Mexican snacks are NOT your average snack. They are remarkable and, quite frankly, frightening to most non-Mexicans. Upon laying eyes on them for the first time newbies are like, "WTF is that and why would you want to put it in your mouth?!"
More from MamásLatinas: 11 Reasons I love being Mexican
I'll tell you why: Because Mexican snacks are a mouthwatering delight that can combine sweet, salty, sour, spicy, tangy and become something greater than all its parts. Oh, and if you don't like them, that's OK because more for those of us who do!
Now, behold just a few of the tantalizing Mexican treats that freak everyone else out:
Let's start with a basic, not too crazy snack.
Cucumber is kind of bland by itself, but if you add lemon and powdered chile to it, then it is worthy of being a Mexican snack that makes relatives fight over who gets to drink the juguito that's left over when the pepinos are gone.
Basic leads to combos.
Once you realize how chile and lime or lemon juice can elevate the humble cucumber, you start wondering what else you can add. Jicama! Oh, and why just settle for jicama when you can have jicama AND cucumber with your chile and limón?
Japanese peanuts are really Mexican.
You would think that a snack called cacahuates japoneses originated in Japan, but they were actually born in Mexico. They were created in 1945 by a Japanese immigrant. Basically, they are a combo of wheat, peanuts and soy sauce that are yummy alone or can be added to other Mexican snacks as you'll see.
"Who you calling crazy?" shouted the pepino loco to the plain cucumber.
No, for reals, these cucumbers are crazy. They are hollowed out, rimmed with chamoy (google it, if you don't know what it is) and Tajín. Then they are filled with cacahuates japonéses, roasted peanuts, Valentina hot sauce, more chamoy and Clamato. Is your mouth watering yet?
It's called a cacahuatada, which in retrospect might not be the most appealing name.
The name is because it's made with cacahuates japonéses and not because of what it will do to you after you digest it. There are all kinds of versions of this, but basically you use the Japanese peanuts, Clamato and whatever else you want to stick in there.
Mexican elote is not like American corn on the cob.
There is nothing wrong with corn on the cob, but Mexican-style elote is mo' bettah. Slather some crema, cheese and Valentina on grilled corn and it's a party in your mouth.
If you don't like your corn on the cob, esquite is the way to go.
It's like all the goodness of Mexican elote, but in a cup. That way you don't get pieces of corn stuck in your teeth.
It's like a Mexican slushie.
Whether you call these frozen drinks mangonadas or chamangos, they are made with mangos, chamoy, orange juice, lime juice, powdered chile and a bonus tamarind straw to slurp up all the icy goodness.
Tostitos preparados are basically everything and the kitchen sink in a cup.
Look at the ingredients in these bad boys! There's green apples, cucumber, pineapple, watermelon, cevichurros (a combo of crispy fried noodles, sausage ceviche and a bunch of other saucy/spicy stuff), tostitos, potatoes and some unidentified vegetables. I mean, if you like this and eat this you must be Mexican or somehow gastrinomically adventurous AF.
Why get a plate dirty when you can eat out of a bag?
You take a bag of chips and open it so that you can keep the chips in it and use it as a bowl. Then you add cueritos, cucumber, jicama, lime juice, Valentina hot sauce, chamoy, Tajín, salt, and Japanese peanuts. Yeah, it's a lot.
Tostielotes are like corn gone wild.
Another eat in the bag kind of snack, but this time it's all the ingredients you use to make Mexican elote getting all cozy with chips.
These put caramel apples to shame.
Candy apples are a'ight, but they have no kick. Tamarindo apples are the BOMB! "Honestly, anything covered in spicy tamarindo is delicious," said someone who is obviously Mexican.
