Small, British gift ideas needed

[Pregnantabroad]

I post abroad to quite a few friends in North America and Australia and always try to send something they can't get at home. Has to be small and ideally quintessentially British. Any ideas? They are a mix of couples with kids and without.

I would say in English Earl Grey tea
Chocolate because American chocolate is awful and Americans love British chocolate
Scottish shortbread
Salad cream! They can’t get over there

you can get Small gifts such as chocolate keyrings fridge magnets shaped like red buses and red postboxes et cetera

You can get notebooks with the union Jack on, English jams and conserves , I’m wrap them in a mini British flag
Fruit squash in America believe it or not they do not have squash- You can get those mini squashes that you can squirt in your water
Believe it or not they don’t have kettles either but it’s not really a small gift!

Jubilee Truffle Marmite.

Yes, I think I'm missing the obvious with chocolate!

They do have kettles though! I lived there for several years and don't think I ever came across someone without a kettle. Having said that, when I lived in France c20 yes ago there was no kettle in my furnished apartment.

Individual Christmas crackers which you have filled yourself (May not be easy to post though)!

Apparently crackers are an English tradition, although starting to become more popular in the USA.

www.chocolatesofglenshiel.com/ - these are lovely

Highland soap company have nice stuff as well, including candles

Chocolate covered Kendal Mint Cake.

M&S biscuit tins are good gifts. I once gifted the ones shaped like a red London bus and they loved it.

Tin of M&S biscuits and Fortnum and Mason tea

I'm not sure, but I think Christmas crackers are prohibited on aircraft.

You can get most stuff in the US now if you go on Amazon or British corner shop.
If you can post early Advent calendars are hard to get hold of though getting a bit more popular. mince pies and Christmas pud as well but I guess you can't post them!
Lots of people were proud of their British baubles on their Xmas trees as well so you could do that.

Chocolate wise my kids were always mad for maltesers and chocolate oranges at Christmas when we were out there!

And yes I always liked the biscuit tins shaped like buses or phone boxes!

Deck of playing cards with London landmarks on
Emma Bridgewater tea caddy
Jaffa cakes
Percy Pigs
Reusable shopping bags from loved British brands - e.g. Harrod’s Signature vinyl tote and Seasalt jute bags
English Heritage stuff
Tea strainer
British cookbooks from restaurants and lovely hotels

I always send something to my British friends living in Australia for Xmas and the cost of posting shocks me every time!! I tend to send Xmas baubles as they're light - Harrods usually do a lovely selection of "British" themed ones, but also random objects that might remind people of home like a custard cream bauble etc I think also for Britain people to get something from the big dept stores like Harrods / Fortnums etc like a tin of Xmas blend tea, florentines, almonds, biscuits etc feels like a true Christmas luxury no matter how small? Like if offered a Fortnums praline chocolate after Christmas lunch most of us would say "ohhh how lovely yes please how fancy"

I've done baubles a few times but there's always room for more on trees! Last year I sent baubles that were wooden biscuits from Etsy. They were gorgeous. And also mince pie earrings.
www.etsy.com/uk/listing/889583844/set-of-8-wooden-british-biscuit
www.etsy.com/uk/listing/884914772/christmas-mince-pie-stud-earrings-mince
I've sent paper advent calendars (usually Matthew Rice) before and also advent candles. Might do that again actually seeing as I am ahead of time.

Agree with Wibblewobbleball about the cost. It regularly costs more to post than the actual gifts!

Do you have an independent coffee roastery near you? I tend to buy coffee when I’m visiting new places and I’d love to receive a local brand. If you don’t have one Monmouth coffee do a box of 3 that maybe you could split. Loose leaf too obviously if they’re tea drinkers. Other than that good chocolate ( not counting Cadbury’s in that). Anything from Fortnums would be a treat although not sure how marmalade would travel ( I guess they must ship overseas so it is possible) But something like Gentleman’s relish is in a good container ( very old fashioned). A lot of their gifts are in nice tins. Liberty tend to do good gift items that feature their store front which is pretty iconic - I look for food items, soaps and Christmas decorations ( although note you can often find the same soap at TK Maxx.). British sweets for the kids.

Marmite ? 🤮

A book, like one of these...

Toast rack - apparently unknown in the US.

You can get crackers without the gunpowder to send abroad. I think eggcups are unknown in some places.

Nice biscuits - Foxes are great.

Blackcurrant flavoured anything is not something you get in the US either.

Money - commemorative coins not cheques for £10000 the first ones with 'King Charles' will be available next month. Uncirculated coins start at about £10 or £11.

www.royalmint.com/shop/monarch/queen-elizabeth-ii/her-majesty-queen-elizabeth-ii-memorial-coin-collection/50p

Biscuits, like hobnobs, mcvities, digestives.
Crisps like salt and vinegar, cheese and onion in a British brand.
Mince pies, Christmas cake, Christmas pudding
Tea cakes, Roses chocolates.
I live in North America now and these are things I love to get!! Even if I can find some of it online it's often not quite right or very expensive.

I would send a decoration for the Christmas tree linked to the Queen/King as this was such a significant event in British history.

Commemorative coin is a great idea although just checked link and it says delivery in 16 weeks.
Christmas decoration linked to king/Queen also good idea that I will look into. I'm in London tomorrow so might make a trip to liberty. Thanks all!