Take your taste senses on a delightful tour of the colorful world of Mexican delicacies. We reveal a tapestry of delectable delicacies that transcend the norm in this savory adventure. Mexico’s snack scene is a festival of bold flavors and textures, from the gratifying crunch of street-style chicharrones to the hot blast of chili-spiced tamarind sweets. Immerse yourself in the rich history of antojitos, relishing the fusion of classic flavors with contemporary touches that render these treats irresistible. Regardless of your preference for savory and sweet combinations, this carefully selected selection is sure to delight you with a symphony of flavors that perfectly encapsulates the essence of Mexican cuisine.
Duvalín
Do you enjoy pudding but find it a bit bland? If so, Duvalín might be the ideal snack to tickle your tastebuds and satisfy your sweet tooth! This ready-to-eat packaged snack consists of small two-flavor candy creams. Though it looks like pudding (and has a similar consistency), it’s much sweeter, making it a fantastic after-dinner dessert snack. Flavor combinations include: Hazelnut and vanilla, Strawberry and vanilla, Strawberry and hazelnut. Produced by Ricolino, one of the largest and most successful Mexican candy brands, these tiny containers of pudding-like candy cream might disappear from your pantry in a flash, so it’s best to stock up on multiple flavors.
Gansito
Tiny Duvalín cups might not satisfy your snack needs, as they’re quite small. But pairing them with other sweet Mexican snacks like Gansito will surely hit the spot. This sugary snack is made of a rectangular piece of white cake topped with a strawberry-flavored jam and a layer of cream. These are covered in a shell of chocolate. A flurry of chocolate sprinkles sits on top, making each bite a rich harmony of sweet fruit, chocolate, and cake. Produced by Marinela, a Mexican food brand founded in the 1950s, Gansito is one of the sweetest ready-to-eat popular Mexican snacks and could become your new favorite sweet treat.
Takis
There’s an excellent chance that you’ve already heard of Takis. After all, these spicy corn snacks have taken the U.S. by storm. There’s even a TikTok Taki Challenge! But just in case you’re out of the loop on these popular Mexican snacks, Takis are hollow, stick-like corn snacks covered in a spicy seasoning. They come in several flavors, nearly all of which have a spicy kick, and they’re on of the best convenience store snacks. Still, if you’d like to try this snack, you can select from the following flavor options: Fuego, Nitro, Blue Heat, Crunchy Fajitas, Guacamole. Takis are like snack-friendly flavored tortilla chips, quickly becoming one of North America’s most popular snack foods. Barcel, the company responsible for these trendy treats, was named the 2020 Snack Producer of the Year.
Tostilocos
One of the best ways to get to know a country and its culture is to try its most popular street foods. The United States’ most popular street foods include hot dogs, popcorn, and peanuts, but what about Mexico? Look no further than tostilocos, a unique Mexican creation served inside a snack-sized back of Tostitos tortilla chips. To make this snack at home, you’ll need: A small bag of round Tostitos chips, Japanese peanuts, Tajín seasoning, Fresh jicama (cubed), Hot sauce, Fresh mango (cubed). Open the bag of chips by cutting its side (so the opening is horizontal). Then, pile the peanuts, jicama, and mango onto the tortilla chips. Top with tajín and hot sauce, then enjoy! If you prefer something similar to nachos, you can always pour the bag onto a plate or a bowl.
Arroz Con Leche
Arroz con Leche (rice with milk) is a dessert-type snack you can make from scratch or order pre-made. It’s essentially rice pudding, but it’s often seasoned with vanilla extract and cinnamon powder. If you’re not a fan of tapioca pudding or other desserts with a chunky consistency, you might want to sit this snack out. However, it’s worth noting that a warm bowl of Arroz con Leche goes perfectly with a fresh cup of coffee, especially when the weather outdoors is cool and wet.
Duritos
Despite the similarities between this snack’s name and the popular corn-chip snack found in most North American grocery stores (Dorritos), duritos (also called Duros de Harina or Mexican wagon wheels) aren’t tortilla chips covered in a cheesy powder. Instead, they’re wheel-shaped snacks made of fried wheat! These golden yellow wheat snacks are a delightful treat and are great for parties and family get-togethers. And though they’re perfectly tasty on their own, they’re even better when seasoned with Mexican spices like tajín. If you order a bag of duritos, you can expect them to arrive pre-cooked. At this point, they’ll resemble pasta. But you can fry or microwave them to puff them up and ensure they’re ready for snack time.
Esquites
Anyone who’s taken a stroll through Mexico City is likely familiar with esquites, a corn-based salad that’s one of Mexico’s most popular and widespread street foods. This cheesy, creamy concoction is made from elote (grilled corn on the cob). Once cooked, the kernels are removed from the cob and mixed with freshly grated cheese and mayonnaise. You can add a little lime juice and tajín seasoning to make your esquites even tastier. Though this snack is traditionally served hot, you can enjoy it chilled if you want to chow down on a cool summertime snack. Pair them with a Mexican beer!
Fresas Con Crema
Fresas con Crema (berries with cream) is a simple homemade snack that’s easy to make and even easier to enjoy. It’s a mixture of fresh strawberries and thick cream, similar to a parfait. To enjoy a bowl or cup of Fresas con Crema, you’ll need sour cream, condensed milk, and vanilla extract. You’ll also need a sturdy whisk to help you whip these ingredients together! Naturally, you’ll also need fresh strawberries to complete this dish. Slicing your berries before adding them to your creamy mixture is a fantastic way to help marry the flavors together. Besides, sliced strawberries are far easier to chew than whole ones.
Mango Nada
Magno Nada (also spelled Mangonada) is a chilled fruit-based treat perfect for hot summer afternoons. But much like other popular Mexican street foods, it’s not a snack you can purchase pre-made. Instead, you’ll need to whip out your best blender and do some prep work to enjoy a taste of mangonada. You’ll also need a few crucial ingredients, including: Fresh mangos (cubed and frozen), Fresh lime juice, Chamoy (sauce), Tajín seasoning. Pop your frozen mango cubes into your blender, add a little ice and lime juice, then blend until smooth. After that, pour your mixture into a glass. Top with a sprinkle of tajín and a drizzle of chamoy, then drink up and enjoy!
Pelon Pelo Rico
Though tamarind trees are native to Africa, they thrive in Mexico. Consequently, snacks containing tamarind fruit are exceptionally popular throughout Central America. One of the most popular tamarind-based treats is Pelon Pelo Rico, a unique candy flavored with a sweet-yet-salty flavor. This candy comes in a small tub-like container, which you squeeze to push the soft tamarind inside to the opening at the top. Each squeeze forces the candy through a small grate-like cap, resulting in “strings” or dough-like deliciousness. Though you could enjoy the original tamarind flavor, this treat also comes in flavors like: Watermelon, Chamoy, Mango. If you prefer sweet candies, you’ll want to choose the watermelon or mango flavors. But if you’re ready for a uniquely spicy sweet snack, there’s no better choice than the chamoy Pelon Pelo Rice!
Sabritones
Though corn and corn-based snacks are a popular choice throughout Mexico (and the United States!), not all savory ready-to-eat Mexican snacks are made from corn. Sabritones is a fantastic example, as it’s a wheat-based snack. But like other top-selling Mexican snacks, Sabritones pack a little heat into each bite. Each curved wheat square is salty and spicy, and unlike hard corn snacks, this option is both crisp and light. That’s because each wheat bite is puffed! The umami taste of Chili & Lime Sabritones might be the ideal way to make the most of your snack time. Why not try a bag today? I like a salty snack with a classic Mexican cocktail.
Churritos
Churros are a popular carnival snack, and they’re often served at Mexican restaurants. But these sweet dough sticks differ from Churritos (translates to “little churros”), a popular ready-to-eat snack food in Mexico. These bagged snacks are shaped like churros, but they’re savory and crisp instead of sweet and soft. Additionally, Churritos (and Churritos Stix) are made of corn, whereas churros are made of fried pastry dough. If you’re bored of chips and pretzels, a bag of Churritos might be the ideal addition to your pantry. This snack comes in several flavors, including Jalapeño, Fuego (Taki seasoning), and Chili Pepper & Lime. You’ll have to try them all to discover your favorite.
Fresh Fruit With Tajin Seasoning
If you opted to prepare some homemade esquites, you’re likely already familiar with tajín, a unique seasoning that hails from Mexico. This reddish-orange spice can make any dish a little saltier and more flavorful. It also packs a bit of heat. But while you might have tried a sprinkling of tajín in your Mexican corn salad, this seasoning takes on a whole new identity when added to fresh fruit. After all, tajín is mostly chili pepper powder, which can turn a bland snack into a spicy treat. So, the next time you prepare a fresh fruit snack, try sprinkling a little tajín on top for a unique blend of saltiness, spiciness, and sweetness. This seasoning tastes great with all kinds of fresh fruit, though it tends to blend best with apple, melon, and mango slices. For a little extra kick, cut a fresh lime into quarters and squeeze them over your fresh fruit. The contrast of bitter, sweet, and spicy heat is something you won’t want to miss!