We’re going beyond pizza, wings, and SPAM, and we’re here to tell you that not all American foods are a hit with foreigners. Some of our most iconic foods are strange enough to make others wrinkle their noses. Some were even originated in other countries! Here is a list from a popular Reddit topic that stated, ‘What is an American food that people in other countries might not enjoy?
10. Cheez Whiz
Cheez Whiz isn’t your average slice of cheese. While we enjoy spreading it on broccoli or pairing it with some nachos, foreigners aren’t fond of this, saying that it tastes like plastic. Fair enough, even Americans know that Cheez Whiz isn’t cheese, and you won’t find cheese on the ingredients list either. Still, it remains as a tasty guilty pleasure to this day. A Reddit discussion highlights a comment where a user describes it as tasting “like plastic.”
9. Canned Foods
Many Americans rely on canned goods for mealtime solutions. From broths and stocks, meats and seafoods, to corn and beans, you can find almost anything in can when you drop by retail stores in America. While canning is a reliable preservation method, having too many canned goods is odd for foreigners, especially those who come from agricultural countries (where everything seems fresh).
8. Candy Corn
Unpleasant mouthfeel is the number one reason why non-Americans aren’t impressed with candy corn. It has a waxy texture, intense sweetness, and artificial coloring. Even after you swallow it, you’ll still taste that dreadful waxy and oily feeling in your mouth. The sweetness is also a hint that it’s rather flavorless, with little to no real flavor besides sugar.
7. Cabbage and Corned Beef
Corned beef, alone, has been described to have a gross, almost artificial taste according to foreigners. When combined with soft, mushy cabbage? Just no. Some hesitate to eat this dish because of the corned beef’s high salt and fat content. Others dislike the spices used like coriander and mustard seeds, as they could be overpowering.
6. Fried Vegetables
Deep frying food is an American thing, but fried veggies? This may require a bit of getting used to for non-Americans. While it’s true that fried potatoes (french fries) are everywhere, it could be pretty tough for some to take on fried pickles, fried green tomatoes, or fried cauliflower. Of course, let’s not forget that deep fried foods have been linked to obesity and high blood pressure.
5. Scrapple
Scrapple was originally a German food in the 16th century but was brought to Pennsylvania by German immigrants. The meat combination is made from the parts of the pig that were left over after bacon or sausage was prepared. This dish is primarily popular in the east coast, however foreigners are also not too keen down south that also follows a similar historic tradition with pig leftovers, such as chitlins.
4. Key Lime Pie
For those who have always associated pies with sweet flavors, key lime pie can be off-putting. This treat is known for its tart and sour flavors that can overwhelm palates. And not just that, if it’s made with too much lime juice, you’ll get that bitter taste. But when there’s some dark chocolate swirled into the pie and choco wafers for crust, you might learn to love it a little faster.
3. Clam Chowder
The thickness of the clam chowder doesn’t sit well with some non-Americans. Picture this: you stick a plastic spoon into the clam chowder and it can stand up straight. That’s how thick it could get! In addition to the high cream content that feels overly rich, the clam flavor has a strong and briny taste that might be a little too intense.
2. Pickled Eggs
Pickled eggs may be hard to find in stores or bars now, but yes, this is a thing. They were popular during the Easter season, until pretzels and chips came into view. The strong vinegar taste from the pickling process can seep through the egg, making it overly sour. Discoloration is also possible because pickling can produce a yellowish hue in eggs.
1. Bacon With Everything
Bacon tastes great, right? Right. A BuzzFeed article discusses how non-Americans find the American obsession with bacon to be over the top and wrapping it around or eating it with everything can be seen as unhealthy and excessive by non-Americans. Bacon’s strong flavor masks the taste of other ingredients wrapped in it. What this will give you is a dish that tastes primarily like bacon. The high fat content in the red meat can also lead to increased bad cholesterol and risk of heart disease.