Anglophile: noun, a person who is fond of or greatly admires England or Britain.
As of late there has been a new form of British invasion, in the form of fashion, hair trends, music, television and appreciation for certain celebrities. Britain is a wonderful, diverse place and has a unique feel very different from America. Here are just a few of the wonderful things Britain has to offer that America will just never quite get.
1. Cadbury Chocolate.
If you have never experienced Dairy Milk chocolate from Cadbury’s, I truly feel for you. It is a thing of joy and love. It tastes like it was made with real milk and has a pleasant texture, unlike the waxy, relatively tasteless chocolate sold here in the U.S. Cadbury has begun to sell products in the U.S. under license to Hershey's, but it just isn't quite the same.
2. Costa’s Coffee (or just strong coffee).
Even if you don't like coffee, you'll like something there. Promise.
The proliferation of Starbucks across the U.S. has created a culture that believes the average small coffee drink has only one shot. Any university student or coffee-dependent individual—those are often mutually inclusive—would tell you that one must have more shots than that. Although, perhaps that is the genius of Starbucks: one must order at least a Venti to get any real caffeine. Costa’s also have the cutest holiday travel cups, which are a huge bonus during the holiday season.
3. Kinder Surprise Eggs.
Kinder is a particularly delicious brand of chocolate not commonly sold in America, and these eggs are one of their products. The eggs are conveniently banned in in the States as they are thought to pose a "choking hazard" thanks to the toys at the center of the eggs. Other nations, however, seem to manage just fine. Thanks, America.
4. Public transportation.
And by that I mean public transportation that actually gets you pretty close to your destination, unlike in America where that just isn’t possible for the most part. Between Britain's trains, buses, and in London's case the Tube, public transport can take you basically anywhere.
5. Bake Off.
Aka "The Great British Bake Off" aka one of the single best things that has ever happened to television. It involves a group of people baking every weekend for 12 weeks—plus practicing at home—all for the glory of being acknowledged the best amateur baker of the lot. And winning a cake stand. The judges are Mary Berry, a grandmother-aged "amateur" baker who has published many baking books, and Paul Hollywood, a "professional" baker who also serves as the main source of intimidation. Any drama on the show occurs when bakers fail or challenges are particularly difficult, not usually between the contestants themselves.
6. The Queen.
Americans will never quite understand the love Brits have for their monarch. Something about the inherent American faith in democracy and not in monarchy makes Americans predisposed to steer clear of ruling families. Something about the American determination to split from its colonial overlords way back in the 1700s may also contribute to our lack of fondness for monarchy. Queen Elizabeth II has become Britain's longest-reigning monarch, and she holds a very special place in the hearts of the British public.
