Living abroad for an extended period often means you subtly assimilate into the local culture – a phenomenon many expats can surely relate to.
Recently, "Dr.Cat," a Japanese X user who's been living in the US for 10 years, experienced this firsthand. Upon returning to Japan, he decided to revisit an old favorite: Mister Donut. What followed was nothing short of a "horrifying dessert incident," and his story quickly went viral on X.
Dr.Cat recounted how, after years away, he finally indulged in some Japanese Mister Donut. He picked out two matcha-flavored Pon de Ring donuts and an Angel French. For most Japanese palates, these are considered quite sweet, especially the Angel French with its chocolate and whipped cream – practically a sugar bomb just by its name!
Yet, Dr.Cat's reaction was startling: "My first bite, and I thought, 'This isn't sweet.'" He kept eating, but every single donut felt underwhelmingly sweet, leaving him utterly shocked. He recalled that when he first moved to the US, he often found American desserts overwhelmingly sugary. He'd always appreciated the "just right" sweetness of Japanese treats. But this trip back home revealed a surprising truth about his taste buds: "I can't believe my body is no longer satisfied with the subtle sweetness of Japanese desserts. This discovery blew my mind."
His post racked up over 180,000 likes in just a few days, with many netizens expressing surprise at the vast difference in dessert sweetness between the US and Japan.
Speaking of American desserts, even "old-fashioned donuts," which are considered less sweet in Japan, often come drenched in thick syrup in the US. While they look delicious, they're so sweet they practically scream "cavity!" It's hard to imagine how Americans manage to eat them. For a Japanese person, one bite might be "too much, I can't," but in the US, they're a common sight.
Many netizens were amazed by this comparison, as not everyone has tried American donuts. While it's understandable that Americans prefer sweeter treats, it's wild to think that after living there, even the "sweet" Mister Donut offerings in Japan felt bland. Do Americans just add sugar like it's free?
Despite his altered palate, Dr.Cat still concluded: "Overall, I still prefer Japanese donuts. They have a lighter texture, and I can easily eat three or four without feeling too heavy." Looks like the US really expanded his appetite – three or four donuts at once is pretty hardcore!