I remember my first trip to South Carolina like it was yesterday. My friend, a true local, handed me a cookie and said, “Try this benne wafer.” I stared at the word “benne,” struggling to decide how to pronounce it, and he just laughed before handing me another cookie.
That small moment opened the door to a much bigger curiosity: the world of South Carolina foods with names that outsiders almost always mispronounce.
From snacks to full meals, each dish carries history, tradition, and a little linguistic trickery. Here are 11 South Carolina favorites that visitors consistently stumble over.
1. Benne Wafers
Benne wafers are like little bites of Charleston history. Made from sesame seeds, these thin, crispy cookies have a nutty flavor that’s as rich as their heritage. Yet, outsiders often call them “bean wafers,” struggling with the pronunciation…