Ever ask yourself why some of the most comforting American foods trigger confusion or even revulsion in foreign visitors? It’s all about context. Each country raises its children with its own culinary expectations, and what is nostalgia to one people is going to be a bizarre experiment for another. American food is renowned for its bold flavors, innovative mashups, and unstintingly generous portions, but those very qualities routinely make it a mystery to the uninitiated.
On social media sites such as Reddit and BuzzFeed, international eaters have been openly expressing their confusion about some of our favorite American staples. Some of our very favorites those we connect with memories of childhood or special family events are elsewhere regarded as too sweet, strange in texture, or just “not real food.” It’s a great insight into the way culture really influences our taste buds and how taste, above all, is a product of familiarity.
So buckle up for a culinary journey through twelve of America’s most divisive foods dishes that leave foreigners scratching their heads not only about our recipes, but occasionally our sanity. From bright orange cheese to marshmallow-covered veggies, these are the dishes that capture America’s special, sometimes baffling, romance with comfort and imagination.
1. Processed American Cheese (including Cheez Whiz, Velveeta, aerosol cheese)
Few foods inspire as much controversy as American cheese. To Americans, it’s a beloved oozing perfectly on grilled cheese or melting beautifully over burgers. But to the rest of the world, it’s a food counterfeit. Bright orange wedges, packaged individually in plastic, have become hallmarks of convenience over quality, confusing those who are used to naturally aged European cheeses.
Processed cheese is usually equated by foreign guests as having a “plastic” or “chemically artificial” flavor, a world away from the pungent, nuanced qualities of aged types. Cheez Whiz, Velveeta, and spray cheese especially confound global palates products so distant from the milk they originated from that they are almost more laboratory than dairy farm. To them, these are not cheeses but chemical imitations that value consistency above authenticity.
On Reddit, one commenter put it bluntly: “I glance at them and wonder, am I the only one that is grossed out by these imitation cheeses?” That refrain is heard throughout myriad threads, in which foreigners marveled that these fluorescent-colored products not only exist but are welcomed in American homes. It’s a tiny but telling indication of how American pragmatism tends to win out over tradition when food is involved.
2. The American Sweetness Overload (sugar in bread, cereals, soda, donuts, sweet potato casserole)
Walk through any U.S. supermarket, and you’ll quickly notice that sweetness isn’t limited to desserts it’s everywhere. From breakfast cereals to sliced bread, sugar sneaks into foods many foreigners expect to be savory. Visitors frequently express shock at the saccharine punch in everything from burger buns to pasta sauces, making everyday eating in America feel like a nonstop dessert course.
The uniquely American ingredient of high-fructose corn syrup enhances this impact. “You can taste the corn syrup in every sip,” one Canadian commentator observed of soft drinks that taste much sweeter than their foreign equivalents. Others say that even “plain” American bread has a cake-like flavor, dissolving the distinction between meal and snack. For those who are used to milder flavors, this sweetness assault can be too much to handle.
Whereas Americans tend to view sugar as a hug in a cup, for many visitors it’s an imbalance of flavors that disrupts the natural flavor of food. What registers with us as warmth and comfort a frosted donut and coffee or marshmallows roasted on sweet potatoes may register as sensory overload for others. It’s a reminder that sweetness is not global happiness; it’s a cultural crutch.
3. Hershey’s Chocolate
To Americans, Hershey’s chocolate is a national treasure that is nostalgic, familiar, and synonymous with childhood memories. But to many outside America, it’s a taste shock. Visitors usually say Hershey’s bars are “sour,” “tangy,” or even “spoiled” and believe that their chocolate has spoiled. The reason lies in butyric acid, which gives Hershey’s its unique taste and polarizes the world.
European chocolate usually focuses on cream and richness of cocoa, whereas Hershey’s has a more biting, verging on fermented flavor. To someone accustomed to a brand such as Lindt or Cadbury, it can come as a shock. One critic memorably claimed, “I thought it was rotten. I wouldn’t eat another even if it was free.” For them, this iconic American candy goes against their own definition of what chocolate can be.
Nevertheless, Hershey’s is still a favorite aspect of American life a flavor associated with campfire gatherings, s’mores, and school lunches. It’s the ultimate display of how nostalgia has the ability to make something objectively bizarre into something emotionally irreplaceable. What perplexes others brings us comfort, demonstrating that taste has more to do with memory and less to do with taste.
4. Canned Foods
Few food customs amaze foreigners more than America’s love affair with canned food. From vegetables and soups to meats and even entire meals, the American supermarket shelf is a monument to convenience and preservation. To outside observers, this use of canned food specifically meat is at once fascinating and a bit disturbing. Tourists from nations with a daily fresh-market culture are shocked by canned “whole chicken” or “pork brains.” Although canning is economical and convenient, the price paid is texture and taste. International visitors tend to see these foods as being over-processed, full of preservatives, and removed from the notion of “real food.”
- Products sold in cans include soups, vegetables, meats, and complete meals.
- Very popular in American grocery stores for convenience and shelf life.
- kili Insiders may find canned meat unusual or disturbing.
- Said to be over-processed with less true flavor.
- SYMBOLIZES America’s cultural focus on efficiency.
- Based on wartime rationing and contemporary time-saving habits.
- Represents innovation and independence in American food culture.
To Americans, canned goods are sensible, trustworthy, and culturally embedded icons of ingenuity. They represent a love of ease without compromise on accessibility. What appears sterile or odd to the outside world holds rich historical and cultural meaning. Canned items represent innovation, independence, and the capacity to nourish families economically. They reveal the way necessity and pragmatism influenced American eating practices, contrasting the cultural imperative of freshness with the assurance of ready-to-consume foods.
5. Candy Corn
Candy Corn is unadulterated Americana: cheerful, bright, and immediately iconic every Halloween. For many Americans, it’s nostalgic the sweet harbinger of fall. But for others, it’s a culinary enigma. Its waxy nature and overwhelming sweetness cause many to question how something so popular became that way. Foreign critics usually say that it “tastes like candle wax blended with sugar.” Its tri-color appearance imitates corn kernels, but it doesn’t taste like them at all, providing another source of confusion for newbies anticipating something savory.
- Is a tri-colored, waxy candy enjoyed on Halloween.
- Nostalgic and seasonal tradition for Americans.
- Often perplexing to foreigners because of texture and sweetness.
- Described as “candle wax mixed with sugar” by critics.
- Tri-color appearance looks like kernels of corn but is not corn-flavored.
- Is more about ritual and celebration than it is about culinary pleasure.
- Represents Americana, memory, and holiday nostalgia.
Candy Corn survives because it is connected to ritual and seasonal tradition and not just flavor. For American consumers, it’s a flavor of Halloween nostalgia. Coming out every October in bowls, offices, and trick-or-treat bags, Candy Corn is more than candy it’s a representation of celebration and memory. Though outsiders might criticize its flavor or texture, Americans revel in the cultural meaning behind each sweet strand. Its long-standing popularity assures that occasionally emotion and tradition trump taste, and sentiment is the sweetest ingredient of all.
6. Twizzlers and Red Vines (artificial licorice)
These chewy red ropes are staples of American movie nights and road trips. Twizzlers and Red Vines are stalwarts of U.S. candy culture, but to most foreigners, they’re disappointments. Those looking for real licorice, with natural anise flavorings, are instead presented with chemical fruit overtones and a rubbery consistency that fails to impress them. Critics on the web routinely refer to them as “cardboard candy” or “soap-flavored twists,” perplexed by their wide appeal. To many international palates, these candies don’t even count as licorice.
- Red Vines and Twizzlers are red, chewy sweets.
- Standard fare for American night movie snacks and road trips.
- Lett-down to foreigners anticipating natural licorice flavor.
- Infused with artificial fruit instead of anise.
- Texture can be rubbery or unnatural.
- Detractors call them “cardboard candy” or “soap-flavored.”
- Represent fun, nostalgia, and American candy culture.
In spite of negative reviews outside the US, these sweets remain popular because they represent cultural icons, recalling childhood delights and shared experiences. Their appeal transcends taste. Twizzlers and Red Vines present a peculiarly American candy philosophy emphasizing texture, hue, and nostalgia above authentic white-bred flavor. Foreigners might yawn, but Americans love them as a tasty, chewy treat that sustains through films, road travel, and holidays with relatives. They are the lighthearted reminder of America’s playful, open snack culture.
7. Blooming Onion
A gastronomic showpiece in itself, the Blooming Onion is a fried excess of genius. A whole onion that’s sliced into petals, battered, and fried, it’s the poster child for American excess. With creamy dipping sauce, it’s less an appetizer than an event a shareable, crunchy edifice of calories. Foreigners, though, tend to be overwhelmed by it. The sheer mass and greasiness make it more like a full meal than an appetizer. In cultures where appetizers serve to stimulate the appetite, the Blooming Onion is too much, too ridiculous.
- Blooming Onion is a entire onion sliced into petals and fried.
- Served with rich dipping sauce.
- Represents American excess and “bigger is better” food culture.
- Can be overwhelming in terms of size and grease.
- Tends to be seen as excessive by outsiders.
- More of a culinary show, less of an appetizer.
- Is praised for boldness and shareability.
Americans adore the Blooming Onion for its brashness and unashamed excess. It’s a social and gastronomic experience that makes dining an event instead of a meal. The dish embodies the “go big or go home” philosophy inherent in American food culture. Foreigners might be flabbergasted at its size and richness, but Americans welcome it as a playful, over-the-top tradition. Its crispy petals, thick batter, and rich sauce provide an unmistakable sensory experience. Aside from taste, it’s also a celebration of excess, communal pleasure, and the carefree, indulgent side of American cuisine.
8. Sweet Potato Casserole
Few Thanksgiving dishes glow more warmly than sweet potato casserole with toasted marshmallows and brown sugar. It’s creamy, sweet, and evocatively nostalgic. But to many foreign visitors, it’s a baffling paradox: a vegetable masquerading as dessert. Vegetables in most cultures are starchy sides roasted, sautéed, or steamed. Combining them with marshmallows is, to outsiders, a food identity crisis. Many newcomers call it “dessert at dinner” and don’t know whether to adore it or shudder.
- Marshmallows and brown sugar top sweet potato casserole.
- Blends sweet, creamy textures with a vegetable foundation.
- A staple around Thanksgiving and holidays.
- Can perplex foreign visitors as a dessert masquerading as a vegetable.
- Comes at odds with traditional savory preparation of vegetables.
- Commonly referred to by newcomers as a “dessert at dinner.”
- Symbolizes comfort, warmth, and celebration for Americans.
To Americans, that paradox is all part of the magic sweet potato casserole stirs up memories, family reunions, and festive feelings. It’s a dessert that ignores the rules of fine cuisine. What confounds outsiders is precisely what makes it great at home. The fusion of sweetness, cream, and seasonal ritual is a reassurringly comforting experience. Sweet potato casserole demonstrates how food can be celebratory without being logical, providing a small but intense flavor of celebration and childhood memory that unites generations and characterizes the American Thanksgiving dinner.
9. Donuts
Donuts are an American institution: breakfast, dessert, and work of art. From plain glazed rings to massive constructions covered in frosting, they celebrate creativity and love of excess. But for foreigners, they are a symbol of all “too much” about American desserts. Tourists are hit by the size and sugarity of American donuts. In contrast with more restrained European pastries, American donuts appear gargantuan, sickly sweet, and over-topped.
- Donuts are a classic American dessert.
- Range from plain glazed to complex, frosted masterpieces.
- Represent luxury and creativity.
- Seen as overindulgent by foreign travelers.
- Bigger and sweeter than usual European pastries.
- Consumed for breakfast, dessert, or snack.
- Embody comfort and community among Americans.
Donuts may be overwhelming to some, yet they continue to be irresistible to Americans due to their familiarity and comfort. They’re part of everyday life and shared experience. Regardless of whether purchased from a neighborhood bakery or passed around an office box on Friday morning, donuts are socially and emotionally charged. They represent joy, indulgence, and creativity blended together in one tasty package, and so much more than a sweet treat. To outsiders, they might be seen as excessive, but for Americans, donuts are the epitome of flavor, community, and the little things that make everyday life a little sweeter.
10. Ambrosia Salad
Few foods confuse foreigners as much as Ambrosia Salad, a pale blend of fruit, marshmallows, coconut, and creamy dressing. For Americans, it’s a comfort potluck classic. For non-Americans, it’s culinary confusion. The confusion begins with the name alone. How can something so sweet and rich be a “salad”? The mix of sour fruit, sweet fluff, and occasionally even mayonnaise subverts expectations altogether. Those who are not familiar with it tend to think of it as dessert pretending to be a side dish.
- Amrosia Salad is a combination of fruit, marshmallows, coconut, and creamy dressing.
- American potlucks and family functions favorite.
- ORDERERS find it confusing or disordered.
- Name “salad” does not fit its sweetness and creaminess.
- Mixture of tangy, sweet, and creamy.
- Regarding as dessert in side-dish disguise.
- Symbolizes American inventiveness and boundary-breaking.
But Ambrosia Salad contains a distinctly American creativity the willingness to mix flavors and textures for comfort instead of sense. To many, it’s a nostalgic taste of home. As the rest of the world might wag its finger, Ambrosia Salad means something more to Americans than just a meal. It’s a spoonful of family heritage topped with whipped cream, an ode to ingenuity, and a testament that sometimes rules in the kitchen are made to be broken. Its appeal is in its unrepentant excess and how much happiness it brings to parties, bonding generations through a sense of shared delight in sweet, comforting taste.
11. Grits
In the American South, grits are holy. Prepared from ground corn cooked to a creamy state, they’re the ultimate comfort breakfast, particularly when treated to butter, cheese, or shrimp. But to outsiders, they can be a textural and visual barrier. Foreign visitors tend to describe grits as “bland” or “gooey,” unable to enjoy the mild corn taste that Southerners adore. To one who grew up on bread crusts or rice breakfasts, this soft, porridge-style dish may appear incomplete or unpalatable.
- Grits are cooked ground corn to a creamy texture.
- A comfort food staple of the American South.
- Typically served with butter, cheese, or shrimp.
- Foreigners might find them gooey or tasteless.
- Texture and taste differ from rice or bread breakfasts.
- Simplicity is their charm.
- Symbolizes tradition and local pride.
For those who grew up with grits, they are so much more than breakfast they’re tradition in a bowl, a morning ritual uniting generations. Their subtle taste is their essence. Grits impart a quiet lesson: comfort doesn’t always have to be complicated. The simplicity, creaminess, and diversity represent Southern determination and culinary tradition. Whereas the outsider might have trouble with the texture or seeming blandness, grits have history, a sense of place, and quiet regional pride. Their best appreciation is by experience, demonstrating that there are foods better known by memory and habit than by description.
12. Scrapple
Lastly, we come to one of America’s most unfairly maligned regional treats: Scrapple. A Pennsylvania Dutch creation, it’s prepared by mixing pork trimmings with cornmeal, shaping the mixture into a loaf, and frying slices to golden brown. It’s thrifty, filling, and rich in heritage. To foreigners, however, Scrapple’s idea is repulsive. The term “pork scraps and trimmings” suggests waste, not creativity. It’s the sort of food that brings out the questions: “You actually eat this?” not recognizing it derives from a heritage of thrift and respect for each component part of the animal.
- Scrapple is a Pennsylvania Dutch invention.
- Cooked from pork remnants combined with cornmeal.
- Shaped into a loaf and pan-fried to a golden brown.
- Perceived as thrifty, substantial, and tied to tradition.
- Often perceived as strange or repulsive by non-natives.
Symbolizes thrift and respect for food. For those brought up on it, Scrapple isn’t bizarre it’s comfort.”. It embodies a sense of familiarity and tradition passed down through generations. It tells a story of resilience, of making the most of what’s available, and of valuing every part of the animal. While it may never fully win over international palates, Scrapple remains an enduring emblem of heritage and ingenuity. It reminds us that all cuisines have echoes of the past, and even the most humble ingredients can be elevated to a dish filled with meaning and cultural pride. From waxy sweets to marshmallow-topped casseroles, these foods uncover the lovely quirkiness of American cuisine. What others might describe as odd, we call home. Each bite is the telling of a story of innovation, convenience, nostalgia, and the limitless creativity that characterizes our national table.
Taste, of course, is never simply about flavor. It’s about where you’re from, what you’re used to, and the memories attached to your plate. So smile the next time a visiting friend winces at your favorite cheese slice or candy corn. It’s not disgust; it’s discovery. Food unites us, even when it bewilders us, and that is the sweetest bite of all.
