If you have ever thought about shipping a barrel, you may be wondering what to fill it with to make it a worthwhile endeavour. This post covers What to Pack in a Barrel to the Caribbean to get you started when preparing to purchase items to fill your barrel. Making it super easy to hit the stores and purchase items from the list so you have all your bases covered.
In the past Caribbean nationals living in the diaspora would send a barrel back home to loved ones. But nowadays many persons living in the UK are sending a barrel to themselves, ahead of an extended stay in the Caribbean. Either way a barrel of groceries is a welcome sight and lowers the cost of living when staying in the Caribbean.
Top 12 Essential Items to Pack in a Barrel
Shipping a barrel back to the Caribbean is a time-honored tradition deeply rooted in the diaspora.
It allows families to send much-needed items to their loved ones, providing both emotional and practical support.
Here, we provide a detailed list of the top 12 essential items to include, making the process more straightforward for the uninitiated.
These top 12 essential items represent a blend of practical needs and thoughtful touches. By carefully selecting what to ship, the barrel sent back home can significantly improve the quality of life for its recipients, making it a meaningful gesture of care and consideration.
- Dried foodstuffs; rice, dried pasta, dried beans/legumes, noodles, grains, tea bags, hot and cold drink powders (with milk and sugar inside!), biscuits, snacks, breakfast cereal, cornmeal, popping corn, dried seasoning, protein powders, and health foods
- Tinned foodstuffs; fish, meat, baked beans, tinned vegetables, tinned fruit/desserts, condensed milk, (Jamaicans aren’t usually fans of tinned soup)
- Jars / bottled foodstuffs; cooking oil, peanut butter, spreads, sauces, condiments, jams (jelly), coffee, olives, pickles
- Detergents and Cleaning materials; washing detergent for clothes, washing up liquid, bleach, cloths, sponges, pot scrubbers, and other cleaning materials
- Kitchen essentials; foil, plastic wrap, food bags, food clips
- Toiletries; soap, liquid soap/shower gel, shampoo, conditioner, toothpaste, toothbrushes, body lotion, face cream, deodorant, razors, face scrub/wash, suntan lotion, cotton wool / Earbuds (Q-tips)
- First Aid; antiseptic cream, plasters (band-aid) bandages, tape, pain pills, allergy relief,muscle rub, vitamins, flu / cold remedies, insect repellent, bite relief, rehydration salts, diarrhea, and sickness relief
- Kitchen wares; pots/pans, dishes, cups, cutlery, utensils, mason jars and similar, Tupperware /plastic airtight containers
- Soft Furnishings; bed sheets, blankets and covers, shower curtains, towels, bath mats, tea towels
- Household Items; washing line, clothes peg (pin), sewing kit, clothes hangers, shoelaces
- School Supplies; a backpack, pencil case, pens and pencils, geometry set, dictionary, coloured pencils, notebooks, sketch pad, craft supplies, embroidery supplies, reading books, educational aids, snacks
- Hurricane Supplies; tarpaulin, rope, flashlight, candles, rain mac/poncho, umbrella, water boots (wellington boots), batteries, battery pack, handheld generator, counter-top gas plate (DO NOT include the GAS cylinder!!), vessels to hold water
Why do Persons Ship a Barrel of Groceries to the Caribbean?
The tradition of shipping a barrel not only addresses practical needs but also conveys a message of care and concern, underscoring the importance of keeping in touch with family back home in the Caribbean. Moreover, this practice is an expression of shared cultural identity and resilience.
It symbolises the adaptability and resourcefulness of those in the diaspora, who, despite being miles away, remain deeply connected to their roots. One of the key driving forces behind this tradition is the notable difference in food quality and pricing between the UK and the Caribbean.
The ability to ship nutritious, high-quality food items ensures that family members in the Caribbean have access to essentials that might otherwise be prohibitively expensive or difficult to find. The ritual of preparing and sending a barrel represents a collective endeavor that strengthens community ties, fosters mutual support, and affirms a sense of belonging and continuity.
In essence, the tradition of shipping a barrel back to the Caribbean encapsulates the convergence of practical needs and deep-seated emotional significance. It is a testament to the enduring bonds that unite families and communities across distances, ensuring that love and support transcend borders.
What is the easiest way of Shipping a Barrel?
By far the easiest way of shipping a barrel is to leave it to the experts!
We offer a range of services from packing a barrel with items you have selected, to offering pre-selected grocery bundles to quickly fill a barrel with all the essentials.
With great prices and products selections, our bundles are ideal for sending a barrel of groceries when time is of the essence.
What are Pre-Selected Grocery Bundles?
Our Pre-Selected Grocery Bundles are designed to offer an easy solution to persons wishing to send a barrel of top quality British groceries to the Caribbean. Ideal for stocking the kitchen by shipping a barrel to the Caribbean for yourself, or loved ones with ease.
We take the hassle out of visiting the supermarket and selecting items to fill a shipping barrel with groceries destined for the Caribbean, by doing all the hard work for you. By hand selecting the best products and deals in the UK on your behalf, we offer economical and time saving solutions.
Coupled with our add-on PACK & SHIP Services, we pick and pack the items into a brand new 220 litre food grade shipping barrel. Then ship the barrel to your overseas port of destination in the Caribbean, ready for collection.
With weekly shipping schedules for most of the Caribbean from the UK, we will have your barrel picked, packed and shipped within short notice from our secure warehouse.
Have Questions? Need Answers?
Drop us a line and we will be happy to assist you!