Snack Review: Emerald Wasabi Peanuts
This week has brought me face-to-face with one snacking surprise after another. First, I ran across a complex, nuanced and tasty Mexican-style pastry in a gas station’s convenience store. Next, a bag of lemon cookies which practically screamed “Cheap ‘n’ Stale” turned out to be delicious and natural-tasting.
Today, I was introduced to a third snack which turned out to be quite different from what I’d expected. I’d like to say the surprise this time was as pleasant as my last two. Unfortunately, if I did I’d be lying. My experience with Emerald Wasabi Peanuts left a slightly bitter taste in my mouth which had nothing to do with the intended flavor.
Emerald, a subdivision of Diamond Foods, is probably my favorite nut brand, and Wasabi Peanuts are among my favorite snacks. Something about the wonderfully rich, toasted little nut encased in crisp Japanese mochi and coated with sinus-clearingly hot wasabi powder really hits the spot in my book. They’re not for everyone (least of all spice-o-phobes), but I’ve been known to happily munch ‘em by the handful.
So there you have it - Emerald. Wasabi Peanuts. This snack should have been beyond perfect. Yet, it was far from. What in the name of Scovillah, Spice Diety of the Seven Chiles, went wrong here?
In developing this product, I think Emerald Farms made a few faulty judgments. I noticed one of these immediately upon opening the package and pouring a few nuts into my palm. These weren’t the Wasabi Peanuts that I knew and loved… they were plain ol’ peanuts, split and sprinkled with green powder. I was not amused - without a crispy, subtly soy-infused rice-cracker coating around your nut, what you have simply isn’t a Wasabi Peanut! I was willing to give the nuts a fair try, regardless. My earlier experiences had been enough to convince me never to judge a snack by its wrapper!
My first taste revealed Emerald’s other major mistake. I was greeted by familiar, salty peanuts… with the slightest essence of wasabi. There was no real heat to be found in these nuts, save the inevitable chemical reaction between the nut-oils and my anger at being ripped off. Whatever these were, they certainly shouldn’t have been advertised as “Wasabi Peanuts!”
The Emerald company knows nuts. Their Pecan Pie pecans and Sea Salt almonds are some of my favorite nut snacks. I have no doubt that if the powers-that-be at Emerald set out to make a create a truly stellar Wasabi Peanut, they’d have no trouble doing so. Unfortunately, in trying to cater to either the health concerns or the timid palates of their customers, this wonderful brand took a misstep.
Buy Emerald Wasabi Peanuts Online:
- at Amazon.com
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