Foods Jessica Leigh Hester Has Tried

This candy rarely ventures beyond Canada's borders.

A fragrant, difficult-to-harvest delicacy from the Scottish moorlands.

This plant adds a hint of vanilla and a wash of brilliant green to any dish.

Produced since 1847, these classic New England candies almost disappeared in 2018.

The prosperous Southern California date industry produces delicious milkshakes.

Once made by monks, this candy spends 15 days rolling in sugar syrup to get its pearly-white shell.

Detroit's signature soda shake blends Vernors ginger ale with vanilla ice cream.

Smashing this pink candy pig with a tiny hammer is a Christmas tradition in Saratoga Springs.

This summery parfait has mingled with British royals and literary elites.

For Italian-Americans, Christmas Eve is all about the seafood.

The Detroit favorite is one of the oldest sodas in the United States.

The aroma of this mulled wine has been compared to “a warmed-up bowl of Froot Loops.”

The first American doughnut chain used spuds.

The Japanese soda still comes in a marble-stoppered bottle from the 19th century.

Fluffy, crispy, and large enough to share, it's no ordinary pancake.

A fizzy, chocolate drink that harkens back to the days of Brooklyn soda fountains.

These clear cakes house intricate scenes of fish, flowers, and more.

It's a bird! It's a plane! It's a classic Midwestern treat!

A completely delicious, nearly nutrient-free sandwich beloved by generations of New Englanders.

This cousin of root beer has a long history and a surprisingly minty taste.

Quench your thirst with the refreshing taste of celery soda.

Pastrami fans will find the taste of this Canadian spice blend very familiar.

It's so much more than just mayonnaise and ketchup.

These holiday cakes link Christmas to the Norse god of lightning.