australian food different names american british

14 Names Other Countries Have For Food That Will Confuse Every Aussie

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There’s nothing that can unearth the patriotism you didn’t know you had inside you, like hearing what another country calls a common food.

If you’ve never left Australia, or don’t watch international cooking shows, you might be unaware that not all English-speaking countries refer to food by the same names. It’s unsurprising that on the other side of the world, colloquial terms are used — but that doesn’t make them any less baffling.

We’ve dug deep to find some of the most unexpected food names.

Here are 14 names other countries have for food that will confuse every Aussie:

1. Dessert is called pudding – The UK

A baffling phenomenon, especially as this confuses whether the dessert in question is actually pudding, or a whole different kind of sweet treat. This makes even less sense than Irish people referring to dessert as “Afters”.

2. Cordial is called Kool-Aid (and it sucks) – The US

Kool-Aid is the go-to term, but it’s also the main brand that makes flavoured water — although Kool-Aid is a powder, not a liquid. Traditional cordial doesn’t seem to be overly popular in the US, and to add insult to injury, in the UK, cordial is sometimes called squash. Excuse me?

3. Vanilla slices are called custard squares – New Zealand

Yes, these bakery staples are made of custard and in the shape of a square, but a little imagination wouldn’t go astray, NZ!

4. Jam is called jelly – The US

In the US seedless jam is jelly, so what is jelly called? Jell-O! Again, it’s a specific brand (not to mention, it sounds like baby talk!)

5. HP Sauce is called brown sauce – The UK

If you’ve ever spent time with anyone from the UK, or even just Europe, you’ll know they love a bit of brown sauce. For a long time, I thought brown sauce was any sauce that was brown — like BBQ sauce! It turns out, brown sauce is closer to what Australians know as HP Sauce.

6. Chips are called fries – The US

Australians categorising fries, chips and potato chips all under the the umbrella term ‘chips’ is simply just our culture. Lean into it!

7. Supreme pizza is called All-Dressed pizza – Canada

I kind of love this one. All-Dressed just sounds so fancy!

8. Soft drink is called soda, pop or soda pop – The US

If this isn’t enough to bend your brain, in the South, some Americans just refer to all soft drinks as…coke! Not confusing at all!

9. Icing sugar is called powdered sugar – The US

I mean, the sugar is powdered but the word “icing’ just has a little more pizzazz.

10. Scones are called biscuits – The US

They’re not sweet and served with jam and cream, instead these scones are commonly served with gravy.

11. Dessert slices are called squares or bars – Canada

Riddle me this, Canada: if slices are bars, then what are chocolate bars? If you made a chocolate slice, would you call it a chocolate bar?! Make it make sense!

12. Chicken burgers are called chicken sandwiches – The US

This has always baffled me. Americans classify pretty much any chicken wedged in bread as a chicken sandwich — even when it’s clearly a burger bun. This, again, just defies logic as what is an actual chicken sandwich then?! How do y’all even function!

13. Woolworths is called Countdown – New Zealand

This isn’t just an item of food, this is an entire grocery store. Where were you the day you found out that the Woolies chain is called Countdown over in New Zealand? Mind. Blown.

Via WikiCommons

14. Capsicums are called peppers – The US & The UK

It turns out, Australians are one of the only English-speaking countries to say capsicum. The vegetable is known simply as pepper in the UK and bell pepper in the US. For added confusion in America’s Midwest, green capsicums are sometimes called mangoes.

I’m more confused than ever.