Have you tried Chinese snacks before? If not, you need to get a taste of these popular treats. They come in all kinds of flavors: sweet, savory, spicy, and every flavor in between.

In this post, we’ll explore why the world can’t get enough Chinese snacks. By analyzing popular snacks, including iconic and modern options, we’ll help you discover your favorite product and where to find it.

Why the World Is Obsessed with Chinese Snacks

The consumption of Chinese snacks is on the rise thanks to growing global interests in Chinese snacks. More people are finding out about these treats and how to buy them in their area. There appears to be a global craze for Chinese snacks, and with ample reason.

These snacks blend traditional Chinese flavors like oyster and Sichuan pepper with modern trends like candy sticks and rippled chips. The appeal of trying unique items like tomato-flavored chips, spicy candies, and seaweed crackers is simply too much to resist.

Another reason for the global obsession with Chinese snacks is their knack for using healthier ingredients than Western snacks. Many feature vegetarian recipes and fiber-rich components, making them ideal for health-conscious snack lovers.

The COVID-19 pandemic expanded e-commerce channels for Chinese snacks domestically and abroad. Today, you can buy even rare flavors from the comfort of your couch.

What Are the Most Popular Chinese Snacks?

We reviewed feedback from consumers all over the world to find iconic snacks that represent the Chinese snacking scene. These treats included processed products and common street food. Our findings allowed us to curate a list of the 11 most popular Chinese snacks in the world.

1. Haw flakes

Haw flakes are traditional Chinese confectioneries in the shape of flat discs made from the Chinese hawthorn fruit. Also known as Shān Zhā Bǐng, they have a sweet and tangy flavor. They are often served to guests in Chinese households or enjoyed by kids in the neighborhood.

A typical haw flakes product comes in a cylindrical package filled with thin, pink discs of the sweet stacked on top of each other. There are two main types: Shandong and gourmet haw flakes. Shandong variants are common in Japan. Gourmet versions are popular in the west, may contain less sugar, and typically have a wider diameter.

2.Lay’s chips

Lay’s may be a global potato chip brand, but its Chinese flavors have made it one of China’s go-to snacks. Tomato Lay’s, which is a special flavor made for the Chinese market, is one of the most sought-after chips brand in the world. It eliminates the need to pair your chips with ketchup by offering a burst of real tomato flavor.

3. Rice crackers

Known as senbei in Japan, rice cracker is one of the most popular snacks in East Asia. This crunchy delight may have been popularized in Japan, but it originated in China during the Han dynasty. Chinese rice crackers are often fried or baked and flavored with seasonings like sesame, vinegar, or soy sauce.

4. White Rabbit candy

China’s White Rabbit brand deserves its spot on our list due to its unrivaled popularity. It is a brand of milk-based candy sold by Guan Sheng Yuan Food Group. This iconic brand has been around since 1943! Anyone who grew up in China will forever recognize its red and blue colors against a white background. There are over 18 delicious flavors of White Rabbit sold around the world. Besides the original flavor, you can find wasabi, chocolate, red bean, and more.

5. Spicy duck necks

In China, duck necks are blanched in boiling water, seasoned with tasty herbs and spices, and cooked in sesame oil. This spicy dish is a common street food in the country but has made its way to recipes around the world. You can enjoy it with cold beer.

6. Fruit gummies

The craze for fruit gummies is one of the more recent snack trends in Asia. These sweet, and sometimes tangy, snacks consist of gelatin and fruit flavoring. Lychee, grape, strawberry, orange, lemon, and apple are some of the most popular Chinese flavors.

7. Sachima

Sachima is a Chinese snack of fried batter strands stuck to each other with sugar syrup. This sweet and chewy pastry may be flavored with sesame seeds, coconut, milk, egg, or raisins. The most common variation originated from Manchu cuisine and features flour, rock sugar, and butter.

8. Egg roll

China’s take on the egg roll has an irresistible savory flavor. A staple in American-Chinese restaurants, this dish is made by stuffing deep-fried wheat flour skin with meat, cabbage, and other vegetables.

9. Mung bean cake

Sweet, smooth, and light, mung bean cake is the perfect Chinese dessert for vegetarians. They contain a special paste made from yellow or green mung beans soaked in water and mashed.

Crunch Time: Exploring Popular Chinese Chips

Lay’s Chips is the most popular potato chip brand in China. Hence, it’s no surprise that American food company Frito-Lay has created exclusive Lay’s flavors for the Chinese market. Other popular brands, like Pringles, also have China-exclusive chips. You’ll love Chinese chips because they often explore savory and umami-rich profiles unfamiliar in the West. Some of Lay’s most unique flavors, such as cucumber, roasted garlic oyster, spicy crayfish, and grilled squid calamari, are Chinese.

Sweet Meets Spicy: The Bold World of Chinese Candy

Chinese sweets are famous around the world thanks to their unique flavors. These flavors are heavily influenced by traditional Chinese medicine, which recognizes sweets as a remedy for negative emotions like worry and sadness.

Chinese sweets combine grains and veggies like carrot, chestnut, cabbage, and sweet potato with modern flavors like milk, vanilla, and fruits. The result is a wide range of fruit-flavored chews, herbal sweets, spicy hard candy, milky sweets, and other Chinese candy varieties.

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