Americans expats -- what American foods/brands are you buying in Thailand?

[Number 6]

I've no special affinity for American brands, in fact I avoid them. European jams are always betters than American.

 

I only buy western food as a total treat, therefore I also only pick it up when it's hugely discounted. Further, I buy that I fancy when it's on sale. So, if chocolate is no on sale, I won't buy it until it is. I only buy cookies discounted. Same with cheese.

 

I avoid Casino brand. Despite the French arrogance toward food, all Casino brand foods are rubbish.

 

There are a number of foods I won't buy discounted at big C. Often it's spoiled product (cheese, meats). I'm tired of being ripped off.

 

Don't buy dented cans. We've all heard the drama about boutilism but I've actually seen an expanded can at xxxxx.

 

American processed foods are utter crap. Heinz ketchup that lasts a year is about the only must have murcan food on my list although I sometimes buy fire Cheetos for long plane flights .

 

[Suradit69]

1 hour ago, bubba45 said:

I'll get a photo of the packing.

Thanks. If you can, please PM the photo to me so I'm sure to see it. I'd appreciate it.

[adammike]

I have Italian EV olive oil and cider vinegar, new Zealand cheddar,rolled oats, muesli from Australia, himalayan sea salt Nepal,ground coffee Thailand, cinnamon powder packed in Spain!,tea bags from Sri Lanka, tabasco USA, just finished mcvities plain chocolate digestives.

[chicowoodduck]

I am trying to make America great again by buying only Thai....lol...??

[bubba45]

28 minutes ago, TallGuyJohninBKK said:

Just a caution about "American" chocolates here, I stay clear of Mars brand products such as Snickers bars because, for some reason that's inexplicable to me, they're actually made in China and it says so in tiny print on the package labels. Never seen a U.S. manufactured Snickers bar on sale in Thailand. Do I want a Snickers bar made in China? NO!

 

Likewise, I think there may be a similar issue with some Hershey's products here. My wife just got a tin of Hershey's Kisses chocolates at home as a gift, and if you look at the metal box packaging, it's 100% in Thai language, and the only location listed is an address in Bangkok.

 

I love Oreo cookies but try to avoid the HFCS.  The last time I looked the ones in Thailand are made in Indonesia, and obviously Nabisco ships HFCS to Indonesia for use in the recipe.  I'd love to try an Oreo made with sugar, but maybe not in my lifetime.

I actually found some Oreos from Japan in a store here in CM, thought maybe they were made w/out HFCS.  Not to be, even those had it.  And they had a distinctly different taste than American Oreos.

Yep, gotta check those labels closely!

[bubba45]

I'm one that's not on the Heinz bandwagon.  While most thai ketchups suck, I like Roza ketchup.  I like Roza chili sauce, too.  Give them a try if you never have.

[TallGuyJohninBKK]

2 hours ago, Suradit69 said:

Well yes, if you ignore the O/P's question about "are you buying in Thailand" ... I wish I could have a Chicago made pizza, deli made pastrami, "real" bagels, a Chicago made Italian beef and sausage combo, Chicago Polish sausage, the American version of English muffins, the American version of Chinese restaurant food ... etc.

 

BTW, to the poster earlier who bemoaned the lack of American style English muffins here (meaning Thomas' nook and cranny style), if you find a local McDonald's branch that has a breakfast menu, once you get them broken in, they'll sell you a bag of a dozen frozen English muffins that pretty well meet that criteria, albeit at their regular menu price, like 32 baht per muffin.

 

It would be great, though, if someone would think to start importing frozen packages of Thomas' English muffins.

 

On a recent trip back to the U.S., I was hunting in the supermarket aisles, and came across the Thomas' muffins section, and they must have had a half dozen different versions or more -- regular, high protein, light, with cranberries, whole wheat, etc etc.  I guess next time, I could buy a bunch, put them in my luggage, and then freeze them when I get back here... But with McDonald's working now, I save my luggage space for other more pressing needs where there are NO good local alternatives.

Edited February 5, 2018 by TallGuyJohninBKK

[Crossy]

On 2/3/2018 at 3:06 PM, StreetCowboy said:

Vimto’s A bit English, from Manchester, I believe

Indeed it is, it's also an anagram of "vomit"

 

[phkauf]

Once every few months I get a jones for Fritos. There's nothing equivalent I found.

Villa has it for 199 baht a bag, but the heart wants what the heart wants! If only there was a Trader Joe's here so much to get there. 

I wish I could find Pork Roll (Taylor Ham), but that's hard to find outside of NJ. That's some damn fine stuff.

 

[TallGuyJohninBKK]

50 minutes ago, TallGuyJohninBKK said:

Just a caution about "American" chocolates here, I stay clear of Mars brand products such as Snickers bars because, for some reason that's inexplicable to me, they're actually made in China and it says so in tiny print on the package labels. Never seen a U.S. manufactured Snickers bar on sale in Thailand. Do I want a Snickers bar made in China? NO!

 

Likewise, I think there may be a similar issue with some Hershey's products here. My wife just got a tin of Hershey's Kisses chocolates at home as a gift, and if you look at the metal box packaging, it's 100% in Thai language, and the only location listed is an address in Bangkok.

 

 

Yikes, mentioning Mars brand made me think of my favorite Peanut M&Ms, and sure enough, the Thai version also manufactured in CHINA!

 

OK, I think it's about time we put a stop to this New World Order thing....

 

 

 

[TallGuyJohninBKK]

1 hour ago, EddieBaBaBoBo said:

M&Ms - plain & peanut - from anywhere

Made in China here... see above.

 

1 hour ago, EddieBaBaBoBo said:

 

Wish I could find Dr. Pepper locally...

Usually stocked in Villa Markets in BKK... not sure about out in the Villa province locations.

 

[JSixpack]

HP Sauce. Recently a forum Brit thought I as a Mercun wasn't qualified to comment on that product, not realizing its owned by H. J. Heinz, headquartered in Pittsburgh.

[CGW]

On 2/4/2018 at 1:12 PM, Jingthing said:

These Italians seem to like Pop Tarts more than I do.

I guess it's no wonder so many people, especially Europeans, have a bad impression of American food if they think it's really only this processed and canned garbage.

When you see the sheer volume of Americans its not difficult to have a negative impression regarding their consumption choices! The British are fast following suit, the Thai's are helping the cause also!

[bubba45]

47 minutes ago, TallGuyJohninBKK said:

 

Yikes, mentioning Mars brand made me think of my favorite Peanut M&Ms, and sure enough, the Thai version also manufactured in CHINA!

 

OK, I think it's about time we put a stop to this New World Order thing....

 

 

 

Wow.  I won't buy anything I know is made in China.  Simply not trustworthy.

[Mac98]

Corn flakes (other varieties 3-5 times price in USA)

Snickers

Any USA pickles (hard to find)

Any USA instant coffee

Any USA mayo

Diet Coke

 

 

 

 

 

[TallGuyJohninBKK]

8 minutes ago, Mac98 said:

Diet Coke

 

Aren't all the soft drink varieties manufactured by Coke and Pepsi that are sold in Thailand, for the most part, bottled here by Thai manufacturers?  One exception, I believe, is Villa Markets sell some U.S. soft drink brands that are imported from abroad, like Dr. Pepper.

 

Perhaps we need to make a distinction in this thread between:

 

A. American foods made in the U.S.

 

vs

 

B. American brands manufactured in foreign countries.

 

For example, I'm not going to buy Mars chocolates made in China, because as Bubba mentioned above, I don't trust the quality control there, especially for food/drink products. And although I'm not a big soft drinks drinker, if I was, I'm not sure I'd be anxious to buy my Coke or Pepsi from the local Thai bottler.

 

[Suradit69]

46 minutes ago, JSixpack said:

HP Sauce. Recently a forum Brit thought I as a Mercun wasn't qualified to comment on that product, not realizing its owned by H. J. Heinz, headquartered in Pittsburgh.

I remember once someone from Scotland saying something about Heinz (baked beans or whatever) and started to explain what they were to me. I pointed out (after a little checking)  that Heinz started up in the US in the 1800's and exported their products to UK and it wasn't until the 1930's that some production began in UK.

 

Somewhat off topic, the same thing happened when a Scottish agriculture teacher in Africa and I happened across a Caterpillar tractor. He announced that Caterpillar was a Scottish company and asked if we had any Caterpillar machinery in the US.

 

 

[Suradit69]

11 minutes ago, TallGuyJohninBKK said:

A. American foods made in the U.S.

 

vs

 

B. American brands manufactured in foreign countries.

 

Certainly a distinction when it comes to American branded pizza outlets here, for example.  Not even remotely the same product that you'd get in the US.

[unclueng]

3 hours ago, JayBird said:

Barbasol shaving cream.

Oscar Meyer sliced turkey

Hunts tomato paste

 

 

Wish I could find corn dogs.

Barbasol is available at Tesco

 

[unclueng]

7 hours ago, gbob said:

Miracle Whip

I bought Miracle Whip at Tops in Suphanburi yesterday.

 

[TallGuyJohninBKK]

2 hours ago, Mac98 said:

 

Snickers

 

Any USA pickles (hard to find)

 

Diet Coke

 

Snickers sold in Thailand are made in China. Most people probably don't even realize.

 

Villa Markets in BKK at least usually/sometimes stock Vlasic brand sliced pickles.

 

Coke products sold here are made and bottled in Thailand.

 

Edited February 5, 2018 by TallGuyJohninBKK

[peterb17]

7 hours ago, Jingthing said:

I also like Tabasco and use it sometimes in restaurants, but at home to hot things up I use fresh local chilies (including jalapenos) and Thai brands Sriracha.

 

Jingthing Hi

 

Hate to say the Sriracha sauce which I like is made in America ( with chilies from California) 

Maybe there is a Thai version , but the one in the clear plastic bottle is definitely American - bit annoying they call it Sriracha! 

[yogavnture]

hersheys cocoa . but i buy it in india. thai prices are thru the roof. if i could get organic sunmaid raisins here i would buy them for my mango and oat breakfast

[Jingthing]

 
Jingthing Hi
 
Hate to say the Sriracha sauce which I like is made in America ( with chilies from California) 
Maybe there is a Thai version , but the one in the clear plastic bottle is definitely American - bit annoying they call it Sriracha! 

Yeah I think that's sold in Thailand now. I don't bother. In the US I mostly used that for Vietnamese Pho anyway.

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[Jingthing]

hersheys cocoa . but i buy it in india. thai prices are thru the roof. if i could get organic sunmaid raisins here i would buy them for my mango and oat breakfast

Indeed it is but I gotta have it.

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[JAFO]

I seldom want or need American food however on occasion I will stop at a Villa Market for some Fritos or Tostitos chips  I make up my own Salsa here.  Easy and all the fresh ingredients are in our garden

.

I also will buy up some Hormel Chili Beans and Rosarito spicy refried beans along with pepper jack cheese as occasionally I will make Nachos.

 

It's funny when I visit the US I usually only eat Mexican food or Vietnamese Pho , I do not ever eat McD's, BK, Carl's Jr or any chain food crap. It's tasteless to me. 

 

In my suitcases I never bring food products back.  I do however stash away some goooooood Anejo Tequila. You cannot ever find that here or in any SEA country..

 

[adammike]

4 hours ago, JSixpack said:

HP Sauce. Recently a forum Brit thought I as a Mercun wasn't qualified to comment on that product, not realizing its owned by H. J. Heinz, headquartered in Pittsburgh.

It originally was produced in the UK and was then aquired by a French company who sold it on to heinz,its now made in the Netherlands. 

[unblocktheplanet]

10 hours ago, Jeffrey346 said:

I am looking for canned White Tuna. Brands like Bumble Bee or Starkist.

Has anyone seen any Canned White Tuna here in Thailand?

Ayam Brand, solid white albacore packed in EVOO ~B60. Delish!

[unblocktheplanet]

So when are we going to get Costco, Trader Joe's, Whole Foods, Walmart?!?

 

For decades, I carried a suitcase full of Cheez-Its and kept them in Zip-Locs in my chest freezer. Then Villa started carrying them for a while, and even Tops once or twice, but haven't seen them here for years.

 

Any leads, please!

[inThailand]

Horseradish mustard