EATS
10 SNACKS YOU’VE PROBABLY NEVER TRIED BEFORE Text: Carolyn Shum Photos: Ellick Lee
Whether you are studying for your next exam, or just craving for some munchies, there just has to be snacks you cannot go wrong with! We shopped at different stores across Vancouver and hand picked 10 unique snacks that you probably never tried yourself. So the AX3 team did the job for you. We carefully evaluated each snack based on its flavour, uniqueness and CHARGED factor (the degree to which it can energize you) and voted on which snack reigns supreme. You might be surprised by the results, so read on!
1
Ta Pasta Bolognese (Glico)
Bolognese spaghetti aroma fills the air. The thin sticks are super crispy and crunchy, and are indeed true to taste. Compared to the regular PRETZ (salad flavour), it’s less salty and much crunchier. For those who are always on the go, these are quite fragile due to its packaging so store them carefully! Definitely worth a try. Flavour: 10/10 Uniqueness: 9/10 CHARGED Factor: 8/10 Where to buy: Konbiniya
2
Zhang Jun Ya Xiao Mei Mei Bon Manger Tidbits
(張君雅小妹妹點心麵) Taiwanese brand Zhang Jun Ya definitely brings childhood memories back. These balls of dried instant noodles may give a false first impression, but are actually pretty irresistable. However, these tiny crunchies are high in sodium and makes you thirsty after a couple of bites. Flavour: 8/10 Uniqueness: 7/10 CHARGED Factor: 7/10 Where to buy: Smart N Save
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CHARGED | March 2012
3
Taiwanese Oyster Omelette Chips (Hwa Yuan)
4
Salty Peppery Chicken Nugget Chips (Bo De Duo)
Oyster Omelette is one of Taiwan's popular street food, but who would've thought this could turn into potato chips? Although its taste does resemble the dish to a certain extent, the oyster flavour is not too strong. This makes it a perfect snack for those who do not normally enjoy the “fishy” taste of seafood. They do get greasy after a few so have some tissues handy!
We've probably all had the famous "salty peppery chicken" snack at our nearby Taiwanese restaurant, so we gave this a try. At the first bite, it may taste a bit too salty, but the peppery taste kicks in right after. However, the taste isn't too special - in fact, some of the flavours from "Calbee" or "Lays" may offer even more interesting flavours. Get this only if you are very hungry.
Flavour: 7/10 Uniqueness: 8/10 CHARGED Factor: 6/10 Where to buy: Candyland
Flavour: 5/10 Uniqueness: 6/10 CHARGED Factor: 5/10 Where to buy: Candyland
5
Mac & Cheese Corn Puffs (Meiji)
This is the strongest smelling snack out of all. Its rich cheesy smell makes one quite overwhelmed at first, but when you grab a bite, the cheese flavour dissolves and dies off quickly. It's more like a chip than a puff as it is quite crispy. This snack will make you thirsty so be sure to grab a drink! Flavour: 7/10 CHARGED Factor: 6/10 Uniqueness: 8/10 Where to buy: Konbiniya