Are you someone who loves food, and I mean loves food? When you take a bite of something, do you feel like Remy from Ratatouille when he’s eating the fruit and cheese together? Are you always concocting a new recipe in the search for the best snacks from around the world? Then you’re in good company.
We at ALLMYNE are diehard fans of travel, but we also know that one can’t travel without the most important part of living: food!
When I visited Spoleto and Umbria in Italy, I got to have some of the best food I’ve ever had in my entire life. Not only was the award-winning gelato something I tried to buy every time we visited the little nearby town, but also every meal was an experience within itself.
In Italy, they believe in siestas, taking a break in the middle of the day. This, coupled with a big lunch, helped me take a lovely snooze in a nearby hammock!
However, for a lot of countries, food has a lot of cultural ties. It’s a space to talk about one’s day, check in with the ones you love, and share a meal that may mean a lot to your company as a whole. For example, in my family, we have this dish we call “Grandma’s Rice.” My mother’s mom used to make it all the time when we’d visit.
Now that she’s passed away, we eat it from time to time. But you can bet that I feel the same way I did sitting in my grandparents’ house years and years ago every time I take a bite. Food, like travel, is an avenue from the past to the present to the future. So, let’s see what we can learn about other cultures from their food, specifically their snacks!
スナック in Japan
Of course, Japan has to be close to the top of any best snacks from around the world list.
You’ve probably heard of, seen, or even tasted some popular Japanese snacks in your local grocery store. Pocky and Hello Panda snacks are sweet little chocolatey treats every sweet-treat fan can get behind. But what about some of those special snacks that taste unlike anything you’ve ever had before? I like to break my snacks down into three categories: chocolate, gummy, and salty. So, let’s use that guide here!
Nestlé, the creator of Kit Kats, took over as the most popular confectionery brand in Japan around 2012. There are tons of flavors ranging from matcha and sweet potato to peach parfait and vegetable juice.
No matter what, you’re sure to find a flavor that suits your tastes. Choco Pies are delicious marshmallow cake sandwiches coated with chocolate. Inspired by the “Moon Pie,” it is the most popular snack in Japan from the South Korean Lotte company.
As for Shittori Choco, these chocolatey corn puffs combine crunch with chocolate’s sweet notes. “Shittori” means “moist” in Japanese, referring to the softer texture the puffs take on from the chocolate coating.
Puré Gummy Candy is a staple in the Japanese gummy snack world. Made with 100% fruit pureé, Kanro’s gummies are a refreshing burst of fruity flavor and a perfect on-the-go snack.
If you’re a fan of sour candy, we recommend Kanro’s Candeminya Sour Candy to add a good pucker to your snack time. Also made from fresh fruit juice, Kasugai Frutia Gummy Candy is a great gluten-free alternative to Kanro’s gummies.
Ever thought about what it would be like to eat a drink? Well, UHA Mikatuto is the creator of the Kororo line of gummies. One of their unique flavors is soda! That’s right, these soft candies are meant to taste like clear soda. They even have a cola-flavored gummy!
For our last stop in the Land of Salty, you’ve probably heard of mochi before. In Japan, they have a crunchy version of mochi called Agemochi. The sticky rice is chopped up into pieces and then deep-fried for a delicious, salty snack.
I must admit that I’ve tried to eat dry ramen from time to time as a child. Well, that whole concept is the idea behind Baby Star’s Crispy Ramen Snack.
The dried ramen is seasoned with your favorite ramen flavors like chicken and comes in spicy varieties.
(If this list has your mouth watering, then you’re probably trying to find a way to get some Japanese snacks delivered to your front door. Check out Bokksu. They support small family-run businesses in Japan while preserving their traditions!)
स्नैक्स in India
Let’s jump over to India, where genius combinations of spices create a delightful palette for those who enjoy Indian food. Unsurprisingly, their snacks are just as eventful for foodies! That’s why they make our list of the best snacks from around the world.
To start, there is Murukku, or Murukulu. This beautiful-looking snack is made from rice flour, dal flour, and varying spices and is deep-fried for a crunchy and flavor-filled snack. It is especially popular during Diwali.
Sev is another crunchy snack in India that’s made from a dough—either chickpea flour, gram flour, or lentil flour. The snack is Indian fried noodles and is sometimes used as a garnish for other dishes. Another delicious crunchy snack is Dry Samosa.
They come in many different flavors and are a take on Indian samosas.
For you sweet-tooths out there, you might find yourself grabbing a piece of chikki. Chikki is crunchy sweetness made from peanuts and jaggery, which is a product of unrefined sugar.
In Kerala, one of India’s many states, Jackfruit Chips, or Chakka Upperi, is a popular snack during teatime. The deep-fried jackfruit comes from the plentiful jackfruit trees in Kerala and are best picked from April to June.
Another bite-sized crispy snack is Mini Kachori. With a variety of different fillings like potatoes, peas, or lentils, Kachori can be eaten on-the-go or served as an appetizer with a side of chutney.
For those of you who can’t get enough of the heat, though, we recommend you try Masala Peanuts or Masala Matthi!
Tentempiés in Mexico
Heading to El Águila Real, their world of snacks is something to behold. Ranging from sweet and spicy to crunchy and salty, these snacks in Mexico are the best to try when you visit!
First up in that aforementioned sweet and spicy category is the Banderilla. Now, Banderillas are technically tapas on a toothpick, like an American corn dog. However, we’re talking about the candied version: the Tama-Roca Banderilla.
These “banderillas” have not only the spice of chili powder but also the sweetness of tamarind. They can also be used as a giant cocktail stirrer. On the cookie front, no list of Mexican snacks is complete without Marias Gamesa cookies.
Known as “Mexico’s #1 Cookie” with the authenticity of mom’s love, these cookies come in Traditional and DeLux versions.
If a Twinkie and a Little Debbie Strawberry Shortcake Roll had a baby, they would make a Gansito. Gansito, meaning “Little Goose” in Spanish, is a snack cake with strawberry jelly and cream filling, covered in chocolate, and topped with chocolate sprinkles.
My mouth is watering just thinking about it! Also on the sweeter side of Meixcan snacks is Duvalín. This treat is flavored candy that looks like the consistency of pudding. There are many different flavors, but the original one is the hazelnut and vanilla.
The snack even comes with a little spoon for you to mix the flavors together!
This next candy combines sugary satisfaction with the ability to have fun with your food. The Pelon Pelo Ricos, an invention from Hershey México, are like push pops in that you push the candy up through the top to eat it.
However, it pops out the top in a stringy fashion, looking like Play-Doh hair! How fun! Now, something that is a staple taste in Mexican food and candies is chamoy. Chamoy is a sort of sauce made from fruit—like apricot or mango—dried chiles, and lime juice. This ingredient is found in the Pelon Pelo Ricos.
Also, there is actually a chamoy-flavored lollipop dipped in chamoy powder called Lucas Muecas Chamoy. That’s a lot of chamoy!
The final snack from Mexico we are looking at fulfills my salty/chip requirement. Sabritones snacks are actually a brand under FritoLay. These puffed wheat snacks are most popular in the chile and lime flavor, and are vegan!
간식 in South Korea
Now, before we get into South Korean snacks, it’s important that you know something about me. During my time in college, one of my best friends introduced me to a lot of different Korean foods and snacks, like sweet buns, tteokbokki (I would die for these yummy rice cakes!), japchae, and Korean hot pot. I’ve even included some of the snacks I’ve enjoyed firsthand.
But first, let’s look at the two chocolatey snacks you’ve gotta try.
Remember the Choco Pie we talked about before? Well this one is the Orion brand Choco Pie. Instead of the Lotte brand, which is Korean, being the most popular, it is the Orion brand of Choco Pies that take the cake (pun intended).
Some reviewers say that Orion’s is more moist. Others say that Lotte’s has more marshmallow filling. It’s up to you to decide which one is the best! Let us know your pick in the comments! Don’t worry, Lotte makes its name on the list of chocolatey goodness in Korea.
Their Kancho Choco Biscuits are very popular and are similar to Meiji’s Hello Panda cookies.
If you came to this best snacks from around the world list looking for savory stuff, we got you too. For chips, we’d be remiss if we didn’t include the famous Haitai Calbee Honey Butter Chips. These were so popular that not only did it spur many knock-off brands of honey butter chips but it also started something known as the “Honey Butter Craze.” Many have said how hard it is to get your hands on a bag of these delicious chips.
These next two crunchy, salty snacks are ones I’ve actually had before. First are the Nongshim Shrimp Flavored Crackers. Believe it or not, Koreans are great at simulating certain tastes in their snacks, and Nongshim’s Shrimp Crackers are no exception. These along with Paldo Crab Chips are both phenomenal choices for something unlike anything on American grocery store shelves.
If chocolate and salty are not your favorite type of snack, we’ve got some sweet selections for you to try. Samanco’s Ice Cream Fish is exactly that: a fish-shaped waffle sandwich filled with delicious ice cream and syrup.
If you’ve watched Squid Game on Netflix (which if you haven’t, then what are you doing?), then you’ve heard of the Dalgona candies.
It’s a honeycomb toffee made of lots and lots of sugar. You can check out this recipe to have your own Squid Game viewing party while participating in the Dalgona challenge!
We have two more stops on our sweet journey through South Korean candies, and both are from the Lotte company. The first one is a huge hit for hard candy lovers. The White Grade Cheongdo Candy is a refreshing green grape candy. Our second, and final snack, is Lotte’s Happy Promise Custard Cakes.
The cakes taste like angel food cake (which I could eat by the pound) with a custard filling and a light sugar syrup coating.
Peuselhappies in South Africa
My stomach is already growling thinking about all the delicious snacks we’ve already covered. We’ve still got two countries to go, so get yourself a new paper plate to pile on these yummy treats.
Nougat is a big deal in South Africa, so it’s no surprise that Wedgewood’s Angels Biscuits are such a hit there.
We recommend their original Honey Nougat flavor, but they have Ginger, Salted Caramel, and Belgian Chocolate flavors, too.
The company’s story is one of familial love and devotion and can be viewed here. They also give 1% of their turnover from their Emporiums to sponsor community projects.
In the same sweet vein are Koeksisters. These sticky donut treats are drenched in syrup, covered in cinnamon, and have notes of lemon and ginger.
They divinely combine sweetness with crunchiness. If you’re looking for something a bit smoother, then you have to try some Melktert. This traditional tart is a deliciously thick milk custard inside a flaky crust and is a more delicate version of a custard pie.
Now, while I was scouring the internet for the best South African snacks, every single forum had someone writing this next treat in all caps: Rusks. A rusk is a twice-baked bread that is very light while also having a dryer consistency.
It’s similar to American croutons. In South Africa, the two favorites are Woolworths’ (Woolies’) Muesli Rusks—made of buttermilk, oats, and honey—and Ouma’s Buttermilk Rusks, which are sweet and slightly tangy. It’s common for rusks to be dipped in hot tea or coffee!
For those who love savory, then Vetkoeks are a surefire way to Savory Heaven. Traditional Vetkoeks, or “Fat Cakes,” are just fried dough, creating a crispy outside with a fluffy inside, filled with anything from minced curry and meat to syrup and tuna with mayo. Our final South African snack is the famous candy called Fizzers.
Fizzers are chewy candy sticks that come in many fruity flavors like strawberry and orange. They even have a cream soda flavor! Interestingly enough, their texture changes with the temperature.
So, if you put one in the fridge or at room temperature, it takes on a more brittle texture that fizzes when you chew it. When a Fizzer gets warmer, it softens, making it easier to chew.
Makanan Ringan in Indonesia
Because Indonesia is made up of multiple islands, the food and snacks from there range in so many different directions. Nevertheless, no matter where you dine at in Indonesia, you are sure to sink your teeth into something rich with flavor and full of spices; and their snacks are no exception!
Indies’ Cassava Chips are a great way to get twice the fiber in your diet than you would from eating regular potatoes. This healthier alternative combines the tropical taste of cassava with savory seasonings for a delightfully crunchy snack.
Another chip on our list are Yum’s Emping Chips. These chips have a subtle sweetness at the forefront of your first bite before coming in with some yummy bitterness. A perk is that it’s Halal -certified, Keto-friendly, and great for both vegans and vegetarians.
The next snack kicks off our two favorite choices for confection-lovers. First is Dodol, which is a toffee-like snack made from coconut milk and palm sugar.
This snack has been linked to the Malay community in Batavia, Indonesia in the early 20th century. For this community, dodol is considered a type of kuih, a Malay dessert that symbolizes their identity while representing their history and heritage. Similarly sweet is Kue Mangkok. Also known as both “Bowl Cake” and “Flower Cupcake,” Kue Mangkok is a common snack you can find along the road in Indonesia.
It’s a spongier cake with a slightly different texture due to the rice flour you use to make it. If you’re interested in making your own and bringing a bit of Indonesia into your kitchen, then check out this video!
Our final two snacks are both from the Garudafood company. Garuda’s Kacang Atom are garlic-flavored peanuts. They’re a savory and crunchy snack for anyone who is a fan of nuts. The second snack is Gery’s Cheese Crackers.
These crispy crackers are topped with—you guessed it—cheese and sugar—bet you didn’t see that one coming! Some people even say that pairing them with mascarpone cheese is a “match made in heaven,” so we will leave that one up to you to decide!
Continuing the Search for the Best Snacks from Around the World
Well that’s the end of our short list of snacks around the world. It is in no way an exhaustive one, but hopefully we’ve primed your palettes for new treats to try while abroad.
Snacks, like food, are a great representation of a country’s culture because they take into account something beautiful about places we’ve never been to before: tradition.
So, the next time you’re somewhere new, eat something new. Travel is only a part of your experience; for as Deborah Cater says, “You have to taste a culture to understand it.”
Please comment down below which snack sticks out as the yummiest to you.
I think I’m honestly leaning toward the Korean snacks since I’ve had them before, but just about everything on here piques my interest! Stay tuned for more blogs to come, and you’ll be hearing from me again soon.
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