International Food & Candy

[Miko]

Hi-huys! I recently had a conversation with someone about foods that we usually get imported here in the United States (or at least that I've found in my state) that are a bit hard to find. I know that America gets a bad rap for their 'terrible tasting' chocolate and overly sugary snacks, but I was curious about some input from you guys who are in different countries & states. I really only know mostly about snacks & stuff because I'm not brave enough to try things that I don't quite understand or think that might be too spicy, so I apologize in advance!

Anyway:

Have you guys tried any international candy/food that you particularly liked or hated?
Is there any that you would like to try, at least once? (For example, I've never tried Vegemite and I'm terrified to do so)
Is there some that you've had before but that you can't really find anywhere? (Especially if you've moved a great distance and can't find 'X' anymore, or something you've had while on vacation~)
Is there any recommendations you have for people that need to try at least once? (Think about if you were to ship a box to someone here on the forums in a different country, what would you place inside?)
Anything else related to this topic that might be interesting?


From my end, here is a list of 'top' American snacks I found on a quick google search for.. inspiration I guess:

Spoiler: American Snackies

1. Premium Saltines
2. David Sunflower Seeds
3. Raisinets
4. Welch's Fruit Snacks
5. Mike and Ike
6. Corn Nuts
7. Popchips
8. Newtons
9. Trolli
10. Donettes
11. Better Cheddars
12. Swiss Rolls
13. Club Crackers
14. Junior Mints
15. Honey Maid Grahams
16. Pez
17. Cheese Balls
18. Dove Promises
19. Hostess Pies
20. E.L. Fudge
21. T.G.I. Friday's Potato Skins
22. Chicken in a Biskit
23. Swedish Fish
24. Nerds
25. Rold Gold Pretzels
26. Twizzlers
27. Red Vines
28. Mounds
29. Almond Joy
30. Triscuit
31. Nutter Butter
32. Tostitos
33. Brownie Bites
34. Famous Amos Cookies
35. Slim Jims
36. Fruit Roll Ups
37. Fruit by the Foot
38. Whoppers
39. Whatchamacallit
40. Runts
41. Nabisco Nilla Wafers
42. Pretzel Crisps
43. Zebra Cakes
44. Sunchips
45. Funyuns
46. 3 Musketeers
47. Baby Ruth
48. Milky Way
49. Animal Crackers
50. Handi-Snacks
51. Munchos Chips
52. Jelly Belly Jelly Beans
53. Nestle Crunch
54. Teddy Grahams
55. Gushers
56. Rolos
57. Stacy's Pita Chips
58. Fudge Stripes
59. Smartfood Popcorn
60. Hershey's Kisses
61. Heath Bars
62. Rice Krispies Treats
63. Skittles
64. Sour Patch Kids
65. Hostess Ho Ho's
66. Nabisco Wheat Thins
67. Bugles
68. Take 5
69. Chips Ahoy!
70. Kettle Chips
71. Twinkies
72. Milanos
73. Planters Mixed Nuts
74. Oatmeal Creme Pies
75. Hostess Cupcake
76. Ritz
77. Jack Link's
78. Snyder's Pretzel Pieces
79. Butterfinger
80. Reese's Pieces
81. Ruffles
82. Flipz Pretzels
83. Chex Mix
84. Gardetto
85. Snickers
86. Starburst
87. Combos
88. Twix
89. Lays
90. Kit Kat
91. Fritos
92. Haribo Gold Bears
93. Cheez-It
94. M&M's
95. Cheetos
96. Goldfish
97. Reese's Peanut Butter Cups
98. Pringles
99. Oreos
100. Doritos

I got the 'beetus just copying & pasting this.

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For me I guess I don't really know what's 'out there' other than what our local shops import. We used to have a world market in town that sold a lot of imported foods, spices & goods - and it was a lot of fun to go through and try all the different things! They even had a lot of the different Kit Kat flavors that I know Japan tends to have (plus a wider variety of pocky if that's your thing). Sadly they closed our local store so we have to drive a distance to the next closest one, which is about 2~ hours maybe.

I've really only had British chocolates from the grocery store international aisle, and only a few. I recall things like Galaxy, Aero & Lion Bars. I really enjoy the drinks from various places too, like some of the Japanese coffees (Also.. Puchao candies?) Also, Tim-Tams are a household favorite that we buy once in a while (Tim-Tam slams!)

We had a day at work once when someone brought in a whole bunch of Asian themed snacks from one of the Asian supermarkets and I found a really nice tasting Korean crisps that were amazing that I wouldn't mind trying again. I actually enjoy some of the fish-flavored foods.



Things I would like to try (even though they aren't really 'snacks'?:

Durians. I hear the smell is terrible and the taste is either that you love it or hate it. Nearly impossible to find in my area, though I had some candy once from the previously mentioned work day and I did. not. like. So maybe that's a good indicator that I shouldn't try it

There is a lot of produce out there that I'd actually like to start trying. Fruits & stuff more commonly, but I'd like to start branching out with different fresh vegetables as well.

Natto. Just once.

Also Kimchi (but for some reason the look isn't appealing and I'm scared to try it. I'm sorry!)



Anyway, any snacks or favorites that you would recommend I, or anyone else, try?

 

[Dionysos]

I don’t know if I eat a great amount of imported sweets and chocolate, etc. I am a Cadbury loyalist most of the time. Even though they have altered the recipe since the company takeover and made some of the chocolate taste a little oily, it still tastes a lot better than most chocolate out there, in my opinion.

I’d probably send some Cadbury stuff over to someone if I was so inclined and if I could afford to. I’m not too far from Cadbury World.

I might also send over a bar of Milky Way (by the Mars company). Over here the Milky Way contains light white nougat with a chocolate coating. I think that is fairly appropriate considering it is representing the Milky Way. I am aware, however, that in the US Milky Ways are more like our Mars bars and contain caramel on top of a chocolatey nougat.

As for buying imported sweets or chocolates myself? I have encountered Hershey’s and Reese’s Pieces in stores from time to time. Lots of people hate on Hershey’s over here as if it is solidified sewage, but I don’t think it is that bad. The taste isn’t as good as Cadbury’s but I’ve sometimes enjoyed a bar of Hershey’s if I wanted something a bit different. A once every couple of years sort of thing, probably.

Another thing would be Greek sweets. I haven’t imported these in this instance, but while I was in Greece last year I bought many boxes of kataifi, baklavas, loukoumi / Greek delight and kourabiedes (almond cookies coated in sugar) and brought them home with me. Why did I buy all of these boxes? I’m an idiot and I figured I’d take them home as I’m not exactly going to pop over to Greece to fetch some more. I had a few when I got home, then put the rest in a cupboard and naturally forgot about them until the other day. The use-by date is due in April/May on a good number of them, so I guess I’m running out of time.

 

[Paddy McGee]

So, when I decide to go ape-shit for sweets and candy I tend to go for the American stuff - twizzlers, Hersheys etc etc. I love it, honestly - so bad for me that I feel the need to go eat vegetables for the rest of the week! I got these like Cookies n creme gram cracker bits candy when I went to the cinema the other week and it was the good shit, dude. Get that stuff.

As for Irish snacks though - we share many, many of them with the UK - we're a very similar market. Some of the uniquely Irish are:

1. Tayto crisps (chips) are amazing. Having a crisp sandwich is a fuckin' childhood memory to most Irish kids - it's deliciously bad for you. I personally enjoy Cheese and Onion the most - but the smokey bacon flavour is... alright. This also includes Tayto spin-off brands like Hunky Dorys (which have a delicious Buffalo flavour).

2. There are cadbury flavours that are exclusive to Ireland - also, the Irish recipe was different up until their buyout. As such, I'd send over a bar of Caramello! It's like a softer, lighter version of regular caramel and it's so, so, so nice! I'd probably pick up a couple different flavours too.

3. On the more upscale end, Lily O'Brien's is a posh-esque irish chocolate brand which might hit the spot! They're quite delicious.

4. Red Lemonade is... it's an IRISH Staple during childhood! It's like lemonade... but red. That's it. it's oh so good though.

5. Cidona is a sparkling Irish fizzy drink that is... weird. Some people love it - I fuckin hate it... but give it a go!

6 Club Orange is, again, an Irish take on Fanta from C&C. Try it! Great with red bull or whiskey or whatever I feel like being depressed with. Tee hee

7. The entire HB Ice cream stock including: Brunch (vanilla Ice Cream covered in biscuit crumble) Twister (an ice lolly/Ice cream mix with Lime ice slush swirled with pineapple ice cream and a strawberry centre). I love both.

8. Jacobs biscuits, in general. Fuckin' whopper.

I love them all. I do. please love them too.