Calbee Shrimp Flavored Chips

A classic snack that is easily found in most Asian grocery stores and 'non-ethnic' supermarkets in the states. Despite it's name, these are not really shrimp chips so much as french fry/cheeto shaped snacks. Do not confuse them with 'haw peen' which are actual deep fried shrimp chips.

• Flavor: 'Shrimp Flavored Chips" used to be called 'Prawn Crackers' several years ago before Calbee America was established. Despite the name change, the flavor is still pretty much unchanged. Some may find the shrimp flavor unsettling unless they're used to eating asian snack foods. Personally I don't think it tastes anything like shrimp and it really isn't that strong or noticeable anyways. It's also baked so it's lower in calories and has less seasoning (msg) than most American brand chips. A wonderfully light and not too salty flavor. Rating: 8 out of 10.


• Texture: Light and crunchy. Kind of like a cheeto except with more crunch and without the tendency to stick to your teeth. The chips aren't covered with a lot of seasoning and it's not tinted or colored so you'll never be left with dirty hands or clothes. This snack does not tend to leave behind any crumbs and it doesn't break apart easily in the bag or in your hands. Rating: 10 out of 10 for a very pleasant tactile experience.


• 
  Packaging: A standard chip bag filled with air for extra cushioning. The bag is white with pink dots and a large central picture of the chips against a yellow background.
  Compared to the size of most snack food bags, this may seem a bit small. The Japanese bag has a solid red background with a shrimp on the center of the bag. There's also a wasabi version with green dots instead of pink, and a garlic flavor with an orange background. Rating: 8 out of 10.


• Availability: Finding this snack used to be a problem if you didn't have access to an Asian grocery store. Now these chips are available at most supermarkets and even some wholesale retailers along with Calbee's other famous product in the US, Snow Pea Crisps. Rating: 9 out of 10.


• Origins: Rest assured that these chips are made in the states and are not from China or other countries where food safety regulations are either non existent or often violated. Rating: 10 out of 10.

Technorati : asian, calbee, chips, crackers, shrimp, snack