Hallo, Servus, Guten Tag, Grüß Gott!
I am no German expert, nor do I claim to be. But I have picked up a few hints and tips to living a more-so North American lifestyle in Germany. I hope that some of these ideas can help you out too!
I am no German expert, nor do I claim to be. But I have picked up a few hints and tips to living a more-so North American lifestyle in Germany. I hope that some of these ideas can help you out too!
-TexaGermaNadian
(I am all ears to new hints and suggestions. If you have any, please contact me at
TexaGermaNadian (at) gmail (dot) com. Thanks!)
North American Food
One thing I know I really miss when we are over here in Germany, well, besides the sunny weather :), is good ol' American junk food! Germany has a good assortment of snacks as well, most of which can be found at the larger grocery and specialty stores (Real, Kaufland, Galleria Kaufhof). But there are some, what I would call 'necessities', that cannot be found in any store. But not to worry, there is hope. I have gathered a few American/Canadian/British online food shops below. The companies have a great assortment of candy, chips, soft drinks and other comforts from home. And while I realize that they are usually more expensive than what you would pay at home, the are still worth their weight in gold when you are craving the good stuff.
Online Shops
Import Laden: http://importladen.de/
- Good selection and reliable. I have ordered from them a few times with no problems
British American Food: http://www.british-american-food.de/
-Obvs, has a good variety of British and American food. I find their prices a bit higher than other sites, but then again they have some unique items you can't find anywhere else.
Trend Jumpers: http://trendjumpers.de/
- I have ordered from these guys as well too, and they are reliable and quick to ship.
I know there are many more out there, but I don't want to recommend an unreliable source. OH, and also for liquor (the hub's loves Crown Royal and no liquor shops had it available the first couple of years)
Spiri Shop: http://shop.afterbuy.de/public/start.aspx?suid=836
Food items that can be found in stores (read: don't buy these online, save yourself the shipping and find them in your town, if the stores are available there):
- Peanut Butter - and usually a variety of brands. Yes, I realize it isn't Jiff, but all of the kinds I have tried have been pretty tasty
- Pancake Mix - even comes in a handy shake-up bottle. Normally found in the baking aisle
- Chocolate Syrup - I have found it at Real and the bigger Edeka's
- Baking Soda - this was a new one that I hadn't seen in Germany before. If you still can't find it, then just substitute "Kaiser Natron" which is Germany's version of the stuff.
- American Cereals - you might have to shop around, but most are available in German grocery stores.
- Regular Dr. Pepper - if you are lucky, and have a big Real around
- Yellow Mustard - It might not be French's, it is usually Plochman's which I think is yummy too.
- BBQ Sauces - of all brands, Jack Daniels, HP, etc.
- Most American/Canadian Candy Bars - but the BIG exceptions being Reece's, PayDay's and Candy Corn, oh my how I love candy corn
- Cake/Muffin Mixes - these are very limited, but if you are lucky, your Real/Galleria Kaufhof might just have a few there for you.
- Doritos/Pringles - I love how what we call the "Cool Ranch" flavor at home is called "Cool American" here. Yeeeaaah we are!
- Marshmallows - typically found in the candy aisle
- Cheese Wiz - Both Edeka and Real carries this goodness/grossness in a can
- Salsa - There are many different brands in Germany. None of them are as good as homemade salsa, well duh, but they suffice for the time being
- Tabasco/Hot Sauce - readily available
- Ranch/Caesar Dressing - Both dressings by Newman's Own (no luck on finding Hidden Valley), although the Caesar is easier to find than the ranch
- Off Brand Mac and Cheese - while you are hard pressed to find Kraft, the Parade brand is available in many stores
- Maple Syrup - and for all you die hards, it is real and from Canada
- Beef Jerkey
- Cheddar Cheese and 'American' Cheese - cheddar cheese you can usually find in hunks behind the cheese counter, and 'American' Cheese, or what we have found the closest, is called 'Chester' Cheese and it come in the presliced and wrapped slices just like at home.
And the list could go on and on. Expansions coming, I promise :)
Coming up next, Learning the Laundry Lingo
