Gifts to take from UK to visit friends in Asia

[BlimeyO]

I’m really stuck for ideas. I’m visiting British friends next week, who live overseas. I’d like to take something that’s light and easy to carry, maybe coronation or tongue in cheek British related. Probably not food or drink, and not socks or a tea towel.
Any one seen anything interesting recently please let me know!

Why don’t you ask them ? Tney might want tea bags and chocolate/sweets.

Well if it's my Asian country it would be calpol 😛 which is the most regularly queried item on Facebook pages closely followed by proper mustard and bras for big boobs - but none of those say "lovely to see you"

However genuinely I love food stuff or toiletries I can't get here. I'd never ask anyone (bar my mum) to bring me stuff but I'd be delighted to be asked.

Definitely ask them, it’ll probably be something basic like teabags and tampax that they’d appreciate most!

I've sent 'care packs' to Asia containing gravy granules, birds custard powder and 'proper deodorant '!!!!!

I would suggest short bread or all butter cookies. Please don't give any tongue in cheek gifts unless you absolutely know they will go down well. If they are British and live abroad ( Asia) I would suggest asking them if there is anything particular they would like . Not everything is available abroad as opposed to the commen perception.

How about some flower seeds, summer annuals ?

Don't do that! You will need to declare and maybe need an import permit depending on what country.

Definitely ask them. If they have moved there from the UK they might be missing some things from back home. My parents who have moved abroad always ask people to get particular types of cheese or chocolates or even dry pasta. Nothing special but just random stuff that they were used to and are now missing.

As an expat I agree that you should ask. There's bound to be something they're missing - and it will probably be something that wouldn't cross your mind

How long have they been abroad? If you go to the post office you can get new 50p coins with the king on, for 50p.

When I lived in Asia I used to take teabags, dairy milk, granola, bacon and sausages back with me in my suitcase! Asian snacks are awful too! Don't discount taking a food gift!

Coronation mugs are selling cheaply. How about that? Why not take food or drink? We often take shortbread as it travels well (unlike chocolates) and everyone seems to enjoy it.

Very few countries allow you to take in seeds. At best they'll be confiscated, at worst there's a fine.

I'd ask first. If they live in a city they can probably get most stuff anyway. They'd probably prefer to be treated to a meal out when you're there, than an unwanted gift!

Yes, I'd ask, and it very well may depend on where they live, but when I lived in Asia, the thing I missed the most was cheese! There was no proper cheese where I lived, only weird processed plastic stuff. But basic comfort foods would have been appreciated: biscuits, sweets, snacks, even good proper coffee as it was hard to get anything that wasn't Starbucks or nescafe where I was.

I would avoid any novelty stuff, it's just not useful for anyone. Chances are they don't really care all that much about the coronation as most people outside of the UK don't. I think you will have to ask them, and then check what you are allowed to take in. No meat, dairy etc. Definitely no seeds, plants etc.

It would be difficult to get cheese all the way to Asia without it spoiling, wouldn't it? We once took cheese to Portugal and took some of those ice blocks to keep it cool on the journey. The ice blocks exploded on the plane! And the cheese wasn't in a good state when we arrived. This was just a 2.5 hour flight!

I always get asked for teabags, marmite, M&S knickers and specific toilteries when visiting people abroad.

I would have killed for tampons with applicators when living in Thailand haha.

Definitely ask. I also couldn't get my favourite mascara over there either, so had family bring me one

Thanks everyone. I did ask but was told they don’t need anything, which I thought was surprising.
I don’t have much cash to spend and I like the idea of taking some good biscuits. I’d worry about cheese in case flights were delayed or luggage lost!

It would be difficult to get cheese all the way to Asia without it spoiling, wouldn't it

I've brought cheese back from all sorts of places, including Japan (12hr flight). Always been fine. I think your mistake was the ice blocks!

I agree with everyone else, ask them. There may be odd little things they're missing that you wouldn't have thought of.

I’d bring something they wouldn’t normally buy so Fortnum and Mason’s tea bags and biscuits or harrods similar.

Just seen not much cash to spend. TK Maxx do luxury or more luxury biscuits etc than you’d get in a supermarket.

Honestly I get most excited about mini cheddars. Any snacks that stand out as favorites?

So just asked the family ...
Mini Cheddars or Hula Hoops
"Proper" jammy dodgers or bourbons
Wine gums
Irn Bru 🤣
Battenberg cake