Honeycomb, Won’t You Be My Baby? Wait…You Want HOW MUCH??

Posted on by travelingmarla

Er, I just re-read my title and realized it might sound like I was soliciting a box of Honeycomb.

Finding our favorite American foods in South Africa, as I’ve told you in previous posts, can be difficult, and sometimes impossible.

But it really hasn’t been a big problem for us. We’ve adapted pretty well, I think. Not having American food doesn’t make life miserable, and makes us appreciate even more the conveniences and goodies we’ve taken for granted living in the states. But of course I have my moments, like missing Starbucks like a good little spoiled American girl. And so I get pretty excited at small things like finding bottles of Starbucks Frappuccinos in a store:

No Starbucks cafes in South Africa, and no beans that we've found (though we've been told there used to be) but I can find these icy treats at one of the grocery stores.
No Starbucks cafes in South Africa, and no beans that we’ve found (though we’ve been told there used to be) but I can find these icy treats at one of the grocery stores.

There are a couple grocery stores in areas around Pretoria and Johannesburg which carry more American products than others, since the demand is higher: Woolworths, and Spar. One Spar in particular is dubbed “American Spar” for their higher-than-average number of imported US products.

I’ve only been there twice, and both times got a little carried away with my purchases. Occasionally I come across something that I don’t normally find here, and I go a little bonkers. The weird thing is that I don’t normally crave it. But since I can’t have it, suddenly it becomes an obsession. This happened with a box of Honeycomb. I’m very embarrassed to say that I absolutely had to have that box of Honeycomb. It’s not my favorite cereal. I actually switched to a lot more healthful cereals in my late twenties and rarely have the sugary stuff, and when I do, I go for Crunch Berries.

As I reached for the shelf, I saw the price: R93.4

where to buy Honeycomb cereal South Africa
Honeycomb! American Spar in Monument Park gave me a sweet taste of home (at quite a price!)

At a rough exchange rate of 11 to 1, that’s almost $8.50 (!!) for one box of cereal.

I scanned the other imported cereals and discovered some were reasonably priced:

cost of living South Africa expat life South Africa travel South Africa finding American food in Africa grocery shopping in foreign country Jimmie Rodgers

Both Rice Krispies and Cheerios each cost around R33, or $3
Both Rice Krispies and Cheerios each cost around R33, or $3

Others were equally outrageous:

cost of living South Africa expat life South Africa travel South Africa finding American food in Africa grocery shopping in foreign country Jimmie Rodgerscost of living South Africa expat life South Africa travel South Africa finding American food in Africa grocery shopping in foreign country Jimmie Rodgerscost of living South Africa expat life South Africa travel South Africa finding American food in Africa grocery shopping in foreign country Jimmie RodgersAlpha Bits cost of living South Africa expat life South Africa travel South Africa finding American food in Africa grocery shopping in foreign country Jimmie Rodgers

And still…I bought the Honeycomb. Because that darn cereal was like a big box of America; of nostalgia; of happy, childhood contraband. And I can use a little childhood contraband…every once in awhile.

Love, Marla

 

5 thoughts on “Honeycomb, Won’t You Be My Baby? Wait…You Want HOW MUCH??”

    1. Hi Anna,
      We are based in Pretoria/Tshwane, and found it at the Spar in Monument Park. We used to call it the “American Spar” because they regularly imported more than most stores, and definitely more than any other Spar, but lately they seem to have gotten in fewer American goods. You can usually still find cereal there.
      The Spar in Silver Oaks has recently been bringing in some American items, including Lucky Charms and Fruit Loops.

  4. Mmmmmm…Honeycomb!! I’m glad you included the Jimmie Rogers vid too cause that song immediately jumped into my head when I read post title!
    More of an “Apple Jacks” man myself!

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