I was at O&C having lunch on Sunday and I thought I pass by the supermarket and pick up some stuff on the way out. On my way to the cashier, I noticed they had some Nutella jars on display so I picked up one but saw that it was priced at 9000 Lebanese Liras (6$), which is almost double the price of the one I usually buy. I asked around and as it turns out, the Nutella I got is the American version while the commonly available Nutella in Lebanon comes from Poland (Packaging done in KSA or something like that) and is priced at roughly 3$. Weirdly enough, the guy I asked told me this is the “original” one, as if the Polish one is fake or something.
I ended up getting both to see if the US one is any better but I haven’t tasted them yet as I am trying to get an Italian or German Nutella to taste as well. To be honest, I am just curious to know if they do taste that differently, but I don’t think I will switch to the US version and pay double the price even if it tastes better.
The commonly available Nutella jar in Lebanon has Arabic writing on the back
Update: Here’s the list of ingredients for both as written on the back of each jar:
Polish Version
Ingredients: Sugar, Vegetable oil (palm), hazelnuts, fat reduced cocoa powder, skimmed milk powder, demineralized whey powder, emulsifiers (Soy Lecithins), flavouring.
American Version
Ingredients: Sugar, Palm oil, hazelnuts, cocoa, skim milk, reduced minerals whey (milk), lecithin as emulsifier (soy), Vanillin: an artificial flavor.
Are the ingredients the same and in the same order? That could give you the answer without actually tasting it.
I updated the post and included the ingredients. They are almost identical except for the flavouring part which is vague for the Polish Nutella.
They taste very different. The Polish one itself is a failure compared to the German or Italian ones. You can find the italian ones in supermarkets. Minimarkets get the Polish ones since they come a bit cheaper and they sell it for the price of the Italian since most people do not bother to check.
will be waiting for the result 🙂 please let us know
so the US version can be found in any supermarket?
I have done this test years ago and they do taste different. Even the texture is different.
I buy the large one (750gram) from Carre Foeur for 6.1 $!
well … Nutella is Nutella … i don’t care if it tastes better they’re both chocolate and i am going to love them both ! 😀
http://chowhound.chow.com/topics/301594
skimmed milk powder vs skim milk
demineralized whey powder vs reduced minerals whey (milk)
I’m not gonna bum everyone out by saying we shouldn’t eat Nutella ( which we shouldn’t by the way), but sometimes a Nutella crepe is all that one craves and it’s totally okay. Yet, Nutella is not everyday food nor it is a breakfast food. I can’t get tired of saying this, but yeah the mom in the commercial is not doing it right ;). Any “food” starting with sugar and palm oil as a first and second ingredient should be alarming enough.
Anyway, back to the USA vs Poland. Since there is no label as to the source of the ingredients, I’m gonna assume that the sugar and the soy lecithin in the USA pack come from American genetically modified sugar beets and soy respectively. While the sugar and soy lecithin in the Polish jar may come from European agriculture which does not allow GMOs. Again this is pure speculation as there is no sign of this on the label especially that also Lebanon does not require labeling when it comes to genetically modified organisms. So if you’re keen on avoiding GMOs, a better bet is having a rare serving of the Polish jar. And for overall health, avoid both :))
Sorry about the long comment, but misguiding food company claims just infuriate me.
I live in the States and I’ve tried the one here, and I can’t tell the difference! They sell it for 4.99$ quite expensive here.
Dear Christele, I don’t understand what’s wrong with GMO plants? I mean do you even understand how they do them. I mean GM crops got a really bad reputation from Monsanto, but long term, GM crops are inevitable.
Sahtein !
I live in the US and i buy Nutella. I don’t think it tastes any different from the one I had back in Lebanon. I don’t know about the ingredients used but I never noticed the difference. Nutella is however a bit more expensive here. I usually buy it for 4-5$ and it comes in a plastic jar rather than glass (I remember in Lebanon it was in glass?)
Everything in the US has more sugar (you should taste the bread here it’s disgusting) so I wouldn’t be surprised if Nutella has more sugar here but overall, I don’t think you’d be able to tell any different between an American and Polish version.
SUGAR IS THE NEW TOBACCO!!! STAY OFF IT!
They’re supposed to taste different.
Global brands always change their products in small (sometimes noticeable) ways to adapt to each market. The arab world always has sweeter products than europe for example. Compare a Lebanese and a French coke and u’ll notice.
Btw the european Ice Tea Peach is undrinkable!
Funny, I’m in the US and I look for the Nutella that’s imported from Europe even when it’s twice the price ($7-8), having tried them both, the ‘imported’ one (from Europe) does taste different and better in my opinion. ‘Made in USA’ in this case is not a good sign 🙂
agreed!