One of the funniest things in regards to differences between the UK and the USA are in regards to the names products are given. From chocolate sharing the same name as soap to trying to find a Mars bar you feel like your going in a never ending circle. Or they'll have the same name but their consistency will be very different. So I thought I'd give you a look through our cupboards with the British names coming first followed by their American equivalent.
STARTING IN THE BATHROOM;
Lynx as Axe, however research comes to show that most countries call it Axe yet trademark problems wouldn't allow that brand name to be used in the UK - so in this instance the UK is the odd one. Even so, Axe seems an odd name for a body spray.
SEARCH IN THE CUPBOARDS;
Asking a shop assistant for custard will result in being blankly stared at. Rather then being in a tin you get it in a packet like you get your jelly/jello. I haven't dared myself to try and make it yet though.
A lot of people don't like American baked beans but I find them rather tasty. Granted you can get your typical Heinz beans [they originate from Pittsburgh so they are an American company anyway] but we tend to buy Bushes baked beans which come with mini bacon bits in a brown sauce mix.Yum.
Walkers are your Lay's, with the "ready salted" merely called Classic.
There's a marvellous thing called all purpose flour, so when your baking you often don't have to worry about having self rising or plain flour. Just one will do [obviously you can buy these flours too]. But I can't say I ever noticed anything like this in the UK?
Not only that but Lard is called shortening under the is disguise of the brand name Criso. Plus it comes in a jar! I think that's meant to make it look and seem healthier perhaps?
Not only that but Lard is called shortening under the is disguise of the brand name Criso. Plus it comes in a jar! I think that's meant to make it look and seem healthier perhaps?
FRIDGE;
Milk rarely gets termed by being full fat, skimmed or semi skinned - it goes by it's percentages. So semi skimmed is 2% - but over here that's called reduced fat milk. Apparently we drink 1% milk [pink top] which is low fat/light milk. Who ever thought buying milk would be so confusing when you actually think about it rather then the colour of the bottle tops!
If you fancy a mature cheese - that's always called a sharp cheese.
SWEET GOODIES;
Being in America we should probably call them "candy" anyway.
The one I'll never give into changing it's name is what Galaxy is called, I've mentioned this a few times now but Dove as a chocolate brand name? Especially when Dove as a toiletry is on sale too. But like Lynx/Axe Galaxy is only named Galaxy in the UK and the Middle East.
Finding a Mars Bar is an adventure in itself. A Mars Bar in America is a Milky Way, but a Milky Way in America is a 3 Musketeer. Keeping up? I may have to do a whole post about American sweets - there's way too many I haven't tried! Interested?
Have you ever come across any funny brand/food product names?
Confusing! Just like chips/crisps!
ReplyDeleteLiz @ Shortbread & Ginger
To me chips [as in fried things] will always be chips and crisps [Walkers] will always be my crisps. Just to me sounds/seems wrong being any other way!
DeleteSounds confusing! I agree, Galaxy should always be Galaxy otherwise I'd feel like I'm eating toiletries! xo
ReplyDeleteAnd Dove doesn't even sound chocolate like!
Deletegosh, the sweet situation always confuses me. A milky bar should be called a milky bar not be called a milky bar and contain a mars bar! they are not the same! haha x
ReplyDeleteThey don't even look the same and are totally the different size! So so confusing when you just want a chocolate fix!
DeleteI'm interested, I am a big fan of American sweeties and find myself buying stupidly expensive imports haha x
ReplyDeleteThen this is the perfect excuse for me to buy a tonne of sweets haha!
DeleteAh love this! At least Galaxy looks the same, I've seen me excitedly raiding the sweet counter in Target only to realise I'm actually eating a mars/snickers/milky way under a different name, faff! :)
ReplyDeleteOh lord the snickers thing too - I forgot about that. Although they do introduce really tasty versions of snickers over here!
Deletei love this kind of posts! i remember when i was in the UK i found vauxhall (cars) confusing
ReplyDeleteYeah took me ages to work out what Vauxhall were called in America!
DeleteI never even though about the fact that these would be called different thing in the UK. Thanks for the lesson!
ReplyDeleteThere's probably loads more i've still yet to come across!
DeleteOops, i always thought all purpose flour was plain flour
ReplyDeleteMaybe it is?! Lol I have no idea!
DeleteDove. Ugh. I don't think I'd even dare eat it! How can anybody cope with Galaxy being called Dove? Plus, Galaxy just sounds luxurious and Dove sounds... well, like soap. :-) xx
ReplyDeleteMy thoughts totally!
DeleteLOVED this post :) iv never seen all purpose flour over here either but it would defo come in handy for baking!!! and Dove bar?! i much prefer galaxy :) thanks for the fab read :) xoxo
ReplyDeleteYour welcome, dove just doesn't seem right as a name for chocolate!
DeleteIfound this super interesting I love looking at the american sweets in selfridges! x
ReplyDeleteCertainly off to grab a huge heap full of american sweets to blog about soon for sure!
DeleteLove this post, each time ive been state side i always marvel at the names, the milk was esp confusing! lol. Scarlett x
ReplyDeleteI always thought we were drinking semi skimmed until I read about the differences! But yeah there's so many different kinds of milk to buy!
DeleteHaha, this boggled my mind. It sure would be tough shopping in a different country. At least you seem to have sorted out the craziness that is America :]
ReplyDeleteI think i'm getting there at least!
DeleteThis is a great post! That flour sounds so clever. We could do with some of that over here.x
ReplyDeleteYeah it takes out the hassle of having to have different types to bake with!
DeleteOh god the whole mars bar - milky way thing sounds so confusing !
ReplyDeleteDidn't realise so much was different !
Yeah but thankfully the mars bars do taste like the UK ones! Which i'm glad about because I do love a Mars!
DeleteIt's Dove chocolate in Australia too and its yummy! It's called Lynx here too. We have mars bars and milky ways totally different sweets. The world is a funny place. xx
ReplyDeleteBranding is so odd isn't it!
DeleteDo an American sweets post, please! One thing that confused the hell out of me when I moved to the states was biscuits. I had never had an American biscuit until much later because I didn't want to eat what I thought were "crackers" with my turkey. soooo strange.
ReplyDelete♥ laura
the blog of worldly delights
Yeah I never understand why they call them biscuits!
DeleteHahahaha my little brother wants to use Axe! =)
ReplyDeletehttp://pinkchampagnefashion.blogspot.com/
Definintely interested in a US sweets post - I didn't realise about the Mars/Milky Bar/3 Musketeers and I think Galaxy is a way better brand name than dove. I've only tried Hersheys and really wasn't keen.
ReplyDeleteAll purpose flour sounds so much better than having to keep shedloads of different types in the cupboard though.
I think Hershey's can be really hit and miss, I love their dark chocolate bars, they are really nice.
DeleteI get so much pleasure from spending time in Indian supermarkets and working out the brand differences, too. x
ReplyDeleteI love just looking at the British section - so funny how they define a nation by it's food!
DeleteHaha some of this looks very familiar! Slightly off topic but have you tried smart food white cheddar popcorn? (comes in a black/yellow bag). The closest I can like it to is wotsits in popcorn form. I've been hooked on the stuff for about 10 years now and so happy to be able to buy it on my weekly shop now!!! Try it!! :)
ReplyDeleteI'll have to keep my eyes out for this it sounds really good!
DeleteThis is a great post. I never knew the differences between Axe. Thought it was a universal name.
ReplyDeletehttp://myminibag.blogspot.com
I guess we all get use to what it's called in our homeland and think it's really weird when it's called something else!
Deletehaha this is a neat post! and no nobody believes crisco is healthy hahaha in america we def know that's SUPER unhealthy!! haha
ReplyDeletealso you should try it i love jello pudding from the box haha it's delish! :)
Crisco is such a funny thing, I keep wanting to stick it back into the fridge too! It's really weird to me when people use it in recipes, it just doesn't seem a good thing to be using to me haha!
DeleteHaha I don't know how you cope!
ReplyDeleteI'd love to see an American sweets post
xo
It gets rather confusing at times. I got sad i couldn't find pasta bake the other day. It doesn't seem to exist.
DeleteThis was such an interesting post! The Milky Way/Mars Bar thing sounds very confusing haha!
ReplyDeleteGillian x
elevatormusik
Haha then I noticed there's even more then one type of milky war [UK Mars bar] so confusing!!
Deletedove chocolate is so so good! it's smooth and creamy :) xx
ReplyDeletemy blog: boho vanity
Yeap Galaxy is certainly my favourite kind of chocolate!
DeleteI love 3 Musketeer bar!!
ReplyDeletehttp://golddustk.blogspot.co.uk/
Katie x
Haven't got around to trying one of those yet but i'm adding them to my chocolate blog themed investigation.
DeleteWow there are so many things I didn't know about the branding in America. It's so weird to see Lynx being called Axe...and Galaxy as Dove, it just seems strange when you can buy soap with the exact same name!
ReplyDeleteJust found your blog through Life of a Sweetaholic and loved your interview, you've definitely got a new follower in me :)
Love, Elizabeth xx
http://butterflyboo.blogspot.com/
Aw thank you hun! I know you can have your dove smellies and your dove chocolate in one shop. Very strange!
DeleteOMG I would be sooo confused if i ever visited the US! lol. I'd love to see an american sweets post :) xoxo
ReplyDeleteLove posts like this! When I went to LA, I saw the Dove chocolate thing and got totally confused, thankfully Galaxy doesn't actually taste like soap. I miss American food :( I'm almost out of Jolly Ranchers, and breakfast just isn't the same without Lucky Charms. xx
ReplyDelete