Denroku Porippy Spicy Peanut Snack: I found these peanut snacks in what seemed to be the bar snack section, with a variety of nuts and dried seafood. I've had versions of this snack before in rice cracker mixes; it consists of a crispy rice cracker coating surrounding a single roasted peanut. It has a very unique sweet and savory quality, with a mix of seasonings and flavorings including honey and nori. Very tasty and affordable! Would definitely buy again. 4.0/5.0
recommended japanese Daiei nuts denroku porippy peanut snack 4.0
Firecakes Pistachio Donut: I was hopeful about this highly regarded donut chain in Chicago. The offerings looked enticing, and fresh donuts were taken from the racks rather than those left sitting on display. But this pistachio cake donut was barely better than Dunkin, with a slightly dry, crumbly texture and too-sweet shamrock-green glaze, all compounded by an unnecessary brown sugar crumble. At least it was reasonably priced, at under $3. 2.5/5.0
chicago nuts sweets firecakes pistachio donut 2.5
Trader Joe's Cocoa Almond Cashew Beverage: Another one of Trader Joe's growing flavored non-dairy selection, this chocolate cashew drink instantly brought me back to my childhood with a taste reminiscent of a better quality Yoohoo. It's very thick, almost like melted ice cream. I enjoyed it mixed with chia seeds for chia seed pudding; by itself, it's a bit too rich for me. 3.0/5.0
drinks nuts nondairy traderjoes cocoa almond cashew beverage 3.0
Koh Kae Spicy Hot Pot Peanuts Mala: Purchased from HMart in Midtown, this can of peanuts has a uniquely spiced chili flavor that actually does taste similar to a schezuan-style hot pot. It’s savory but not overly spicy, with just enough heat. The roasted peanuts themselves were pretty ordinary, but the seasoning makes them worth trying. 3.0/5.0
hmart asian nuts kohkae spicy hot pot peanuts mala 3.0
Kind Pomegranate Blueberry Pistachhio bar: Kind bars have a consistent quality - once you’ve had one, you know what you’re getting yourself into. Here, we have a mix of crunchy whole pistachio and almonds with dried fruit, all bonded together with a sticky glaze and several types of grains for texture. It was a bit hard to bite into (more crunchy than chewy), which made me a little nervous for my teeth. Overall, decent but doesn’t quite pass the threshold for recommended. 3.0/5.0
fruit nuts kind pomegranate blueberry pistachhio bar 3.0
Larabar Cashew Cooki Bar: Containing two ingredients (dates and cashews) this minimalist bar had a soft texture somewhere between a cookie and an energy bar. I found the flavor to be off, not because it was either too sweet or savory, since the flavors together simply did not taste particularly good. This is the first time I’ve had a Larabar, and given the experience, probably the last. 2.0/5.0
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