As an American only recently living in Britain, one of the first things I noticed when I moved over here was the strength of the Cadbury brand. It is all over supermarkets, top of mind for an afternoon snack, and a pillar of British industry. Above all else one product stood out for me: the Creme Egg.

With the commercial depth of Cadbury, its eggs are available all year round in Britain. Not only that, but they come in a mind-boggling array of boxes, sizes, and configurations that are simply unheard of in America. Imagine my surprise upon a first visit to the shop – Creme Eggs available year round!?  I bought as many as I could.

Back on the other side of the pond, however, these treats are not always on shelves. Only at Easter do these eggs pop up in the US. With such seasonality, they became part of my childhood ritual: opening my Easter basket with family, a treat during spring time, something to grab at local shops after school.  I looked forward to Cadbury Eggs because of their temporary status – they were a reminder of good things to come.

In Britain, Cadbury is the industry standard. To me, and perhaps many Americans, Cadbury means nostalgia. Nostalgia derives from two Greek words meaning ‘a return to home’ and ‘ache’.  As winter approaches, I do indeed feel an ache to years past as I queue in my local shop. Luckily, with Cadbury’s Creme Eggs available so readily, I am never far away from a chocolatey reminder of home.