Supermarkets in the UK and US have some noticeable differences and one American mum visited Tesco and labelled a bakery item that’s ordinary to Brits as ‘the greatest thing on Earth’
An American woman living in the UK with her British husband and their three daughters took her mum to Tesco to do a food shop, and she couldn’t be the price of everything. Jules and Tom live in Tiverton, Devon and are known on social media as @peachyfamilyuk.
They share differences between the US and the UK and Jules recently posted a video on TikTok taking her American mum, Lisa, to Tesco. It’s no surprise that supermarkets in the UK and America are quite different and during her visit to the popular British store Lisa questioned why everything was “so small.” Speaking in the clip, Jules said: “Let’s take my very American mom to Tesco.”
The first item they picked up was Ritz crackers, “an absolute staple in American households” but the mother and daughter “both had a little giggle because the box is about half the size here.”
Jules then reported that Lisa “loved the clothing section” as she browsed the F&F range and she shared that it reminds them both a lot of Target, a major retail company in the US known for its chain of stores that sell clothing, household goods, groceries, electronics and toys.
The American expat added: “Now the produce section looks just like what you would find in America with some sneaky little differences.
“I was feeling a little cheeky so I let her (Lisa) spend ages looking for arugula, it’s what we call rocket here in the UK and when she finally figured it out she was not very pleased with me.”
Jules realised that there were several products that have a different name in the US, for example courgettes, which Americans call zucchini, and an aubergine, which she grew up calling an eggplant.
Lisa picked up another vegetable and Jules admitted she couldn’t remember what it’s called in the UK but in the US it’s known as a rutabaga. British people call it a swede.
She continued: “My mom spotted the trifle and immediately knew she had to try it. It’s not really something we have in America and it’s such a little treasure.
“She recently discovered crumpets and she thinks they are the greatest thing on earth and I can’t say that she’s wrong.
“She’s got herself absolutely convinced that she has to try a crumpet with cream cheese and I cannot talk her out of it.”
The American mum and daughter then moved onto the aisle with Old El Paso products and took a look at a jar of salsa and tortilla chips.
Jules remarked: “I don’t know if everything here is small or if everything in America is just supersized because everything in this section was less than half the size you’d see back home.”
Exploring the meat offerings, the expat revealed that beef mince in the UK is what Americans just refer to as “hamburger” and breakfast muffins are known as “English muffins” in the US.
Jules noted: “The cost of groceries have gotten so expensive in America that she (Lisa) was very impressed by the prices here, even with the conversion it works out so much cheaper.”
The mother and daughter spent £100 on their Tesco but Jules believes it “probably would have been closer to £150 in America.”