Any ideas for a little ‘from the UK’ gift?

[AliasGrape]

DP’s brother is over from America at the moment, and has kindly brought some little gifts from him and his wife, American candy, Yankee candle, Burts Bees/other US brand lipbalms or hand creams type things.

We’ve never been over to visit them together although are hoping to do so next year, and obviously will take gifts then, but I’d quite like to send something back for his wife this time too.

Any ideas for a similar gift to send back? I’d do Cadbury’s chocolate or shortbread or something but they’re both very healthy eaters so I was thinking more like the makeup/beauty stuff but a UK brand? Needs to take up negligible room in the suitcase and be £10 ish ideally.

Sorry, I was editing and my first sentence go at a bit chopped - meant to say the gifts I listed are the ones I have received over the last few trips, DP and their parents also get presents. I’d like to reciprocate and send back something for BIL’s wife who hasn’t come on this trip.

Yardley Old English Lavender Soap?

nice tea bags

Good teapot

We visited inlaws in China and took over some Harrods branded goods (tea, biscuits, mugs etc) Harrods is seen as very British.

I live abroad and wanted to get my neighbours something very English from my last trip back that wasn't food.

Around the same budget I got them tea. From the Harrods shop in the airport and they were in a caddy in the shape of a London bus or Buckingham palace or something like that. Anyway, it went down very well.

We bought an Emma Bridgewater union flag tin and filled it with English Sweets; sherbet lemons, toffee etc.

Stuff from M&S is good!

Just be careful, years ago ds went on a school trip to China, staying with a local family. On mumsnet advice I sent him out with a teapot, a particularly twee teapot shaped like an English cottage. When he returned home it transpired his host family were globe trotting academics with an extensive and supremely tasteful modern art collection 🤣 hopefully it just got marked down as English eccentricity

Can you think of anything they've enjoyed over here that you can't get in the US?

I know people who want particular brands teabags, marmite, Soreen malt loaf, Boots men's grooming products, amongst other things.

Otherwise I'd agree with tea and a pot.

Depending on her taste - a lot of Americans I know seem to love Cath Kidston

Oh yeah, never actually thought about tea!

Don’t think BIL will want to cart the pot back as he travels really light (keeps a supply of clothes/toiletries at their parents) but some nice teabags would work. Also could look at M&S brand toiletries etc.

Anything from Fortnums. Very good quality and packaging, though not cheap. The teas and coffees are especially good.

China. My sibling in the US says that people always love commemorative china for Royal events, whether sincerely or ironically.

Something from Liberty in one of their traditional prints. Small things like little make up bags are not too expensive.

Haggis.

It's illegal in the USA and has to be smuggled across from Canada

Elderflower cordial, our old au pair went nuts for it and M&S teabags, plus twiglets.

Some splendid English jam or marmalade
Honey
A kit to make scones with a naice recipe to eat with the jam.

Small tin of Colmans mustard powder.
Little pot of Gentleman's Relish.
Both very small and light.

We live in a city frequented by tourists so when we visited friends abroad over Christmas we took photographic calendars, a bag and coasters with the place on. Also M&S After Eights for some reason. And a story book set in our city for the kids.

The National Trust shop has loads of lovely and very very British gifts (food stuff too).
https://shop.nationaltrust.org.uk/?campid=PPCCentrallShopGoogleeBrand-Campaign-Brand+-+Shop+%5BExact%5D&dfaid=1&&&gclid=EAIaIQobChMI4cech6Oq4AIVyrTtCh3wUAjNEAAYASAAEgJz0DD_BwE

Something from the National Trust?

+1 for good tea, if they drink it.

A bottle of HP Sauce might be nice, they don't really have quite the same thing in the US I don't think. Though it's not something you associate with "healthy" food.

My DD always takes back Jaffa Cakes, and Colman's mustard.

Her boyfriend, who was studying in the UK last term, couldn't believe the number of different flavours of crisp we have! I was astounded, but several friends have since confirmed that the US doesn't do much beyond ready salted. He also became a big gin fan, as he said that isn't readily available either.

Other than that, a tea towel with British landmarks on it!

I lived in America for a year so I know about the cravings for Ribena, decent tea and proper chocolate - however as she’s American I’m not really sure if she’ll crave them in the same way! And like I say they’re very into healthy eating. BIL doesn’t seem to miss/crave any British foods, he’s enthusiastically adopted all things American I think (including the accent). Which is why I was trying to go down the road of beauty brands or similar.

National Trust shops are a good idea too, thank you!

Something from Emma Bridgewater - a mug perhaps? But they’re probably more than £10.
If you had a bigger budget, you could show her how to do scented candles properly and buy her a Jo Malone one!
Neal’s Yard Remedies are British but you don’t get much for £10.

OP, I live in the USA and you can buy most Brit foodstuffs such as marmite, tea, sweets and biscuits in a chain store called World Market and, failing there, online at amazon. We can even buy stuff at Marks & Spencers online here now. That might be why your BIL doesnt appear to be particularly craving anything. Yes, they're a bit pricier here but since it's basically an occasional indulgence I'd rather not put my family and friends there to the trouble of carting a load of stuff for me in their suitcases for the sake of a few dollars.
I think some quality Brit product they can keep rather than food would be the way to go.