Sahale Nut Blends

Growing up, travel and exploration were some of my greatest pleasures. As an adult, it frustrates me that the trappings of a halfway-conventional life (work, bills, family, etc.) along with exorbitant gas prices, make getaways of any distance darned near impossible. In lieu of letting the vagabond within go mad, I sate my wanderlust as a jet-setting armchair traveler, continent-hopping via the Travel Channel and the local Borders. When possible, I also like to send my taste-buds around the globe.

Ready to send my palate on a new journey, I was thrilled to find Sahale Snacks Nut Blends at my local Ralph’s. Colorful photos on the front of each $3.99, 5-ounce bag resembled upscale trail mix. As a fan of trail mixes - upscale or not - I was intrigued. I was further convinced by equally colorful descriptions of the snacks on the packages’ backsides, which promised to transport snackers to all corners of the culinary world. Only four out of six blends were in stock, but I reasoned that was a varied-enough itinerary. You’re probably all curious about how my trip went, so here goes!

Ksar Blend

First destination (according to the omniscient packaging): Morocco. When I think of Moroccan food, what springs to mind first is couscous - but that’s followed closely by pistachios, which are the star player in this brilliant-green, sesame-encrusted blend. Also featuring pepitas, tiny balls of fig, and “Harissa” - a peppery North African sauce. I don’t know if my taste buds feel as transported as they might in a Morrocan restaurant or a bazaar in Little Persia, but they found a lot to enjoy in the Ksar blend - a snack wonderfully balanced between nutty, sweet, and spicy notes. The only two things which might improve this fine blend is a higher ratio of pistachios to pepitas and a touch of honey.

Valdosta Blend

The second stop on my culinary journey was (once again, ostensibly) the American South. While this blend is pecan-based, which is a natural move to represent the region, the other main ingredient is cranberries. Forgive me if I’m wrong, but aren’t cranberries more closely associated with Massachusetts? Oh well. Black pepper and orange zest are in the mix too, but don’t make much of an impact. The Valdosta Blend was my least favorite of Sahale’s efforts. It wasn’t bad, I just found it a bit lackluster - especially in comparison to the more complex Ksar Blend.

Socorro Blend

Though its description boasts of “flavors forged in the Southwestern sun”, the Socorro Blend feels more like a cultural mishmash - and there’s nothing wrong with that; it was like visiting three locales in one. This blend is flavored with a very Southwestern mixture of chipotle, cumin and cilantro. However, its starring nuts are Macadamias (which most people think of as Hawaiian) and Hazelnuts (I don’t know where hazelnuts originate, but I always picture them as European, probably due to Nutella). Mango and papaya make appearances in this blend, too. Like macadamias, I’ve always considered these fruits tropical. In bringing together these far-flung ingredients, Sahale does an incredible job. The end result is slightly sweet, rich and buttery, with just a bit of a kick. It’s the closest I think I’ll ever come to tasting a sunset, and my palate’s overall favorite stop on the trip.

Soledad Blend

Almonds are at the center of this blend. Flax seeds, apples, dates and red pepper act as co-stars, and the entire mixture is splashed liberally with balsamic vinegar. As strange as that sounds, it works decently. Of all the Sahale blends, this is the saltiest and least sweet, and oddly enough, tied with Ksar for the spiciest. I say “oddly enough” because the Soledad blend is supposed to conjure the “Mediterranean” in flavor - by and large, not an area with a high concentration of peppery foods. Nonetheless, this blend tied with the Ksar for second-place honors.

While Sahale Snacks Nut Blends are not quite the high-class trail mixes they appear to be in their photos, they’re very interesting and enjoyable as snacks. They may not transport you around the world on a wave of deliciousness, but they’ll thrill (and occasionally confuse) your sense of taste with novel flavor combos. If you have a nutty craving and are feeling adventurous, Sahale Snacks Nut Blends are definitely worth checking out.

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