Snack Bar, Vol. 12: AANHPI-Owned Food & Beverage Brands

Welcome to The Snack Bar, TQE's very own concession stand stocked with the latest sweet and savory treats on the market. Our editors gather for unbiased taste tests and share their honest thoughts every time, so we can help you navigate which buzzy snacks are worth the purchase.

Our team is dedicated to finding and telling you more about the web’s best products. If you purchase through our links, we may receive a commission. Our editorial team is independent and only endorses products we believe in.

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May is AANHPI Heritage Month, and here at Snack Bar, we’re celebrating in our favorite way: by eating and drinking, of course. Fortunately, we’re spoiled for choice when it comes to tasty bites and satisfying sips made by AANHPI-owned and founded brands. From spicy sauces to fruity refreshers to artistic chocolates, we’re sampling some of our favorite (and it’s a very tough choice) products from Asian American, Native Hawaiian, and Pacific Islander makers and business leaders.

In this month’s Snack Bar edition, you can expect groceries that are big on flavor, pack some heat, and of course, a sweet finish. Here are some of our favorite products to celebrate AANHPI Heritage Month this May.

Brightland

The Mini Artists Series

$85
$85
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Credit: Brightland

You don’t have to be an expert–or even a regular–cook to appreciate a great bottle of olive oil, and Brightland is an AANHPI-owned brand leading the way in producing quality, flavorful oils that are great for cooking, finishing dishes, and dunking bread. This cute giftable (or worthy of keeping for yourself) set includes three miniature bottles to sample some of the brand’s most popular infused oils: chili peppers, garlic, lemon, and basil.

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15% OFF

R’s Koso

Japanese Postbiotic Drink

$74
$74
Code:
TQE15
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Credit: R’s Koso

Koso is a Japanese drink made from a blend of fresh fruits, vegetables, seaweed, and mushrooms that’s fermented for a year, then sipped as a probiotic elixir to improve gut health and digestion. Some drinkers also report improved skin, stronger immunity, and even better sleep when Koso is part of their diet. Add a splash of R’s Koso to sparkling water for a wellness mocktail at any time of day. It has a lovely sweetness and sophisticated flavor that’s right at home at cocktail hour, too.

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Paro

Kitchari

$10
$10
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Credit: Paro

Umaimah Sharwani founded Paro (named after her mom) to share the flavors of her Pakistani heritage with home cooks everywhere. Kitchari is a soft, creamy porridge-like dish made from savory mung beans and rice (which together make a complete plant-based protein). A bowl of lightly spiced kitchari from Paro, which takes about half an hour to cook on the stove, is pure comfort food.

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Amazon

Sanzo Yuzu with Ginger Sparkling Water

$31
$31
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Credit: Amazon

There seem to be endless sparkling water options out there, but none is quite like Sanzo. This brand, founded by Filipino-American Sandro Roco features the bold, fruity, and frankly fun flavors of Asian produce, including lychee, yuzu, calamansi, and mango. I recommend sipping on one in the afternoon to break your slump with a sweet little tropical escape.

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Popadelics

Rad Rosemary + Salt Mushroom Chips

$30
$30
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Credit: Popadelics

Hear me out—these freeze-dried mushroom chips are absolutely delicious. Shiitake mushrooms are naturally packed with umami, and when the flavor is further condensed by removing the water into crunchy, snackable shelf-stable bites, the result is irresistible. The idea for Popadelics came from co-founder Mariyn Yang’s favorite childhood snack.

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Fly By Jing

Mala Spice Mix

$15
$15
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Credit: Fly By Jing

If you’re a chili crisp fan, chances are high that you’ve seen, and maybe tried a flashy jar of numbing Szechuan pepper sauce from Jing Gao’s brand Fly By Jing. But her dry Mala Spice Mix is not to be overlooked. It imparts the same tingling sensation as the traditional chili crisp but can be used as a dry spice rub, popcorn topping, or seasoning for roasted veggies. Gao even suggests rimming a cocktail glass with Mala Seasoning to really wake up the taste buds.

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Lee Kum Kee

Seasoned Rice Vinegar

$3
$3
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Credit: Lee Kum Kee

A bottle of well-seasoned rice vinegar is a pantry staple in many Asian homes. It has the tart zing of apple cider vinegar with a more subtle umami flavor that comes from grain distillation. This version from Asian pantry brand Lee Kum Kee is delicious in marinades and sauces and adds zing to a simple bowl of rice. While you’re at it, the brand has an extensive offering of other high-quality condiments, sauces, spices, and marinades to stock in the kitchen.

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Gimme

Sea Salt Seaweed Snacks

$6
$6
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Credit: Gimme

If you love the salty, briny crunch of nori wrapped around sushi, it’s time to welcome these healthy seaweed crisps into your snacking repertoire. Gimme Seaweed is a light, crunchy savory bite that you can enjoy on its own like chips, but a pro move is to use the palm-sized sheets as a wrapper for rice, veggies, and other fillings to make DIY handrolls.

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Dream Tea

Custom Tea Blend

$36
$36
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Credit: Dream Tea

This New York City-based brand makes unique small-batch loose-leaf tea blends using premium ingredients, including whole dried flowers, herbs, and citrus peels. You can choose one of their pre-made blends or design something totally your own. These tea blends also make a great gift (the personalized packaging is a nice touch).

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Bean & Bean Coffee

Downtown Blend, Organic & Fair Trade

$11
$11
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Credit: Bean & Bean Coffee

Coffee is beloved around the world, and this blend from mother-daughter-owned Bean & Bean unites flavors from three continents: Latin America, Africa, and Asia. This medium roast is wonderfully chocolatey with a pop of lemongrass. If you’re in New York or New Jersey, you can sample a fresh cup directly from the source at a Bean & BEan cafe, but a take-home bag of beans is the next best thing. 

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Madhu Chocolate

Masala Chai - 60% Cacao

$10
$10
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Credit: Madhu Chocolate

You’ve likely never tasted chocolate like the stunning bars made by the Indian-American confectionary brand Madhu. The flavors, including warm cardamom, floral rose, and indulgent saffron milk, are born from classic Indian ingredients united with sweet and creamy Colombian chocolate.

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Love + Chew

Chocolate Chia Cookies

$36
$36
Code:
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Credit: Love + Chew

These aren’t your average store-bought cookies. Love + Chew Cookies, owned by Chinese-American entrepreneur Lauren Chew, have the soft, chewy texture of a fresh bakery-style treat, thanks to gluten-free ingredients like almond butter, dates for sweetness, and almond butter. They’re delightfully nutty and packed with chocolate chips (kids love them too).

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Brightland
15% OFF
Coupon:
TQE15
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R’s Koso
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Paro
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Popadelics
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Fly By Jing
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Lee Kum Kee
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Dream Tea
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Bean & Bean Coffee
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Madhu Chocolate
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Love + Chew
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THIS MONTH’S WINNER IS…

Popadelics Mushroom Chips are every bit as satisfying as your go-to savory snack, with an elevated, sophisticated twist. They’re full of umami, have the texture and substance you crave in a crunchy snack, and come in unexpected flavors like truffle parmesan and Thai chili.

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Brightland
15% OFF
Coupon:
TQE15
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R’s Koso
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Paro
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Popadelics
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Fly By Jing
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Lee Kum Kee
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Dream Tea
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Bean & Bean Coffee
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Madhu Chocolate
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Love + Chew

Additional Reading

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