Latest news with #PaigeWester
Daily Mirror
2 days ago
- General
- Daily Mirror
American in the UK visits Tesco and is baffled by one British item
A woman who moved to the UK from the United States has shared her experience shopping at a Tesco supermarket, including one British cupboard staple that baffles her An American woman who recently visited a Tesco supermarket has turned to social media to highlight for fellow Americans the big contrasts she noticed compared to stores back home. A lot of Americans share their experience of being in the UK now, and Paige Wester was one of the latest as she posted her shopping experience in a TikTok video where she claimed there are some things in UK supermarkets that would leave American shoppers gobsmacked. The first item she spotted is one that she can't get her head around. Showing boxes full of HP Sauce Paige said: 'Okay first things first, I need someone to tell me what brown sauce is and why doesn't it have a name? It's so bad that it's just named after the colour.' She explained that this condiment is a staple in British households. The American expat then pointed out what she considered the best invention to come out of England: shopping trolley wheels that rotate in all directions. She added that America 'definitely needs to take notes' because she thinks stores in the US really need these. Paige continued browsing the aisles of the store and remarked: 'British people absolutely love their peas but why on earth are there so many types of peas? 'On what occasion could you possibly need this many different types of peas? And the fact that you go and mush them and say it's edible is a disgrace.' Mushy peas is a well known British side dish that is commonly served alongside fish and chips. Next Paige explored an aisle full of squash and cordial and asked 'why British people won't drink water' without realising that these beverages are diluted with water. She then moved onto the bakery items and revealed: 'This is something that actually repulses me but why don't pastries have any covering? The American spotted fresh croissants and other varieties of bread and claimed they are 'in direct contact with everyone's germs' and shared that she believes this is 'so unsanitary' but acknowledged that she is no one to judge. After this Paige shared her confusion at British people eating prawn mayonnaise sandwiches and prawn cocktail crisps. As she paid for her shopping, the expat confessed: 'I know this is the lazy American in me, I'm well aware of that, but I miss people packing my groceries up for me.' She even admitted that she leaves the store 'sweating' because packing her own groceries stresses her out. In the caption of her TikTok post she wrote: 'I'm begging someone to tell me what brown sauce is…' Several Brits took to the comments section to enlighten her. One said: 'Brown sauce is a mix of tomatoes, vinegar, molasses, black pepper, dates and tamarind. 'It's tangy, a little sweet and a little peppery, great with bacon!' Another added: 'Brown sauce is similar to A1 steak sauce in America. I went down a rabbit hole to see if America had brown sauce.'
Daily Mail
11-07-2025
- Entertainment
- Daily Mail
American in the UK reveals the 'scary' food that's a staple in British households - but do YOU agree?
An American woman living in the UK has stirred up an online storm after sharing a video calling out the everyday British foods she claims would 'send Americans into a coma' - with one so-called 'staple' branded downright 'scary.' Paige Wester, who moved from the U.S. to Newcastle in 2024 with her British partner and their two young sons, regularly posts lighthearted videos about her UK culture shocks to her 51,000 followers on TikTok. But her latest post, filmed during a routine shop at Sainsbury's, didn't go down quite so smoothly with British viewers. In the now-viral clip posted to her account @p_west_, the mother-of-two walks through the aisles, highlighting a number of British foods and habits she finds odd, fascinating, or just baffling. First up were eggs - unrefrigerated, and, to Paige's surprise, much cheaper than those sold in American supermarkets - as she pointed the camera at a box of ten eggs on offer for £1.64. Then it was on to breakfast cereal, as she pointed out the UK's version of Kellogg's Frosted Flakes: Frosties. The tea aisle, meanwhile, was overwhelming to the expat, as she confessed: 'The tea aisle is absolutely insane to me - it is an entire aisle just dedicated to different types of tea. I didn't even know this much tea existed in the world.' Paige also took aim at the British love of instant coffee, admitting she'd never tried it before moving to the UK - and wasn't sold. Another surprise was the sheer amount of pies on offer, such as steak pies, chicken pies and cheesy vegetable pies. Though she admitted she 'loves a good pie,' she added that 'not everything needs to be inside' of a pastry. But the biggest culture clash came when she discovered black pudding - an acquired breakfast item made from pig's blood. She said: 'This is where things get scary... black pudding is a staple in most people's households. It's pig's blood. People eat it for breakfast. The fact that this packaging says "from breakfast to fine dining" is absolutely absurd to me.' Paige went on to roast the produce section too - particularly the lack of plastic bags for fruits and vegetables. She also highlighted the nation's 'love' for baked beans, though she added she will 'never get on board' with the 'breakfast, lunch and dinner' staple. Finally, Paige expressed her frustration at having to pay for plastic bags at checkout - something she admits she regularly forgets. The video racked up thousands of views and over 2,000 comments - many from Brits who weren't thrilled with the mother's take, as one person wrote: 'Lol black pudding is not a staple in most British households. The video racked up thousands of views and over 2,000 comments - many from Brits who weren't thrilled with the mother's take Another defended, 'Most people think black pudding is rank' as a third commented, 'I only know one person who likes black pudding, and we all mock him for it.' A fourth wrote: 'It is absolutely NOT a staple in British households. it can be served as part of a full English, but absolutely not a staple. I don't know anyone who has it in their house.' Another person explained: 'Our eggs aren't refrigerated because we don't bleach them, pies are a British classic stemming back many years most areas have a pie filling popular to that area. 'Black pudding isn't a staple food unless on a fry up, beans got us through 2 world wars and one world cup and tea... babes tea is the king of beverages. and instant coffee because we don't all own a coffeemaker but most own a kettle.' Another viewer said, 'They're freaked out by an aisle of baked beans meanwhile I went into a Walmart and got freaked out by the KIOSK OF GUNS,' while a second added, 'Weird to have a whole aisle of tea but in America they do that for Pop Tarts.'
Daily Mirror
11-07-2025
- Entertainment
- Daily Mirror
American in UK visits Sainsbury's and is floored by 'absurd' item
Paige Wester, who moved to the UK from the United States, has visited a Sainsbury's supermarket for the first time and has shared what she thinks of the shopping experience compared to back home An American woman who visited a Sainsbury's supermarket has taken to social media to share with her compatriots the many stark differences to similar shops in her native country. Paige Wester detailed her shopping experience in a TikTok video, which she began by declaring that there are "things in a UK grocery store that would send Americans into a coma". The first items that caught Paige's eye were eggs as she highlighted that in the UK they are "never refrigerated". However, she also acknowledged how cheap they are compared to back home, pointing to a box of 10 from the Sainsbury's Stamford Street budget range priced at £1.64. "You just cannot get that in America," she said. Paige then headed to the cereal aisle where she held aloft a box of Kellogg's Frosties. "They have frosted flakes here, but they're not called frosted flakes," she continued. "They're called Frosties!" Tea was next for scrutiny, meanwhile. "This aisle is absolutely insane to me," Paige confessed. "It is an entire aisle just dedicated to different types of teas. I didn't even know this much tea existed in the world." Paige then moved on to coffee as she confessed that she hadn't realised so many Brits are "obsessed" with instant granules. "I hadn't had instant coffee until I moved here - and I must say it's not that good," she exclaimed. The American then headed to the freezer section, where she informed her followers that people in the UK "love to make anything into a pie". Noting the Pukka and Birdseye brands in particular, she revealed: "We've got steak pies, chicken pies, veg pies... don't get me wrong, I love a good pie, but not everything needs to be inside of one. "Also British people love a cottage pie - I don't even know what that is, but apparently it's really good." Paige then warned that this is "where things get really scary" as she grabbed a packet of black pudding. "This is a staple in most people's households," she claimed, before informing her fellow Americans what it "actually is". She said: "It's pigs' blood and people eat it for breakfast - this package says 'from breakfast to fine dining,' and that is absolutely absurd to me. On to fresh produce, Paige explained that in the US when you are picking out fruit and vegetables there are plastic bags to put them in. However, she noted: "In England, you either have to pay for a bag or just raw dog them into your car." "This is something I will never get on board with, but British people love their baked beans," Paige added. "There are so many different kinds and aisles of baked beans in the grocery store." She closed by informing her American followers: "People eat them for breakfast, lunch... they'll eat them for dinner. There are a million different brands of them." Paige closed by expressing her frustration that UK shoppers have to pay for grocery bags. "Yes we are saving the planet by bringing our own, but if you are like me and forget them all the time, then you are screwed." One British TikTok user joked in response: "What's weirder than a tea aisle is an aisle dedicated to 50 kinds of Oreos, and 50 kinds of Pringles." A second person told Paige: "You don't need plastic for fruit or veg, just wash it when you get home or use a paper one. The plastic doesn't get re-used and is so bad environmentally." A third quipped: "How you view the tea aisle is the same as when I go into an American supermarket and go down the salad dressing aisle." Whilst a fourth offered a recommendation: "Cottage pie is the most heartwarming meal in UK! It's soooo good, I dare you to dislike it!"
Daily Mirror
14-06-2025
- Entertainment
- Daily Mirror
American 'mind blown' over key difference after visiting Tesco store in UK
American mum Paige Wester, who is now living in England, has gone viral after demonstrating just how different the US and UK are when it comes to certain supermarket items An American mum residing in the UK was left utterly baffled after comparing a Tesco store to supermarkets in the US. Across the pond, you'll find super-sized bottles of milk, an insane range of crisp (or should we say chips?!) flavours - and even entire aisles dedicated to ranch dressing. For us Brits, roaming around a Walmart and stacking up on never-seen-before sweets and chocolates is actually pretty fun, and perhaps it's the same for Americans shopping at Tesco or Sainbsury's for the first-ever time. Paige Wester, who is a mum to a toddler and expecting her second child, recently took to TikTok to reveal one key difference she spotted in supermarkets since arriving in England. And no, it isn't Yorkshire Tea... READ MORE: Martin Lewis MSE names 5 major banks paying bonus over £175 including Nationwide "I will never get over how inexpensive baby items are here," the mum said in the now-viral video. "Let me just show you how cheap baby products actually are." Paige compares a pack of 60 Tesco-owned nappies (which she refers to as diapers) for £6.50, while a more premium band costs £5.50 for a 44-pack. In the US, a 56-pack of Huggies Little Movers nappies at Walmart costs $28.22 (which works out at around £20.71). "Like that is so cheap," she added. "Just a single pack of wipes is 55p." Again, in the US a similar product costs around $3 (£2.22) which is more than four times the price. "Now we're going to go to the baby formula because this will actually blow your mind," Paige said, pointing to a large tub of Kendamil formula. "This brand in America I think is like $35 and here it's £12..." "Now I'm going to show you like toddler snacks, pouches, and all that stuff. I love this Ella's Kitchen brand and for just one pouch it's £1.30. Baby food is just 80p per jar. Let me preface this with the fact that I'm in Tesco right now, which is very similar to an American grocery store - but you can definitely get all of these baby items a lot cheaper somewhere else if you wanted." Lastly, the mum hailed how children's medicine is 'super cheap' in the UK compared to across the pond. "Calpol is only £3.15," she said. "Obviously some of the 'boujier' brands are a little bit more expensive but it's not bad. A baby should not break the bank - period!" Get the best deals and tips from Mirror Money WHATSAPP GROUP: Get money news and top deals straight to your phone by joining our Money WhatsApp group here. We also treat our community members to special offers, promotions, and adverts from us and our partners. If you don't like our community, you can check out any time you like. If you're curious, you can read our Privacy Notice. Taking to the comments section, many Americans were equally baffled at how much cheaper Tesco seemed to be than stores like Walmart. "I just moved here with my British hubby to start a family and just know this was the right decision - it feels so validating," one person hailed. Another agreed, commenting: "As a Brit I honestly almost cried when I ran out of nappies on my last day in the USA and had to buy them," while a third added: "I couldn't believe when I went to Target and saw a tub of Kendamil was $30." However, many viewers rightfully pointed out that average salaries in the US tend to be higher than in the UK. According to reports, the median weekly earnings of the nation's 122.1 million full-time wage and salary workers in the US was $1,118 in the third quarter of 2023. In the UK, this was just £682. Do you have a story to share? Email us at yourmirror@ for a chance to be featured.
