Is there any place in Switz. that I can buy brown sugar??

I buy mine at Migros or Coop.

My Coop and Migro don't have brown sugar... Are you talking about the brown fine sweet molasses brown sugar... not just the raw brown granulated sugar???

I've seen it in a British shop in Basel (Fenwicks)

I bought a bag I think at my Coop, it's just the brown granualted stuff...not molasses like at all.

shoot...maybe I didn't get it at a Coop...I thought I did though.

hrm. sorry!

I also searched all over and never found it. If anyone does though

You can buy brown sugar at the London Store & Britshop both of which do mail order. It can also be bought in Coop like Jennifer said but it's not quite the same.

THANKS!!!! I'll check it out!!

You guys rock!

The brown sugar you can find in Coop is sugar in the raw, I think. Definitely not the brown sugar that most of us know for baking!

Yeah, you cannot normally buy brown sugar here. I had a rather long discussion with my (Swiss) wife on this one. She and her family kept insisting that raw sugar was brown sugar. It is not. The same goes for "cream of tartar," although we did ultimately find it. Now that was hard...

I am sure Globus sell the really dark brown sugar and muscovado sugar (only noticed this after lugging a kilo back from england!)

Yes I bought soft brown sugar (for baking) through londonstore.ch and was delivered to me and I am happy. I couldn't find it anywhere in Zurich.

A well-stocked Reformhaus stocks quite a range of different brown sugar varieties (from dark palm sugar to muscovado). The brown sugar that is often used in the UK and America is a processed sugar mixed with molasses. It is important in baking recipes primarily because of the acid that is present in the molasses (this reacts with baking soda to create leavening). With a lot of hunting, and paying a substantial amount, brown sugar can be found in Globus, although the taste is way too heavy on the molasses. Another option is to simply make your own...

This very good substitution is simple to make and tastes quite a lot like the brown sugar you are probably used to eating. You will need two ingredients: dark molasses (melisse) and extra fine sugar. The molasses is best purchased from a Reformhaus...look for ones that do not have artificial flavoring added. The extra fine sugar is available in all Coops - it is called feinster Zucker. The method is easy...it is made by combining 15 gr. of molasses with 100 gr. of the sugar. Mix the two ingredients very well using your fingers to make sure all clumps are eliminated. Keep the sugar in an airtight container at room temperature. It is better one day after making it. For a lighter version, use less molasses, and visa versa....To make 2 cups of brown sugar, you will more than likely need to use around 250 gr. of sugar and about 42 gr. of molasses.

Good luck and happy baking!
Jack

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Hey Thanks!! I should make you all some good apple crisp now.

I have a related question--are there other such baking items that are difficult/impossible to find in most supermarkets around Zurich? Since we have a corporate relo package, I can stock up on a few things (like brown sugar/molasses) to come over on the container, assuming they will be within customs limits. Thanks!

Baking soda is only sold in itty bitty packets, if at all - so if you like to clean or cook with it, bring a few huge boxes!

You won't find things like chocolate chips, artificial sweetners like Splenda, etc. here. What are you most interested in?

I have only been able to buy the brown raw sugar at Coop or Migros- not the traditional brown sugar with molasses I used to buy in the States. It seems to do the trick where brown sugar is called for in baking recipes.

• icing sugar - I've fmanaged to find it in 200g shakers here
• real "vanilla essence" only find tiny viles of something that doesnt compare!
• sultanas/currants/raisons - can find sultanas, but if you are use to using all of these types..I cant find currants & raisons

....... sure there is more, but cant think of them for the moment

- BiCarb Soda...

All excellent advice! I tend to bake quite a bit, especially with my almost-4-year-old, typically things like cookies, cakes and pies. Baking soda, baking powder, corn starch, flavoring extracts, etc., are what I use a lot. Not great for the waistline. I hope to make a stop by a supermarket when we make a quick visit in February, but I am not sure we will have the time, as we will be focusing on schools and neighborhoods.

It is basically impossible to find "cream of tartar."