When cable TV broadcasts Wimbledon hosting the tennis championships, it's time for a British court-side tea of cucumber sandwiches, strawberries and cream. Which bring on British nostalgia. Missing Marmite? Pork pies? Or Bird's Custard? Need to lift the spirits with a nip of ginger wine?

A reader who has struggled over the years with suitcases full of British goodies finds it more expensive, however, than World Market in Fair Lakes, 703 502 9777, and its other branches at Pentagon Row and Kingstowne. This is a good source for PG Tips tea in pyramid bags at a good price. Typhoo tea lovers can find it there loose at around $3 for around 200g.

The manager of Rodman's Discount points out PG Tips can usually be found there, too, along with McVities biscuits and British Heinz Baked Beans - not as sweet as those canned in the US. Rodman's is a wacky drug, food and wine store at 5100 Wisconsin Ave NW, 202 363 3466, a treasury of gourmet items from cans of hearts of palm and Belgian chocolates to regular pantry staples at low prices. See also their branch at 5148 Nicholson Lane, Rockville, 301 881 6253.

Increasingly, though, British staples like Cadbury's biscuits, Weetabix and Coleman's Mustard are to be found on the shelves of larger supermarkets. The Super Fresh on Cherry Hill Road in Silver Spring also has quite a range of British goodies, from Topic bars, Kit Kats, McVities, baked beans, Bisto, custard and PG Tips." The Chevy Chase Supermarket on Connecticut Ave and Manor Drive just below the Beltway is an unexpected source of a great many British candies like Flake, Aero, etc. also fruit gums and the like. It also carries McVities biscuits.

Even more bizarrely, you can get these sweeties (that's what the Brits call them) from the convenience store located on the ground floor of the Washington Harbour office building complex in Georgetown.

Ribena, Horlicks and other British comforts can often be found at the big Korean groceries like H Mart in Merrifield and Wheaton and Korean Korner in Kensington as well as most small Indian markets.

1 Comment

1. Colleen

   I used to love the British Collection in Old Town. However, didn't they close a while back? I saw a creperie was opening in that spot; I was so sad to lose the British Connection I never checked back to see if the creperie suceeded.