Snacks from other countries are fun to open and easy to judge too quickly. A sweet that tastes odd on the first bite may be the one you want a second packet of. A salty one that you expected to love may not suit you at all.
Here is a way to taste snacks from around the world so you learn something from each one.
1. Start with one country
Snacks from one place share habits: how sweet they are, how salty, what texture they chase. When you taste them side by side, you start to see it. A mixed box from ten countries gives you ten random points, and a box from one country gives you a pattern.
2. Taste in order
Go from mild to strong. Start with plain biscuits and wafers, move to chocolate and fruit, and leave the very salty or spicy snacks for last. Have water within reach.
3. Read the packet first
The packet tells you what it is meant to be. Our guide to reading a Japanese snack packet shows how much is on one wrapper.
4. Compare like with like
Taste two things from the same category, such as two biscuit sticks or two crisps. The difference between them is where the culture shows. We explain why the same flavour tastes different in different countries.
5. Notice the sound and the shape
Crunch is part of the flavour, and so is shape. Read The Sound of Crunch, Why Snacks Come in Such Strange Shapes and The Quiet Genius of the Wafer Biscuit for more on what to listen for.
6. Check ingredients before you share
Snacks from other countries use different ingredients and different labelling. Read the allergens before you hand a packet to someone else, and ask if you are unsure.
7. Write down what you liked
A line on your phone is enough. It makes the next order easier, and it makes a good gift list.
Where to start in the UAE
We build one box a month around one country. We began with Omiyage: Japan. October is Korea, with the Korean Snack Box, and our Korean snacks guide puts the first few in order. Past favourites are on The Shelf.
Questions about snacks from around the world
How do I try snacks from different countries? Start with one country at a time and taste in order, from mild to strong.
Is a mixed international snack box better than a single-country one? A mixed box gives variety. A single-country box gives context. Our snack box guide compares them.
Can I buy one box without signing up for more? Yes. Each Snackstalgia box is a one-time purchase.
Taste slowly. The packet is half the point.
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