4 Asian Snacks You Have To Try

4 Asian Snacks You Have To Try

Grocery shopping as a child was the most fun because you had to beg your parents to let you indulge in the snacks you just HAD to buy. But as an adult you soon realize, you don’t need anyone’s approval to buy as many snacks as you want. Your pantry never runs out of Ramen and you have no regrets about it.

There’s something about Asian snacks that just appeals to you even more when you’re grocery shopping. If you’ve never tried any Asian, then let us be the first ones to tell you- You’re really missing out! You’ve got all sorts of varieties available to you, whether you want salty or sweet, something that adds texture to your noodles or just tastes divine on its own, you name it.

We compiled a list of all the snacks you need to stock up on to be up to date.

Chinese Rice

Chinese Rice Krispie Treats

With these delicious shrimpy, crunchy bites, you won’t be able to have one and put it down. Ask anyone who had these as a child, the minute you bite into one, you feel like one all over again. They are seasoned in a signature Asian way and remind you of all things good and chewy.

Pocky

It’s impossible for anyone to list their favorite Asian snacks and NOT talk about this one in particular. These are absolutely delicious sticks of biscuit that are covered with just the right amount of cream and come in different flavors like chocolate, strawberry, cookies and cream and matcha. The popular flavors have always been chocolate and strawberry though.

Yan Yan

These are also a crunchy biscuit variety that are a delight to eat. They come with a sort of dipping sauce and somehow the ratio of biscuits to cream is ALWAYS perfect. You can buy chocolate, strawberry and vanilla. One of the popular things to do as a child was to mix the three sauces and eat each biscuit that way. Those who are daring enough, would do it even after growing up, and that’s okay.

Gummy candies

Gummy candies or yummy candies? You decide! This Japanese version of gummy bears style jelly is easily the most satisfying thing to chew on at any given moment. They come in multiple fruity flavors and are very hard to share with others because you just want to eat them all on your own.

Indulge in these Asian snacks for a change and be reminded of your childhood memories. You can buy these Asian snacks on our online grocery store. Visit our website for more information.

12 Korean Snacks You Absolutely Have To Try

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All these snacks can be found at your nearest Asian supermarkets and sometimes even in the “Asian foods” section of American grocery stores.

1. Shrimp Snacks (saeoo snek)

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These chips are one of the most popular snacks in Korea. Despite their simple ingredients — flour, oil, and starch — the actual shrimp seasoning makes these unique. It gives them a light flavor similar to Old Bay seasoning. Although they’re shaped like french fries, these are super airy and light, like rice crackers.

What it tastes like: If Veggie Sticks had a fishy flavor.

 

2. Korean Rice Crackers (ssal ro ppung)

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This is like the Korean version of a Rice Krispy treat, except way less sugary and not nearly as bad for you. Made with real puffed rice, these lovely rolls are a perfect hand-held snack to satisfy a sweet craving without feeling too guilty afterwards.

Fun fact: the word “ppung” is the sound of an explosion like “pop.”

What it tastes like: Honey Smacks.

 

3. Crab Chips (kkotgae snek)

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Topped with crab seasoning, these chips are similar in texture and flavor to the shrimp chips. However, these have a slightly sweet flavor as well.

What it tastes like: If Popchips came in Old Bay Seasoning flavor.

 

4. Korean Sweet Cakes (chapsal yakgwa)

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Yakgwa is a very traditional Korean cake made mainly from honey, sesame oil, and wheat flour. These taste a bit like donuts, so obviously they’re delicious.

What it tastes like: Glazed donuts.

 

5. Ginger Flavored Crackers (saenggang maht junbyung)

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These traditional “crackers” are also more like cookies. Once your tongue is past the sugar and ginger, you’ll find these have a pleasantly sweet flavor.

What it tastes like: Ginger coated fortune cookies.

 

6. Traditional Korean Crackers With Laver Flavor

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Although these guys are labeled as crackers, they’re actually more sweet than savory. They contain “laver” (aka seaweed) which gives a natural salty hint to each cracker and also a very unique flavor.

What it tastes like: Fortune cookies laced with seaweed.

 

7. Azuki Bean Rice Ball Snacks (injulmi rice ball)

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These puffy rice balls have the consistency of Utz Cheese Balls, but are actually sweet. There is a particular flavor on the outside as well from the “injeolmi” seasoning which creates a flavor like these popular Korean rice cakes.

What it tastes like: Peanut Butter Crunch.

8. Pumpkin Monaca, Baked Biscuit (hobak monaka)

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The outside is rice based, but the inside is a sweet, thick paste-like center made from pumpkin powder and flavoring. The filling is very sweet, so you really only need one at a time, which is probably why these come individually wrapped!

What it tastes like: thick pumpkin jam.

 

9. Chocolate Corns

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These corn-based snacks are basically a sweet, chocolatey version of cheese puffs, however they are pretty much on the opposite end of the flavor spectrum. These are sweet, not salty, and chocolatey, not cheesy.

What it tastes like: Cocoa Puffs.

 

10. Sweet Red Bean Jelly (yanggaeng)

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Red bean jelly and paste is a common ingredient in many Korean desserts. In this case you can buy it in pure bar form. It’s sweet, fat-free, low-calorie, and a healthier alternative to a candy bar. Sure, it may look like the “protein bars” in Snowpiercer, but I guarantee these are actually delicious.

What it tastes like: The center part of mochi ice cream.

 

11. Lotte’s Kancho Choco Biscuits

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These button-sized cookies are lovely little morsels packed with milk chocolate. With a crumbly-cookie shell and milky chocolate center, these little bites of sweet cookie goodness are just the right amount of naughty.

What it tastes like: Dunk-a-roos, without the dunking.

 

12. Pepero White Cookie Sticks

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If you’ve ever had Pocky, then you’ll have an idea what you’re in for. This is a thin, cookie stick dipped in white chocolate and chocolate cookie crumble. What’s not to love?

Fun Fact: Lotte is a mega retailer in Korea, in fact they even have a theme park called Lotte World in Seoul.

What it tastes like: Oreo cookies and white chocolate.

 

Most of Korean Snacks can be purchased at SFMart.com

This article is originally posted on Buzz Feed