Butyric acid is the key reason some people, particularly in Europe, describe American chocolate as tasting like vomit. This compound is naturally found in rancid butter, Parmesan cheese, and vomit, and it's also produced during a milk-stabilization process called controlled lipolysis used in U.S. chocolate manufacturing. This process, developed by Hershey’s in the early 20th century, allowed milk to be shipped long distances without refrigeration, but it created butyric acid as a by-product. While safe to consume, the tangy, sour flavor is unfamiliar and off-putting to many international palates.
American chocolate typically contains less cocoa (as low as 10% chocolate liquor) and more sugar and additives like corn syrup or vegetable fats compared to European chocolate, which often has stricter regulations (e.g., 25% cocoa solids for milk chocolate in the EU). This combination of high sweetness and a distinct sour note from butyric acid contributes to the polarizing taste.
Though some brands, like Symphony and Dove, offer versions without added butyric acid, the standard American chocolate flavor profile remains entrenched due to consumer familiarity and tradition. The perception of “vomit-like” taste is largely a matter of cultural palate preference—Americans have grown accustomed to it, while others find it unpleasant.
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Back when I was in Florida in 2012, I couldn't believe how bad the chocolate tasted. And I always thought it may have been in my head.
But recently I've seen a few people saying the exact same thing and I'm wondering why it tastes so bad in comparison to the chocolate we get in Europe?
It's as if it tastes like vomit..
Today is St Nicholas' Day, where I get a boot full of chocolate. In honour of this, I bring low stakes chocolate-related drama, since all of you have been so good this year.
A few months ago someone posted a TIL about Hershey's containing butyric acid, making it apparently taste like vomit to people used to European chocolate.
There's no evidence of this! Lady who works in the chocolate industry disagrees
Someone gets angry about people generalising about American chocolate, turns into a fight about the Daily Mail and freedom of press
More anger at generalising
"He could have freed the slaves and got women the vote but his chocolate still tastes like sticking your tongue down the throat of someone who vomited a few seconds ago."
"Someone from the UK talking about inedible things is ironically laughable"
" And yet Europeans love cheese. What's the deal Europeans? "
" TIL: Weak Europeans associate butyric acid with vomit."
" Most americans just eat garbage. Your palettes are basic as hell and your brain has been fried by massive amounts of sugar in everything, including children's cereal. You are the only country that eats marshmallows for breakfast."
link to whole thread if anyone wants it
I can understand non-Americans thinking Hershey’s chocolate tastes bad but thinking all American chocolate tastes like Hershey’s is deliberate narrow-mindedness
A news item a few years ago discussed this, using chocolate from the US, UK and Switzerland and asked people from all three nations to pick the one they liked the most.
The Americans chose their own, UK and Swiss thought it was the most disgusting but each picked their own as the best (UK folk thought Swiss chocolate was too rich).