The Most Un-American Items That Americans are Obsessed With

Coffee

• Percentage of Americans Who Drink Coffee: 87% of Americans claim to strongly love coffee

Driving into any town in America, you will likely find at least one coffee shop. Sometimes, there’s a plethora of options to choose from. Big names such as Starbucks and Dunkin Donuts give consumers options from Iced Lattes and Mocha Frappes to the ever-favorite pumpkin spice coffee. Regardless of the flavors they choose, one thing is sure: Americans are obsessed with coffee.

According to the National Coffee Association or NCA, the number of Americans who consume coffee daily has risen to almost 40% in 20 years. The consensus is that around 67% of American adults drink coffee daily, which has increased since 2004. When it comes to beverages, coffee is the most popular beverage, even surpassing water.

Even though Americans love coffee, the origin of coffee dates back centuries before it came to America. Legends of coffee date back to the Ethiopian plateau and many of these legends claim that the goat herder Kaldi was the first inventor. Yet, no one knows for certain how the first person came to discover the potential of the coffee bean.

Coffee

The history of the modern coffee drink is a little more concrete and traces back to the 15th century. This was when the Yemeni district of Arabia began cultivating coffee beans. Around the 16th century, coffee was becoming just as popular in Egypt, Syria, Persia, and the surrounding countries.

Additionally, coffee houses began springing up as popular places to sip drinks, listen to music, and enjoy company. Although the flavors of coffee may have changed and evolved over time, one thing is certain. For centuries, this deliciously magical drink has been bringing people together.

Candles

• Percentage of Americans Who Love Candles: 80% of American homes use candles

Candles are a popular item in American homes. They add to decorations and make decor pop. Additionally, they can be an excellent way to add a delicious scent to the home or cover up unpleasant smells. Whatever the reason, Americans love them.

Candles.org has reported that more than 80% of American homes use candles to bring scent to their homes. Candles add personal touches, make great gifts, and are pleasant on both the eye and nose (most of the time!).

Americans are not the only ones who love candles. Using candles as a light source can be traced 3,000 to 5,000 years ago in Ancient Egypt. Later, Romans devised the idea to create the first wicked candles. This was done by wrapping papyrus around twine. Then, the papyrus-wrapped twine would be dipped into tallow, beef, or mutton fat.

Candles

Additionally, wax from plants was used in other parts of the world to make candles. Not only were candles used for light, but religious ceremonies also relied on candles. A candle’s capabilities, function, and qualities have been known for centuries; it’s no wonder Americans are obsessed with them.

Television

• Percentage of Americans Who Watch T.V. Daily: Almost 80 percent of Americans

Television has long been a favorite hobby of Americans. According to an American Time Use Survey, almost 80 percent of Americans watch television daily. There’s a channel for pretty much everything, from sports to news to entertainment. While statistics show that too much screen time may not be great for a person’s brain or health, it’s still a preferred luxury activity for many families.

Many people think of the 1940s and beyond as the age of television, and they are really right. Through the 20th century, television significantly impacted society and grew rapidly in terms of technological advances and popularity.

Television

However, television’s origins don’t begin in America, nor did they begin in the 1940s. The truth is the talks about creating the technology of television date back to at least the 1850s.

According to BBC, “over 50 serious proposals for televisions” existed before the 1930s. Several of the inventors who contributed to today’s technology are Pal Nipkow, Georges Claude, Karl Braun, and Lee de Forest. Each one of these men made discoveries that would eventually lead to our technological advances. The invention of the television was truly a joint effort.

Ice

• Percentage of Americans Who Use Ice Daily: Around 83% of the population

Americans love to drink ice in their beverages. Refrigerators typically have an ice maker, and almost every restaurant serves drinks with ice. The American obsession with ice is typically credited to “Frederic Tudor,” an entrepreneur who has donned the nickname “The Ice King.”

His idea of cutting ice blocks out of the Massachusetts ponds and sending them to the Caribbean islands to sell seemed ridiculous to some people at the time. However, his idea made him quite wealthy.

Ice

Although he was an intelligent entrepreneur who saw an idea and made money off of it, the invention of using ice to cool drinks came on the scene long before Tudor did. There are records of people from Ancient Egypt using ice to cool drinks.

Roman emperor Nero also reportedly liked using ice around his drinks to make it colder. However, using ice to cool down drinks was typically only for the wealthy. After Tudor decided to start selling in 1806, it wasn’t long before those who were not wealthy could experience the fantastic effects ice had on drinks.

Peanut Butter

• Percentage of Americans Who Eat Peanut Butter: Over 90% of American homes keep a jar of peanut butter

There are certain staples that almost every household in America keeps. Milk, bread, butter, and sugar are a few. But did you know that, according to the Food Institute, over 90% of households in America also keep peanut butter in their pantry? It’s an easy and healthy staple that can make a delicious meal.

All you have to do is open the lid and spread it on toast or bread. Now, you have a yummy lunch. Americans also love peanut butter in their cookies, granola, and cereal. Peanut butter is also a cheaper staple, which is why many Americans grab a jar whenever they go to the grocery store.

Peanut Butter

While Americans love peanut butter, the staple is not exactly American. Even though John Harvey Kellogg filed the patent for peanut butter in 1895, this spread was before this time.

Kellogg was not the first one to discover how grinding peanuts can create a delicious spread. The Incas are credited with being the first known people group to grind those peanuts.

Apple Pie

• Percentage of Americans Who Love Apple Pie:82% of Americans say it’s their top choice for Thanksgiving dessert

Pie is an American dessert staple. It comes in many different varieties and flavors. You have your pecan pie, your pumpkin pie, and, of course, your apple pie. Around Thanksgiving time, debates always arise: which one is better? Pumpkin or apple? There is a clear winner, and that winner is the all-American apple pie.

The very first American cookbook includes two apple pie recipes. But did you know that even though Americans love their apple pie, and it quickly became an American symbol, It’s not technically American?

In fact, Samuel Pegge wrote a recipe for apple pie in “The Forme of Cury,” which dates back to the 14th century. Additionally, apple pie was popular amongst the British and the Dutch, explaining how this delicious and simple recipe made it to America.

Democracy

• Percentage of Americans Who Love Democracy: Three-fourths believe democracy is the best form of government

The majority of American society believes that democracy is the best form of government. While America isn’t just a democracy but a federal democratic republic, many Americans are proud of their country’s governing system. Even though most Americans want no other governing system except democracy, this particular way of governing the people didn’t start in America.

Democracy

The Ancient Greeks are credited with creating the first form of democracy. This dates back to the 5th century B.C. The word democracy comes from the Greek words demos and Kratos. These words mean people (demos) and rule (Kratos.) The Greeks were adamant that the people should have a say and take an active role in governing their country.

Athens was the first city to adopt this form of democracy. However, it looked a little different than America’s democracy. For starters, it was thought that every adult had a duty to be actively part of the government. If they weren’t, then there were consequences.

Hot Dogs

• Percentage of Americans Who Like Hot Dogs:95% of homes serve hot dogs

A good ole’ American cookout is only complete with hamburgers and hot dogs. It’s a simple and cheap meal that completes any summertime BBQ. No matter how popular the American hotdog is, America cannot take credit for its creation. The quick and easy meal indeed became popular at ballparks in 1893 with Chris Von de Ahe.

However, long before Von de Ahe introduced the hot dog to ballparks, the quick meal was favored in other countries. Traditionally, it is believed that the place that created the hot dog was Frankfurt-am-Main in Germany. Others claim that the “little dog” was created in Coburg, Germany. Regardless, we can credit Germany with introducing the ever-popular kid-favorite food.

French Fries

• Percentage of Americans Who Like French Fries:Around 83% of Americans favor French fries

French fries are among the most popular sides with hamburgers, sandwiches, or chicken strips. Almost every fast-food restaurant serves French fries. Additionally, most often, they are at sit-down restaurants across the United States, such as Olive Garden and Jeff Ruby’s. French fries are also an excellent kid-friendly side dish. Although they are incredibly popular in the United States, this simple side dish is not American.

The name itself gives away the origins. There are a few stories about how French fries became those lovable little meal sidekicks. However, the most popular one is that they were invented in Paris by street vendors. Others credit Belgium with the discovery of frying potatoes in strips. Regardless of the true beginning of the French fry, one thing is certain: Americans (especially American children) can’t get enough of them.

In Conclusion

In today’s society, many items seem hard to live without. From television to coffee, they have quickly become staples in almost every family across the United States. Americans are obsessed with plenty, but these un-American items can be found in most homes throughout America.