Introduction
When it comes to food, Australia is known for its unique and delicious cuisine. From the iconic Vegemite to the beloved meat pie, there are plenty of dishes that are considered quintessentially Australian. However, there are also some “Australian” foods that are not actually eaten in Australia. From the strange to the downright bizarre, here are seven “Australian” foods that you won’t find on any Aussie menu. So, if you’re looking for a truly authentic Australian experience, make sure to avoid these dishes and stick to the classics.
7 “Australian” Foods No One Eats in Australia
When it comes to food, Australia has a lot to offer. From the iconic Vegemite to the beloved meat pie, there are plenty of delicious dishes that are unique to the country. But there are also some “Australian” foods that are not actually eaten in Australia. Here are seven of them.
1. Pavlova
Pavlova is a meringue-based dessert that is often served with fresh fruit and cream. It is often thought of as an Australian dish, but it actually originated in New Zealand. It is still popular in both countries, but it is not a traditional Australian food.
2. Lamingtons
Lamingtons are small sponge cakes that are covered in chocolate and coconut. They are a popular treat in Australia, but they are not a traditional dish. They were actually invented in the early 1900s by a cook in Brisbane, Australia.
3. Anzac Biscuits
Anzac biscuits are a type of oat-based cookie that is often associated with Australia. They were originally created during World War I as a way to send food to soldiers overseas. While they are still popular in Australia, they are not a traditional dish.
4. Tim Tams
Tim Tams are a type of chocolate biscuit that is popular in Australia. They were invented in the 1960s by the Arnott’s biscuit company and have become a beloved snack. While they are popular, they are not a traditional Australian food.
5. Fairy Bread
Fairy bread is a type of sandwich that is made with white bread, butter, and sprinkles. It is often served at children’s parties, but it is not a traditional Australian dish. It is actually believed to have originated in Scotland.
6. Vegemite
Vegemite is a popular spread that is made from yeast extract. It is often thought of as an Australian food, but it is actually a British invention. It was first created in the 1920s and was later adopted by Australians.
7. Meat Pies
Meat pies are a popular snack in Australia, but they are not a traditional dish. They were actually introduced to the country by British settlers in the 19th century. They are still popular today, but they are not a traditional Australian food.
If you’re headed Down Under, you can count on a lot to look forward to: There are endless miles of beaches. There’s the awesome expanse of the Outback. There’s the laidback outlook on life. There’s the Sydney Opera House. And there’s a lot of great food to eat, from endless barbecues to meat pies to pavlovas—which both New Zealand and Australian claim to have invented. And apparently, everyone there loves chicken parmigiana, too.
What you are much less likely to come across are any of the foods we’re featuring here today, because contrary to common misconception (or to marketing initiatives, in some cases), these foods are either minimally popular or are not eaten in Australia at all. So, pack your bags, bring extra sunblock, and think twice before placing your food order down there, lest you come across as a consummate tourist. Not that they’ll mind, what with being all laid back and such. Plus, don’t miss 8 “British” Foods No One Eats in Britain
Yes, Australians do often call barbecue grills a “barbie.” And yes, Aussies do indeed eat shrimp, even grilled shrimp. But you will never hear an Australian referring to “shrimp on the barbie” unless they are doing it to be ironic because, in Australia, shrimp are almost invariably referred to as prawns. The phrase grew out of a series of TV commercials promoting tourism to Australia, thus the use of the word shrimp, as the ads were aimed at an American market.
Like the Outback Steakhouse itself, which was founded in Florida in the late 1980s, per the company’s own site, the Bloomin’ Onion is an entirely American creation. No surprise, then, that so many other American steakhouses also offer a take on this battered, deep-fried, calorie- and fat-bomb of an appetizer, like the Texas Roadhouse Cactus Blossom.
Sure, the ads wanted us all to believe that Foster’s is “Australian for beer,” but according to Craft Beer & Brewing, this pale yellow lager is really not very popular in Australia. First brewed by Americans who had made their way to Australia in the late 19th century, the beer has gained market share in other countries— it is largely brewed in overseas markets, too—but is a minor player in the Aussie beer market.
Per a description of the stuff from an Amazon post: “Today Marmite is a nutritious, black, tasty, savory spread enjoyable on toast or bread or even as a cooking ingredient. It is made from spent brewer’s yeast and comes in a distinctive black jar with a yellow lid.” People famously love it or hate it or, in the case of Australia, largely do neither, because they don’t eat it. That’s because vegemite is the preferred yeast spread. And while similar at their base, vegemite is quite different than marmite in taste, what with added vegetable and spice flavoring, per British Essentials.
Australians are fans of jam, to be sure, spreading it on toast and using it in sandwiches. Jelly, on the other hand, is a much sweeter spread usually reserved for desserts—think of a Linzer Tart cookie, e.g. And while peanut butter is less common Down Under than it is in America, it is eaten—but, per the Washington Post, mixing peanut butter and jelly is seen as an abomination there.
A hilarious Twitter thread shared in The Courier-Mail—an Australian website—illustrates the randomness of one of the dishes served at Outback Steakhouse. The chain is known for a creamy seafood pasta and topping called Toowoomba. Toowoomba is a real Australian town two hours inland and up a mountain range, according to one respondent. That it is known for seafood in America is baffling. The name was probably chosen because the town name is memorable and no one had heard of it before. “We’re all just a bit surprised Toowoomba has ANYTHING named after it,” Tweeted another.
You may think you’ll impress your Aussie friends by referring to the snack food we in America call potato chips as “crisps,” but… you won’t. That’s because while Brits call chips crisps and use chips to refer to French fries, Australians just call them both chips. Fries are sometimes called “hot chips,” but usually, you just need to figure it out based on the context.
Steven John