AsiaFoodGuidePhilippines

Must-try Snacks When You’re In The Philippines

Whether it’s sweet, salty, or both, snacks are a Filipino food staple. Supermarkets and convenience stores are lined with all sorts of delicious goodies and, as a visitor to the Philippines, it’s not easy to choose which ones to try and bring home. What are the all-time Filipino favorites? What flavors and ingredients are unique to the Philippines? What snacks are hot, trending, and becoming very popular?

If you’re looking for something other than crispy banana chips and super-sweet dried mango, then check out our list of must-try modern Filipino snacks:

 

 

Choc Nut

via Dernhelm5984 on Wikimedia Commons (CC BY-SA 4.0)

via Dernhelm5984 on Wikimedia Commons (CC BY-SA 4.0)

There are several brands of chocolate-peanut candy in the market, but the most iconic of them all is King Choc Nut Milk Chocolate. Better known among locals as Choc Nut, these crumbly, inch-long bars of nutty chocolate have captivated sweet tooths since the 1970s. 

In recent years, restaurants and cafes have been using Choc Nut for their drinks and desserts. Choc Nut’s new manufacturer also produces its own line of Choc Nut instant hot chocolate and Choc Nut spread. But as the demand for this nostalgic candy continues to rise, Choc Nut has become ever more difficult to come by. 

 

 

Miss B ube cheese pan de sal

via Miss B on Facebook

One of the hottest food trends of 2020 is ube cheese pan de sal. The breakfast staple that is pan de sal—or “bread of salt” in Spanish—is given a 21st-century twist with sweet purple yam and milky cheese fillings. If you’re looking for more familiar flavors, try Miss B’s other types of special pan de sal, like caramel, fudge, chocolate, and matcha.

Order Miss B’s ube cheese pan de sal from KKday today. 

 

 

Manila Cookie Story assorted cookies

via Manila Cookie Story on Facebook

Manila Cookie Story is not your run-of-mill, touristy cookie collection. Their delectable cookies are made with much-loved Filipino ingredients, such as Kape Barako (a coffee from Batangas province), Queso de Bola (a ball of Edam cheese traditionally eaten at Christmastime), and South Cotabato chocolate. 

Each flavorful cookie looks like a star, but is in fact inspired by the eight-ray sun that rests proudly on the Philippine flag. Manila Cookie Story’s vibrant packaging is a tale on its own, with designs showcasing Philippine jeepneys, festivals, and fabrics. The colorful King of the Road tin is our favorite!

Buy a box or tin of assorted cookies from the Manila Cookie Story website

 

 

Crackle Snacks Bicol Express potato chips

via Crackle Snacks on Facebook

Do you remember when salted egg potato chips were all the rage? Crackle Snacks continues to make their best-selling salted eggs chips, but why not try their Bicol Express potato chips? Inspired by the Filipino delicacy hailing from the Bicol Region, these chips are flavored with coconut milk and a hint of chili and bagoong (shrimp paste) for some heat. Perfect for those with adventurous taste buds. 

Grab a bag of Bicol Express potato chips through the Crackle Snacks website

 

 

Oishi Marty’s Cracklin’ vegetarian chicharon

via Liwayway Marketing Corporation

Chicharon is traditionally made from pork rinds, but Filipino snack brand Oishi has made the all-time beer accompaniment healthy and guilt-free. Marty’s Cracklin’ vegetarian chicharon is made from peas! Locals veer towards the milder Plain Salted or Salt & Vinegar, but we suggest you try the Chicken Inasal (Bacolod-style grilled chicken brushed with annatto oil) variant for a flavor you can’t find anywhere else in Asia.

Marty’s Cracklin’ vegetarian chicharon is available in supermarkets and convenience stores across the Philippines. 

 

 

Oh So Healthy fruit crisps

via Oh So Healthy on Instagram

Are you and your friends tired of banana chips and dried mango? Give them a more nutritious, tastier option with Oh So Healthy! fruit crisps. And why settle for one fruit flavor when you can have a medley of three. It’s like a smoothie in chip form. 

With so many mouthwatering combinations to choose from (there’s Guava, Mango, Purple Yam, and Jackfruit), it was tough for us to decide on one! Nevertheless, savor a taste of tropical paradise with a bag of Coconut Purple Yam Banana crisps.

Order a bag of Oh So Healthy! fruit crisps and other healthy Filipino snacks with this special snack box from Raw Bites.  

 

 

Grab a snack box filled with home-grown goodies from the Philippines here!

 

Words by Carla Martinez-Tensuan
Featured image via Miss B on Facebook

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