Like our world, food technology is also constantly evolving. What seems strange to one generation becomes common for the next. It’s the ingredients (and sometimes the dish itself) that may have encountered confusion in the Western palate. Today, we’re showcasing 10 of your favorite foods that were once considered different or even exotic.
10. Kale
Before the 2010s kale boom, this leafy green was primarily used as a garnish at Pizza Hut salad bars. Most people associated it with rabbit food or something their grandmother might have grown in her home garden. The “kale craze” transformed this humble vegetable into a superfood, appearing in smoothies, chips, and trendy restaurant dishes everywhere. Today, they’re widely available everywhere, from groceries to restaurants.
9. Matcha
Matcha is arguably the most popular drink right now. This green tea powder was once exclusively associated with traditional Japanese tea ceremonies and seems bitter and earthy to Western palates. However, through the rise of coffee shop culture and social media appeal, matcha has been transformed into a trendy ingredient. Now, they’re a flavor adapted in lattes, ice cream, and cakes.
8. Bone Broth
The idea of sipping bone broth like coffee seemed unappetizing to many. Before, it was associated with poverty, food, or something that your great-grandmother might have cooked for supper. But since the paleo diet movement and celebrity endorsements, this ancient food has turned into a premium health product that is sold in health stores and specialized broth stores online.
7. Coconut Water
During the 1990s and early 2000s, drinking coconut water seemed like a bizarre idea to Americans. Well, they were expensive for most families and had an unusual and unexplainable, weird taste. They seemed like the drink that health-conscious people and those stranded on islands would consume. However, coconut water’s marketing was pushed through its natural electrolytes and health benefits, and it was transformed into a billion-dollar industry.
6. Brussel Sprouts
Brussels sprouts were the poster child for the vegetables we hated as children. Sitting on our dinner plate, they’re often overcooked and mushy. But through the years, they were the veggies that we grew to love, thanks to creative cooking methods. You can have them roasted with bacon or shredded into salads. Yup, that was the redemption of Brussels sprouts that everyone seems to love.
5. Hummus
This Middle Eastern chickpea dip was unknown in mainstream America until the 1990s. It first appeared in groceries, with its beige color seeming unappealing at first. However, it eventually won everyone’s hearts when it became a standard snack food together with other bean-based food products. It also became a favorite for people looking for healthier options.
4. Acai Bowls
Acai berries were completely unknown until the early 2000s. When acai products appeared, people were even confused about how to pronounce them. There were these dark purple berries with an unusual, earthy taste. However, the superfood trend hit, and they were transformed into acai bowls and became the Instagram-worthy breakfast staple, along with avocado toast.
3. Cauliflower as a Substitute
We all know how cauliflower replaced rice, pizza, crust, and mashed potatoes like a storm. It seemed like a desperate diet food from a decade ago, like the cabbage soup diet. While many thought that it was an attempt to make veggies taste like real food, the low-carb movement paved the way. It introduced innovative cooking techniques and has made the cauliflower a substitute for everything.
2. Sriracha
This Thai-style hot sauce was a niche condiment found mainly in Asian markets until the mid-2000s. Most Americans had never heard of it, and those who had tried it often found it too spicy or unusual compared to Tabasco or other familiar hot sauces. Sriracha’s rise to mainstream fame was so dramatic that it’s now called “rooster sauce” and appears on everything from potato chips to pizza.
1. Sushi and Raw Fish
In the 1960s and 70s, the idea of eating raw fish was unconventional to most Americans. Sushi was seen as an exotic dish that only the most adventurous would try. Today, sushi restaurants are found in nearly every city, and grocery stores alongside sandwiches and salads. The transformation happened gradually as people discovered the unique flavors of Japanese cuisine.