One of the specialities in the American cuisine is the variety of tasty snacks available. These snacks are appreciated by foreigners visiting the States and are also greatly missed by homesick Americans living abroad. So what are some of the most popular American snacks and what is it that makes them so special?

The peanut butter and jelly combination

One of the all time favourite snacks for American children is peanut butter and jelly (known as jam in the UK) sandwiches. Not only do these make an extremely filling and nutritious snack, but they\’re packed full of energy to keep your child going for the rest of the day. Many adults continue to enjoy this combination in their sandwiches, many years after they\’ve left their childhood behind. Peanut butter can be added to almost anything and for those looking for a healthier snack, it\’s often used as a dip for fruit or vegetables, combining particularly well with apples or celery. It\’s also used in candy bars such as Butter Fingers.

Getting into a knot with pretzels

Another popular American snack is pretzels. These snacks are distinguished by their shape which is often described as being like a loose knot. Made out of dough, these snacks are available in both hard, soft, sweet and savoury varieties. The hard varieties have a more stick like appearance, are usually smaller and may be savoury or covered in chocolate. The soft varieties may be coated in chocolate or sugar and cinnamon. They may also have fillings such as cream cheese or peanut butter. Often these pretzels are available to buy in shopping centres, fairs etc. and are served hot.

Potato chips and popcorn come in so many flavours

Potato chips (known as crisps in the UK) have a wide range of flavours, many of which are not easily available outside of the States. BBQ and cream cheese and chives are two popular flavours of potato chips. An alternative to potato chips is Goldfish, little corn snacks shaped as goldfish.

Popcorn is now easily available across Europe, particularly in the cinemas. However the variety of flavours available is likely to disappoint anyone looking for some more variety. Most places offer salted or sweet, with the more adventurous perhaps stretching as far as toffee flavour! American popcorn however, comes in flavours as diverse as cheese, salt and vinegar, BBQ, Salsa and a special movie flavoured variety. Perhaps the height of American popcorn luxury is Harry and David\’s Moose Munch, caramel popcorn drizzled in chocolate. It tastes so good!

More than chocolate chip

Mention American cookies and most people will immediately think of the traditional chocolate chip version. However, unlike the British, in the States the term encompasses a much wider variety, including all that the British would term as “biscuits”. Some of the most popular American cookies are Oreos. They are now becoming more popular around the world, with many countries in Europe importing them and selling them in the supermarkets. Oreos are now also used in many delicious cake recipes.

Ben Greenwood is writing on behalf of American Soda, importers of American food, including genuine American Pretzels and American Cookies.

Ben Greenwood is writing on behalf of American Soda (http://www.americansoda.co.uk), importers of American food, sweets and drinks into the UK.

Author Bio: Ben Greenwood is writing on behalf of American Soda, importers of American food, including genuine American Pretzels and American Cookies.

Category: Food and Drinks
Keywords: american food, popcorn, pretzels, cookies, potato chips