Highly rated restaurants and authentic cuisine are some of the things that drive us toward a particular destination, but sometimes grabbing a quick snack from the nearest convenience store is the reality while abroad. Take Canadian journalist Devin Heroux, for example, who travelled to Tokyo to cover the Olympics and discovered the wide variety of snacks and drinks that Japanese 7–Elevens have to offer (among his favourites: Chocolate Almond Crush Pocky and 7–Eleven Iced Coffee). His love for these Japanese snacks got us thinking – here are our editors’ favourite convenience store finds from around the world.
Olympic Reporter’s Love of Japan’s 7–Elevens has Us Longing for Our Fave Convenience Store Finds
Our editors’ favourite convenience store snacks from around the world
Hawkins Cheezies, Canada —
Jen Foden, Senior Editor “I'm very much in the crunchy cheezies camp vs. those awful fluffy cheese puffs. My go–to is the oh–so Canadian Hawkins Cheezies that you can find at basically any decent convenience store in Ontario. (It helps that I live a 15–second walk from a convenience store.) They're salty, crunchy and will cover your hands in delicious orange dust.”
Lay’s Cucumber–Flavoured Chips, China —
Malcolm Gilderdale, Executive Editor “This may not even be the most interesting variety of potato chip available at convenience stores in China (BBQ shrimp and squid are a couple of other options), but there’s something wonderfully perverse about a salty snack that is sort of like dill pickle sans brininess. What’s left is subtle but delicious and, as you might expect, a little bit cooling.”
Related: Take a Trip to Shanghai at Home
Sablazo Samurai Coated Peanuts, Buenos Aires —
Stefanie Sosiak, Art Director “These were our go–to snack while on set in Buenos Aires. I got introduced to these addictive peanuts encased in a crunchy shell, flavoured with soy sauce by the local producer we were working with. They’re made in Mexico but are popular all over Latin America. They have other intriguing flavours, including chili mango and a hot mix.”
Related: Found: The Creamiest Dulce de Leche in Buenos Aires
Jaffa Cakes, U.K. —
Davina Sinnatamby, Social Media Strategist “These ‘cakes’ are more like biscuits and you can find them in the U.K. They are a delightful treat if you like orange–flavoured chocolate. I got addicted to the sweet combination of sponge base, orange–flavoured jam and chocolate while living in the U.K. and then got all my friends obsessed with them too. They also come in other flavours like strawberry, but orange is so good, I’ve never tried the others.”
Big Foot, the Caribbean —
Alexis Ramlall, Editorial Assistant “Big Foot is the first thing I go for when I’m in the Caribbean. They’re a Jamaican brand but you can find them in almost every convenience store in the islands. Don’t let the shape of these crunchy snacks put you off – they’re like Cheetos except bigger, cheesier and best of all, seasoned. There’s something about their distinct flavour that tastes so much better than regular chips. And they come in a spicy version, too, if you’re looking for a little extra kick.”
Related: 3 Quick and Easy Caribbean Escapes for Your Next Winter Getaway
Curly Wurly, U.K. —
Dominique Lamberton, Senior Editor “Scouring the chocolate bar and chip selection at corner shops is one of my favourite pastimes when I’m in a new city, which is how I discovered the delight that is a Curly Wurly while in Edinburgh. Attracted to the name, illustrated in colourful bubble letters in a foil package, I tore it open and found lacey ribbons of chocolate–covered caramel. It’s the perfect treat when you’re looking for a hint of sweet; not too filling or over the top. Now, whenever I’m in the U.K., I buy a few, to enjoy myself and bring home so others can give it a whirl.”
Dracula Piller, the Nordic Region —
Ari Magnusson, Associate Editor “Scandinavian candy is an acquired taste – that’s putting it mildly. These hard pastels are an extremely salty liquorice and can be found in most convenience stores across any of the Nordic nations. As someone who is half Icelandic, I grew up eating these and I still can’t get enough of them (I also love the kitsch packaging). They have this addictive, peppery and umami–like flavour and if you eat too many, they’ll burn your tongue.”