An American social media influencer living in Britain has inadvertently caused a national outcry after committing what many consider a cardinal sin: he bit directly into a Terry's Chocolate Orange.
The Viral Taste Test
Russ, an American with over 85,800 TikTok followers, is known for documenting his experiences with British culture and food since moving to the UK. With Christmas approaching, his followers urged him to try the seasonal classic, the Terry's Chocolate Orange, first released in 1932.
In the now-viral video, Russ held up the 145g treat, marvelling at its design. "It's literally an accurate size of an orange," he said in disbelief, before joking about whether it counted towards his "five a day" after reading that it contained real orange oil.
The 'Messy' Mistake
Instead of following the traditional method of breaking the chocolate orange apart, Russ made his crucial error. He proceeded to take a large bite out of the sphere as if it were an apple.
"Kind of crumbly," he remarked as the segments began to disintegrate. "I wish it'd stayed together a little bit better, it's kind of a mess." Despite the chaotic eating experience, he praised the "really nice flavour" and was impressed by the detailed inner core, calling it a "winner" in his book. However, he ultimately gave it a seven out of ten, citing the messiness as the main drawback.
Brits React to the Blunder
The comment section of the video quickly flooded with horrified Brits and Canadians desperate to educate him on the proper etiquette. One user exclaimed, "Who else screamed nooo!" while another declared, "My flabbers are ghasted!"
Many took the opportunity to instruct him on the correct technique. One user clarified the essential step: "Sir that is not how you eat a chocolate orange. You bang it on the table so the segments break apart." Another comment, referencing US food regulations, quipped, "I can now see why kinder surprise is banned in the states."
Despite the culinary misstep, the incident highlights the fun cultural exchanges that occur when someone immerses themselves in a new country's traditions, even if it means learning the hard way how to eat a beloved Christmas treat.
