]

Lemsip’s seasonal Christmas/Winter flavours are awesome, apple and cinnamon, honey and ginger, wild berry and hot orange 😊 worth getting a cold for! Plus if you’re after cornbread in the UK, seek out your local Jamaican baker!

[@jasminappleby779]

These exist?!? I struggle to find blackcurrant these days. Only ever lemon. I’d be all over Apple and Cinnamon, I’d stock up!!

[@ericy4522]

@@jasminappleby779 ⁠The bigger supermarket chains larger physical stores will have them, but if not try their online websites.

[@amandal1508]

You should try Maldon sea salt flakes. It’s more of a finishing salt that you would put on top of food. I make some pork schnitzel, and put that in top. Ugh… so good.

[@jeffhands7097]

The Maldon Sea Salt Flakes are great! They are a key ingredient when I make my own copycat spice blend to simulate Trader Joe’s “Everything but the Bagel” seasoning. My list of what I bring back from the US to Munich is pretty similar. Recently I discovered A&W Root Beer powder in little sachet packets that I found at Dollar Tree! Nice and compact for the luggage! Believe me, there is NOW WAY you can find root beer anything here in Germany.

[@povukpovuk4853]

I am really enjoying your varied output. Less so with baseball, but I learned plenty from it, which is the point? Don’t loose heart, you can’t hit a home run every time…

[@ZoeGracee]

I love night nurse. As soon as you said NyQuil, I was like night nurse is better

[@roberthindle5146]

@Evan When you said Brits like "10 cups of tea per week", I presume you meant "per day"? I'm no big tea fan, but I do drink about 6 cups a day.

[@simonmeadows7961]

I try one cup of tea per year. It still tastes 'orrible. You can have my allowance, while I stick to coffee.

[@Bertie_Ahern]

He must have meant per day. Most younger Brits don't drink tea but many over 40 drink it like others drink water.

[@Dandee268]

If you like cast iron skillets, put some oil in the skillet preheat in the oven then pull out and bake you jiffy cornbread in the skillet. Best way to bake corn bread. I make cornbread from scratch.

[@evan]

Absolutely! I need to make some this month

[@colleenmarin8907]

"A comforting adequateness" -Evan Edinger, 2024

[@Nova-w2i]

Advertisement would be so much better with honest words like that

[@frankthetank2550]

I think a comfortable adequateness is what England is all about

[@frankthetank2550]

For the sake of clarity, I added this comment before I got to that point in the video

[@marieugorek5917]

so funny. I know someone who always buys sudafed when they go to visit her in-laws in Britain, because the US formula doesn't work as well for her since they changed the formulas to make it harder to turn it into Meth.

[@adriannahowell2359]

you should tell her she can still get the original sudafed, you just have to ask the pharmacist for it!

[@marieugorek5917]

@@adriannahowell2359 yeah, she does that; she says it works but not as well.

[@evan]

I’m sorry what

[@dododge9428]

@@evan Sudafed's active ingredient pseudoephedrine is a meth precursor, so it's no longer available on shelves in the US. They'll still give it to you at a pharmacy without a prescription but you have to ask for it. The "Sudafed" currently out on the shelves is phenylephrine, which is so ineffective that the FDA has proposed removing it from the market.

[@p.HARMassist]

Pseudoephedrine is a starter chemical to make meth at home

[@BigAdam2050]

"its just so much more faff" ah, Evan is integrating well.

[@simonlunn6033]

Seem to remember Tums being available here back in the 90s? 😊

[@jamietaylor7988]

I had it for indigestion in the late 90s/early 2000s and remember them tasting like Love Hearts/Refreshers

[@maxtonuponry]

The multi-flavoured Tums did used to exist in the UK. When my wife was pregnant and had the unholy combination of (a) a real aversion to mint flavour and (b) killer acid reflux, she sent me out on a journey to find Tums only to discover it no longer existed here. I did eventually find orange-flavour Rennies which did the job, but she'd have appreciated some variety!

[@nic3525]

old spice reminds me of the older man just the way it is marketed in the uk

[@edwardburroughs1489]

Wait till you see the new ad trying to be 'cool'.

[@grahamtruckel]

Oh Evan. Scented candles, deodorants, bedding, skillets? You're not really getting any more British are you?

[@agbook2007]

🤣

[@lynette.]

Find a hand made candle shop they can make you the scent you like.

[@DSTimelapseHD]

Entertaining video as always! As Brits living in the US, A medical item my mum always brings back is Otrivine nose drops, which are superior to anything I found stateside. Something I really miss and can’t import are Yeo Valley strawberry yoghurts

[@jeffhands7097]

Living in Munich, I’ve learned how to make my own Italian Sweet Sausage for use in lasagna or on a pizza. I’m convinced that Italian Sweet Sausage must be an “Italian American invention” because even the Italian gourmet markets over here don’t have it. Let the Germans put tuna on their pizza (not on MY pizza) and I’ll put my Italian Sweet sausage on mine!

[@evan]

I do miss Italian sausage

[@radiosnail]

@@evan I always appreciate a spicey foreign sausage

[@conormurphy4328]

It’s a good guess that anything called “Italian” in American is probably not very Italian

[@JoeBleasdaleReal]

Old Spice is seen in the UK as an outdated product that your dad uses. It had its heyday in the 70s and 80s with that iconic advert with the surfer. Not helped by the fact its name sounds like an insult for an older man who’s a bit past it, the only people I know who own it are all over 50

[@Thurgosh_OG]

And yet, in the UK, Old Spice is one of the top 3 Aftershaves and accounts for 9% of deodorants, so maybe only outdated for some people, popular for others.

[@roberthunter5059]

It used to be that way in the US, but they've managed to rebrand somewhat. Their newer scents don't really smell like granddad's Old Spice.

[@Thurgosh_OG]

Old Spice is pretty well known and popular in the UK, with it accounting for 9% of Deodorants and being one of the top 3 Aftershaves.

[@MsPeabody1231]

And it's associated with old men. So you give it to someone as a joke in a secret Santa.

[@Telecasterland]

I loved hearing him saying "having the right "kit". What a Brit thing to say grin.

[@AmyFutch]

I know he doesn't bring back all of this every single time, but I can't imagine how heavy the suitcase is.

[@malcolmschenot6352]

I'm in Los Angeles and I switched from Kosher Salt to Korean Sea Salt. They have much larger crystal grains and I love it. Super cheap in the Korean groceries. I get regular Morton Salt to salt the water for pasta and use in stews. I love your content Evan and the New Jersey perspective (I'm from Queens).

[@disco_doris]

Maldon sea salt is absolutely a great substitute for kosher salt, it's all about the shape of the salt crystals. It's a good enough ingredient that a lot of US chefs use it in preference too.

[@Anlbe1]

I’m a Brit but every time I visit the us i bring back nyqiill, chewy tums, massive bottle of pain killers….

[@hannahbee567]

Latter is an OD risk minimisation strategy in the UK - Easier to down a bottle - more depressing to pill pop But it still happens 🤷‍♂️

[@swarticus4228]

Shout-out to the "do it for the Vine" sweater

[@evan]

I got it from the final London Vine party before they shut down. The invited me and lots of KZbinrs around to convince us to make vines. I got a cool jumper and a bath towel out of it 🙂‍↔️

[@painreliever83]

Tums used to be a thing here. Not sure when they disappeared but they definitely used to be available pretty much everywhere.

[@Thurgosh_OG]

Google says they are still available here.

[@KyrilPG]

Kosher salt? Isn't it like kosher water? Exactly the same thing with a surcharge?

[@evan]

Oh no it’s got an interesting history

[@conormurphy4328]

@@evana future video perhaps 👀

[@jasminappleby779]

I appreciate the “do it for the vine” shirt

[@seriouslysian]

As an Australian living in the UK there are definitely some Australian brands - food and clothing - that I miss and always stock up on when I'm back in Australia. Home childhood comforts. 😊

[@dude157]

an antihistamine with very noticeable drowsy effects which you can buy over the counter (no prescriptions needed) is Diphenhydramine, UK brand name is Benadryl.

[@KellMG96]

Nothing better on a cold fall/winter day is corn bread and chili.

[@re_patel]

Silly question, but how do you eat corn bread? Is it for dipping in soup or can you put beans on it? How do you incorporate it into a meal?

[@evan]

Just as a side it’s so nice

[@helen2619]

As a Brit, for years I have been bringing back from the US those different flavoured Tums, also melatonin and that ranch dressing. Oh, and huge bags of peanut butter m&ms, can't get them here

[@phitsf5475]

20:18 You can pinch other salts too, even the British ones. Pour it into your hand, pinch with the other, discard what you don't use. Knowing how many pinches to use is a different skill, with the fine stuff it's literally a tiny pinch or two. Flaky stuff is different.

[@Thurgosh_OG]

Lidl often sells tubs of Peanut Butter and Grape Jelly (in one tub), when they have their, American' foods weeks. So probably 4 times a year or more. It's the Smuckers Goober Peanut Butter & Jelly tubs, for about £4.00 each.

[@grantparman4705]

I'm an American living in the US, and I agree completely on Tums tasting pretty good and being helpful.

[@elk7308]

I've never gotten used to the whole thing of 'ask your doctor is madeupazine is right for you' adverts in America. I get that it's a byproduct of the for-profit healthcare system but it still weirds me out

[@beautifulvictory9683]

Nyquil: I like the Severe version with 10% alcohol. Works so well.

[@jarodh-m6099]

Now that I know Jiffy is made in the Midwest, I understand why it tastes so sweet.

[@cassieoz1702]

A hot drink with lemon + honey +/- ginger (for sore throats) predates Lemsip by generations, so Lemsip piggybacked onto an existing customs

[@klimtkahlo]

Great video!!!

[@RubyMadigan]

But what is actually different about kosher salt? You didn't really explain unless I'm being dense. It seemed like the difference you explained was more about having loose salt in a pot that you add by pinches rather than specifically kosher salt. Lots of people have salt in little pots that they use like that. What specifically makes kosher salt different?

[@kylechalve]

It's between the size of normal table salt and coarse salt. It doesn't dissolve as quickly. A lot of recipes use it. It's not as salty per the same volume because of its shape and size. That said, Maldon sea salt is pretty similar.

[@andruloni]

Kosher salt gets its name from coarse salt used to prepare kosher meat. It just stuck as a general name for bigger grain salt in the US tho. It's just salt, Evan definitely didn't explain why it made a difference.

[@dananskidolf]

It just means coarse salt right, so why does he bother if he prefers the finer one? I'm not into salt but I grew up near Maldon and know it's a good one and fairly coarse. And I'd say Tiptree jam could substitute well for American 'jelly' in PB&J.

[@evan]

It’s coarse. It’s like a very specific feeling that makes it easier to… feel and use. Normal salt falls from the hand like sand. Not very useful. Kosher salt falls at the exact rate you want through your pinched fingers. Hard to describe, but it’s great

[@cristycrenshaw9109]

I find that scented products are more interesting if you rotate scents often enough to not go nose blind. Makes perfect sense to me that you'd want more choice in candles and deodorants, etc.

[@hannahbee567]

0:00 - 4:22 when you try to forget about work, but your weekly KZbinr reminds of it.

[@Matthew_is_this_handle_free]

I wasn't expecting to agree when I saw Nyquil pop up as i knew Nught Nurse was equivalent. But 100% agree on US tums and melatonin. I bring both back when visiting the US.

[@Matthew_is_this_handle_free]

Oh I have a drawer of BBW candles too. I'm British btw.

[@edwardburroughs1489]

Salt is salt. Its the grain size so if you cook by weight instead of 'cups' then its the same. If you really need the 'pinchability' then go for it.

[@cassieoz1702]

Old Spice?? I'm 68 and my Grandad used that, back in the day. It used to be popular in UK a couple of generations ago, but we moved on

[@rosemariewelch1525]

Evan try QVC for your bedding I have extremely good flannel bedding and very high count cotton sheets for summer. Some of which have lasted for years without pilling at all.

[@hat9172]

I think he has a point about cough medicines in the UK. I never tried Night Nurse but there was a time that Benelyn would make me so sleepy I couldn't keep my eyes open. That was so useful when you want to sleep off a cold and the symptoms are keeping you from getting that healing rest. Then some years back - maybe 15 years back they made it "non drowsy" . For me it has never been as good in that iteration.

[@LindenRyuujin]

You can still get benylin original (it disappeared for a bit in the pandemic but it's back again). You have to get it from a chemist though, and it will be behind the counter. It's also still amazing.

[@AcornElectron]

2:56 Settlers Tums were definitely a thing in the UK. I didn’t know they had stopped selling them.

[@helen2619]

You can get them but the variety of flavours in the US is immense, I bring them back when I go just for the different flavours

[@Thurgosh_OG]

A quick search and you can apparently get Tums in Morrisons and Asda (and several online sources) I've never looked for them, so cannot verify myself.

[@Everythingwithonehand]

For really nice bedding I recommend Northern Nights or Cozee Home from QVC UK.

[@fayesouthall6604]

I’m in cozee home, including a filled bed throw which on cold nights keeps me warm. The bedding is their velvet soft ( 4 piece, duvet 2 pillows and a fitted velvet soft sheet underneath). It’s the best investment I’ve made. All in around £100.

[@disieh]

Cast iron skillets are bit of a hobby in my experience. They're excellent if you use them regularly, they stay seasoned and non-stick. However, if you use them irregularly, the oil surface gets really gnarly. I personally prefer stainless steel pans, majority of the cast iron pros plus you can toss it in a dish washer.

[@Everythingwithonehand]

I bought something very similar to Lemsip in Boston back in 2007.

[@Bertie_Ahern]

The UK is much stricter on drugs in general. No weed, no kratom, no kava. Basically just dust and water (sugar-free only).

[@RayWhiting]

I can only imagine how much extra luggage you need in order to bring back all your special USA items. Lodge cast iron is the best. Jiffy corn muffin mix is the best. Kroger brand peanut butter is identical to Jif, but less expensive. Yes, TUMS brand is the best, too.

[@Caerdan]

Re Melatonin, you can get it easily enough from online pharmacies by answering a number of online questions. All above board and not too much hassle.

[@Itsgonnabeok1325]

Dayquil has been around in the US since the 70s. Theraflu is LemSip

[@suppleberry3863]

I love LL Bean and always try to fit in a visit to one of their stores when I'm in the US. I've even done the trip from Boston to pay pilgrimage to their flagship store (actually stores) in Freeport, Maine - amazing place. Their flannel shirts are fantastic quality, they last forever. I agree, you won't get an equivalent in the UK. Or the rest of Europe come to that.

[@DaveHuxtableLanguages]

That NyQuil fug is worth having a cold for! (Brit in California)

[@johnredfern1973]

I love the us selection of old spice

[@agbook2007]

3:36 “It’s its own kettle of fish”… If you are going to use faff. 🤣

[@tlhIngan]

Lemsip might go under "NeoCitran" in the US and Canada where it's a powder you mix and drink like hot lemonade. DayQuil is a lifesaver when I'm sick. Got sick once and then used up all my DayQuil, and couldn't find anymore on the shelf due to supply issues, which meant I had to suffer for the night until other pharmacies opened in the morning. Not fun.

[@GMitchell2012]

I know he is American but does he not know that you get fruit flavoured antacid in the UK as well? (EDIT) Old Spice is classed as 70's cheap garbage. It's so old my great grandad wore it and i was born in 1966. Flannel shirts , in the UK they are mostly worn by constrution workers.

[@bengtandersson2649]

Some medicin you can buy without recipe requiered recipe in your home country , and yes it can very expensive fines and/or prison.

[@derekdurst9984]

Diamond Kosher Salt is better...I'm glad you found it...

[@marieugorek5917]

I would try the wording, "I am having trouble sleeping, particularly when I travel. In the past, melatonin has helped with this. Is there any reason I should try something else?"

[@evan]

Clever

[@marieugorek5917]

@@evan yeah. I'm multiply disabled, so I've got a little experience finessing health care providers' egos. As long as they know you're OPEN to something else, they are usually okay going with the thing that works... they just don't like the patient acting like we know more than they do.

[@ruk2023--]

Flannel is merely a design pattern here in England whereas it's part of a lifestyle in the US. That's why I always pickup my flannel shirts when I'm in the US. They are just better quality. Never tried L.L bean though

[@TheOwlman]

2:15 Per week? I can do that in a day, and they aren't rinkydink little teacups either.

[@BeanieBraceFace]

I'm really here in 45 seconds

[@Kardall]

From Canada and in the early 2000s I was in a band that had to go to Toronto and play a contest show, then we had a flight from Toronto to Manhattan Island for a record label gig. Really cool experience visiting NYC but... I got a cold, and I was upset that there was no NeoCitran in the USA. It is like having a bunch of Tylenol basically with some other things that help you breathe. Similar to DayQuil or NyQuil. Lemsip sounds really close to what we have. Would be interested to compare the two.

[@CaptainQuo]

You can get Tums here, although admittedly they're harder to find.

[@peter65zzfdfh]

Kosher salt in Australia is ‘cooking salt’ assume the same in the UK.

[@alisonforrester4612]

I lived in the US for 9 years… I’d forgotten about Nytol, it’s good but it used to make me too tired to work next day, it was good though. I can’t do without bringing pepto bismol home! Best thing for dodgy/sick stomach ever, swear by it. We cld get it here before Covid but then there was a nationwide shortage and £5 bottles became £20 and up…. I bring back melatonin too…. I also bring painkillers from Spain as you can get stronger for cheaper! Sounds like I pop loads of pills which I don’t, but when you know what’s best, eh?

[@vijay-c]

Today, Evan goes fishing for new sponsors 😂

[@highlyunlikely3698]

Antacids you grew up with? What were you being fed???

[@evan]

Antacids

[@highlyunlikely3698]

@evan you poor baby.. we feed our kids food....🤣😀

[@xtyr827]

Can never give up Famous Dave's box cornbread Highly recommend

[@ianmac51]

lemsip(hot water) + honey + whiskey; Hot toddy try that!

[@Thurgosh_OG]

A basic Hot Toddy in the Highlands is just Hot Water, Honey and a teaspoon of Whiskey. Lemsip is not required to make it help with your cold symptoms. Options to add lemon juice and/or cinnamon are out there but again not required, they are just for flavour.

[@ChoboMog-pw]

I'm not sure if it's simply a difference in terminology, but i feel like the whole "kosher salt" issue makes zero sense to me as a cook. For salt, it largely comes down to flake size/texture and additives or lack thereof. For your pasta water or fish and chips, any salt is fine and people usually go for the fine grain, iodized table salt. If you are fermenting vegetables, you want pure salt (no iodine or anti-caking agents) regardless of source or flake size, since these additives can inhibit the good lactobacillus growth. For pre-season/dry-brine of meats or finishing salt, usually large crystals are ideal but as with table salt additives are a non- issue as it's all for texture or control. Mortons kosher salt is large grain salt with an anti-caking additive. No difference in taste, and surely you can find a large grain sea salt for texture.

[@cassieoz1702]

I buy Skippy at Costco, to put in my dog's Kong 😂. And 'cooking salt' which, I'm told, is the Australian equivalent to American kosher salt

[@klimtkahlo]

Again for kosher salt come to Portugal and you have the big stone salt! You just have to look for one kg plastic bag. Not in a paper tube like in Austria or Germany.

[@thanley]

Omg I had the exact opposite issue with deodorants when I moved to the US. Why is everything a stick/roll on that stains my clothes white, and all of the decent ones were absurdly expensive. I was getting my mom to bring me it in her suitcase.

[@ProfMonkeys]

The American products I always have to bring back are: Long acting Sudafed (Immediate release is available) Long acting Mucinex (Immediate release is available) Cajun seasoning (what is sold as cajun seasoning in the UK is not cajun at all)

[@pattheplanter]

Check Cypriot/Turkish specialist grocers for grape jelly.

[@francisjose702]

Last time I checked, melatonin requires seeing as psychiatrist to get a prescription. Granted that was like 3 or 4 years ago when I brought some back from a trip to the US

[@bugbuster11]

Skippy PB is available at Sainsbury's

[@arania.exumai]

And Aldi, quite often in the middle aisle.

[@Mogeli]

I was gonna say I'm certain I saw it in Morrisons

[@travelswithmybelly]

Ocado too

[@nathanbrown492]

Isn't Orbus the equivalent to Nyquil?

[@KJ-bj2oi]

Do you not have NeoCitron in the States? In Canada that's about our LemSip equivalent.

[@klimtkahlo]

You can take a trip to Portugal and buy Nyqil. They have it here! They have reases chocolate, Starbucks! five guys and chick fil a not yet but I wouldn’t be surprised soon! Only not heated houses and high salaries!

[@MsPeabody1231]

Five guys is already in the UK. Chick-fil-A is opening 5 branches next year.

[@katrinabryce]

@@MsPeabody1231 Chick-fil-A tried opening in the UK about 5 years ago and were chased out of the country 6 months later.

[@Thurgosh_OG]

Sorry but we really don't want Reese's Chocolate in the UK, it's bad enough, when it's found in supermarkets here already.

[@alexp9621]

It annoys me that we used to have Tums here, and they stopped doing them! We're stuck with Rennies, which aren't bad, but I do want tums back. Actually, if we're wishing, I want Remegel back. God, I'm old.

[@1960acr]

Have you tried Fleur de Sel? Sounds like the tactile thing you are enjoying while cooking.

[@keviny1936]

Diamond Crystal weighs less per volume than Morton's Kosher and way less than table salt. You can better control the amount of salt you are adding. Or just use a scale to measure a weight, then in food they are all the same in the end.

[@d_dave7200]

Cast iron's great, but I prefer carbon steel for most things.

[@jljordan1]

promethazine can’t be bought over the counter in the US, and we use it as an anti nausea medication!

[@kdholden]

I was thinking American Kraft Mac and cheese from the box.

[@bridgethealey7188]

I haven't been home since I moved here but my best friend comes to visit me once a year and he brings me a costco pack of annie's boxed mac and cheese for when I need it

[@simonjhudson7378]

Isn't Jelly (As in Peanut Butter and Jelly) just seedless set Jam?

[@klimtkahlo]

I was going to say melatonin! In Portugal they only sell it up to 1 mg. Less than 3 mg doesn’t do anything to you… also so much more expensive here in Europe than in the states. I buy 10 mg gummies at TJX for $5.99, I only take half the dose which is 5 mg so it makes it even cheaper!

[@waggermama]

It really isn’t the quantity, it’s taking melatonin at the right time. Some folks with the most extreme sleep disorders will take as little as 0.1mg!

[@superlynx98]

You can buy melatonin from Piping Rock in the UK, I do regularly

[@TheNightshadePrince]

Cool, video, it's a good thing to think about if one is to move abroad. :)

[@johnkean6852]

Jelly: try Redcurrant jelly. In the UK we use it with roast lamb.