Corn Nuts – The Ultimate Snack

An irresistable crunchy treat that just adds a little bit of crunch to soup smoothie or salad dishes. And not only taste good raw, or roasted, or fried, they are so versatile they lend way to an infinite number of creative ways of seasoning them!

Items like the corn nuts we mentioned before are great road trip snacks because you can still have a snack fix without getting seasoning dust all over your fingers. Many brands have their own very special varieties of flavored corn nuts.

The History of Corn Nuts: Snack Stardom from Humble beginnings

Corn Nuts have shot up to become must have snacks on grocery store shelves with their crunchy kernels of toasted corn (known as chulpi from Peru and cancha in Ecuador) that are convenient to take to go, and flavor profiles not found anywhere else.

Corn nuts as we know them today were developed by Albert Holloway of Oakland, California, who introduced them as a bar and tavern snack in 1936 because they go well with beer. Corn Nuts were trademarked by Albert in 1949 and are now an ever popular thing to nibble on when accompanying alcohol consumption.

Differed varieties of corn nuts (often roasted for their distinct crunch) can be found at many types of retail outlets, ranging from a snack aisle of your local grocery store to a specialty shop selling exotic or international foods.

Origins

These addictively crunchy snacks may have the name “nuts,” but you’d be misleading yourself to call them nuts, Corn Nuts don’t contain a single nut! The origin of their journey reaches parched corn eaten by Native Americans during long trips along the Oregon Trail for a light and nutritious snack. It was created by Olin Huntington of Oakland who brought it to Oakland where it was used by him under his trademark product Brown Jug Toasted Corn, in giving free samples to tavern owners with every sale of alcohol until California law forbade the practice forcing him to sell the company to Albert Holloway who turned it into Corn Nuts and expanded the distribution nationwide.

Through a clever bit of marketing, Holloway quickly realized the name change was a success, packaging packages of giant corn seeds with packets from Peru with large kernels (choclo) gained large kernels and then worked with engineers to cross this Peruvian variety with domestic corn varieties to produce hybrid seeds which today corn nuts are sold.

Nutrition

Although derived from vegetables, corn nuts probably shouldn’t really be considered healthy foods because of their high levels of fat and sodium, which could be problematic.

They are an excellent source of dietary fiber; each 48 g serving offers 4 g, or about 16 percent of a 2,000-calorie diet’s recommended value, of this essential nutrient to maintain a healthy digestive system and prevent problems like constipation and hemorrhoids by creating softer stools that pass easily through the intestines.

People who eat corn nuts should be aware that improper storage may be harmful to health. If you find that your corn nuts develop an unpleasant aroma or change in texture, throw them out. To store your herbs prudently, they should be placed in a cool, dark place without direct heat, and if in an airtight container they can stay good for at least 6 months.

Flavors

There are a multitude of flavors for corn nuts, anyone’s taste buds will be delighted, whether you’re a fan of something on the salty or zesty side, or have a sweet tooth. Salt content varies between some seasoned varieties but all offer the perfect crunch in perfect balance of saltiness.

Original Corn is an all time classic that anyone who likes things crunchy crunch and salty will love. Additionally, this original flavor is a healthier snack alternative to chips or crackers.

Other versions of this snack include cheese and chili, and barbecue. El Salvador’s Diana produces various flavors of corn-nut like snacks that are common throughout Central America called elotitos or cornbits. In some Spanish speaking countries Diana products are also known as maiz tostado (toasted corn), maiz frito (fried corn), quicos (Frankies) and pepes (Joes).

These MADE*WITH are Roasted Salted Vegan Corn Nuts made thousands of miles from our homes (because, you know, you have to love the homeland of every single ingredient as much as we do), but are still a really healthy way to satisfy your sweet cravings in the crunch equivalent! Perfect for people who eat vegan!

Where to Buy

Crunchy salted corn kernels are a delicious salty craving that isn’t just chips or crackers! They’re ready in a variety pack box, too, so the whole family can find the favorite flavor: Original, Ranch, BBQ, and Chile Picante con Limon varieties are all ready to pack into lunches or grab while traveling; Plus these kosher snacks can help curb snacking urges when gaming or watching movies!