When eating pizza in New York, you should never use a knife and fork, while in Italy, milky coffees such as lattes and cappuccinos are only acceptable in the morning, and in Spain, you don’t drink water with soup.
Here are some dos and don’ts when it comes to eating and drinking, revealed in a fascinating new map.
The insights were gathered through Google search data on etiquette rules from over 180 countries around the world, as well as through research on hundreds of cultural guides and local tips.
In Europe, travelers need to respect more than just coffee etiquette.
In France, it is wrong to cut a salad with a knife, while in England, Wales and Northern Ireland, it is illegal to be drunk in a pub, under section 12 of the Licensing Act 1872. SenderlyThe study’s commissioner, Dr. David A. Knapp, said: “This law is so outdated that it is rarely enforced.”
The pros and cons of eating and drinking have been revealed in a fascinating new map
The insights were gathered through Google search data on etiquette rules from over 180 countries around the world, as well as through research on hundreds of cultural guides and local tips.
In Italy, milky coffees such as lattes and cappuccinos are only acceptable in the morning, and in Spain you don’t drink water with soup.
In Scotland, you can be fined two beers if you wear underwear under your kilt, and in Germany, you should wait for the host to say “guten appetit” before eating, according to research.
Meanwhile, across the pond, visitors will also have to brush up on toasting etiquette, with Canada requiring the glass to be held at arm’s length when toasting, the map shows.
He also notes that Mexicans frown upon eating watermelon at night, and in South America, Venezuelans expect you to eat the fruit with a knife and fork.
In Colombia it is a mistake to eat with your hands, while in Bolivia married women should only have a glass of wine in a bar.
Moving back across the Atlantic, the map reveals several intriguing rules of etiquette in Africa.
When eating pizza in New York City, you should never use a knife and fork.
The map reveals several interesting rules of etiquette in Africa. In Angola, for example, you must wear business attire for dinner.
In Malawi, it is socially unacceptable for women to drink alcohol, and in South Africa, pointing your feet towards your food or other diners is a must.
In Angola, one is expected to dress for dinner as if going to work in the office, while in Kenya visitors should expect to drink warm beer.
Travelling southwest to Namibia, travellers can eat cow stomach, a delicacy there. In the Democratic Republic of Congo, snakes are considered a delicacy.
Middle Eastern etiquette rules revealed by the study include the need for liquor licenses in the United Arab Emirates to consume alcohol at home and, in Saudi Arabia, diners not being allowed to start a meal until the oldest man has been served.
The study also reveals a variety of etiquette rules to keep in mind in Asia.
In Uzbekistan, dessert is served before the meal, in China it is considered perfectly polite to burp at the table, and in Singapore chewing gum is prohibited unless presented with a doctor’s note.
In Fiji, if you don’t want to be filled to the brim, you have to ask for your drink to be prepared “at low tide,” the map says.
In China and Japan it is considered perfectly polite to burp at the table, never mix wasabi with soy sauce.
In Australia, you can “eat the coat of arms” in some pubs: the symbol of the Australian Commonwealth shows an emu and a kangaroo, and some restaurants serve them on the same plate in a peculiar nod to the country’s emblem.
In Fiji, you have to ask for your drink to be made “when the tide is out” if you don’t want it filled to the brim, while in New Zealand they consider it perfectly acceptable to have a barbecue without providing all the food and drinks.
Remitly, a financial services provider for immigrants, said it conducted the global study to help those moving or traveling to an unfamiliar country embrace new cultures and traditions.
Ryan Riley, VP of Marketing EMEA APAC at Remitly, commented: ‘Visiting or moving to a new country means embracing new cultures and traditions, and it’s been fantastic to dig into the research to find some of the world’s quirkiest food and drink etiquette rules.
‘While some of these rules may not be strictly enforced, it’s good to be aware of the different expectations you may encounter on your travels.’