24 Australian Foods That Aren’t Sold in the U.S. But Need To Be
Australia’s culinary customs are as foreign to Americans as Christmas in the summer. That’s too bad since it means those of us residing in the U.S. miss out on unique delights like Fairy Bread and Freddo Frogs.
From sweet to savory and umami, this list is full of Australian foods we wish we could find in the U.S.
1: Anzac Biscuits
ANZAC is an acronym for the Australian and New Zealand Army Corps. The sweet, buttery cookies known as Anzac Biscuits probably got their name because they were often made and sold at war fundraisers. Still popular today, you can find them in nearly every Australian supermarket and convenience store.
2: Aeroplane Jelly
Aeroplane Jelly is an Australian favorite, similar to American Jell-O. The flavors are a little different, though, and include favorites like Port Wine and Blue Heaven, which tastes like raspberry and vanilla.
3: Damper
Damper is a traditional Australian bread made from simple ingredients. It’s often cooked under coals or using a camp stove. Like other soda bread, it doesn’t require yeast or a lengthy rise time.
4: Tim Tams
If you’re heading to Australia, you have to try their Tim Tams. The beloved chocolate-malt biscuits (that’s a cookie in American English) are perfect alongside a glass of milk or hot chocolate.
5: Vegemite
Vegemite is a bit of an acquired taste, but many Americans find they love it. The yeasty, umami-filled condiment is a great toast topper, especially alongside a generous spread of butter.
6: Fairy Bread
Children’s parties in Australia aren’t complete without Fairy Bread, and American kids should be jealous. This simple treat is made from sliced white bread smothered in butter and then covered in thousands of brightly colored sprinkles.
7: Weet-Bix
Weet-Bix and the smaller-sized WeetABix are classic Aussie cereals. Made from whole wheat, some Australians swear by dousing them in boiling water before adding milk, creating a breakfast mash. Others prefer to keep them crunchy by adding only ice-cold milk.
8: Lamingtons
Decadent, chocolate-covered Lamingtons are a favorite in Australia for good reasons. Americans are missing out on these tasty and distinctive cake bites, which are typically rolled in coconut flakes and often feature a sweet jam center.
9: John Dory Fillets
A John Dory is a type of fish native to Australian waters. It’s known for its delicate texture and almost sweet flavor, which lends itself perfectly to poaching, pan frying, and baking.
10: Iced Vovo
Iced Vovos look something like American Pop-Tarts, but these cookies don’t have a filling. Instead, they feature a decadent topping of pink fondant, sweet raspberry jam, and flaked coconut.
11: Dagwood Dogs
If you enjoy a corn dog now and then, you’ll love the Australian version. Aussies call their battered and deep-fried dogs Dagwood Dogs or Dippy Dogs, depending on where you are. They like to serve them with tomato sauce, which is just ketchup by another name.
12: Bowen Mangoes
Americans only have access to a limited variety of mango types, and Bowen isn’t typically one of them. That’s a shame because Bowen Mangoes are incredible. Common in Australia, these fruits are sweet, slightly spicy, and delightfully juicy.
13: Cherry Ripes
Cadbury Australia makes Cherry Ripe using dark chocolate, sweet cherries, and coconut. Cherry Ripe is one of Australia’s oldest chocolate bars, and they remain a favorite.
14: Chiko Roll
It’s thought that “Chiko Roll” is short for chicken roll, but there isn’t any chicken in this beloved Australian snack. Similar to a spring roll, these crispy rolls include cabbage, carrots, barley, and beef.
15: Vanilla Slice
Vanilla slice is a dessert that should be common in the U.S. but isn’t. Sweet custard sandwiched by flaky puff pastry is so simple yet decadent that it deserves to be served around the world.
16: Barramundi
Native to Australia and Indo-Pacific waters, Barramundi fish are silky, buttery, and delicious. Australians love this fish so much they have a National Barramundi Day. It’s October 20th, if you want to celebrate.
17: Seafood Sticks
Aussies often enjoy imitation crab sticks as “seafood sticks” at their local fish and chips shop. In this form, the imitation crab is battered, fried, and coated in chicken salt, then served alongside a hefty helping of fried potatoes.
18: Fantales
If you can find a bag of Fantales, you’re in luck. These Aussie favorites were sadly discontinued in 2023, but before they left shelves, the sweet, chocolate-caramel candies were well worth their tooth-testing stickiness.
19: Golden Gaytime
On a hot day, nothing beats a Golden Gaytime. These popular frozen treats feature creamy vanilla ice cream coated in toffee and chocolate rolled in sweet biscuit crumbs.
20: Freddo Frogs and Caramello Koalas
Cadbury makes chocolates for American audiences, too, but not like what they create in Australia. Americans don’t have easy access to the delightfully sweet Freddo Frogs and Caramello Koala, which are common in Aussie land.
21: Pods
Why Pods aren’t available in the U.S. remains a mystery. These candies feature a chocolate shell surrounding a liquified form of candy-bar favorites like Snickers and Mars Bars.
22: Twisties And Cheezles
Americans have Cheetos, but they don’t have Twisties and Cheezles, which are arguably better if you like intense cheese flavors. These crispy snack-time favorites are also available in a variety of unique flavors like “Cheezy BBQ.”
23: Milo
Milo is a chocolate-flavored malt powder that Australians like to add to milk or hot water. It’s sort of like hot chocolate but richer, thanks to the yummy malt flavor.
24: Bubble O’Bill
Bubble O’Bills were available in the U.S. in the 1980s, but American kids didn’t take to them the way Australian kids did. That’s too bad because these ice cream treats are as fun as they are delicious. They feature “Buffalo Bill” in ice cream form with a giant gumball for a nose.
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