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Buying Chinese snacks online may seem straightforward, but packaging does not always tell the whole story. Looking for Asian snacks, a plum snack or convenient Chinese side dishes? Ingredients, portion size and storage advice are particularly important. Eye-catching packaging or descriptions such as “traditional” say little by themselves about the flavour, shelf life or suitability for your diet.
This buying guide helps you choose from sweet and savoury Chinese snacks, spicy snacks, dried fruit and pickled vegetables.
In some Chinese delicacies, sugar is replaced with sweeteners. This does not automatically mean that the product will taste less sweet or be suitable for everyone. For example, a plum snack may contain sweeteners such as saccharin, aspartame or steviol glycosides.
So always check the full ingredients list. For products containing aspartame, look for the statement that they contain a source of phenylalanine. Children may also be more sensitive to certain colourings. Always follow the warnings on the packaging.
A 500-gram tub may seem good value, but it is mainly practical when you are sharing or regularly serving snacks. For eating on the go, a 90 to 120-gram bag is often more convenient. After opening, moisture, flavour and texture can change. Pickled vegetables also often need to be refrigerated after opening.
So first consider when you want to use the snack: as a light bite, with rice and noodles, as a party snack or as an ingredient in a meal.
Many Chinese snacks can be eaten straight after opening. This applies, for example, to dried fruit, tofu snacks and seasoned chicken feet. Other products, such as pickled cabbage, must first be rinsed and cooked.
Read the usage instructions carefully. A product intended as a cooking ingredient requires different preparation from a snack that can be eaten straight from the packaging.
When buying Chinese snacks, always check at least:
A vegetarian soya-based snack is not the same as a product free from allergens. Wuxianzhai Vegetarian Meat Skewers, for example, contain soya. Xiang Li Ren Spicy Skewers contain, among other things, soya, wheat, sesame and sulphites.
Nutritional values per 100 grams make comparison easier. Pickled vegetables and savoury Chinese snacks, in particular, can contain relatively high amounts of salt. Wujiang Pickled Mustard Tuber, for example, states 7.0 grams of salt per 100 grams, while Liu Bi Ju Pickled Cabbage states 2.3 grams.
Sugar levels also vary among sweet snacks. According to the product information, Be&Cheery Many kinds of hawthorn contains 45 grams of sugar per 100 grams. A product containing sweeteners may state that it contains little or no sugar, but it will still taste sweet.
Pay attention to the net weight, the number of individual portions and the storage conditions:
Store dry snacks in a cool, dry place away from direct sunlight. Pickled products usually belong in the fridge after opening. Always check the packaging for the exact best-before date and instructions.
Why it suits this profile: A compact bag containing different hawthorn varieties, allowing you to try a classic sweet-and-sour Chinese fruit snack without committing to a large pack.
The 160-gram size helps limit waste. However, check the listed colourings, sweeteners and nutritional values beforehand.
Several flavours in one bag; ready to eat; net weight 160 grams.
Why it suits this profile: Ideal if you want to compare several types of preserved plums and are looking for a generous supply to share.
The five plum varieties listed make it easier to understand the flavour selection than a single unspecified flavour.
500 grams; 70 individual packs; ready to eat.
Why it suits this profile: A portion-sized pack for fans of savoury, spicy Sichuan flavours, whether enjoyed with drinks, at lunch or as part of a quick meal.
The product clearly states that it is ready-made and can optionally be heated. However, be aware that it contains soya, wheat, sesame and sulphites.
90 grams; vacuum-packed; can be served cold or heated.
Why it suits this profile: A small vegetarian soya snack with a firm texture and spicy flavour, suitable as a light bite or side dish.
The product name and ingredients make it clear that this is a soya product, not meat. Check the soya allergen label.
60 grams; ready to eat; contains soya as a plant-based protein source.
If you are mainly looking for flavourful additions to rice, noodles or congee, take a look at Chinese pickled food. This category includes:
Pay particular attention to the salt content, sulphites and the instruction “refrigerate after opening”. A 350- or 500-gram product is convenient for several meals, but only if you use it within the recommended period.
We have put together a complete, up-to-date list of products that fully meet these strict selection criteria and the applicable European safety regulations.
You can buy Chinese snacks online from specialist online shops and Asian supermarkets. Before buying, compare the net weight, ingredients, allergens, shelf life and delivery information. This makes it easier to see whether an individual bag or multipack suits the way you plan to use it.
Soya-based snacks, such as Wuxianzhai Vegetarian Meat Skewers, may fit a vegetarian diet. Always check the current ingredients list. “Vegetarian” does not automatically mean vegan, and some products may contain traces of other allergens.
This varies from product to product. Dry snacks usually need to be sealed securely and stored in a cool place. Pickled vegetables and ready-made side dishes often need to be refrigerated after opening and consumed quickly. Always follow the storage instructions on the packaging and do not use damaged packaging.
