People From All Over The World Share What Local Foods Are Considered Delicacies To Foreigners

Some foods are everyday staples at home, then suddenly become a big deal the moment a visitor tries them. That gap between local normal and foreign fascination is exactly what makes this Reddit thread so fun.

In this post, people from different countries shared the foods they see as ordinary, even cheap, while outsiders treat them like luxury items. The answers range from seafood and pastries to regional meats, snacks, and drinks, and the contrast says a lot about how food travels across borders.

Some of the picks are obvious, some are surprising, and a few are just plain funny. Read on.

1. Lobster, King Crab

"Depending on where in the US you live, lobster, king crab, Dungeness crab, abalone, spotted prawns, geoduck, etc. can be pretty cheap, normal food but for foreigners they go nuts over these things because they are so expensive elsewhere."flickr

2. "Avocados here in Mexico, pretty common and cheap"

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3. "French here so, a lot of our food. If there's one thing we know how to do, it's exporting our food as fancy delicacies."

"The truth is, apart from pastries/desserts which can be pretty complicated to put together (the effort to make even just twelve croissants...), most French food is just peasant stuff spruced up for the modern times. The logic is almost always:Take a cheap-ish cut of meat. Cook it either in wine or in broth for a few hours with a bunch of onions and whatever herbs grow nearby. Add carrots/potatoes, enjoyThat's the basis for bœuf bourguignon, coq au vin, gigot d'agneau, pot-au-feu, blanquette de veau, etc. If you want to get fancy you can wrap it in pastry, and that's another dozen French specialties right there.There's not really a way to f**k it up, really. It's meat, cooked at low heat over several hours, with a bunch of aromatic herbs; as long as you've got a sturdy pot and you don't let it dry, you'll get something in the range from edible to delicious."flickr

This article touches on the fascinating intersection of culture and food. Research has shown that food preferences and delicacies often reflect cultural identities and traditions, influencing our perceptions of what is considered a delicacy.

Studies in cultural psychology highlight how these preferences are shaped by socialization and experience, leading to a rich tapestry of culinary diversity worldwide.

4. "Hmm, forrest berries, perhaps."

"I live in Finland. We have a lot of forests, so lot of berries such as blueberries and lingonberries. Everyman's Rights mean that you can just go and pick as much as you can find. It's kinda one of those things where if you live near any forested area, and are willing to spent time there come late summer, you'll probably have enough to last until next year in your freezer.

We have so much berries that people from poorer countries (Thailand is a common one for some reason) are hired to pick them up, because doing berrypicking enough to actually profit monetarily is heavy work, and apparently the pay isn't worth it for most Finns.

At the same time, forest berries are considered a superfood around the world, very healthy and trendy. Dunno about actual delicacy status, but definitely a difference in how we think about them."

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5. "Speculaas/Speculoos/Biscoff cookies."

"Delicacy might be a big word but people seem to loose their minds over these cookies. They're originally from Belgium & the Netherlands."flickr

6. Caviar

"I'm from Russia and I had an acquaintance who was going to marry an Irish guy. They lived in Russia for some time the guy went completely bonkers for caviar of capelin fish. It's not really a delicacy, it's not rare or expensive at all (probably approx $2.5-3 a can) but he liked it so much he wanted to bring a crate of it for their wedding in Europe. Needless to say his soon to be wife wife was not amused (imagine wanting to bring a crate of peanut butter or something to your wedding)."flickr

Moreover, the concept of 'delicacy' varies significantly across cultures.

7. "Jamón serrano, here in Spain is really common and you can find very good product for a very affordable price."

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8. "Reindeer meat, wild blueberries and cloudberries."

Reindeer meat is popular in the Scandinavian countries. In Alaska and Finland, reindeer sausage is sold in grocery stores.

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9. Stroopwaffle

"A wafer waffle made from two thin layers of baked dough joined by a caramel filling. First made in the Dutch city of Gouda, stroopwafels are popular throughout the Netherlands and the former Dutch Empire and are well-known Dutch dishes."

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Food has long been recognized as a powerful unifying force in human societies.

10. Water

"Water, our tap water is perfect and no local ever buys bottled (iceland)A lot of people are mentioning the sulfur smell of the hot water, and that depends on the area. For example where I live the hot water comes directly from a nearby hot spring area so naturally its gonna have a smell. Locals dont smell it though.For drinking water you just need to run the tap for a bit, that will get any hot water outta the pipes and bring you spring water."flickr

11. "As Italian living in Germany I can say that basically every food from my culture is considered fancy here."

"A couple of days ago I saw an Arancino ( cheap fried rice cake ) sold for 5€ In Italy a good Arancino is 1€"flickr

12. "A good baguette. I've seen american tourist walk out of a bakery with like 12 of them. Slow down dude, they are made all day long, you don't need that many"

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Additionally, exploring local delicacies can serve as a way to bridge cultural divides. Engaging with unfamiliar foods can enhance our understanding of other cultures and promote empathy.

That “shared online without permission” betrayal is exactly like the friend who leaked a sacred family recipe.

13. "Especially in my region its called "blutwurst" roughly translated as "blood sausage" or "black pudding" and i hate it"

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14. "It was supposed to be caviar, but now it's also unaffordable for us. cries in Russian"

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15. "Good french pastries and stuff like croissant and "pain au chocolat", we call them "viennoiserie" in french, no idea if there is a specific word for it in english."

"Obviously in France they are super easy to find in any bakery and they are cheaper. It's so common that honestly not a lot of people do go buy some croissants every day.Macarons are also relatively easy to find, usually they are made in special shops but some bakery do make them.Oh, and if you go to France or go to a (GOOD) french bakery in your country, try a Paris-Brest . You will not regret it."flickr

Engaging with diverse culinary experiences not only expands our palates but also contributes to our psychological well-being. Research from the University of Toronto indicates that trying new foods can enhance creativity and adaptability, fostering a more flexible mindset.

This willingness to explore can translate into greater openness in other areas of life, promoting personal growth and resilience.

16. "are quail eggs delicacies? because I could just buy them at a grocery store here like normal eggs but I rarely ever hear of them anywhere else"

In Brazil, Colombia, Ecuador and Venezuela, a single hard-boiled quail egg is a common topping on hot dogs and hamburgers, often fixed into place with a toothpick.

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17. Butter Chicken

"As an Indian staying in Europe, I hate butter chicken because it has taken over Indian cuisine in Europe and noone wants to try the real stuff."flickr

18. "Krainer wurst or carniolan sausage"

"Protected by EU for being slovenian speciality that can only be made here but loved and eaten by milions of germans and austrians.It's the name that can't be used if made outside of Slovenia and sold commercialy not the actual sausage."flickr

19. "An indian prepared bajji on master chef Australia"

"Bajji is available at every 5 blocks or so.The whole recipe is cut onion/potato, coat it with gramflour and spice and fry. Indians who saw that surely laughed. (In south indian states bhaji is called bajji)"flickr

20. Halloumi cheese.

"It's a huge staple in Cyprus and we eat it all the times but in the US I only ever see it as Barbaques and sometimes at exotic cheese plates.For the halloumi lovers out there try white bread, halloumi and strawberry jam. You are welcome. Try halloumi with watermelon. A groundbreaking combo that is the staple of many summer evenings."flickr

21. "Do maple syrup or poutine count?"

"I know at the least, in university I had a friend who came up from the US and thought poutine was the greatest thing ever. Honestly, I'm kind of surprised more of the US hasn't adopted it. Fries, cheese curds, and gravy, sounds more like an American thing. Not sure what other country's opinions on it are."flickr

22. Lindt chocolates

"I live in Japan but I’m from the US. Whenever I go back home I buy a few bags of Lindt chocolates from the drugstore as souvenirs. They’re dirt cheap in the US, but for whatever reason they’re a luxury chocolate in Japan, and the same bags would cost $30 here."flickr

23. Barbecue

"I live in Texas and any time anyone comes from out of state we HAVE to go get barbecue."flickr

24. Cubed Melon

"We had some Japanese exchange students at our university in the US, and when they saw the cubed melon on the salad bar (the standard watermelon/cantaloupe/honeydew mix), they thought we were living like royalty. Apparently melon is a really expensive, special occasion food over there."flickr

25. Pheasant.

"I grew up in South Dakota and we hunted pheasants every day during the season. In college it was a cheap source of food and ate it all the time. In Central and South American countries it is a delicacy and people could not believe I ate it every day."flickr

26. Fried Chicken

"It's actually become a special holiday meal in countries like japan where you have to reserve your bucket weeks in advance! (mainly because of clever marketing) But here, people would laugh so hard at that, cause it's just fried chicken!"flickr

27. "(Good) Olive Oil"

According to ChowHound: "There's not a clear-cut answer to the question: Which country makes the best olive oil? Italy, Spain, and Greece are probably the three most well-known, though Croatia and Turkey have also produced some of the highest rated oils in recent years."

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28. "Prosciutto. Like, it's just ham, guys. No biggie."

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29. "I worked for a charity in Iraq for a year and we'd buy a dozen lamb chops for the equivalent of $5. That's like $60 to buy in the US and it's worse quality."

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30. "Hawaii has somehow turned spam into a sought after food, especially by visitors from Japan."

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The exploration of local delicacies from around the globe serves as a powerful gateway to understanding and connection among diverse cultures. The shared culinary experiences highlighted in the article reveal not just unique tastes but also the stories and traditions that define these foods. Celebrating these culinary differences promotes empathy and appreciation for the richness of our global cultural tapestry.

As individuals engage with the flavors and practices of other communities, they not only broaden their palates but also deepen their understanding of the values and histories that shape these culinary traditions. This engagement enhances our lives and cultivates a sense of belonging in an increasingly interconnected world.

Wait, what would you do if your coworkers pressured you to share your secret recipes?