Pasteypoms Posted November 24, 2014 Share Posted November 24, 2014 We are moving to Melbourne in 5 weeks !!! :-) and I was just wondering what food items are hard to come by in oz, ie marmite? We have a favourite chutney hear I know it sounds mad but can I take it in my hand luggage? Also chocolate?. Thanks jx Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
boganbear Posted November 24, 2014 Share Posted November 24, 2014 Unbelievably they do sell chocolate in Australia. It can be difficult to get some foods and you can get marmite at Coles but it's called our mate but both Woollies and Coles selections are pretty poor and expensive like Alpen for $10 and there are specialist shops. I had to get my dad to send packets of bread sauce until I learned to make it myself. After 6 years here I finally found sandwich spread but you are living in a far away country and just have to get used to Aussie food. You can bring food in but must declare it Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
calNgary Posted November 24, 2014 Share Posted November 24, 2014 The chocolate here doesnt taste the same as UK chocolate but i still wouldnt bring any,it will probably melt before you even get out of the airport,loland you may have hassle with customs (you will definately ned to declare foodstuffs). TBH There really isnt much you can't get here,Woolys, Coles and even some IGAs have UK sections and then there are UK shops dotted around , even on-line,, yes you have to look for some things and pay more for it but it is out there ,except Bury Black Pudding, there is just no comparison,lol. We have been here 8 years and have adjusted taste buds for most things now,i still can't help but dribble at some UK brands though,lol.. Cal x Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
seraphim Posted November 24, 2014 Share Posted November 24, 2014 We are moving to Melbourne in 5 weeks !!! :-) and I was just wondering what food items are hard to come by in oz, ie marmite? We have a favourite chutney hear I know it sounds mad but can I take it in my hand luggage? Also chocolate?. Thanks jx You'll adapt. Things are different but you'll find local brands that will do and it'll be cheaper than importing! I can't tell the difference between vegemite and marmite (I'm sure others can!) Things just taste a little different I'm not a fan of the chocolate here as much as it is made differently for different climatic conditions but still tastes like chocolate, and if it's what you have then it's what you get used to! Theres a few things we could not find easily and I suppose miss but we've just bought local stuff and we buy seasonal and local a lot more here than when we lived in Leicestershire and could just get anything at any time of year from tesco! Aldi is a welcome sight from home and the layout is the same! And and early welcome to Oz for 5 weeks time! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest Posted November 24, 2014 Share Posted November 24, 2014 Chutney - you can get some good supermarket brands here and its the sort of thing you can buy at any number of farmers markets in any Australian Town. I particularly like a curry / spicy chutney. Explore and make your own. Chocolate. The usual Lindt and Green & Blacks are the same texture the world over (Even ALDI) Look for brands made in New Zealand if you dont like the other Ozzie waxy chocolate and also there are numerous shops in the major cities that do imported Chocolate. There are some great indepenent cholatiers here too that have good product. Its always a nightmare getting food stuffs through an immigration though :- 0 We are moving to Melbourne in 5 weeks !!! :-) and I was just wondering what food items are hard to come by in oz, ie marmite? We have a favourite chutney hear I know it sounds mad but can I take it in my hand luggage? Also chocolate?. Thanks jx Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
weaver Posted November 24, 2014 Share Posted November 24, 2014 There's a chocolatier in Perth that does the most yummy chocolate. I'm sure there will be one in Melbourne too Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Lindor Posted November 24, 2014 Share Posted November 24, 2014 I bring Bisto Onion gravy granules, you can get some Bisto but not the onion one. Gravox is diabolical, watery and no matter how much you use, it won't thicken up. I haven't tried any other Aussie gravy. I also bring Douwe Egberts coffee for my filter machine as I haven't found it here and I once brought some Thornton's chocolate. I've never had a problem bringing foodstuffs in, I declared it on my passenger card, they asked what I had, then sent me on my way without even looking at it. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Pasteypoms Posted November 24, 2014 Author Share Posted November 24, 2014 Thanks boganbear, maybe I should of explained the chocolate thing a bit better lol x Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
H283 Posted November 24, 2014 Share Posted November 24, 2014 Is it just me or does the tea in Australia seem grey? We have tried a lot of different brands and they just dont brew the same! (We have found Dilmah is the best brand and closely resembles the decent tea you get in the UK.) Failing that, you can buy a box of Yorkshire tea in the UK section of woolied for $8! First world problems..... Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Geebs1963 Posted December 19, 2014 Share Posted December 19, 2014 Similar to other posts earlier I'm fortunate in that I get to travel in/out of Oz as part of my job so can bring things in with me - as long as you declare on your immigration card that you've got something in your bags you'll be fine. They'll ask you what you've got and 99 times from 100 they'll simply wave you through. What they are after is any raw meat/sausage (if your on an Eastern European flight) or things like herbal teas (especially if you're travelling in from China as I often do) as these type of things can bring in harmful bugs. Anything that is pre-packed (like chocolate or chutney!) is fine and even if they ask you to open your bag they'll take a quick look and wave you on your way. Don't be tempted to try to bring anything in without marking it on your card (I really can't stress that enough!) as they frequently have sniffer dogs and random bag checks so at the very least you'll lose whatever it was you tried to bring in, worse you can be fined quite heavily and, heaven forbid, get yourself a criminal record which, if your coming in on a 457 visa, means you can kiss permanent residency goodbye! My kids love Galaxy/Thorntons chocolate from the UK - you can get Galaxy over here but it really doesn't taste the same. The one big taste disappointment for me was Aussie bacon as it's partly smoked before packaging and it really doesn't taste like British/Danish bacon - after being here for 2 years Coles started to offer "British" style bacon and it's heaven! (though you have to be quick when you spot it as the Brits are all over it as soon as they put in othe shelves!) Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
docboat Posted December 19, 2014 Share Posted December 19, 2014 Really, I don't know how we manage to eat in Australia. It just isn't like home, is it? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest Posted December 19, 2014 Share Posted December 19, 2014 Really, I don't know how we manage to eat in Australia. It just isn't like home, is it? No, I find most of it is better in oz. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Geebs1963 Posted December 19, 2014 Share Posted December 19, 2014 Australian is food is wonderful but sometimes you miss a bit of what you've grown up with! Being from NE England, where it rains 364 days of the year, I was a habitual salad dodger but over in Brisbane once you've fired the barbie up nothings better with some steak than fresh salad. I've also discovered the joy that is "Beer Chicken" whereby you shove a half emptied beer can up a chickens posterior then BBQ it for about 30-40 minutes - absolute bliss! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Savitar Posted December 24, 2014 Share Posted December 24, 2014 Food is fine to bring with you. Almost anything will pass customs as long as you declare it. Only unprocessed meat, fruit or dairy products from bird flu infect countries normally get kept. Chocolate, marmite etc all all just fine, bring as much as you like..... I say go for it, you will never regret bringing it and a little taste of home can help the transition.... Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest Posted December 24, 2014 Share Posted December 24, 2014 I used to avoid British food…when in Rome and all that, and then I realised that I ate Italian food, Indian food, Thai food etc. so why on earth not British! By the time I came to my senses though the only thing I really missed was chocolate. Coming back to the UK I found I missed Australian food so no pleasing me and my son will be excited to find Nerds in his Christmas stocking, they were actually from the US section of the supermarket but he won't know Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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