Some are crunchy. Some are spicy. Some are chewy. Some are sweet. All of them are absolutely delicious! Here is a round-up of my favorite packaged snacks from around the world. This list of must-try goodies brings together unique, locally-inspired flavors from 15 countries.
Use this list as inspiration for treats to keep an eye out for on your next international trip. Or, many can be even be ordered online. Enjoy!
Delicious Snacks from Around the World
Green Chutney Style Rajasthani Snacks from KurKure (India)
Crunchy. Spicy. Absolutely delicious! Green Chutney Style puffs are made from a base of dal and corn with a delicious Indian spice blend flavoring. These could be described as a spicier, more flavorful Cheeto, but minus the cheese. You can find these snacks in Indian grocery stores, including Patel Brothers. I recently included these Green Chutney Style crips in my DIY International Snack Box, and they were hands down the group favorite!
Developed by PepsiCo’s Indian subsidy, the KurKure brand was launched in 1999. The name “KurKure” is a nod to the Hindustani word for crunchy.
Fried Peas from BD Food or Pran (Bangladesh)
We all know you shouldn’t forget to eat your peas and carrots. But, what about having Bangladeshi fried peas instead?! If you’re into savory, this is one of the most delicious snacks out there. I never would have guessed that little fried peas could be so addictive and satisfying.
These fried peas provide a nice crunch, spiced up with ginger, garlic and a little red chili powder. The flavors compliment the crunch perfectly, and it isn’t too overwhelming. You can buy these in mini bags, the perfect snack to satisfy your craving. (I could see myself eating way too many of these if the bag were larger!) Also, BD’s Fried Peas would make for the perfect airplane snack.
Smoky Bacon Potato Crisps from Tayto (Ireland)
These crisps may taste more like bacon than actual bacon. If you are a bacon lover, this is the snack for you! When you first open the bag, there is no strong scent. But, pop one in your mouth, and the smoked bacon flavor hits you right away. Tayto’s Smoky Bacon crisps are definitely the most realistic (and delicious) bacon-flavored snack I have ever tried!
They have the perfect amount of saltiness to complement the flavor without being too much. The individual crisps are lighter and smaller in size than a classic Lay’s chip. I appreciate that Tayto’s crisps are not oily or greasy.
Tayto’s Smoky Bacon Crisps do not actually have any bacon! They are labeled as ‘suitable for vegetarians’. Note that MSG is used a flavor enhancer.
Learn more about Tayto's history and sustainability practices in my full review of Tayto's Smoky Bacon Crisps.
Bamba (במבה) by Osem (Israel)
Bamba is the true OG international snack on the list, topping the charts of the Israeli market since the 1960s! Bamba is a popped corn snack with a peanut butter coating. A light crunch packed with peanutty-goodness. Having no preservatives or artificial coloring, and enriched with various vitamins, Bamba have been marketed as a ‘healthy snack’. I’m not sure that’s true, but they are absolutely delicious!
Bamba has become so famous that even Trader Joe’s has started making their own version of Bamba Peanut Snacks. They’re good too, but you’ve got to try the originals. Curious to learn more about this famous Israeli snack? Check out Tablet’s article: Israelis Go Nuts for Bamba. (Note that the Bamba Factory Tour is no longer being offered. A new factory opened in 2019 in Kiryat Gat, so watch out for factory visit options in the future!)
Chocolate Crème Yan Yan (Japan)
Yan Yan is a long-time Japanese favorite that can be found in grocery stores or mini-marts around the world! For American audiences, Yan Yan is similar to the concept of Dunkaroos. Each Yan Yan package comes with biscuit or cookie-like sticks and a side of flavored frosting for dunking. Most commonly I’ve seen the standard chocolate, strawberry and vanilla flavors. Chocolate crème is definitely my flavor of choice!
Yan Yan comes with cute, and sometimes bizarre, animal sayings printed on the biscuit sticks. Each stick has a different ‘clue’ on one end, with the correct animal answer on the other end. Even as an adult I think it’s a cute touch. Would probably be a hit with kids.
Milk Chocolate with Popping Candies from Elite (Israel)
Elite’s Milk Chocolate with Popping Candies is the most unique chocolate candy I have ever eaten! Start with your average milk chocolate bar, but then take it to the next level by adding pop rocks inside! What starts as a sweet bite of chocolate quickly turns into something more much exciting! As the chocolate starts to melt in your mouth, candies start exploding like little fireworks tickling your tongue! It is one of those things you just have to experience yourself!
Elite is one of Israel’s most famous chocolate brands, and their first factory opened in Ramat Gan in the 1930s. Elite produces a few other top Israeli snacks, including the Pesek Zman bar and Mekupelet. (Mekupelet, a flaky milk chocolate bar, is another one of my Israeli favorites!)
Cuttlefish / Squid Flavored Peanut Balls by Orian (South Korea)
Did you know that peanuts and grilled cuttlefish make a perfect pair? I didn’t until my trip to South Korea in 2018. I first tried Orian’s Cuttlefish-flavored Peanut Balls after spotting them in CU (a popular convenience store chain). South Korean snackers have been enjoying this combo for over 40 years, since 1976!
A crispy, light and savory coating paired with the perfect peanut crunch on the inside! These Cuttlefish Flavored Peanut Balls are a classic example of anju, food or snacks eaten alongside a glass of beer or soju in South Korea. Find a bag of these share to with your buddies next time they are over for a drink! Note that some translations refer to them as squid-flavored.
Supercoco Turrón (Colombia)
Take a bite of one of these small, Colombian candies, and suddenly you will taste a sweet, coconutty flavor explosion in your mouth! The slogan for Supercoco is 100% accurate: “!El sabor con mucho coco!” Turrón is a type of Spanish/ Southern European nougat, and Supercoco are Colombia’s coconut take on this traditional confection.
Supercoco starts as a hard, solid candy, but it literally melts in your mouth. The sweet, milky caramel is paired with actual little coconut flakes that you taste with each bite! Supercoco has been a popular Colombian snack for over 70 years(!), and according to La República newspaper, Colombians eat over 22 million Supercoco a month! In 2021 Super, the company that owns Supercoco, started direct distribution in New York.
Grilled Seaweed Rolls by Thao Kae Noi (Thailand)
Thao Kae Noi’s ‘Big Roll’ is a cigar-shaped cylinder of grilled seaweed! There are plenty of seaweed snacks out there, but the shape, crunch and flavor of the Big Roll really sets this snack apart. First, choose from a very different flavors, including Spicy Squid, BBQ, Original and even the classic Thai dish: Tom Yum Goong!
The Tom Yum Goong variety is inspired by the spicy prawn soup from Thailand, and it packs a real punch of flavor and spice! If you’re looking for a sweeter flavor, go for the BBQ.
Thao Kae Noi makes a variety of seaweed goodies and holds the largest seaweed snack market share in Thailand. Head into any Asian grocery store and you’re likely to find at least a couple Thao Kae Noi options!
Carrot Biscuit by Hongfu/ Nice Choice (Taiwan)
They don’t really taste like carrots, but they are delicious! This Taiwanese snack is like a bag of little crispy wontons with a sweet and peppery flavor. At first the flavor is mild, but after a few seconds the light spicy goodness hits your tongue. Each piece is perforated, and you can choose to eat it in one bite or break it into 3! I cannot quite explain what makes these crackers so good. But, it’s good that the bags are small because once you start, it is hard to put them down.
Note: I found these for sale in a 10-pack bag. I’m not sure if they are sold individually.
Started in Mainland China as a small, family-run business in the 1950s, the Hongfu company officially registered in Taiwan in 1971. Today they export to countries around the world, and the Carrot Biscuits are marketed under the Nice Choice brand.
Love trying snacks from around the world? Share the joy with family and friends by making your own DIY International Snack Box! The perfect holiday or birthday gift for anyone who loves snacking or travel.
Check out my guide for inspiration on how to curate the perfect DIY snack box!
Chocolate Orange Bar from Terry's (United Kingdom)
When I think of the perfect Christmas stocking stuffer of my childhood, I think of Terry’s Chocolate Orange. This classic British treat has been around for almost 90 years, and in 2013 Terry’s released their chocolatey-orange goodness in bar form. Terry’s milk chocolate is flavored with orange oil. The chocolate is good quality and melts in your mouth. The orange flavor compliments and blends with the chocolate perfectly. It is distinctly orange without tasting overly fake or processed. Terry’s Chocolate Orange candies are one of my favorite British snacks!
In homage to the candy’s original orange shape, Terry’s Orange Chocolate Bar is designed to look like a row of overlapping orange wedges. Honestly, it’s really cute! The single bar (pictured here) is the perfect size, and you can easily break off one ‘wedge’ at a time.
Tel Pişmaniye from Schrazat (Turkey)
Get ready to start drooling! All these snacks are good, but this one is REALLY good. Pişmaniye is a Turkish snack with a similar feel to cotton candy, but the preparation and ingredients are different. Open a package of Tel Pişmaniye, and you will be impressed by the delicate strings of fluffy candy. Eating this snack is super fun, and but you may get a bit messy.
This sweet-fluffy treat has been around for over 600 years, with the first documented reference to it from the 1400’s.
Pişmanye is made from flour and butter that is mixed into sugar through a pulling and stretching process. (That part actually reminded me of making taffy.) Pişmanye is related to the Persian Pashmak dessert & the Chinese dessert called “Dragon’s Beard”. It is traditional to add pistachio topping, as is pictured above.
Check out the video below to see Pişmanye being made on the street in Turkey!
Kebab Chips from Lion (Egypt)
Potato chip + kebab = a surprisingly delicious combination! This Egyptian favorite is a must-try if you are a kebab lover. What I love about this chip is the flavor is not overwhelming. Let it sit in your mouth for a moment, and all of a sudden the taste of kebab will appear. Definitely a unique chip that will leave you craving a meal from your local halal cart.
Lion Brand is produced by Senyorita Group, and first came onto the market in Egypt in 1998. These chips were recommended to me by a friend with family in Egypt. If you’re NYC-based, you can definitely find Kebab chips in Astoria. Chipsy, the Lays branding in Egypt also offers a ‘kebab’ flavor chip. Sounds like a great taste-test opportunity to me!
Cubetti Hazelnut Wafers from Dolcetto (Italy / United States)
Light and airy Italian wafers layered with a hazelnut cream. The thin hazelnut layers are surprisingly creamy, giving this treat a perfect texture and medium level of sweetness. Definitely one of the best wafers I’ve tried. Also, perfect for dipping into your afternoon coffee!
Cubetti wafers are made using Italian ingredients in Italy, but the main company owning the Dolcetto brand is Fusion Gourmet. They are US-based, but specialize in globally-inspired products.
I first discovered Cubetti wafers from my monthly MunchPak Mini subscription!
Stewed Beef Noodle Chips from Lays (China)
Head to China (or your local Chinese grocery story) and you will find a variety of delicious and unique flavors of Lays to try. From Spicy Duck to Cucumber, your mind will be blown by all the flavor options! But, my personal favorite is are the Lays Stewed Beef Noodle flavor. This ruffle-shaped chip combines a strong crunch with the rich, savory flavor of beef noodles.
Pro Tip: The ridges in the chip shape are perfect for adding spicy peanuts on top! I first tried these Stewed Beef Noodle chips when visiting Chengdu, China. Adding in Sichuan-spice flavored peanuts gave an extra delicious punch.
Stobi Flips from Vitaminka (Macedonia)
A hint of peanut, followed by the flavor of buttery goodness packed into a satisfying little corn puff. This classic Macedonian supermarket snack has been around since 1978! Stobi Flips are bite-sized savory corn puffs. Each puff is light and airy, but still has a good crunch and flavor. Open the bag, and you’ll get a slight scent of peanut. The texture is similar to a Cheetos puff or Israeli Bamba, but the peanut flavor is much more subtle. Stobi Flips lead with a crunch and light peanut taste, but the buttery aftertaste is the best part. The ending flavor is just like buttery movie theatre popcorn. Mmmhhhmmmm.
Stobi Flips are not heavy or oily, so you won’t feel ill after shoveling them into your mouth. They are a low-mess snack, with no finger residue or stickiness after eating. Stobi Flips would make a great snack for movie night, airplane travel or a road trip.
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