Tohato Tsumamel Deep Cheese Puffs: Tohato caramel corn (and it's other sweet seasonal flavors) always stand out on the shelves with their cute packaging. I've tried a few flavors both in the states and in Japan, but I recently learned there's a savory line of flavors called Tsumamel, which includes flavors like corn potage, fried chicken, and this deep cheese flavor. The curled corn puffs are like miniature Jaxx cheese snacks you can get in America, but this cheese powder is a combination of both cheddar and Camembert. You c... (read more) 3.0/5.0
japanese aeon tohato tsumamel deep cheese puffs 3.0
Trader Joe's Jalapeño seasoned corn and rice puffs: My sister sent me an awesome birthday present from the US: a box of Trader Joe's snacks. I've been away from the US for 9 months now (!) and before that, was mostly shopping at the Park Slope Food Coop, so I haven't had a chance to try their seasonal snack offerings for a long while, which is one of the main reasons I enjoyed shopping there. Normally, puffed snacks made of alternative grains like rice and quinoa (as opposed to the more typical corn puffs) are too soft in texture or have a ... (read more) 3.5/5.0
recommended traderjoes jalapeño seasoned corn rice puffs 3.5
Lotte Cupcho Doraemon Chocolate Covered Corn Puffs: Cupcho are snacks you can find in konbini (convenient store) in Japan that are accurately named for their plastic cup packaging featuring a popular cartoon character - there seem to be Doraemon and Rilakkuma versions. I didn't know what it was but thought from the picture on the packaging that it was malted milk balls, a flavor I haven't had in a long time but was a favorite of mine during Halloween. Unfortunately, the actual snack was less satisfying – corn puffs similar in texture to che... (read more) 2.5/5.0
lawson kids japanese lotte cupcho doraemon chocolate covered corn puffs 2.5
Snikkidy Organic Mac N' Cheese Baked Puffs: Formed by two moms who wanted snacks they felt good giving their kids, Snikiddy is extremely on brand for the Park Slope Food Coop. The cheese puffs are organic, contain no high fructose corn syrup, no hydrogenated oils, and no GMO ingredients. Upon first taste, they seemed pretty bland to be honest, with a very light cheese flavor that tasted like health food. After a few more pieces, the cheese factor slightly cumulated to the point that it was vaguely reminiscent of mac and cheese, but... (read more) 3.0/5.0
parkslopefoodcoop snikkidy organic mac n' cheese baked puffs 3.0
Puffworks Peanut butter puffs: I expected these corn puffs to be coated in a dry peanut butter powder, but the coating was surprisingly more like paste. That made them a little more challenging to eat, as they leave your fingers slightly sticky. The peanut butter is neither sweet nor savory and was frankly bland. The snack coats your mouth just like peanut butter does, so it also begs to be eaten with a drink. Purchased from Fairway. 2.5/5.0
organic fairway puffworks peanut butter puffs 2.5
Trader Joe's Neapolitan Puffs Cereal: I like beans a lot, but I didn't expect to have them in my cereal. I unknowing purchased this bean-based cereal from Trader Joe's (I bought them because I was intrigued by the idea of Neapolitan cereal). It's made with a combination of chickpea, navy bean, and pinto bean powder along with brown rice. The crunch is heartier than normal corn and rice-based cereal (such as Kix, though the puffs are similar in size) and I can definitely taste that the cereal has "something" extra underneath t... (read more) 2.5/5.0
strawberry chocolate vanilla breakfast traderjoes neapolitan puffs cereal 2.5