International Snacks: A Guide to Snacking Around the World
Snacking in European countries
In the United Kingdom, afternoon tea, around 3 p.m., dates back to the 19th century when two meals were eaten daily and dinner was served at 9 p.m. The period between meals ignited mid-afternoon food of bread with butter and tea. Today, a formal afternoon tea is a choice between sweet and savory items, including finger sandwiches, pastries and scones eaten with cream and jam, complemented by a cup of black tea with milk. Pre-industrialization, tea time was 4 or 5 p.m.; afterward, the name changed to high tea, which consisted of a light salty meal such as fish or meat served after work between 7 and 9 p.m.In France, dinner is around 8 or 8:30 p.m., creating plenty of time for a sweet afternoon treat around 4 p.m. called le goûter. This is a must for kids, made up of sweet crepes, biscuits or a slice of bread (tartine) with jam or Nutella spread on it. The adult version of le goûter is a complex treat like a fruit tart or some viennoiserie along with tea or coffee. Le goûter can be a social occasion to interact with friends at a local café over cake and conversation.
In Spain, merienda is snack time, which happens at 5 p.m. Why so late? Lunch is usually at 2 p.m. and dinner at 9 p.m. The people enjoy a variety of tapas and small dishes served with a drink. The choices range from sandwiches, cheese, cured meats, churros and chocolate, patatas bravas (Spanish fried potatoes), grilled octopus and croquettes (deep-fried rolls).
The largest Italian meal is usually lunch. Their snacks, called spuntini, are eaten between 10 and 11 a.m. and 4 and 5 p.m. A popular food solution across the country around 5 p.m. is called arancini — deep-fried rice balls filled with many delicious options like meat and tomato sauce, peas or cheese. Other regions choose to snack on taralli — thick ring-shaped crackers consisting of olive oil and salt, served plain or seasoned with fennel seeds or coarse black pepper.
In Germany, snack time is called “Kaffeezeit” (coffee time) and “Kuchen” (cake), usually between 2 and 5 p.m. The snack food adults prefer is bread, cookies, pastries or cake, and children’s offerings are often healthier, such as vegetable sticks and fruit.
Snacking in South America
In Argentina, the afternoon snack is eaten in the middle of the evening or before dinner. The national snack of sandwiches, biscuits or facturas (stuffed pastries with cream, dulce de leche, and quince jam) is served with the national warm, caffeinated mate drink, similar to tea infused with dried leaves from the yerba mate plant.Onces is the Colombian national afternoon snack served between 5 and 6 p.m. The main ingredient is aguapanela, a beverage generated from crystallized, unrefined sugarcane juice called panela. It can be served hot or cold. A small amount of milk or lemon juice can be added. In Bogotá, this drink is paired with cheese and almojábana, a soft bread containing corn flour and cheese.
Snacking in Australia
For New Zealanders (Kiwis), dinner is the focus meal, while lunch is a lighter meal. Cheese roll is the specialty whenever the urge to eat occurs between meals, depending on the region. This treat consists of grilled, heavily buttered rolled bread stuffed with cheddar cheese, evaporated milk and powdered onion soup mix—creating the popular texture of a crunchy outside and creamy inside.Snacking in Asia
At around 4 p.m., the people of Taiwan are looking for a sweet and fantastic way to escape the heat and satisfy their hunger by diving into baobing, a mound of shaved ice topped with personalized coverings such as sweetened condensed milk, tapioca balls, fresh fruits, mung beans or grass jelly.When the afternoon hits in Turkey, snack options can be selected from diverse tastes, from tiny pizzas like lahmacun to savory sweets like baklava. A favorite choice is simit, a Turkish bagel drenched in molasses and covered with sesame seeds before baking. Cheese and a strong cup of Turkish tea pair well with simits.
