Cassava Chips, the Crack I Can Snack On
- By Robyn Lee
- May 6, 2008
- Comments
- Cassava chips made by Arico
Why am I updating in the middle of the day at work? Because right now I'm finishing off the final shard-like dregs of a bag of Arico Cassava Chips and they possess all kinds of crack-like addictive qualities. They beat potato chips by a light year for being less greasy, crispier, and lighter than their more well-known foe.
[shovels a handful of broken crunchy tuber bits into mouth]
I bought this bag of Sea Salt Mist cassava chips (seasoned with just the right amount of salt) at my local awesome grocery store, Ramsey Farms, but you can also get them at Whole Foods and, I would assume, other health-minded grocery stores. Not that these chips are necessarily healthy, but perhaps less deathly than potato chips.
[another shovel]
Or maybe these chips aren't that mindblowingly tasty and I'm just really hungry, but you tell me: are you a fan of cassava chips? Is my reaction normal? Is anything I do normal?
Comments
Ooh, cassava chips. I tried them a few months ago. I liked them but wasn't overcome with insatiably moreish nibbling. The ones I had possessed an extra sweetness compared to potato chips but weren't "crispier" I'd probably say "brittler" and more dense than their potato counterparts. I thought they were similar in consistency to Kettle Chips. I'd have them again, but probably not a large bag to myself this time.
I've bought a bag before at, I think, a Carribean shop in London. Or maybe it was Indian. Not too sure, but they were chili flavoured. And they seemed very very greasy! Tasty though.
Maybe the chips are mind-blowingly tasty! Maybe it's because I'm hungry!
Seriously, I want some.
SuperChomp: I love Kettle Chips, but these chips weren't like those...they were ...finer? I see what you mean by denser though. I'd compare them to Terra's taro chips, if they were cut finer. (Taro chips are my fave!)
Su-Lin: I haven't ventured into chili=flavored territory yet! Nor have I been to a Caribbean food shop. There must be one around here somewhere...hmm.
Christina: If you get your hands on em, let me know what you think!
oooh...
I would love to try those, just so I can compare them with cassava chips available here (Philippines) locally.
I would think that these would have a more refined taste being a mass-produced commercial product. The cassava chips available here are more of the rustic, home-made kind. :P
And, yes, cassava chips beat potato chips hands down for being less greasy. ;)
I love vegetable chips, especially the Terra brand ones. They're big, thick, crunchy and SO COLORFUL.
Those look tasty. It's 11 am and I have a chip craving. What a day it'll be, darn you final exams!!
I've never even heard of them, but since I've developed a ridiculous potato chip habit here in Florence (I know, heresy, but they must be made differently here -- they're FANTASTIC), I could probably use a more healthy (or less deadly, lol) substitute when I get home.
Also, didn't get a chance to say so last night when I read it, but I'm glad your friend Tristan is okay! Those tour buses are murderous.
Here in the Caribbean (Dominican Republic) I see these all the time.
They have a special bag with plantain and cassava chips (Yuca chips actually, here Cassava is the bread you make with the Yuca) they serve them with a spicy salsa (1 large tomato + 3 chiles + 1 clove of garlic) ¡Really tasty!
Yucca (another name for the root) chips are to die for. No matter how full I am.. it's the only type of chip where I devour the whole bag mindlessly; god help anyone who attempts to interfere, lol.*sighs* Wish I had a bag or 5 now.
Chips are my down fall. I LOVE THEM.
These looks so great!
Ed: Yeah, I wouldn't call these rustic. BUT I'LL GO FOR THOSE TOO. I can haz?
Chrissy: I used to be so addicted to Terra, until I couldn't find the bags of only-taro chips anymore. I know they make em! Just that no stores around me seem to sell em. I guess that's for the best.
Kathryn: Florentine chips are awesome? Crap, I wanna try those!
BOO TOUR BUSES. :(
Giselle: Mm, spicy salsa with these chips would be great! I hadn't thought of that.
Bella: Five bags might be dangerous.
Ulla: Anyone who doesn't love chips is insaane! I try to convince myself that it can be an adequate meal replacer cos it's...starch...but nutritionists would probably frown upon that.
ooh, casava chips! I once worked across the street from an Indian foods store, and over the course of a few months I cleaned out their inventory of casava chips, and they didn't order any more! they were thick and very hard, and sprinkled with chili powder. yum!
1. i don't know, i've never had them.
2. maybe.
3. no.
Yes, I like me some cassava chips. Even better than cassava chips, though, is deep fried cassava, or as it's known in Portuguese, mandioca. One of my happiest memories of living back in Brasil was going to a bar when I was old enough to do so and getting the ultimate fried platter: french fries, fried cassava wedges, and fried polenta. Good times. Good times.
Cassava chips are so excellent! I prefer the Caribbean type over the Indian type, but that's probably because I'm from the Caribbean. *g*
If you do manage to find a Caribbean market, I highly recommend trying some plantain chips as well. They're sort of like banana chips, only salty and savoury and better!
Mmmm, I'll have to try to find these. A friend once gave me some homemade breadfruit chips that were also very crack-like. I didn't share with anyone!
O holy shizznit, CASSAVA CHIIIIIPS. Yes, your reaction is normal, and no, I don't believe that they're healthier than potato chips per se, but WHATEVS, they're f*cking awesome! Go cassavas!
Ah! I was looking for those in WholeFoods yesterday and I couldn't find them!!!! -=( I wanted to try them too...boo WholeFoods!
Leona: Thick and hard. Next time I'm around an Indian food store I will look for those! (Or rather, it will drive me to go to an Indian food store, heh.)
Michelle: 4. YAY
Liz: Good lord, deep fried everything...is good. I don't think I've ever even had Portuguese food. I fail so hard.
Miss Marissa: I haven't had plantain chips either! AHH MY PALATE IS NOT EXPERIENCE ENOUGH, I need more chips.
Winnie: Breadfruit chips?! ...Okay, I can't get homemade. Wah.
Jesse: Shhh, they are healthier! Just keep telling yourself that. Cos that's what I do.
wonders: Oh nooo! What kind of lame Whole Foods was that? Actually, I dunno if they have em at my local WF in NJ, but when I went to the one in Chelsea (I work really close to it), they had loads of it in the entrance. Which is how I bought it in the first place. Yay marketing!
Chelsea? Is that the 14th street one? I haven't been going to that one in a bit, I've been going to the one on 2nd ave and that one doesn't have it :(
wonders: It's around 24th and 7th. Weird that the 2nd ave one wouldn't have it..that place is HUUUGE! Maybe too huge. I've only been in there twice! :O
I found it, I found it!! -=D I checked again yesterday and saw them sitting neatly under the terra chips! -=D
wonders: WOOHOO! Whole Foods didn't fail you!
Ok, I've been chowing these since I'm doing an allergy elimination diet.Ready??? I just read something about them having cyanide in them! Any idea what that's all about? I have no self control so it's not like I can eat just a few of these chips, they're so yummy but I don't want to dow a bag and wind up poisoned on top of being chubby!
Pamela: I've never heard of there being cyanide in the chips before. :O Or if there is, it would be a pretty small amount. You shouldn't eat too much of anything, of course. ;)
I love cassava chips. I am not going back to ordinary potato chips. But I don't know why they are advertise as being a healthy snack. They are fried, and have lots of flavoring.
Ooomygosssh U have to try the Indonesia version of cassava chips .. its called kusuka and its only sold in elmhurst queens . gosh its way better than Arico's .. and Indonesian version also has the spicy sweet one its even better, coz it used fresh ingredients, i might ask some family members to bring me some from jakarta, IND so i'll let you know if i have left overs hahaha!
ahhh speaking of chips..there goes my 2 hours of exercise..
Cassava chips are great! Trader Joe's sells them in a large pink bag (could use a change in packaging) and they're super good. I'm staying away from potato chips and sticking to these!