I'm an American living in the UK. I didn't expect grocery shopping to be filled with so many surprises.

"I was shocked to learn that half-and-half just doesn't exist in the UK, especially because my then-boyfriend (now husband) had seemingly been preparing my morning coffee with it for years before my move. Only after I expressed confusion about not being able to find it in the grocery store did I learn that he'd been mixing a custom blend of milk and cream for me all along."

"I've also noticed that Italian sausage is harder to find. I evidently took for granted how prevalent and relatively inexpensive it was in New York, and even in Michigan, where my parents live. Of course, pork sausage is popular in the UK, but I've found that the versions available here (such as the kind used in bangers and mash) are very different in texture and flavor."

A person who relocated from New York City to London in January 2025 discovered substantial differences in grocery shopping between the US and UK. Certain staple items common in America are unavailable or difficult to find in the UK, including half-and-half cream, which the person's husband had been custom-blending for years. Italian sausage is also harder to locate, with UK pork sausages differing significantly in texture and flavor from American versions. Additionally, UK grocery stores operate with shorter hours compared to the 24-hour availability the person experienced in New York City, requiring significant adjustment to shopping habits and routines.

Read at Business Insider