Breakfast Around the Globe: Flavours to Start Your Day
Often dubbed “the most important meal of the day,” breakfast fuels both your body and your mind. It’s what sets you up for having a good day. While it’s common to reach for your favourite cereal or make some toast, there are so many other options out there that deserve a second look. From savoury to sweet, hearty to light, and everything in between, each culture has something unique and delicious to offer as the first meal of the day. So get ready to jet-set around the globe because we’re sharing breakfast ideas from different parts of the world. And make sure you stay until the end because we’re sharing some breakfasts you’ve probably never even heard of!
Why It’s Important To Try New Things
Before we get into the breakfast inspiration you didn’t know you needed, let’s first talk about why it’s important to try new things! It helps you to connect with people and have a deeper appreciation of other cultures. Furthermore, a little adventure is always good, and you never know what you might like if you don’t try. So while you go through these ideas, try to travel with an open mind and get ready to learn new words, be inspired in the culinary field, and get messy and creative.
Breakfast in North America
North America is made up of 3 large countries and some smaller islands and countries in Central America. (Canada, the United States, and Mexico are the countries). Breakfast in North America is traditionally simple, cosy, and nostalgic. You can expect to enjoy pancakes, waffles, eggs, hash browns, and of course coffee in all areas of the continent.
Breakfast in South America
South America is made up of 12 independent countries, all very unique from one another. It’s bordered by the Atlantic, Pacific, and Caribbean Seas on the east, west, and north, respectively. The first meal of the day looks quite different in South America compared to North America. While you will find eggs and pancakes at the grocery store, they’re considered more North American, and traditional South American breakfasts can consist of:
- Arepas are cornmeal cakes that can either be grilled, fried, or baked and are then filled or topped with cheese and meats.
- Pao de Queijo: Cheesy bread rolls
- Chipa-Cheese bread made from manioc flour
- Tamales: corn dough filled with meat and vegetables and then wrapped in corn husks and steamed.
Breakfast Ideas From Oceania
Oceania is a massive area that is made up of a lot of water and thousands of islands. It celebrates a range of diverse landscapes and gorgeous coral reefs. Life is slower in this coastal area, and so, of course, breakfasts will be different too. For example, in Australia, it’s common to have avocado toast for breakfast, whereas in New Zealand it’s more common to have porridge. In Samoa, you’ll find yourself enjoying coconut bread quite often, and in Papua New Guinea, you’ll be diving into boiled or roasted sweet potato, which is also called kaukau.
Breakfasts in Europe
Europe is a gorgeous continent filled with so many culinary surprises. In the United Kingdom, a common breakfast is the full English breakfast, which typically consists of eggs, bacon, sausages, baked beans, mushrooms, toast, and black pudding. In France, a traditional breakfast is a buttery croissant or a sweet pastry. In Spain, you can indulge in churros dipped in hot chocolate for a sweet treat and tostada for a more savoury breakfast. Tostada is toasted bread drizzled with olive oil and then topped with tomatoes, garlic, and/or ham.
Breakfasts in Africa
Breakfasts in Africa vary a lot throughout the continent. In Egypt, it’s common to enjoy Ful Medames, which is made from fava beans seasoned with olive oil, garlic, lemons, and spices and served with pita bread. In Morocco, a common breakfast is msemmen, which is made from flaky flatbread and served with honey and mint tea. In Nigeria, you can enjoy akara, which is bean cake, and moi moi, which is steamed bean pudding, and in Ghana, koko, which is spicy porridge made from fermented corn eaten with hashbrowns. In Kenya, a traditional breakfast is called ugali (maize porridge), usually served with a side of vegetables and/or meat. A traditional breakfast from Zimbabwe is called sadza, which is a thick porridge made from maize and typically served with vegetables and meat.
Breakfast Ideas From Antarctica
Breakfasts in Antarctica look very different than anywhere else in the world because of the extreme weather and remoteness. Instead of fresh fruit, you’ll often find more canned goods and freeze-dried meats along with oatmeal.
Iconic Breakfasts From Around The Globe
- Italy: Cornetto: sweet pastry (think croissant-like) filled with cream or jam.
- Greece: Greek yoghurt with a drizzle of honey
- Turkey: A Turkish breakfast consists of bread, olives, cheese, tomatoes, cucumbers, and eggs.
Breakfasts You’ve Probably Never Heard Of
- Chawabmushi is a Japanese dish that is like a savoury egg custard.
- Radhaballavi is a traditional Bengali dish made with soft spiced lentil dumplings.
- Brown Cheese: Brown cheese is a traditional unique and sweet caramel-like flavour with a crumbly texture.
- Surstromming is a traditional Swedish dish made with fermented herring.
Final Thoughts
We’ve explored many breakfasts from around the entire world, spawning across all 7 continents and even some islands. We’ve relished in the bold and vibrant landscape that is cultural culinary tradition and learnt that other places see breakfast differently than you possibly do. From the traditional pancakes, eggs, and cereal to chipa, brown cheese, croissants, and more, the world is filled with insanely good breakfast ideas. Whether you’re looking for something sweet or savoury, hearty or light, or any other specification, there’s a perfect breakfast out there calling your name. So if you’re feeling inspired, try out one of these. And remember, if at first you don’t succeed, try again. Sometimes it can take a couple of times of trying something before you can form a trustworthy opinion of whether you like it or not. Let us know if you’ve tried any of these or if you’re going to make one!
