Ok, Another question because I'm always thinking of either traveling or food. I thought I'd bring back some tea and something sweet for my office. Any suggestions for brands of tea to buy and affordable treats to have with it for an office of 20 people?

I personally like Fortum & Mason's tea. Several wonderful flavors to choose from. Also they have some wonderful cookies (biscuits). If it's good enough for the Queen, it's good enough for me.

I personally like Fortnum & Mason's tea. Several wonderful flavors to choose from. Also they have some wonderful cookies (biscuits). If it's good enough for the Queen, it's good enough for me.

No need to get all posh and hoity-toity. Even if you went to the local Tesco or Sainsbury's you would be able to find fantastic biscuits like Jaffa Cakes, Hob Nobs, Penguin, Chocolate Digestives, the likes of which are not to be found outside the U K. Likewise, you can get good tea from the same places. Go for a brand like Yorkshire Tea, Twinings or the 'premium' home-brand ranges. <BR> <BR>British chocolate seems to have its fans abroad too. It certainly tastes different from that from other countries.

If you go to a local supermarket like the above poster suggested, it is true you can find many 'authentic' things.<BR>PG Tips is a typical tea that many locals have at home and in their offices. Also, pick up some digestive biscuits to go with it-there are several plain ones but also many with a chocolate coating which are really nice.<BR><BR>Another tea idea is Whittard. It is sort of like the tea answer to Starbuck's. But, they are all over London and have good stuff.

Not to mislead you about Whittard, different from Starbuck's in that they don't serve food or beverage, but similar in that they are a chain where you can buy all the tea and accoutrements one might need.

I adore Thornton's Toffee. You can get it at any Thornton's candy store, but I remember the one located in Covent Garden best. Also, they have stores located at the airports at the same cost.

When I go away I bring back snacks and sweets from a supermarket ... e.g. peanut butter M&Ms and Oreo cookies (in the days before they were available here)from the states, madeleine cakes, biscuits and chocolates from France, etc etc.<BR><BR>If your office friends like tea, some supermarkets have this pick and mix where you can buy any 10 different flavour teabags for x amount, and choose from regular, early gray and all sorts of fruits.<BR><BR>Alternatively twinings sell mixed boxes of their fruit teas.<BR><BR>Whittard's do some wonderful loose leaf tea mixes. Supermarkets are better for teabags.<BR><BR>Kavey<BR><BR>

I answered this last night and the computer must have eaten it~<BR>I will repeat myself (as usual)<BR>I get Roses chocolates (the ones they don't sell in the US) at the market.I go to Harrods and get Harrods brand fruit teas,they are sooo good..also tea biscuits in nice little tins that a lot of people like to start collections with.And I bring for myself and special people, Harrods coffee,it is great.<BR>

Heathrow is my favorite shopping mall! haha!<BR><BR>I am always instructed to bring back dairy toffee, shortbread cookies and tea (Taylors of Harrogate is my fav). The question is, will they make it to the person who asked or will they get "lost" in my house? haha!

Hi Vita...I agree that Tesco is a great idea...I picked up many food items that arent't available here (US)...I also bought things at Woolworth's (Woolies) especially candy) that people loved receiving...Fortnum and Mason's royal blend is one of my favorites...it's worth a visit to their store, and Harrod's food court.

If its for work rather than for the appearance don't go to the expensive stores, its the same tea and the same biscuits in posh packaging for posh prices...

totally agree with kav. there's no need to spend double just for the name, especially when your co-workers will be happy simply to receive something different. you could do tea and biscuits, and/or a box of english toffee or the incredible chocolate that they have over here, whether it's english or european. but you'll be fine sticking with a supermarket. don't know where you'll be staying, but there is a tesco supermarket on oxford street i think in between bond st. and oxford circus tube stops and there's always marks and spencer ( a bit more expensive, but quintessentially english, nonetheless).