10 Quintessential Filipino Snacks That You’ll want to keep stocked always
Growing up in the Philippines opened up a whole new world of snacking for me. I spent a good amount of my childhood in the humidity of our motherland with a bag of chips in one hand and a mug of taho in the other. Inspired both by my childhood nostalgia AND grocery list when I go to Filipino markets now that I’m back living stateside, I’ve put together a list of some of my favorites that are great staples to have for guests, for daily cravings or just about any reason you can think of. And since you can find these at just about any Filipino or Asian specialty market in the US, it won’t be too hard to locate and hoard your faves for a rainy day.
1. Jack ‘n Jill VCut Potato Chips
VCut chips are among the most well known chips in the country. You can walk down any street in the Philippines and spot at least one person devouring them. You may have even spotted Filipino-American actress Vanessa Hudgens posing with a bag of them on one of her recent Instagram posts. They’re that good! You can also find them bulk from Amazon if the nearest Filipino market is too far for you. My personal favorite is spicy barbecue, but they also have cheese and onion and garlic.
Haven’t tried it? See what all the rave is about and grab a bag today!
2. Jack ‘n Jill Piattos
If you’re a cheese lover, Piattos are definitely for you! One could easily get hooked on these after just one chip. I went through multiple bags a day at one point when I lived in the Philippines. If you’re not a cheese lover, they have several other yummy flavors available like sour cream and onion, roast beef, nacho pizza, and roadhouse barbecue. Even outside the islands of the Philippines, Piattos are making waves across Asia. They recently won the Digital Popular Award in the snacks category in Indonesia.
3. Choc-Nut
Choc-Nut is hands down my all time favorite chocolate from back home and most likely yours. The Filipinos love for the classic Choc Nut dates back to the 1970’s when the bar first hit the market and was sold at five centavos per piece. Since then, they have become a staple household treat across the Philippines and beyond. While they are manufactured in the Philippines, you can find them at almost any Asian Supermarket in America.
4. Boy Bawang Cornicks
Boy Bawang is not your average corn snack. It is a kornik consisting of vegetable oil, corn, garlic from Ilocos and a number of other flavors that help give the addictive treat a little extra kick. This snack gained popularity in 2003. Since then, it has gone on to be a popular “pulutan” for adults and a great snack for children to satisfy their munchies.
I’m a big fan of their chili cheese flavor. Some of their popular flavors include garlic, lechon manok, adobo, hot garlic, salt & vinegar, and golden sweet butter corn. What’s your go-to?
5. Ding Dong
Ding Dong is a fun mix of everything you’d want in a snack, consisting of cracker nuts, fava beans, fried garlic, peanuts, green peas and cornick. I first discovered them when I was in the third grade and have been hooked ever since. If you’re looking to experience munching on a whole new level, I highly recommend that you take your pick from their wide range of flavors, which include original, hot & spicy, real garlic, snack mix and sweet & spicy.
One of my favorite pastimes when I lived in the Philippines was reading a book, poolside, while stuffing my face with their snack mix flavor!
6. Skyflakes
No one is a stronger to Skyflakes! Whether you’re on the go or at the comfort of your own home, you can never go wrong with a pack (or two or three) of Skyflakes crackers. They first hit the market in the 1960’s and have since become a staple snack among Filipinos across the globe, acting as a companion to many through the ups and downs of an empty stomach. Most people enjoy them on their own, but they can also be consumed in a number of ways with a wide range of food.
If you’re looking for a light snack to satisfy your cravings or something to accompany your favorite bowl of soup, you have got to grab a pack of Skyflakes!
7. Chiz Curls
Chiz Curls were introduced to the Philippines in 1966 and quickly gained popularity for its unique texture and puff. This snack is one of many cheesy chips in the Philippines, but its distinct taste differentiates it from the rest. If you’re looking for a salty or cheesy bag of chips with just the right amount of crunch, this one’s for you!
8. Dewberry Cookies
If you’re looking for something sweet to eat, Dewberry Cookies are the way to go. They are popular to many for their unique taste, which perfectly combines jam, cookies, and cream - all in one! I love them because every bite feels like a whole new cookie with its crunch, fruity jam center, and creamy filling in between two buttery biscuits that sandwich everything together.
Some of their most popular flavors include blueberries ‘n cream, blueberry cheesecake and strawberries ‘n cream.
9. Stik-O
If I were to pick one snack from the Philippines to eat for the rest of my life, it would be Stik-O. Growing up, this used to be my favorite thing to bring to school and munch on. This sweet treat was launched in 1984 and has since satisfied the sweet tooths of countless Filipinos. With just the right amount of crunch, these wafer sticks will definitely leave you wanting more.
This addictive snack isn’t just for chocolate lovers, they also have ube, strawberry, buko pandan, coconut pandan, tutti fruity, mocha and vanilla flavors.
10. Clover Chips
What started out as a small business in Makati in 1975 rapidly boomed into one of the most popular chips in the country. The team behind Clover chips take pride in making it a point to make their snacks healthier by including vitamins that play a role in the nutrition of all its consumers. So when you’re looking for something to snack on that’s a little more on the healthy side, you know what to do.
Add these to your list for the next time that you go on a snack run! You won’t regret it. Did I miss any of your favorites? Comment below!
Kamren Fabiculanan was born to Alex and Kathy Fabiculanan who both are originally from Paoay and Manila, Philippines, making Kamren Fabiculanan one of the only full Filipino athletes not only in all of professional football but in all of professional sports as a whole.
He is the University of Washington’s sixth year safety and team captain
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