Ingredient Names Around the World

The same ingredient has different names depending on where you cook. Here's the complete reference for Australian, American, British, New Zealand, and Canadian kitchens.

If you've ever followed an American recipe and couldn't find “cornstarch” at your local supermarket, that's because Australians and British cooks know it as “cornflour”. These regional differences trip up home cooks constantly — especially when following recipes from another country. This guide covers every ingredient name difference we know about, so you can cook any recipe with confidence.

AU — AustraliaUS — United StatesUK — United KingdomNZ — New ZealandCA — Canada

Leavening Agents

Ingredient	AU	US	UK	NZ	CA
active dry yeast	active dry yeast	active dry yeast	dried yeast	active dry yeast	active dry yeast
baking soda	bicarbonate of soda	baking soda	bicarbonate of soda	bicarbonate of soda	baking soda
instant dry yeast	instant dry yeast	instant yeast	fast-action dried yeast	instant dry yeast	instant yeast

Thickeners

Ingredient	AU	US	UK	NZ	CA
agar agar	agar agar	agar agar	agar agar	agar agar	agar agar
cornflour	cornflour	cornstarch	cornflour	cornflour	cornstarch
gelatine	gelatine	gelatin	gelatine	gelatine	gelatin
pectin	pectin	pectin	pectin	pectin	pectin
potato starch	potato starch	potato starch	potato flour	potato starch	potato starch
xanthan gum	xanthan gum	xanthan gum	xanthan gum	xanthan gum	xanthan gum

Sweeteners

Ingredient	AU	US	UK	NZ	CA
agave syrup	agave syrup	agave nectar	agave syrup	agave syrup	agave syrup
caster sugar	caster sugar	superfine sugar	caster sugar	caster sugar	berry sugar
coconut sugar	coconut sugar	coconut palm sugar	coconut sugar	coconut sugar	coconut sugar
golden syrup	golden syrup	light treacle (imported); no direct domestic equivalent	golden syrup	golden syrup	golden syrup
icing sugar	icing sugar	powdered sugar	icing sugar	icing sugar	icing sugar
molasses	treacle (dark treacle)	molasses	black treacle	treacle	molasses
raw sugar	raw sugar	turbinado sugar	golden granulated sugar	raw sugar	raw cane sugar
rice malt syrup	rice malt syrup	brown rice syrup	brown rice syrup	rice malt syrup	brown rice syrup
stevia	stevia	stevia	stevia	stevia	stevia
treacle	treacle	molasses	black treacle	treacle	fancy molasses / blackstrap molasses

Baking & Flour

Ingredient	AU	US	UK	NZ	CA
all-purpose flour	plain flour	all-purpose flour	plain flour	plain flour	all-purpose flour
almond flour	almond flour	almond flour	ground almonds	almond flour	almond flour
bread flour	bread flour	bread flour	strong white bread flour	high grade flour	bread flour
buckwheat flour	buckwheat flour	buckwheat flour	buckwheat flour	buckwheat flour	buckwheat flour
cake flour	cake flour	cake flour	cake flour	cake flour	cake flour
chickpea flour	chickpea flour	garbanzo bean flour	gram flour	chickpea flour	chickpea flour
gluten-free flour	gluten-free flour	gluten-free flour	gluten-free flour	gluten-free flour	gluten-free flour
oat flour	oat flour	oat flour	oat flour	oat flour	oat flour
rice flour	rice flour	rice flour	rice flour	rice flour	rice flour
rye flour	rye flour	rye flour	rye flour	rye flour	rye flour
spelt flour	spelt flour	spelt flour	spelt flour	spelt flour	spelt flour
wholemeal flour	wholemeal flour	whole wheat flour	wholemeal flour	wholemeal flour	whole wheat flour

Flavourings

Ingredient	AU	US	UK	NZ	CA
almond extract	almond extract	almond extract	almond extract	almond extract	almond extract
cayenne pepper	cayenne pepper	cayenne pepper	cayenne pepper	cayenne pepper	cayenne pepper
chilli flakes	chilli flakes	red pepper flakes	chilli flakes	chilli flakes	red pepper flakes
dark chocolate	dark chocolate	bittersweet or semisweet chocolate	plain chocolate	dark chocolate	dark chocolate
fish sauce	fish sauce	fish sauce	fish sauce	fish sauce	fish sauce
garlic powder	garlic powder	garlic powder	garlic powder	garlic powder	garlic powder
ground allspice	ground allspice	ground allspice	ground allspice	ground allspice	ground allspice
ground cardamom	ground cardamom	ground cardamom	ground cardamom	ground cardamom	ground cardamom
ground cinnamon	ground cinnamon	ground cinnamon	ground cinnamon	ground cinnamon	ground cinnamon
ground cloves	ground cloves	ground cloves	ground cloves	ground cloves	ground cloves
ground coriander	ground coriander	ground coriander	ground coriander	ground coriander	ground coriander
ground cumin	ground cumin	ground cumin	ground cumin	ground cumin	ground cumin
ground ginger	ground ginger	ground ginger	ground ginger	ground ginger	ground ginger
ground nutmeg	ground nutmeg	ground nutmeg	ground nutmeg	ground nutmeg	ground nutmeg
ground turmeric	ground turmeric	ground turmeric	ground turmeric	ground turmeric	ground turmeric
lemon zest	lemon zest	lemon zest	lemon zest	lemon zest	lemon zest
milk chocolate	milk chocolate	milk chocolate	milk chocolate	milk chocolate	milk chocolate
mixed spice	mixed spice	pumpkin pie spice	mixed spice	mixed spice	mixed spice
onion powder	onion powder	onion powder	onion powder	onion powder	onion powder
orange zest	orange zest	orange zest	orange zest	orange zest	orange zest
peppermint extract	peppermint extract	peppermint extract	peppermint extract	peppermint extract	peppermint extract
rose water	rose water	rose water	rosewater	rose water	rose water
smoked paprika	smoked paprika	smoked paprika	smoked paprika	smoked paprika	smoked paprika
soy sauce	soy sauce	soy sauce	soy sauce	soy sauce	soy sauce
sweet paprika	sweet paprika	sweet paprika	sweet paprika	sweet paprika	sweet paprika
tahini	tahini	tahini	tahini	tahini	tahini
tomato paste	tomato paste	tomato paste	tomato purée	tomato paste	tomato paste
Vegemite	Vegemite	Vegemite	Marmite	Marmite	Vegemite
white chocolate	white chocolate	white chocolate	white chocolate	white chocolate	white chocolate
Worcestershire sauce	Worcestershire sauce	Worcestershire sauce	Worcestershire sauce	Worcestershire sauce	Worcestershire sauce

Liquids

Ingredient	AU	US	UK	NZ	CA
almond milk	almond milk	almond milk	almond milk	almond milk	almond milk
beef stock	beef stock	beef broth or beef stock	beef stock	beef stock	beef stock or beef broth
beer	beer	beer	beer	beer	beer
chicken stock	chicken stock	chicken broth or chicken stock	chicken stock	chicken stock	chicken stock
coconut cream	coconut cream	coconut cream	coconut cream	coconut cream	coconut cream
coconut milk	coconut milk	coconut milk	coconut milk	coconut milk	coconut milk
coffee	coffee	coffee	coffee	coffee	coffee
espresso	espresso	espresso	espresso	espresso	espresso
oat milk	oat milk	oat milk	oat milk	oat milk	oat milk
red wine	red wine	red wine	red wine	red wine	red wine
soy milk	soy milk	soy milk	soya milk	soy milk	soy milk
vegetable stock	vegetable stock	vegetable broth	vegetable stock	vegetable stock	vegetable broth
white wine	white wine	white wine	white wine	white wine	white wine

Acids

Ingredient	AU	US	UK	NZ	CA
apple cider vinegar	apple cider vinegar	apple cider vinegar	cider vinegar	apple cider vinegar	apple cider vinegar
lime juice	lime juice	lime juice	lime juice	lime juice	lime juice
orange juice	orange juice	orange juice	orange juice	orange juice	orange juice
red wine vinegar	red wine vinegar	red wine vinegar	red wine vinegar	red wine vinegar	red wine vinegar
rice wine vinegar	rice wine vinegar	rice vinegar	rice wine vinegar	rice wine vinegar	rice wine vinegar
white wine vinegar	white wine vinegar	white wine vinegar	white wine vinegar	white wine vinegar	white wine vinegar

Eggs

Ingredient	AU	US	UK	NZ	CA
aquafaba	aquafaba	aquafaba	aquafaba	aquafaba	aquafaba
egg white powder	egg white powder	dried egg whites	egg white powder	egg white powder	dried egg whites
egg yolk	egg yolk	egg yolk	egg yolk	egg yolk	egg yolk

Vegetables

Ingredient	AU	US	UK	NZ	CA
avocado	avocado	avocado	avocado	avocado	avocado
beetroot	beetroot	beet	beetroot	beetroot	beet
capsicum	capsicum	bell pepper	pepper	capsicum	bell pepper
celery	celery	celery	celery	celery	celery
corn	corn / sweet corn	corn / sweet corn	sweetcorn / maize	corn / sweet corn	corn / sweet corn
eggplant	eggplant	eggplant	aubergine	eggplant	eggplant
fennel	fennel	fennel	fennel	fennel	fennel
kale	kale	kale	kale	kale	kale
leek	leek	leek	leek	leek	leek
pumpkin	pumpkin	winter squash / pumpkin	pumpkin / squash	pumpkin	squash / pumpkin
rocket	rocket	arugula	rocket	rocket	arugula
silverbeet	silverbeet	Swiss chard	Swiss chard	silverbeet	Swiss chard
spinach	spinach	spinach	spinach	spinach	spinach
spring onion	spring onion	scallion	spring onion	spring onion	green onion
swede	swede	rutabaga	swede	swede	rutabaga
sweet potato	sweet potato (or kumara in some contexts)	sweet potato (often mislabelled as yam)	sweet potato	kūmara	sweet potato (also referred to as yam in some regions)
zucchini	zucchini	zucchini	courgette	courgette	zucchini

Fats & Oils

Ingredient	AU	US	UK	NZ	CA
avocado oil	avocado oil	avocado oil	avocado oil	avocado oil	avocado oil
canola oil	canola oil	canola oil	rapeseed oil	canola oil	canola oil
coconut oil	coconut oil	coconut oil	coconut oil	coconut oil	coconut oil
duck fat	duck fat	duck fat	duck fat	duck fat	duck fat
ghee	ghee	ghee	ghee	ghee	ghee
lard	lard	lard	lard	lard	lard
olive oil	olive oil	olive oil	olive oil	olive oil	olive oil
peanut oil	peanut oil	peanut oil	groundnut oil	peanut oil	peanut oil
sesame oil	sesame oil	sesame oil	sesame oil	sesame oil	sesame oil

Dairy & Cream

Ingredient	AU	US	UK	NZ	CA
buttermilk powder	buttermilk powder	dry buttermilk	buttermilk powder	buttermilk powder	powdered buttermilk
condensed milk	condensed milk	sweetened condensed milk	condensed milk	condensed milk	sweetened condensed milk
crème fraîche	crème fraîche	crème fraîche	crème fraîche	crème fraîche	crème fraîche
double cream	double cream	heavy cream	double cream	double cream	whipping cream (35% fat)
evaporated milk	evaporated milk	evaporated milk	evaporated milk	evaporated milk	evaporated milk
full cream milk	full cream milk	whole milk	whole milk	full cream milk	whole milk
Greek yoghurt	Greek yoghurt	Greek yogurt	Greek yoghurt	Greek yoghurt	Greek yogurt
heavy cream	thickened cream	heavy cream	double cream	thickened cream	whipping cream
kefir	kefir	kefir	kefir	kefir	kefir
mascarpone	mascarpone	mascarpone	mascarpone	mascarpone	mascarpone
plain yogurt	plain yoghurt	plain yogurt	plain yoghurt	plain yoghurt	plain yogurt
quark	quark (specialty delis; sometimes labelled fromage frais)	quark (specialty stores; sometimes labelled farmer's cheese)	quark	quark	quark
ricotta	ricotta	ricotta	ricotta	ricotta	ricotta
skim milk	skim milk	skim milk	skimmed milk	skim milk	skim milk
sour milk	sour milk	sour milk	sour milk	sour milk	sour milk

Herbs & Spices

Ingredient	AU	US	UK	NZ	CA
coriander	coriander	cilantro	coriander	coriander	cilantro
dried basil	dried basil	dried basil	dried basil	dried basil	dried basil
dried dill	dried dill	dried dill weed	dried dill	dried dill	dried dill weed
dried mint	dried mint	dried mint	dried mint	dried mint	dried mint
dried oregano	dried oregano	dried oregano	dried oregano	dried oregano	dried oregano
dried parsley	dried parsley	dried parsley	dried parsley	dried parsley	dried parsley
dried rosemary	dried rosemary	dried rosemary	dried rosemary	dried rosemary	dried rosemary
dried thyme	dried thyme	dried thyme	dried thyme	dried thyme	dried thyme
fresh basil	fresh basil	fresh basil	fresh basil	fresh basil	fresh basil
fresh garlic	fresh garlic	fresh garlic	fresh garlic	fresh garlic	fresh garlic
fresh ginger	fresh ginger	fresh ginger root	root ginger	fresh ginger	fresh ginger root
fresh mint	fresh mint	fresh mint	fresh mint	fresh mint	fresh mint
fresh parsley	fresh parsley	fresh parsley	fresh parsley	fresh parsley	fresh parsley

Coatings

Ingredient	AU	US	UK	NZ	CA
crushed crackers	crushed crackers	cracker crumbs	crushed cream crackers	crushed crackers	crushed crackers
desiccated coconut	desiccated coconut	finely shredded coconut	desiccated coconut	desiccated coconut	finely shredded coconut
panko breadcrumbs	panko breadcrumbs	panko breadcrumbs	panko breadcrumbs	panko breadcrumbs	panko breadcrumbs
rolled oats	rolled oats	old-fashioned oats	porridge oats	rolled oats	large flake oats

Why do ingredient names differ between countries?

British English influenced Australian and New Zealand naming conventions during the colonial era, while American English developed independently. This is why Australians say “bicarbonate of soda” and Americans say “baking soda”, or why “courgette” (British/AU/NZ, from French) became “zucchini” in the US (from Italian immigration).

Measurement differences add another layer of complexity — Australian tablespoons are 20ml versus the US 15ml. When a recipe calls for 2 tablespoons of butter, that small difference matters. Use the ingredient finder to get ratios adjusted for your country automatically.

Frequently asked questions

Is cornflour the same as cornstarch?

Yes — cornflour (Australia, UK) and cornstarch (US, Canada) are the same ingredient: a fine white powder made from corn, used to thicken sauces and gravies.

What is capsicum called in the US?

Capsicum is called bell pepper in the United States and Canada. In the UK it is simply called pepper.

Is bicarbonate of soda the same as baking soda?

Yes — bicarbonate of soda (Australia, UK) and baking soda (US, Canada) are identical: sodium bicarbonate, used as a leavening agent in baking.

What is thickened cream in American recipes?

Australian thickened cream is equivalent to American heavy cream or British double cream. All are high-fat cream suitable for whipping.

What is caster sugar called in America?

Caster sugar (Australia, UK) is called superfine sugar or baker's sugar in the United States.