An American man living in the UK has compared Terry's Chocolate Orange from both countries in a taste test - and discovered a surprising difference.

14:56, Mon, Feb 9, 2026 Updated: 15:13, Mon, Feb 9, 2026

A Terry's Chocolate Orange

Russ nearly caused an international incident due to the way he ate a chocolate orange (stock image) (Image: SWNS)

An American man who almost caused an international incident after his unconventional attempt at enjoying a beloved British treat has now put the product head-to-head with its US equivalent - revealing one crucial difference between the two versions. Russ, a Chicago native who has made Britain his home, frequently documents the quirks and contrasts between British and American life on social media, where he commands a following of over 200,000 as Red Bus Russ.

He became something of a viral sensation last year after sampling a Terry's Chocolate Orange - but viewers were left absolutely gobsmacked when, instead of giving it the traditional tap and pulling apart the segments as intended, he simply chomped into it whole like a piece of fruit. Following the backlash, he issued a playful mea culpa, pleading with Britons to "please give me a second chance." Now he's waded back into controversial waters, conducting a comparative taste test between the British and American iterations of the chocolate treat.

He kicked off by displaying both products to his audience, observing that the American packaging featured step-by-step instructions, complete with illustrations, demonstrating how to tap the orange to separate the segments before peeling away the wrapper.

From off screen, Russ' British partner quipped: "Clearly Americans need instructions". To which Russ retorted: "What makes you say that?"

Examining both packages more closely, Russ remarked: "This feels weird to say but the ingredients are almost identical. They're both the same exact calories and have nearly identical amounts of sugar, sodium, fat, and protein in them. They even have identical expiration dates. The batch numbers on them are almost the same.

"Did Terry's really just make the same chocolate orange and put it in a different box for the Americans? One with the instructions right on the top."

Brandishing the UK edition, he goes on: "There's literally no instructions on this one, but the American one has instructions, with pictures too, because Lord knows we don't know how to read either."

Upon unwrapping both chocolate oranges, Russ observes the American variant comes wrapped in gold foil, while the British staple sports the traditional orange-speckled wrapper, reports the Mirror. Fortunately, he executes the ritual correctly this go-round, delivering both a firm thwack on the table before peeling back the foil.

Sampling a segment from each, he remarks: "I'm not really noticing any immediate differences on the surfaces. They both smell the same. The shade of chocolate looks pretty similar. The segments look pretty similar."

Russ then invites his girlfriend into shot and hands her a piece of the American version, stating: "I want to see if you notice the same difference I do."

Upon tasting, she observes: "That doesn't taste as flavoursome. It's the texture."

Russ continues: "The American one feels waxier and like it doesn't melt on your tongue like the British one does."

Scrutinising the packaging, he determines: "But its the same ingredients, with the exception of polyglycerol polyricinoleate."

According to artisan chocolate makers Cocoa Runners, polyglycerol polyricinoleate, or PGPR, is an emulsifier that enables the substitution of cocoa butter with less expensive vegetable and synthetic fats, while also accelerating production and reducing costs.

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Terry's started producing its renowned Chocolate Orange in its York factory back in 1932. In 2005, manufacturing was relocated to various European facilities, before being centralised in a single factory in Strasbourg, France, in 2018.

Prior to the introduction of the chocolate orange, the company had marketed a chocolate apple. In 1979, it unveiled a chocolate lemon, but this product was discontinued after just three years.