Graham Crackers in the UK: An Update
Since my posts on British Graham Cracker substitutes seem to be quite popular, I thought I’d draw your attention to a recent comment from Samantha Faulkner on my last post. According to Samantha, Tesco, the grocery store chain in the UK, is stocking Graham Crackers in their “World Food” aisle. She says this is happening in most stores, and you should find them there along with marshmallows. I checked the Tesco website, and sure enough, there are seven pages of “American Foods” you can buy from them (see HERE). Hopefully they’re all available from your local store. According to the site, a box of Graham Crackers is £5.50 (= $9.26 at the current exchange rate). The exact same box in Walmart here in the US will set you back $2.98 (= £1.77). So I think it’s fair to say you will pay considerably more for your Graham Crackers in the UK than we do over here. But if you’re desperate to try S’mores, that’s probably your best bet.
Over here, we have grocery stores with “World Food” or “Ethnic Food” aisles, usually stocked with Mexican, Indian, Asian, and British food brands. Among the Brit foods, I’ve seen Weetabix, Heinz Baked Beans, Marmite, and Hobnobs. You can expect to pay a lot more for them here than in the UK, but sometimes that extra expense is worth it for the nostalgia–or simply because there’s nothing that compares to a Hobnob with your cup of tea. The thought of American foods like Graham Crackers, Pop Tarts, and grits being shelved as if they’re some kind of exotic, ethnic food seems weird… but I suppose it’s no less strange than seeing “ethnic” Brit food over here.
I hope this is helpful to you. Happy shopping, and please let me know how you get on finding Graham Crackers, and if you buy some, what do you think?
UPDATE (as of March 5, 2015): See Lee’s comment below. I searched Tesco’s site and they still list Graham Crackers (5.50 a box). Of course, that doesn’t mean you’ll be able to get them at your local Tesco’s. As he says, if you hunt around and are willing to pay, I’m sure you’ll find them. Please comment if you’ve found Graham Crackers in the UK elsewhere!
UPDATE #2 (as of November 16, 2015): See Carol Palmer’s comment below. It seems Tesco’s no longer sell Graham Crackers. Keep us posted if this should change, or if you should see them elsewhere in the UK.
UPDATE #3 (as of April 11, 2016): Amazon.co.uk is now selling Graham Crackers. You can even buy a S’mores kit from them including Graham Crackers, marshmallows, and Hershey bars! See Jayne’s comment below.
As far as I know, there is only two shops that have graham crackers in my city in Japan, and they are very expensive. I have bought some only a few times.
I find it odd that you can’t find them everywhere, since Nabisco make so many other things that are manufactured and sold internationally. From the response to my posts, I would think Graham Crackers would be more universally available. It’s a shame they cost so much outside the US.
I just browsed the page of American foods and, if I was basing my knowledge of the country on the results, I would say Americans love cereal and candy. In my case, that’s actually pretty accurate 🙂
I’m not sure I’ve ever seen British foods in my grocery store – I’ll have to check next time I’m in there. It’s a regional chain in a small town, though, so I’m doubtful.
And you’re right, seems so funny to think about Pop-tarts and the like being shelved as “exotic.”
Kroger used to be our “go-to” place for international food, but all the Kroger stores here closed a few years ago. Now it’s either Harris Teeter (do you have Harris Teeter in VA?) or one of the small Indian/Asian food stores that might stock Brit food products.
Can you imagine, there are Brits that have NEVER had a Pop Tart, or tried S’mores?
Yep, we have Harris Teeter, although I’ve never actually been in one – think the closest is about an hour from me.
Mmm…S’mores. I am now seriously regretting not grabbing the fixins’ from the display I passed in Kmart the other day 🙂
Can I just say, Pop Tarts are widely available in the UK, but only really the chocolate and strawberry flavours. All the fancy ones are really expensive and found in the world food aisle. I eat lots of Pop Tarts (they are delicious!) But I’ve never had a s’more.
I’m intrigued to know which UK foods are considered “exotic” in the US. I don’t really know why anyone in the US would want any british food since american food always looks so much bigger and better! Each to their own I guess.. 🙂
I think for many Americans, there’s a novelty to Brit foods, though I certainly think it’s worth a trip to the UK for Brit pastries and real chips. Not to mention the pub grub (I well remember the “man-size” Yorkshire puddings at the pub in Skidby we used to visit when I was a student at Hull Uni), or getting chip butties and beans on toast in a naff caff.
As an ex-pat Brit, there are a number of things I miss that you can’t get over here (except in the “world food” aisles at exorbitant prices): Branston Pickle, Salad Cream, Picalilly, Double Deckers, Mars Bars (US Mars Bars are not the same), Hobnobs, Jammie Dodgers, Ready Brek, Cream Crackers… I could go on!
It’s true, people usually think of France or Italy as places to go for food, but the UK has some very distinct (and tasty) food offerings, too. Maybe it takes being 3,500 miles away to appreciate it? 🙂
Thanks for your comment, Soph!
Cherry bakewells! I could never leave them behind!
ENGLISH SAUSAGES, PORK. TEA BAGS FROM TETLEY, DIGESTIVE BISCUITS, SALAD CREAM, PICKLED ONIONS, JAFFA ORANGE BISCUITS, CHRISTMAS PUD.
Yup yup yup… now I’m hungry! Thanks, Delia. 🙂
British chocolate is better. I usually get British chocolate at Christmas if it can be found. When ever a family member goes to the UK we send them with a candy list.
I need to try proper S’mores soon! 😀 I can’t waaaiiit.
Well, it looks like Tescos will provide you with the complete kit: Graham Crackers, marshmallows, and Hershey bars! 🙂 Sure, you might need to take out a second mortgage to buy them, but it’s worth it, isn’t it? 😉
No, Hershey bars are disgusting
I don’t mind Hershey’s, but Cadbury’s is best. However, if you want an authentic American S’more, you ought to use Hershey’s chocolate.
Someone once brought some Hershey Kisses into work after a US holiday. They hung around for at least a week. I think someone eventually binned them. They had a really unpleasant aftertaste.
While Hershey’s chocolate isn’t my favorite, I’ve never found it to have an aftertaste–maybe it doesn’t travel well? But if you’ve been brought up on Cadbury’s, nothing else really compares… 🙂
After living in the uk, i cant eat hersheys anymore. I fond it has a chemical aftertaste. That said, I find cadburys too sweet. I prefer lindt or, if youre looking for hershey almost substitute, a ritter with caramelised almonds is so good!
the aftertaste butyric acid – its created when preserving the milk they add.
Unfortunately, Cadbury’s is now US owned (Mostly) & they’ve changed the ingredients – tastes bad
Like most US chocolate !!
I’m afraid to report that Tesco no longer stock Graham Crackers. Having just returned from Vegas where I visited the Cheesecake Factory I was actually searching for butterfinger bars to recreate the Adams peanut butter cheesecake, and was led to link showing that Tesco stocked these. However neither the online store or my local store has any (I did find them in a specialist candy store at a mere £1.20($1.80) a bar). However whilst also searching for the elusive graham cracker to use for the crust of some other cheesecakes I stumbled on your blog was excited to hear that Tesco stock it, but having checked their website it seems they no longer do. I have however found that a box can be ordered on Amazon form various suppliers ranging from £5.99($9.20) up to around £7.99($12), (you can also buy butterfinger bars and other hard to get American products on there as we’ll). So it’s no longer quite so easy as picking it off the shelf, and certainly not cheap, but is available if your looking for the true authentic product.
Thank you for this update, Lee. I’ve added an addendum to the article.
Amazon has them – http://www.amazon.co.uk/s/ref=nb_sb_noss_1/279-3200116-9781822?url=search-alias%3Daps&field-keywords=graham%20crackers&sprefix=graham+c%2Caps
Another option might be to have someone in the US ship them to you, or make them yourself.
http://www.foodnetwork.com/recipes/alton-brown/graham-crackers-recipe.html
Maybe you could get a local bakery to make them for you. How is it that you guys can survive without S’mores or cheesecake?
Thanks, Hannah. Great suggestion about making your own. Crumbled Digestives can substitute quite well for a Graham Cracker cheesecake crust. The problem really comes with finding a substitute for the cracker when making S’mores. There doesn’t seem to be anything else like it.
I have been wondering the answer to this question for sometime so thank you for the interesting article (s)!
Can amyone tell me if the breakfast cereal Golden Grahams are anything like Graham Crackers. These are small square cereals which I think may resember mini versions pf the biscuit…
From the number of hits this page gets, it seems I’m the only person addressing this topic, so I’m glad this was helpful to you, Vicky! 🙂
As you say, “Golden Grahams” is a breakfast cereal that’s *supposed* to be like little Graham Crackers. However, aside from being much smaller than the average Graham Cracker, they are sweeter, and sturdier. If you were to pour milk over a Graham Cracker, it would get mushy really quickly. So despite the name, “Golden Grahams” doesn’t really serve as a good point of reference for either the taste or the consistency of a Graham Cracker.
Hey guys. Golden grahams have cinnamon in them as well. I am trying to track down some Graham crackers but it is difficult over here lol. I promise I will make it over to the US one day. I can’t wait to try out all these things you have over there.
Just an update Tesco do still stock Graham crackers at £5.50. I have just checked their online shopping.
Thanks for that, Donna! 🙂
Tesco no longer sell them
Thanks for the update, Carol. Hopefully someone will keep us posted should that change, or if anyone should find them elsewhere.
On Amazon.co.uk you can buy Graham Crackers from £5.20. You can also get a complete S’mores DIY kit containing Graham Crackers, Hersheys and Marshmallow Fluff for £16.72 or £15.88 if you subscribe.
http://www.amazon.co.uk/Smores-Marshmallow-Original-Hersheys-Chocolate/dp/B00D4WAWYU/ref=sr_1_4?ie=UTF8&qid=1460391447&sr=8-4&keywords=graham+cracker
Thank you for this update, Jayne. I have added an update to the article. 🙂
American company B&M now based in uk seem to sell US popular items including hersheys, giant mallow and Graham biscuits.
B&M is not an american company. It was founded in blackpool UK. I work there and have literally 5 minutes ago tried the smores kit out. It was amaaaziinnngggg! Definitely worth the £2.99
And more American foods arriving every week
Smores kit now at b&m
Skip the S’mores .. you all need to try Flapper Pie, a Canadian Prairie dessert that is utterly YUMMY!
Funny that people want to try the s’mores and find them exotic. I’m American and could mostly do without, since they’re just such a sugar bomb with the marshmallow and the Hershey’s. I do like graham crackers, but not enough to pay those outrageous prices for them.
S’mores are a really fun(ny) camping ritual: 1. Try to toast your marshmallow on a stick over the fire and accidentally catch it on fire; 2. Blow your flaming marshmallow out; 3. Try slapping it and the Hershey’s pieces between the graham crackers; 4. Try eating it and you get marshmallow goo all over your fingers and the chocolate isn’t really too melted; 5. Try to find someplace to wipe your hands (like grass) or wash them with a tiny bit of water from a canteen; 6. Repeat making and eating till you feel really ill; 7. Accidentally touch your hair at some point to get it glued together with melted marshmallow.
To me it’s more about the insane camping experience than s’mores actually being anything delicious. And if you make them in your home kitchen, you miss all that fun, so really not much of a point for something that is just super-sugary and not that super delicious.