20 Popular American Snacks That You Can’t Buy In Any Other Country
Left: Icecream sandwich, Right: Snapd Cheez It snacks.
Nothing conjures stronger feelings of homesickness than being abroad without your favorite comfort foods. Sure, eating macarons in Paris might be nice, but at the end of the day, there's nothing like the familiarity of the foods you grew up with.
It may be a shock, but many of the sweet treats we take for granted here in the U.S. are hard to find in other countries. While we hear some of this stuff might be available in parts of Canada eh, you'll be hard pressed to find the good stuff in Europe or anywhere else. Simple things like cream cheese, peanut butter, and even pretzels can be hard to find. And even if you do manage to find some, your wallet will pay dearly for your American must-haves. But hey, we have the best snacks in the world!
There simply isn't a better country to see a movie when you need to stock up on junk food for your purse.
Pro tip: If you're planning a trip overseas or are looking to surprise someone with a much-needed care package, pack some snacks. Once you've shared a Twinkie, you've made a friend for life!
Teddy Grahams
Say goodbye to these sweet little faces once you’ve crossed the American border. These little guys are strictly for the States. Whether you toted these in your brown-bagged lunch at school or made your tasty treats walk the plank into your cup of milk, who doesn't have fond memories of the box with the bear on it?
Oh, and did you know that Teddy Grahams basically make the world's best s'mores? Check it out: Teddy Grahams s’mores recipe.
Cheetos
If you’re on the hunt for something dangerously cheesy while abroad, we’re sorry to say that you won’t find these snacks in-store to satisfy your craving. These crunchy, cheesy snacks are a staple here, but that’s where their popularity sadly ends. Other countries clearly don’t understand the appeal of imitation cheese.
100 Grand Bars
There's a reason this candy bar is associated with a giant mound of cash: After eating one of these, you'll feel like a million bucks (or at the very least $100 grand). This 60s throwback is still popular. Bite into one of these bad boys for a chewy caramel center surrounded in crunchy, crispy rice pieces in milk chocolate.
Cheez-Its
No one can resist the real baked cheesy goodness of a Cheez-It cracker. Seriously, how are these not available anywhere besides here? It's honestly a travesty to think there are stores without boxes of Cheez-Its.
Pop-Tarts
Seriously? Crazy good does not even begin to describe this breakfast favorite. Is there anything more American than eating 32 grams of sugar first thing in the morning?
Looking to take your Pop-Tarts game to the next level? Try creating an ice cream sandwich out of your fav Pop-Tarts. You're welcome.
Airheads
They're out of control! These zany snacks are every 90s kid's favorite. It's like if saltwater taffy had a gazillion times more sugar. That's an Airhead in a nutshell.
Even Saints running back, Alvin Kamara, has his own Airhead flavor. What's better than having your own purse line or fragrance? You're own flavor of candy. That's when you know you're really famous.
Combos
Not really a surprise that these would be excluded from stores in other countries since a lot of countries don't even have regular pretzels. Still, you can't take the sting out of a Combos-less reality. Whether you're talking the pizza kind or seven-layer dip, Combos are the best bar snacks around hands down.
Birthday Cake Oreos (And Other Flavors)
Lovingly nicknamed "America's favorite cookie," Oreos are the stuff of childhood memories. While other countries may have the original kind, you'll be hard pressed to get your hands on any of the unique flavors for which the cookies have become renowned.
Butterfinger
Butterfingers are dangerously delicious. Even their slogan is basically a threat to anyone who dares even look in your direction while you're eating one. Nobody better lay a finger on my Butterfinger! Did I buy two? Yes. Am I going to share? No. One bite is all it takes to conjure your aggressive side. Do what you must to protect your precious peanut-buttery goodness. No one in the U.S. will judge you.
Sriracha Hot Chili Sauce Popcorn
Hot sauce and the U.S. go hand in hand. Specifically, Sriracha and the U.S. This simple yet ingenious pairing of popcorn and hot sauce has us smitten. Even hard to find in some places here, good luck trying to get your hands on a bag of these bad boys while you're abroad.
Lay’s Biscuits and Gravy Potato Chips
If you didn't jump for joy the minute these hit the shelves, you're clearly not American enough. It's not just the fact that Lay's created this flavor as the winner of a fan competition, these chips literally taste like what they claim to be. Whether you're from the South or not, you gotta try some of these.
Chex Mix
It's hard to believe there are bars in operation around the world that don't have a bowl of Chex Mix ready to serve. I mean, what else are you supposed to munch on while cracking open a cold one with the boys? The best thing about Chex Mix is there's a flavor for everyone. Whether you've got a sweet tooth that controls your every meal or prefer a savory, salty crunch, there's a mix out there to satisfy your craving.
Hostess Cupcakes
If you've never been in a cafeteria fight over the right way to eat a Hostess cupcake, I don't think you can even claim to be American. Seriously, even homemade cupcakes pale in comparison to these perfectly processed beauties. Oh, and the right way is clearly to take off the icing and eat it last. Duh.
Reese’s Cups
If you're not a fan of Reese's, you may need to see a doctor about that because your taste buds clearly aren't working. It will come as a devastating blow to any American when they find out that the self-proclaimed perfect candy is unavailable just about anywhere else in the world. If you've got a friend abroad, show them how much you love them by sending them some Reese's cups.
Peanut Butter M&Ms
Yet again, the rest of the world fails to realize the magic of chocolate combined with peanut butter. It's so strange to think about peanut butter as a rare commodity in other countries. I guess that just means more for us. M&Ms' impression of a Reese's Pieces might even be better.
Nutter Butters
Let me say it louder for the people in the back: PEANUT BUTTER IS BASICALLY AN AMERICAN THING! You really don't get an appreciation for how integral peanut butter is to the American diet until you start removing everyone's favorite snacks as a possibility while abroad. This crunchy peanut butter sandwhich cookie with (you guessed it) peanut butter filling is such a comforting treat. What kid didn't have a box of these waiting for them at home?
Jell-O
You might find gelatin but it'll never be the same as Jell-O. Besides, Jell-O's product line doesn't stop at the fruity flavored gelatin everyone knows and loves. They also make a great instant pudding with a laundry list of seasonal flavors. Jell-O has become an American staple — one you can count on making an annual appearance at everyone's Fourth of July barbecue sporting red, white, and blue pride.
Lucky Charms
This magically delicious breakfast favorite can't be bought while you're overseas. I'm guessing the rest of the world has caught on to the fact that there's no nutritional value in marshmallows for breakfast. Let's hope America never follows because this cereal is truly magical. If you don't save all the marshmallows til the end, what are you even doing?
Twinkies
The only thing more American than a Twinkie is having one deep-fried at the boardwalk. While these snacks have been rumored to last forever and even survive a nuclear war, that doesn't stop us from bowing down to their epic greatness and shamelessly chowing down on the artificial cream-filled cake snack.