Barbara’s – Baked Cheez Puffs

I often contemplate a lot of different things when I’m snacking. Like who the makers are, what they are up to and what the process behind product development was. Did they start with the idea of making a classic snack better through ingredients? Or did they have certain flavours and ingredients and work forwards from that?

The reason this particular thought crept up on me is I was thinking on the history of the original cheese puff, and how it was basically a snack invented from leftover ingredients that were considered scrap and not used for human consumption. Sometimes the coolest or most interesting inventions come from using what was once considered scrap. I’m always in support of finding ways to reduce waste, if that is what actually happens. Then again, who really knows with how late stage capitalism goes? Anyways…

These smell very cheesy, but in a more natural way. They have more of an aged cheddar smell to them, which is ever so slightly more pungent than a normal cheese puff. I say pungent but it’s substantially milder than anything I usually frequent. I say pungent in the sense that it has a sharp cheese smell to it that tells you it’s not just the plastic cheese you think of when you see the bright orange singles.

These have a very natural cheddar flavour to them. They have a good balance between cheddar and blue cheese so that it’s just slightly pungent but not to the point it’s stinky. Blue cheese is definitely one of those very sharp flavours that is hard to deal with if you aren’t a fan. It works here though, and it gives the flavour a bit of complexity and a bit of tang to enhance that cheesiness.

The texture is similar to a generic cheese puff with a slight variation – it’s not quite as soft and melt in your mouth. There is a bit of chewing required, and it doesn’t melt as easily. I imagine it’s due to being baked rather than fried. I don’t mind it though, and actually prefer it since it gives my jaws more to do. The texture is a bit on the gritty side though, so that may turn some people off.

Barbara’s demands a premium for their snacks, but it’s one I am more than willing to make. Sometimes you want to get fancy and go for something higher end. For those occasions, look no further than Barbara’s corn snacks. They have yet to let me down so far.