Same Product and Brand, Different Quality?
 

Hi everyone,

Just came across an article about how some Eastern Europe folk had been complaining that Nutella tastes different (inferior even) in their countries, when comparing those products to the same in Italy or Germany.

Anyone think this possible issue also exists within the confines of one country, say between poorer and richer states/provinces? Economies of scale would be affected, some might argue, but there bottling/manufacturing plants in different places in the same country.

If Mexican Coca-Cola is all about the cane sugar, why can't southern states be the same? Does a cuppa Tim Horton's in Toronto have a divergent flavor profile than one in Yellowknife?

/End of bloviation.

Nevertheless, curious about your collective thoughts.

3F

Guinness tastes better the closer you are to Dublin.

I know some products use different ingredients in different countries, like the sugar/corn syrup in beverages and many food. I certainly prefer a sugar beverage.

Cigarettes are also different. 20 years ago, I brought back a carton of Marlboros for a good friend. Later on, I heard him mumbling about their inferior taste, so I never made that mistake again. Another friend in Jordan also commented in the US vs Jordan cigarettes.

One hears the same comment about a lot of foods made in different countries by the same company. One of the points of debate/contention is whether ingredients are the same worldwide (i.e,, a fungible commodity) or if there is a quality difference between the ostensibly-same ingredient grown in different ountries.

There are a multitude of reasons why something tastes different. I haven't heard the Nutella story, however I have heard of similar stories for mars bars (asia vs. NA) and kit kats (Japan vs... everywhere else). That said, the reason could easily be the ingredients (eg, a can of coke made in Texas vs. a can of coke made in NY.... what goes into the local water for example or plastic bottle vs. glass vs. coated aluminum)... or even small variants of how it's made (eg a can of Coors made in Toronto vs. Colorado could have sightly different boiling times).

Then you have time sitting around (Nutella stock in Vancouver might have been sitting in storage longer than your local Costco in Toronto allowing for oil separation... and mixing it back in is never 100%)...

My first Guinness ever was when I was 18 in a Dublin pub. Nothing can ever compare.