Get Premium
Dark mode theme is available exclusively for premium users. Learn more about the benefits of subscribing.
No fees, cancel anytime.
Dark Mode 
No fees, cancel anytime 
then open in external browser
and click "Open in External Browser" 
If you've seen our article on photographer Gregg Segal's series Daily Bread: What Kids Eat Around the World, you know that our menu can vary a lot depending on the place we live in. Who knows, maybe you've even been on a culinary holiday. Point is, our tastebuds can get pretty intrigued about trying out different stuff. But sometimes, satisfying their cravings is pretty difficult. So when you get the opportunity, you have to use it.
Earlier this month, Reddit user u/pogmoshron made a post on r/Cooking, saying: "What are some kitchen 'must haves' that I can pick up when I'm in the States that can't be purchased in Europe?" Immediately, cooks began making suggestions, and the comment section ultimately became a pretty vivid illustration of American eating habits. Continue scrolling to check out their replies.
This post may include affiliate links.
#1
When I lived in the US, I would bring back Lipton's Onion Soup Mix and make onion dip. My Indian friends loved it so much, they would fight over who got to lick the bowl.
RELATED:
#2
Old Bay Seasoning. I haven't been able to find it in Europe. I'm from Maryland, and I miss it so much that I make my own from a copycat recipe and always have it on hand in my kitchen.
#3
All peanut butter products. I'm an American living in Scotland, and good peanut butter exists here but only in tiny expensive jars. I miss things like peanut butter cookies, Reese's Puffs, and peanut-butter-filled pretzels.
RoseTheMad 3 years ago
I'm in the UK.. you can get Peanut Butter cookies, fudge, puffs (though they're animport) cups, pretzels, etc etc...
#4
My friend just moved to Dublin from the states. They brought a ridiculous amount of ranch dressing and ranch dressing powder. When we go to visit them we are instructed to bring more. I guess Europe does not have a ranch market.
Guy MacGregor 3 years ago
No. And the first time I heard about it was here on Bored Panda. It was out of context and I did not understand why OP was speaking about "farmer clothing" (ranch... dressing...).
#5
Tony Chachere's Creole Seasoning. Salty, but so very good in all kinds of foods.
Michael Sanders 3 years ago
Staple. They have all kinds of other products too. Mixes, Bloody Mary mix, etc. Living in NOLA I make most of their mixes from scratch, but in a pinch their gumbo and jambalaya mixes are quite good. Zing Zang is much better bloody mix though.
#6
There's a brand of Cajun seasoning called 'Slap ya Mama'. I've never actually tried it myself, but as a brit living in the UK, I have seen it as an ingredient in SO MANY recipes that I can only assume it's popular.
Michael Sanders 3 years ago
I put on nearly everything I want spice. That and Tony Chachere which is listed in….
#7
Celery Seed
Personally I haven't been able to find it here in Finland and I don't know how common it is in other countries. Celery seed really gives coleslaw and a few other dishes that true American flavor.
#8
Cottage cheese. In Japan, it's virtually impossible to find, and really I miss cottage cheese!
Mad Dragon 3 years ago
Cottage cheese is easy to make yourself from whole milk, salt, and some sort of acid (I use vinegar or lemon juice). Heat the milk slowly, add the acid, stir gently and let rest for a few minutes, strain through cheesecloth, add salt. I add a bit of cream to make it smoother, but that is optional.
#9
Maple syrup is so hard to find outside of North America! I'm in Brazil right now and I've been here several times before and I remember once a few years back when a couple friends had to tell me that there was roughly zero chance I was going to find maple syrup here (I was planning a Super American Breakfast For Dinner kind of fun meal).
RoseTheMad 3 years ago (edited)
I literally just bought maple syrup the other day. From Sainsbury's. xP It's available in Europe, but Brazil isn't Europe. (this article needs a new title jfc)
Paola Martz 3 years ago
I think OP refers to real maple syrup. Also in Mexico is kinda hard to find (and it's super expensive!) But there's plenty of "maple flavoured syrup"
Load More Replies...
Memere 3 years ago
All y'all saying maple syrup is available in Europe - is it REAL maple syrup, or is it made with corn syrup or cane syrup & maple "flavor". There is a huge difference, and you'll absolutely know it. Plus real maple syrup is going to be VERY expensive - my favorite brand here in the U.S. is RunAmok, which is 16 USD for 12.7 ounces. There are less expensive brands, but they're still around 10 USD for a 10-12 ounce bottle. And real maple syrup is going to be graded & labeled clearly as real.
Auntriarch 3 years ago
The real thing is certainly expensive, but we can get it
Load More Replies...
Daniel Marsh 3 years ago
Is the sugar maple endemic to North America? It's ALSO the tree most Americans (at least here in the East) envision when they think of the natural beauty of autumn. It's little wonder that it's the only thing on Canada's national flag.
Bored Seb 3 years ago
The problem is not that much because of the tree itself (they can grow in a lot of different place) but a climate question. Long and cold winter, with a spring when it's freezing during the night, but not during the day, for quiet a while...
Load More Replies...
GFSTaylor 3 years ago
The cheaper ones are 'maple-flavoured' syrup - basically golden syrup with flavouring. You can get the real thing without too much trouble, in the UK. You just have to pay a bit more.
Load More Replies...
BC_Animus 3 years ago
Took me years before I realised that I have never had maple syrup before. All of the stuff I have had were maple FLAVOURED syrup, made with cane sugar. What made me realise was seeing a Canadian taking theirs out of their fridge - real maple syrup needs to be refrigerated, but the fake flavoured stuff they serve at fast food places don't. One day I will get round to the real stuff... one day.
Soosh_tr 3 years ago (edited)
In 2 weeks as a canadian i could like literally get the chalumeau and pail on the tree in my backyard and the spring temperatures will cause the sap in the maple tree to flow and fill the pail. Takes a lot of water to boil to get a minuscule amount of syrup. Sorry Korea but here its free!
Load More Replies...
GoddessOdd 3 years ago
A lot of what is marketed as maple syrup is mostly corn syrup. Maple syrup and olive oil are two items you really need to check the label to make sure you're getting the real thing.
Saara-Elina Kaukiainen 3 years ago
My local supermarket here in Finland has all sorts of sugar syrups available, including maple. 😊
Scout Kendall 3 years ago
Huh. It is very easy to find here in the USA... now just reading this, I relize this makes a lot of sense. It's interesting to think about how food changes from location to location. Even if it is just syrup!
Joke Vermote 3 years ago
We have Mapple syrup in all big supermarkets in Belgium, next to Agave syrup
Francisco Manuel Teruel Gutiérrez 3 years ago
Regularly available in average Spanish supermarkets.
Nightshade1972 3 years ago
Tesco (major UK grocery chain) has it, but it took some effort to find. In the US, maple syrup is usually with the powdered pancake/baking mixes, which are usually near the boxed cereals. At Tesco, the boxed cereals are in a completely separate area from the baking materials (flour, sugar, etc). The baking aisle is where you find the maple syrup. Speaking of syrup, it also took me a while to realize that what they call "golden syrup" here in the UK is basically sweetened corn syrup in the US.
Yvonne Rankine 3 years ago
I see it in supermarkets in the UK all the time. Have it in my kitchen cupboard
Leslie Crittenden 3 years ago
Be careful what you buy, I don't know what's for sale in Europe but there's a huge difference between real maple syrup and "maple flavored syrup" such as the former Aunt Jemima's. Get the real stuff, it's so much better and you can use much less than the artificially flavored kind and still get a better taste.
Nimrah665 3 years ago
[ JOIN US ] I get paid more than £70 to £100 per hour for working online. I heard about this job 3 months ago and after joining this I have earned easily £14000 from this without having online working skills..…231 . Simply give it a shot on the accompanying site… Weekly payments…… https://www.fuljobz.com
Huddo's sister 3 years ago
We get maple syrup in Australia, but only one or two brands and it is expensive! More common to use imitation maple which is nowhere near as good.
Wendy Kester 3 years ago
When I used to travel to Mexico several times a year I always had a request to bring lots of Maple Syrup. 🍁. I'bartered' for real high-end Tequila (Herradura) those were the good 'ol days!
Silvana Martins 3 years ago
You can find at Emporio Santa Luzia, San Marche , Mambo, Pao de Acucar...and even online https://produto.mercadolivre.com.br/MLB-1807065614-xarope-de-maple-bordo-15-topping-importado-do-canada-250ml-_JM
Silvana Martins 3 years ago
Is really expensive...but you will find maple syrup in special places like Emporio Santa Luzia, San Marche Market, Mambo Marlet, Pao de Acucar Market...
Sanchez Vasile 3 years ago
It's brilliant that you miss on the best and biggest sugarcane producer.
Emily Creasey 3 years ago
You can find maple syrup in Brazil depending on where you live. But it is really expensive and they are not very good.
Krisi Rolfe 3 years ago
White Syrup (corn syrup- Karol version) I find easily at my Asian stores 1L bottles for about 2-3€!
Stannous Flouride 3 years ago
The first time I went to Venezuela to meet my in-laws I brought 2 each of 7 varieties of apples and 4 of pears for my FiL, and a 32 oz (almost a liter in the civilized world) bottle of pure dark maple syrup for my MiL. I scored major points that day. When I went back 2 years later she still had about 1/4 of the syrup left.
Ashi Mari 3 years ago
Yeah South America doesn't really seem to have a market for Maple Syrup, seen it once in my life... Maybe
Sanchez Vasile 3 years ago
Why should they? All of them are sugarcane and tropical fruits producers, both giving them more than enough sugar.
Load More Replies...
Linda Adamo 3 years ago
and here i am in new hampshire (usa), with tapped maple trees about a mile from my house, and i don't like the stuff!
Phil Green 3 years ago
I live in the Falklands, we have several different Maple Syrups available. It's not hard to find at all. One thing I am noticing with this thread is how "exclusive" the US purports to be. Hardly any of the things listed on this page are either exclusive to the US or difficult to replicate or make.
Katherine Heasley 3 years ago
It's next to impossible to find in China. I was able to order some, and I even found some (extremely, extremely expensive) maple syrup in an import store in Shanghai, but it's just not available many places.
Pedro Gerhard 3 years ago
There are so many places i brazil that you can find maple syrup.... even in carrefour you can find it
Roxy Eastland 3 years ago
While maple syrup isn't hard to find in the UK it generally only comes in those small glass bottles (250ml?). I only found out when an online friend came over that in the US you can buy quite big bottles of maple syrup. The downside is that you have to use it fairly rapidly as ours went mouldy in the bottle.
Andrea Pereira 3 years ago
We can find it here in high end stores and supermarkets, in the imports section. Too much expensive, though.
Lara Verne 3 years ago (edited)
I don't know how is it in Brazil, but I live in Europe and maple sirup is in every supermarket.
Blackheart 3 years ago
My family handmakes syrup from sugar cane which we grow. It is pretty awesome too!
Memere 3 years ago
Cane syrup is awesome, but totally different from real maple syrup.
Load More Replies...
Lovin' Life 3 years ago (edited)
American here. There are so many flavors of syrup here it's unreal. Everyone I know eats syrup but me. I think it is just way to sweet.
Thomas Hunt, Jr. 3 years ago
Maple syrup is overrated. Been around it (making it)my entire life. Got sick of it 20 years ago.
#10
Canned chipotle Chiles in adobo sauce!!
#11
My [expat] sister always says how hard it is to find canned pumpkin overseas so i always bring some when I visit. I'd load up there!
#12
Corn bread. It’s rare to find in the UK. The only place I’ve seen it was at Whole Foods, and even there it was cold, subpar, and not as comforting as the US version.
#13
American measuring cups. Makes making recipes online much easier as you don’t have to try and convert anything.
#14
When I was in the USA I bought a cast iron pan for 20-30 dollars I think. It’s at least 3 times cheaper than the same kind of pan where I live.
#15
Stone-ground corn grits. At least in England, they're nearly impossible to find. You can get your hands on Quaker Oats corn grits, but that's about it.
#16
Chipotle powder. I get it at a Mexican market. Chipotles are smoked jalapeños. I use it as a rub on chicken or pork before grilling.
#17
Franks red is key. I used to bring back Buffalo sauce when I would go to the States, but then I realized how easy and tasty it is to make from scratch, so now I just bring back some Franks
#18
I'm an American expat living in Germany, and when I make trips back to the US I return with:
BTB
TJs EBTB seasoning
Annie's Mac and Cheese (I make m&c from scratch, but my kids love the s**t in the blue box)
Rainbow sprinkles
Frontera Mexican sauce packets
Pink Starbursts
Reese's Pieces
Bourbon
Cream of Tartar
#19
Bourbon! Whenever I go to the US, I bring home as much bourbon as I'm allowed. Abroad, there are very few types of Bourbon sold, and they are incredibly expensive.
Marcellus II 3 years ago
Meh. Why drink Bourbon if there's something better locally available? Say, whisky.
#20
Internet teached me what pop tarts are. Never seen them in Europe. Also we don't have good brown sugar. Maybe that's a continental thing.
#21
Anything Mexican related and some less common hot sauces.
Karin Jansen 3 years ago
I do believe that "Mexican related" food can be find all over Europe.
#22
If you have the space in your luggage, kosher salt is a lot cheaper in the US than the European equivalents
If you like Mexican food, it’s worth stocking up on dried chilis in the US since they’re again way more abundant and much cheaper
I personally prefer the sponges you get in the US, so I always bring back some of the yellow and green Scotch Brite kind.
#23
Dr. Pepper. Whenever we travel abroad, my husband almost loses his mind going a week or two without it.
#24
Hidden Valley fiesta ranch mix is god tier. Mix with sour cream and its perfect with all flavors of potato chips
#25
Tajin seasoning. It elevates just about every kind of fruit, and it's so hard to find outside of the States.
#27
Peanut butter, graham crackers & marshmallows keep well and I know a lot of countries don't have them.
#28
Dried chiles. If you like cooking Mexican food, it's worth stocking up on them in the US. You can find them abroad, but they're way more expensive and less common.
#29
Canned diced green chilis. Decent salsa (but sure if it might break), Goya beans and salsas, boxed Mac n cheese. My German friend from college demands that last one in all her care packages lol.
#30
The umami seasoning is phenomenal. I use it in almost everything to add depth of flavor.
#32
I'm an American expat living in Germany, and every time I return home I bring back Annie's Mac 'n' Cheese. I often make mac 'n' cheese from scratch, but there's something special about that stuff in the blue box.
#33
Chick-fil-A sauce, Trader Joes everything bagel seasoning, Goya Sazon and adobo seasoning packets, ranch seasoning, chipotles in adobo sauce, guava paste, dried Mexican chilis.
Daniel Marsh 3 years ago
Two things I think of when I think of Goya: cheap Latin-American food and Uranus eating the head off a guy who's supposed to be his child. It's a wierd combo of imagery to always stick together.
#34
Snyder's buffalo pretzels (honey mustard and jalapeno also good but you can find them in England).
Hot Cheetos.
Takis.
Valentina hot sauce.
Old bay seasoning.
Dried chillies.
Various other seasonings/seasoning blends; BBQ rubs, hatch green chili powder etc - which will either be more expensive or hard to find
RoseTheMad 3 years ago
Hot Cheeto's are all over in the UK, and shops with a larger selection probably would have Taki's too. You can mix up your own Old Bay/BBQ rubs , as for dried chilli's.. they're at every asian supermarket here. And sometimes you see them in the supermarket, too..
#35
Campbell's Condensed Tomato Soup. The American version is just different than the version you can buy abroad.
#36
Sugary cereals like Cinnamon Toast Crunch. I had my sister bring me a few boxes when she visited me in Madrid. The cereal selection in Europe just doesn't compare.
#37
Spicy things. I’m not sure where in Europe you’re coming from but when I was in Spain the options were essentially Tabasco sauce or tiny dried chilies, that’s it. Get yourself some chili flakes (aka crushed red pepper) and then check out the enormous selection of hot sauces available in US grocery stores. Get some Frank’s, Cholula, El Yucateca etc. As others have said, dried whole peppers from Mexico are abundant and cheap here as well. Other ideas: graham crackers, real maple syrup, anything pumpkin related. There’s also infinite peanut butter options if that’s of interest
edit: bacon flavored chocolate.
Martha Meyer 3 years ago
I want to scrub my brain with soap now so I can forget that last one.
#38
Wild rice, key lime juice (Nellie and Joe's if you can find it, plus any ingredients for the key lime pie recipe on the side that you can't get at home), good quality chocolate chips like Ghirardelli.
I'd also suggest a set of measuring cups to use for US recipes, so you don't have to convert to metric.
#39
Irish friends always returned home with lots of aluminum foil & Goldfish crackers when they visited family in the US.
What do you think ?
Lord Mysticlaw 3 years ago
I swear if there's one thing I'll never understand in my life, it's Americans and boxed mac and cheese.
Hanni 3 years ago
It's valid for a lot food in every country, no matter how bad it is. If you had it as a staple food in your childhood you are going to love it and miss it. It's not just a taste but memories and comfort too. For Hungary it's lard spread on bread. :)
Load More Replies...
Jo Choto 3 years ago
So having lived in the US for decades, and being a citizen, I have to say that half of these things are not even common in the USA. They are tiny local niche market items. The rest, it's ridiculous. Aluminium foil? Cream of tartar? Chillis? Salt? I think people living abroad need to get out a bit more.
Ashi Mari 3 years ago
I've never been in the US in my entire life, tried to make a recipe from internet and couldn't find the famous cream of tartar anywhere
Load More Replies...
Tonya Wallace 3 years ago
So it's true....Europeans pillaged the world for spices and don't even use them.
ZAPanda 3 years ago
well you don't need to use them directly yourself if you dragged half of india back home with you to make your curry for you.
Load More Replies...
Mike Loux 3 years ago
Funny how most of the posts above are somebody saying, 'I bring back X because I love it" and the most popular comment is somebody dissing them for it. Like, seriously, if you don't have anything nice to say...then shut up and f**k off.
Conna Dewart 3 years ago
Yes! Most of the responses are arguments from people in the UK because the American in question cannot find something in Spain or somewhere! Jeesh!
Load More Replies...
Summer Mason 3 years ago
I know I would. Luckily I know how to cook. Thank you mama Lucie.
Load More Replies... Omi bub 3 years ago
All of this is hyper-processed synthetic stuff & flavouringso or stuff that is readily available most corners of the globe I have been. (Except the range of chillies which I admit isn't as easy to come by in Europe)
ZAPanda 3 years ago
? https://www.mex-al.de/en/food/chilies/dried-whole-chiles/ ?
Load More Replies... ZAPanda 3 years ago
I am fascinated by this. It's a mix of spice things -sure but if you look at the ingredients there's probably something very similar - and really dodgy processed food with tons of corn syrup... And yes, you can find it if you just either google for an importer or go to a large store in a larger city. Many of these items are available in my grocery store ... in Africa. Really I think the OPs in this post just went somewhere seriously ... parochial? Like a small village or something?
Auntriarch 3 years ago
I think it's mostly about nostalgia, for which you need the exact brand.
Load More Replies...
Andreas Mueller 3 years ago
Im from germany and can get my hands on most of those things in common supermarkets and some specialized shops for foreign foods (we have a ridicolous amount of those for nearly every country existing). maybe its not the exact same brand but the product is the same.
Shane S 3 years ago
I see a lot of comments here and in the article about all the food being “processed junk”. Well duh. Customs won’t let you bring fruits, veggies, unprocessed meats, dairy, etc across country borders, let alone across oceans. So yes, I know our American diet isn’t the best but this list is not representative of everything we eat. It’s just the stuff that customs will let into another country.
Milan 3 years ago (edited)
I am sorry, first result in Google (and also well known fact): “American readers might be familiar, as the United States has the highest rate of obesity among developed countries”… Trust me. Your diet is very bad. I lived and still travel a lot to America, the portions of food in restaurants, the amout of fast junk food on every corner, the abnormal choices of processed, semi-finished and frozen food in malls, the added sugar in every fkin thing. Dont get me wrong, i like to travel back there, i like to go to restaurants there, like the streed food, gastronomy culture, love burgers, but diet in America is awful ☺️ This is my opinion and comes from comparison between Europe and America. Funny story. Once i got a free meal of fried calamari in New York, because, as waitress said, unfortunately they have only half portion of it. So as compesation, they gave it to me for free. It was a full meal to me though, i was stuffed 🤷🏼♂️😁 Left a very generous tip well above my 10-15% standard in US.
Load More Replies...
Susan Bosse 3 years ago
Why do I feel like I wasn't all of these people's addresses so that I can mail them what they're missing??
Cassie 3 years ago
I live in the US and there is nothing on this list I would miss. No doubt there would be something I'm used to that would be difficult to get elsewhere, but I was surprised not to find anything I use on this list.
g90814 3 years ago
Yes same here. I'm sure there's something I would miss, but didn't see any here.
Load More Replies... Anony Mouse 3 years ago
Nice to finally have an article that wasn't just crapping on America the whole time. (Although the comment sections more than made up for that.)
Honu 3 years ago
Yep. So much bashing in the comments. Though my favorite was the people who had no idea what the food actually was and then tried to explain how you could totally get that in Europe. When I see a word I don't know, I look it up or ask. I don't just rewrite it to something else and then call someone else an idiot. This thread is probably one of the more offensive I've found on BP.
Load More Replies...
Leo Domitrix 3 years ago
Wherever you go, there will be differences, some minor, some seemingly major. And there endeth the lesson ;-D
NotMe 3 years ago
There's a surprising amout of spicy stuff in this list that wouldn't qualify as "hard to find outside US" since you can get them cheaper and better in Mexico and other South American countries, tbh
Sanchez Vasile 3 years ago
Also Asia, Middle East, half of Africa and a quarter of Europe.
Load More Replies... Ein Steinbeck 3 years ago
Do people not in America not have access to Amazon or AliBaba (or whatever it's called now)? Because you can just order literally all of this stuff.
Huddo's sister 3 years ago
But lots of people don't want to a)support a company like that, b)pay the insane postage costs and c) spend the fuel miles to bring it to their country so taking it back with you where you are already using those miles is a better idea.
Load More Replies...
Mimi M 3 years ago
Lived out of the US for a few years. The only thing I really pined for was sweet-sour pickle relish.
ZAPanda 3 years ago
Price here is ZAR 74 which is about $5. You can find your stuff more or less anywhere in the world if you have google. Screen-Sho...458e15.png 
Conna Dewart 3 years ago
Why are all the responses just someone from one place arguing with someone else's experience (often somewhere else)???
Mobey Drunk 3 years ago
Does anyone realize, there's a thing can online ordering. Most of this stuff is non parishable and can easily be ordered online. Instead of stocking up in another country, just add it to your cart.
Sanchez Vasile 3 years ago (edited)
Many of them expect to take their tiny brand from North Dakota for free, whatever they go. Anything else disappoints them.
Load More Replies... MidiChlorian 3 years ago
Majority of these items are common in the us. Not sure why some people are saying they've never heard of them. If I couldn't find Chipotle chilies in adobo I would be very sad. I use them in Chili or mix some sauce with mayo for a sandwich among many other uses.
I'mNotARoboat 3 years ago
My friend's brother used to come home from England and stock up on the KD (Kraft Dinner/Mac & Cheese) powder packets. He would open like a dozen boxes and just take the packets when he went back. His mum was resourceful and just used the noodles in pasta salad or something.
Rebecca Bourgeois 3 years ago
I'm American, but have lived in France for most of my life. It saddens me that Americans abroad seem to always assume that nothing they are used to can be found locally, or even replaced (most of the time by something even better). My only annoyance is the total absence of cream of tartar. But, really, spices (almost all of which don'tgrowon US soil to begin with)? Stuff as easily made as mac & cheese or peanut butter?
Patricia Fonda 3 years ago
Stove top stuffing, Hamburger tuna and chicken helper, mustard i don"t live german mustard,, peanutbutter, nothing goes over the us pb,9
Amy Felton 3 years ago
I'm american and I actual consume very few of these items and other than the mexican food items I would be more than happy to do without.
Thomas Hunt, Jr. 3 years ago
If I ever moved to another country, I'd be happy with garlic and tobasco sauce.
Joey Marlin 3 years ago
It isn't - it's just in the ones that get hidden because they get less votes. If you click on "Note: this post originally had 40 images. It’s been shortened to the top 30 images based on user votes." under the last entry you'll be able to access all of them.
Load More Replies...
Heather G 3 years ago
The U.S. is a melting pot. Most items that can't be found in one country can be found in another country (like Latin American food can be found in Mexico but not certain parts of Europe, or Italian can't be found in some Latin American countries). It is really only a lot of peanut products (Thanks George Washington Carver), processed foods, and weird versions of foreign foods that might not be able to find anywhere but the US.
Ivana Bašić 3 years ago
So most of these are things that can in fact be found in most of Europe, some easily, some in certain ethnic shops, plus they're artificial and some maybe not even allowed under European food safety laws.
J Robertson 3 years ago
My family immigrated to the states when I was 2. When I was 19 ('94) I moved to Sydney. I will always pick black licorice over red but gawd damnit if all I ever wanted was red licorice. Every time I walked past a candy store I'd go in to see if they had any. I now miss restaurants from all the different places around the world that I lived. That and foods from my home country.
Maria Overtoom 3 years ago
Did you ever taste the Dutch licorice? My sister in law is completely crazy 🤪 about it. She used to hide loads in the diapers of my nephew lol
Load More Replies...
ana suarez 3 years ago
unos condimentos que nunca pueden faltar para hacer una deliciosa receta como estahttps://5formas.com/hacer-pescado/
ana suarez 3 years ago
unos condimentos que no deben faltar para hacer esta deliciosa receta https://5formas.com/hacer-pescado/
Jessica Julian 3 years ago
I'm an American. I'm also a supertaster, which means I have more taste buds than normal. I don't like spicy food. I don't like seasoning. No strong flavoring, either. Plain, plain, plain...because I can taste the most subtle of flavors, strong ones are overpowering. Plus, after I had Thrush a few years ago, it made everything even worse. I think I would like some if these places very much...wish they had specified where they were...
Maria Overtoom 3 years ago
My taste buds are also very high. I can't eat spicy food, can't handle to much salt or pepper (plain white or black) but a little bit fresh garlic on my lamsmeat or pizza (garlicoil) and a few red o ion parts are doable. Don't like to much sugars in food either. Makes me vomit. My nose smells also all kind of ingredients in a dish, or at least the most. I am a picky eater 🙃
Load More Replies...
Lord Mysticlaw 3 years ago
I swear if there's one thing I'll never understand in my life, it's Americans and boxed mac and cheese.
Hanni 3 years ago
It's valid for a lot food in every country, no matter how bad it is. If you had it as a staple food in your childhood you are going to love it and miss it. It's not just a taste but memories and comfort too. For Hungary it's lard spread on bread. :)
Load More Replies... Jo Choto 3 years ago
So having lived in the US for decades, and being a citizen, I have to say that half of these things are not even common in the USA. They are tiny local niche market items. The rest, it's ridiculous. Aluminium foil? Cream of tartar? Chillis? Salt? I think people living abroad need to get out a bit more.
Ashi Mari 3 years ago
I've never been in the US in my entire life, tried to make a recipe from internet and couldn't find the famous cream of tartar anywhere
Load More Replies... Tonya Wallace 3 years ago
So it's true....Europeans pillaged the world for spices and don't even use them.
ZAPanda 3 years ago
well you don't need to use them directly yourself if you dragged half of india back home with you to make your curry for you.
Load More Replies... Mike Loux 3 years ago
Funny how most of the posts above are somebody saying, 'I bring back X because I love it" and the most popular comment is somebody dissing them for it. Like, seriously, if you don't have anything nice to say...then shut up and f**k off.
Conna Dewart 3 years ago
Yes! Most of the responses are arguments from people in the UK because the American in question cannot find something in Spain or somewhere! Jeesh!
Load More Replies... Summer Mason 3 years ago
I know I would. Luckily I know how to cook. Thank you mama Lucie.
Load More Replies... Omi bub 3 years ago
All of this is hyper-processed synthetic stuff & flavouringso or stuff that is readily available most corners of the globe I have been. (Except the range of chillies which I admit isn't as easy to come by in Europe)
ZAPanda 3 years ago
? https://www.mex-al.de/en/food/chilies/dried-whole-chiles/ ?
Load More Replies... ZAPanda 3 years ago
I am fascinated by this. It's a mix of spice things -sure but if you look at the ingredients there's probably something very similar - and really dodgy processed food with tons of corn syrup... And yes, you can find it if you just either google for an importer or go to a large store in a larger city. Many of these items are available in my grocery store ... in Africa. Really I think the OPs in this post just went somewhere seriously ... parochial? Like a small village or something?
Auntriarch 3 years ago
I think it's mostly about nostalgia, for which you need the exact brand.
Load More Replies... Andreas Mueller 3 years ago
Im from germany and can get my hands on most of those things in common supermarkets and some specialized shops for foreign foods (we have a ridicolous amount of those for nearly every country existing). maybe its not the exact same brand but the product is the same.
Shane S 3 years ago
I see a lot of comments here and in the article about all the food being “processed junk”. Well duh. Customs won’t let you bring fruits, veggies, unprocessed meats, dairy, etc across country borders, let alone across oceans. So yes, I know our American diet isn’t the best but this list is not representative of everything we eat. It’s just the stuff that customs will let into another country.
Milan 3 years ago (edited)
I am sorry, first result in Google (and also well known fact): “American readers might be familiar, as the United States has the highest rate of obesity among developed countries”… Trust me. Your diet is very bad. I lived and still travel a lot to America, the portions of food in restaurants, the amout of fast junk food on every corner, the abnormal choices of processed, semi-finished and frozen food in malls, the added sugar in every fkin thing. Dont get me wrong, i like to travel back there, i like to go to restaurants there, like the streed food, gastronomy culture, love burgers, but diet in America is awful ☺️ This is my opinion and comes from comparison between Europe and America. Funny story. Once i got a free meal of fried calamari in New York, because, as waitress said, unfortunately they have only half portion of it. So as compesation, they gave it to me for free. It was a full meal to me though, i was stuffed 🤷🏼♂️😁 Left a very generous tip well above my 10-15% standard in US.
Load More Replies... Susan Bosse 3 years ago
Why do I feel like I wasn't all of these people's addresses so that I can mail them what they're missing??
Cassie 3 years ago
I live in the US and there is nothing on this list I would miss. No doubt there would be something I'm used to that would be difficult to get elsewhere, but I was surprised not to find anything I use on this list.
g90814 3 years ago
Yes same here. I'm sure there's something I would miss, but didn't see any here.
Load More Replies... Anony Mouse 3 years ago
Nice to finally have an article that wasn't just crapping on America the whole time. (Although the comment sections more than made up for that.)
Honu 3 years ago
Yep. So much bashing in the comments. Though my favorite was the people who had no idea what the food actually was and then tried to explain how you could totally get that in Europe. When I see a word I don't know, I look it up or ask. I don't just rewrite it to something else and then call someone else an idiot. This thread is probably one of the more offensive I've found on BP.
Load More Replies... Leo Domitrix 3 years ago
Wherever you go, there will be differences, some minor, some seemingly major. And there endeth the lesson ;-D
NotMe 3 years ago
There's a surprising amout of spicy stuff in this list that wouldn't qualify as "hard to find outside US" since you can get them cheaper and better in Mexico and other South American countries, tbh
Sanchez Vasile 3 years ago
Also Asia, Middle East, half of Africa and a quarter of Europe.
Load More Replies... Ein Steinbeck 3 years ago
Do people not in America not have access to Amazon or AliBaba (or whatever it's called now)? Because you can just order literally all of this stuff.
Huddo's sister 3 years ago
But lots of people don't want to a)support a company like that, b)pay the insane postage costs and c) spend the fuel miles to bring it to their country so taking it back with you where you are already using those miles is a better idea.
Load More Replies... Mimi M 3 years ago
Lived out of the US for a few years. The only thing I really pined for was sweet-sour pickle relish.
ZAPanda 3 years ago
Price here is ZAR 74 which is about $5. You can find your stuff more or less anywhere in the world if you have google. Screen-Sho...458e15.png
Conna Dewart 3 years ago
Why are all the responses just someone from one place arguing with someone else's experience (often somewhere else)???
Mobey Drunk 3 years ago
Does anyone realize, there's a thing can online ordering. Most of this stuff is non parishable and can easily be ordered online. Instead of stocking up in another country, just add it to your cart.
Sanchez Vasile 3 years ago (edited)
Many of them expect to take their tiny brand from North Dakota for free, whatever they go. Anything else disappoints them.
Load More Replies... MidiChlorian 3 years ago
Majority of these items are common in the us. Not sure why some people are saying they've never heard of them. If I couldn't find Chipotle chilies in adobo I would be very sad. I use them in Chili or mix some sauce with mayo for a sandwich among many other uses.
I'mNotARoboat 3 years ago
My friend's brother used to come home from England and stock up on the KD (Kraft Dinner/Mac & Cheese) powder packets. He would open like a dozen boxes and just take the packets when he went back. His mum was resourceful and just used the noodles in pasta salad or something.
Rebecca Bourgeois 3 years ago
I'm American, but have lived in France for most of my life. It saddens me that Americans abroad seem to always assume that nothing they are used to can be found locally, or even replaced (most of the time by something even better). My only annoyance is the total absence of cream of tartar. But, really, spices (almost all of which don'tgrowon US soil to begin with)? Stuff as easily made as mac & cheese or peanut butter?
Patricia Fonda 3 years ago
Stove top stuffing, Hamburger tuna and chicken helper, mustard i don"t live german mustard,, peanutbutter, nothing goes over the us pb,9
Amy Felton 3 years ago
I'm american and I actual consume very few of these items and other than the mexican food items I would be more than happy to do without.
Thomas Hunt, Jr. 3 years ago
If I ever moved to another country, I'd be happy with garlic and tobasco sauce.
Joey Marlin 3 years ago
It isn't - it's just in the ones that get hidden because they get less votes. If you click on "Note: this post originally had 40 images. It’s been shortened to the top 30 images based on user votes." under the last entry you'll be able to access all of them.
Load More Replies... Heather G 3 years ago
The U.S. is a melting pot. Most items that can't be found in one country can be found in another country (like Latin American food can be found in Mexico but not certain parts of Europe, or Italian can't be found in some Latin American countries). It is really only a lot of peanut products (Thanks George Washington Carver), processed foods, and weird versions of foreign foods that might not be able to find anywhere but the US.
Ivana Bašić 3 years ago
So most of these are things that can in fact be found in most of Europe, some easily, some in certain ethnic shops, plus they're artificial and some maybe not even allowed under European food safety laws.
J Robertson 3 years ago
My family immigrated to the states when I was 2. When I was 19 ('94) I moved to Sydney. I will always pick black licorice over red but gawd damnit if all I ever wanted was red licorice. Every time I walked past a candy store I'd go in to see if they had any. I now miss restaurants from all the different places around the world that I lived. That and foods from my home country.
Maria Overtoom 3 years ago
Did you ever taste the Dutch licorice? My sister in law is completely crazy 🤪 about it. She used to hide loads in the diapers of my nephew lol
Load More Replies... ana suarez 3 years ago
unos condimentos que nunca pueden faltar para hacer una deliciosa receta como estahttps://5formas.com/hacer-pescado/
ana suarez 3 years ago
unos condimentos que no deben faltar para hacer esta deliciosa receta https://5formas.com/hacer-pescado/
Jessica Julian 3 years ago
I'm an American. I'm also a supertaster, which means I have more taste buds than normal. I don't like spicy food. I don't like seasoning. No strong flavoring, either. Plain, plain, plain...because I can taste the most subtle of flavors, strong ones are overpowering. Plus, after I had Thrush a few years ago, it made everything even worse. I think I would like some if these places very much...wish they had specified where they were...
Maria Overtoom 3 years ago
My taste buds are also very high. I can't eat spicy food, can't handle to much salt or pepper (plain white or black) but a little bit fresh garlic on my lamsmeat or pizza (garlicoil) and a few red o ion parts are doable. Don't like to much sugars in food either. Makes me vomit. My nose smells also all kind of ingredients in a dish, or at least the most. I am a picky eater 🙃
Load More Replies...
Related on Bored Panda
