Products that don't make it across borders

[anna7602]

Despite being produced by global companies, there are certain things I have to buy outside the U.S. because they just don't market/sell them here. Below are some of the random things I came back from France with in my suitcase this time. Feel free to add your own "why wouldn't they sell this here (wherever your "here" is)?" 

- Yogi Tea Heartwarming Tea (also known as "Joie de Vivre" flavor in French)

The description from the Yogi Tea EU web site:

Basil, the most regal of all herbs, decided to celebrate life with a tea dance and invited the mystics from the east: cinnamon, ginger and cardamom. They came bearing gifts of warmth and spice. Also amongst the guests were chili, who came from Mexico, bringing its soothing warmth, and Liquorice, who came all the way from Egypt, revealing the secret for enhancing the senses. Together they danced, rejoiced and celebrated life.

What do Americans have against this flavor combination??? It's delicious!

- Knorr organic veggie bouillion cubes

Why o why do the Knorr cubes in the U.S. have MSG in them? 

- Princess-shaped dry pasta for DD 

Technically, it's made by Italian brand Dalla Costa and imported to France, but you would think they could successfully target the kid market in the U.S.? 

- Activia yogurt in Coconut flavor 

(NOT in my suitcase, but I did try to eat a lot of it while on vacation.) 

My browsing the aisles constantly here has turned up very few instances of any coconut yogurt at all, by any brand. Chobani makes one, but none of the stores around me carry it regularly. 

And, going in the other direction, I have always wondered why Goya doesn't try to market its products to Latin Americans living in Europe.

[dorothyinAus]

I don't understand coffee with chickory not making it to Australia, when they have coffee syrup with chickory. Just doesn't make sense to me.

And unsweetened cereals. I can find pre-sweetened Cheerios here, but not the regular ones. And there seems to be a push for healthy breakfasts, but all I can find are pre-sweetened cereals (other than rice krispies, corn flakes, raisin bran & wheatbix). No regular Cheerios or Chex.

Along those same lines, I miss unsweetened Kool-Aid powder, not only for the drink, but I use it in many desserts. I can find cordial mix, but it's already sweetened and liquid. Not the same, guys.

And non-chocolate candies like Sweet-tarts or hard candies. I have trouble finding things that aren't peppermint or gummy candy. I'd more peanut butter logs, or frankly any peanut candy. And I miss Bit O'Honey and panned candies like Lemondheads, Red Hots, or Mike & Ikes.

[GilliC]

I never understood how melon-flavored Fanta never made it out of Japan.

[Deleted]

I agree with the unsweetened cereals! But Rice Krispies have made it over finally to France.

The other cereal that I want here is Frosted Mini Wheats....sweetened, but apparently not chocolatey enough for french tastes.

I'm astounded at the lack of good yogurts in the US. The only ones I can easily find are diet yogurts and greek yogurt. None of the good normal stuff without artificial sweeteners.

[americaninoz]

Agreed dorothyinoz!!
I have asked my mom to bring a huge box if plain Cheerios in August. Why oh why don't they sell those here?

[MauMau]

May 3, 2014 11:53:34 GMT -5 @myblue said:

I agree with the unsweetened cereals! But Rice Krispies have made it over finally to France.

The other cereal that I want here is Frosted Mini Wheats....sweetened, but apparently not chocolatey enough for french tastes.

I'm astounded at the lack of good yogurts in the US. The only ones I can easily find are diet yogurts and greek yogurt. None of the good normal stuff without artificial sweeteners.

If you are ever in Germany or Switzerland they have it. They call it Toppas.

I miss real Haribo made in Germany. Most of the stuff that comes to the US is manufactured in Turkey and the ingredients are slightly different. And the Coop had the best dried Mangos and the ones at Trader Joes can't compare. Flavored Schweppes ginger ale. A friend in Germany sends me German nail polishes in return for American beauty products.

[MauMau]

May 3, 2014 16:33:45 GMT -5 americaninoz said:

Agreed dorothyinoz!!
I have asked my mom to bring a huge box if plain Cheerios in August. Why oh why don't they sell those here?

So are the Cheerios flavored sweetly like the Honey ones in the US? Or are they just sugared. Because that sounds really gross.

[dorothyinAus]

May 3, 2014 20:46:33 GMT -5 MauMau said:

May 3, 2014 16:33:45 GMT -5 americaninoz said:

Agreed dorothyinoz!!
I have asked my mom to bring a huge box if plain Cheerios in August. Why oh why don't they sell those here?

So are the Cheerios flavored sweetly like the Honey ones in the US? Or are they just sugared. Because that sounds really gross.

Think multi-grain Cheerios with a light sugary frosting, a bit lighter than Fruit Loops frosting.  They are not bad for eating as a snack, but I don't like them for eating as a cereal and they are really bad for use in my Hot Buttered O's snack mix.

[MauMau]

May 3, 2014 21:13:08 GMT -5 dorothyinAus said:

May 3, 2014 20:46:33 GMT -5 MauMau said:

So are the Cheerios flavored sweetly like the Honey ones in the US? Or are they just sugared. Because that sounds really gross.

Think multi-grain Cheerios with a light sugary frosting, a bit lighter than Fruit Loops frosting.  They are not bad for eating as a snack, but I don't like them for eating as a cereal and they are really bad for use in my Hot Buttered O's snack mix.

Interesting.

[americaninoz]

I think they're pretty similar to the honey ones in the USA
they just have that sweetness to them - there's only a multigrain type or honey here - those are the only options
I just want PLAIN!!!

[Cioccolato]

May 3, 2014 20:45:35 GMT -5 MauMau said:

May 3, 2014 11:53:34 GMT -5 @myblue said:

I agree with the unsweetened cereals! But Rice Krispies have made it over finally to France.

The other cereal that I want here is Frosted Mini Wheats....sweetened, but apparently not chocolatey enough for french tastes.

I'm astounded at the lack of good yogurts in the US. The only ones I can easily find are diet yogurts and greek yogurt. None of the good normal stuff without artificial sweeteners.

If you are ever in Germany or Switzerland they have it. They call it Toppas.

I miss real Haribo made in Germany. Most of the stuff that comes to the US is manufactured in Turkey and the ingredients are slightly different. And the Coop had the best dried Mangos and the ones at Trader Joes can't compare. Flavored Schweppes ginger ale. A friend in Germany sends me German nail polishes in return for American beauty products.

omigod i loooove the dried mango at coop!

[Wanderista]

I miss some unpasteurized fresh dairy products. I'm also pretty finicky about cheeses in the US. I miss European cheeses. I miss the brand of cheeses called Président.

Around this time of year I miss having English strawberries with Devonshire clotted cream and elderflower pressé. 

Oh, I miss a Slovenian brand of juice called Fructal that produces what they call nectars. Gah, I can't even think about it. Too delicious to be so good for you. My favorite was the peach nectar. They have a juice bar in the Ljubljana Airport if anyone is ever there.

Those are what springs to mind at the moment. I try not to think too much about things that I can't have when I am far away from them.