When You Eat Your Smarties

[Stuart and Thea 95]

I went to the store today with honey and he bought yet another pack of gummy bears, he's totally addicted. We got into the conversation about what candy can we really not stop ourselves from eating and for me, that's Swedish Berries. (wine gums a close second and haven't found a solution yet)

He didn't know what they were.

Uh oh...

We scoured the shelves at Walmart and I couldn't find any anywhere, little did I know they are primarily Canadian. Luckily for me... and hopefully you, maynard's makes Swedish FISH here!!!

They taste exactly the same as Swedish Berries, but they look like a fish, and have Swedish Fish imprinted on their side. YUM and YAY!

Now, I just need to fine a substitute for Maynard's or Basset's Wine Gums!

[Kathryn41 3,205]

I love Swedish Berries and Wine Gums as well - enough that it is probably a good thing that I haven't found a substitute for the Wine Gums !

Edited January 2, 2012 by Kathryn41

[SapphireDreams 71]

Wine Gums are hard to replace! I always buy a whole bunch when I'm home in Canada to get my fill. Like you said, it's probably a good thing that I don't have access to them on a regular basis!!

I ate a whole roll the other day... and probably could've eaten another one!!

Edited January 3, 2012 by SapphireDreams

[Colleens 40]

Some of our local Kroger grocery stores have a small British section and they usually have Maynards wine gums in there. I have seen them at World Market before as well. Not sure if you have either of those near you.

I find that the US doesn't have nearly as good a selection of candy/chocolate bars as Canada, and I am really shocked in the poor selection of cookies as well. This may be a regional thing, but here about 50% of the cookie section is some version of oreo's!! I had to get my parents to bring me some boxes of Arrowroot cookies for my LO when they were here recently! I would have loved to have the Dare Bear Paws as well, but they didn't have enough room to bring everything

[SapphireDreams 71]

Some of our local Kroger grocery stores have a small British section and they usually have Maynards wine gums in there. I have seen them at World Market before as well. Not sure if you have either of those near you.

I find that the US doesn't have nearly as good a selection of candy/chocolate bars as Canada, and I am really shocked in the poor selection of cookies as well. This may be a regional thing, but here about 50% of the cookie section is some version of oreo's!! I had to get my parents to bring me some boxes of Arrowroot cookies for my LO when they were here recently! I would have loved to have the Dare Bear Paws as well, but they didn't have enough room to bring everything

We actually have a really good British section here because I live in a very Irish neighbourhood. I am lucky enough to get Crunchie and Smarties if I want them! I haven't seen wine gums though! Need to look harder!

I have seen Arrowroot cookies here, but I wonder if they taste the same. Those are awesome cookies. I totally forgot about them!

[canada_socks 97]

As for cookies, I miss The Decadent Chocolate chip cookies by Presidents Choice.

Also, has anyone noticed that Heinz Ketchup is NOT the same here? I find it too sweet. My parents brought me 2 HUGE bottles of Ketchup from Canada when they just visited and we did a taste test. The American stuff is like, super red while Canadian Ketchup is more of a reddish brown. They also brought me Kraft Peanut Butter. Mmm.

I live in Maryland and can NOT find Bicks pickles anywhere. I miss them so much! Are they not found in the US? If not, I am bringing some back with me after my visit to Canada in May!

[Udella&Wiz 325]

The organics Heinz is quite close - I barely notice a difference and certainly much better then anything else I found...real sugar I use the Skippy Natural and it's a pretty good substitute.

Bicks is a Cdn brand...what style of pickle are you looking for? The Vlasco Bread and Butter aren't bad.

As for cookies, I miss The Decadent Chocolate chip cookies by Presidents Choice.

Also, has anyone noticed that Heinz Ketchup is NOT the same here? I find it too sweet. My parents brought me 2 HUGE bottles of Ketchup from Canada when they just visited and we did a taste test. The American stuff is like, super red while Canadian Ketchup is more of a reddish brown. They also brought me Kraft Peanut Butter. Mmm.

I live in Maryland and can NOT find Bicks pickles anywhere. I miss them so much! Are they not found in the US? If not, I am bringing some back with me after my visit to Canada in May!

[Colleens 40]

We actually have a really good British section here because I live in a very Irish neighbourhood. I am lucky enough to get Crunchie and Smarties if I want them! I haven't seen wine gums though! Need to look harder!

I have seen Arrowroot cookies here, but I wonder if they taste the same. Those are awesome cookies. I totally forgot about them!

Gerber makes an arrowroot cookie here for infants, but it is not quite the same. I love arrowroots too so it is really hard not getting into the box and eating them for myself!!

[canada_socks 97]

The organics Heinz is quite close - I barely notice a difference and certainly much better then anything else I found...real sugar I use the Skippy Natural and it's a pretty good substitute.

Bicks is a Cdn brand...what style of pickle are you looking for? The Vlasco Bread and Butter aren't bad.

I had been using the "Simply Heinz" variety, as it doesn't contain High Fructose Corn Syrup (I try to stay away from that). It tastes close to the Canadian stuff, but still not as good. I am a huge Ketchup junkie and I use it on a lot of stuff!

I am looking for the sweet mix pickles. I haven't found any that came close. I also miss the Garlic Dills and Polskie Ogorki. And Relish. I have tried a few brands down here but nothing seems to taste as good to me

[Marilyn. 340]

I buy the Hunts No HFCS Ketchup and it works fine for me..

[Udella&Wiz 325]

I had been using the "Simply Heinz" variety, as it doesn't contain High Fructose Corn Syrup (I try to stay away from that). It tastes close to the Canadian stuff, but still not as good. I am a huge Ketchup junkie and I use it on a lot of stuff!

I am looking for the sweet mix pickles. I haven't found any that came close. I also miss the Garlic Dills and Polskie Ogorki. And Relish. I have tried a few brands down here but nothing seems to taste as good to me

I am a 'no HFCS' kind fo girl too - try the Organic Heinz if that version doesn;t work out. The Vlasco Dills aren't bad, maybe try Whole Foods for somenatural brands too? I have learned that no one dwn here (VA, MD, DC) does relish well so I bring some back with me

My usual groery list includes:

NN Onions Rings

relish, PC Honey Dijon Dressing

some baking mixes

Campbell's Tomato and Mushroom soups

[canada_socks 97]

I am a 'no HFCS' kind fo girl too - try the Organic Heinz if that version doesn;t work out. The Vlasco Dills aren't bad, maybe try Whole Foods for somenatural brands too? I have learned that no one dwn here (VA, MD, DC) does relish well so I bring some back with me

My usual groery list includes:

NN Onions Rings

relish, PC Honey Dijon Dressing

some baking mixes

Campbell's Tomato and Mushroom soups

I never noticed a difference in the Campbells Tomato soup...mind you I haven't been putting crackers in it (I usually load them with Premium Plus crackers mmm).

Baking mixes are on my list for sure! Especially Tenderflake lard! My mom and I were making meat pies when she was here last week and the pie dough kept tearing! She always uses Monarch Cake and Pastry Flour and Tenderflake. We used Crisco and Giant brand flour. Doesn't work the way we like it!

[CDAgirlMI 51]

We actually have a really good British section here because I live in a very Irish neighbourhood. I am lucky enough to get Crunchie and Smarties if I want them! I haven't seen wine gums though! Need to look harder!

I have seen Arrowroot cookies here, but I wonder if they taste the same. Those are awesome cookies. I totally forgot about them!

Buying food in the British aisle can be different though...I bought Aero chocolate in the International aisle & it was definitely NOT the same as the Canadian one!! So now I stock up on that too.

[cdneh 3,112]

Before Christmas I hunted the aisles for French Cremes. You usually get them in a packet that has gumdrop sort of candy with them.

No dice. Although I did find them online at the Vermont Country Store. At $24.95 for 55 pieces I didn't get any. Heck..I could eat that many at a sitting

[Udella&Wiz 325]

Trader Joes in VA has some Dare products, sometimes our Giant does as well.