Overview:
Discover what could be the next snack craze from around the world! Here are five global snacks from Mexico to Malaysia that deserve your attention.
With the advent of monthly snack boxes that can be delivered to your door, curiosities of global treats have risen, driven by both these subscription boxes and the further globalization of snack culture. Mexico’s Takis and Japanese Pocky have exploded onto American markets to wide acclaim, and are available in almost every chain grocery store. With that in mind, what could be the next snack to make the jump?
1. Vero Mango (Mexico)
While sour or spicy candy can seem the norm, Mexico takes it a step further to combine the two. Vero Mango is a mango lollipop dipped in a tamarind-chile coating. The company that produces the snack, Dulces Vero, was founded in the early 1950s. Angel Ibarra Davila and Maria del Refugio Robles began business in Guadalajara, Jalisco, Mexico, but citing economic turmoil, they moved operations to Culiacán, Sinaloa. Soon after, the Vero Mango was born.
The iconic lollipop boasted a sweet mango center, with a tamarind-chile confection dusting the outside. This coating blended spicy notes from the chile with the tangy flavors from the tamarind, which mellowed naturally once you reached the mango center. Vero Mango is now a staple of the Mexican candy scene and is distributed to over 34 countries across the Americas, Asia, and Europe.
2. Kurkure (India)
In Southern Asia, a puffcorn snack dominates shelves in kirana (convenience) stores across India. Also popular in Pakistan and Bangladesh, Kurkure is distributed to Canada, Australia, the United Kingdom, and the United States as well. Kurkure sticks are a puffed snack made of lentils, chickpea, rice, and corn flours. Introduced by Frito-Lay in 1999, the name Kurkure derives from the Hindi and Urdu word for “crunchy.”
The snack’s distinctive twisted shape actually came from repurposing irregular machine-cut pieces, which gave it a unique identity. As the tagline for the snack says, “Tedha Hai Par Mera Hai” (“It’s Twisted, but It’s Mine”). Flavors range from widely relatable to deeply localized. “Naughty Tomato” and “Yummy Cheese” are familiar, while “Chilli Chatka” draws comparison to Mexico’s Takis, blending chili and lime with savory flavors of cumin and garlic.
3. Smoki Peanut Puffs (Serbia)
From India we travel to Eastern Europe, where Smoki Peanut Puffs hit shelves in 1972. Eaten across the Balkans and some Slavic countries, this snack is so popular that in some regions “Smoki” is even used generically to describe all puffed snacks. Produced by Soko Štark, Smoki Peanut Puffs are made with freshly baked peanuts, corn meal, and salt.
The flavor of Smoki rides the line between sweet and savory, much like peanuts themselves. In 2006, new variations were introduced, including Čoko Smoki, a chocolate-coated version, as well as caramel and orange-flavored variants. In 2023, Smoki released “Smoki Wow,” a peanut puff with chocolate and peanut butter fillings — another demonstration of the brand’s ability to balance sweet and savory without going overboard.
4. Lavashak (Iran)
If we head to Iran, we encounter a cousin of General Mills’ Fruit Roll-Ups. Lavashak, or “thin bread” in Persian, is a traditional fruit leather that remains popular today. Its name ties to lavash, a type of Iranian flatbread, and the thin strips the snack is known for.
By far the oldest snack on this list, Lavashak dates back to the Achaemenid period (550–330 BC). In ancient Persia, making Lavashak was a method to preserve fruit for eating during the winter. The fruit would be mashed, spread out, and dried in the sun. Over centuries, Lavashak became a staple of both celebratory gatherings and religious ceremonies.
Modern production has expanded the market, with sour fruits such as apricots, plums, and pomegranates commonly used. The taste is usually a balance of sweet and sour, often with a subtle salty note. While many homemade and bazaar-sold varieties exist, packaged brands such as Torshi Sevan, Golchin, and Takam help bring Lavashak to wider markets.
5. Hup Seng Cream Crackers (Malaysia)
The Hup Seng Cream Crackers originated out of a family business, where four brothers launched a confectionery operation in 1950. By 1958, they shifted focus toward research and development of new snack foods. The Hup Seng Cream Crackers were introduced under the “Cap Ping Pong” brand, a name inspired by China’s victory in the World Table Tennis Championship that year.
They quickly became a Malaysian household staple, valued for both their taste and versatility. The crackers feature a subtle blend of buttery and creamy textures with a mild savory finish, making them a perfect accompaniment to drinks, spreads, cheeses, meats, vegetables, or simply eaten on their own.
Though cream crackers originated in Ireland in 1885, British colonial influence brought them to Malaysia, where local brands like Hup Seng adapted and popularized them. Today, the Kerk brothers’ creation continues to dominate the Malaysian market and is exported worldwide.
