I’m Obsessed with This Spicy Costco Snack Mix

My new favorite snack? It’s spicy. It’s crunchy. It’s got umami up to wazoo. It’s truly unlike any snack mix I’ve ever had. And I’ve only ever seen it in a massive bag at Costco, which is great, because that’s the amount of this snack mix that I require. 

Usually, when I’m pushing two children through the aisles of Costco, I’m shopping for them or for the house. I’m buying boring stuff in bulk like Goldfish or paper towels or tinned fish (okay, that’s a little bit for me, but the kids really do motor through the stuff). I don’t really get stuff for me—that kinda stops being a thing when you become a parent. They don’t tell you that. But the last time we laid siege to Costco I found a spicy, tingly treat just for me. It’s Kokoro Sichuan Gourmet Snack Mix and it comes in a 2-lb bag for $12. 

I’m a big fan of Asian-style snack mixes in general. I love classic Hapi mix. Soy-flavored crackers and spicy wasabi peas? A taste sensation. But this mix is different. It’s a mix of Sichuan-spiced popcorn and soy sauce-flavored rice crackers. And the flavors are inspired by hot pot, one of the world’s greatest foods. 

The rice crackers are crunchy and craggy and savory. The popcorn is round and perfectly popped (like, every piece is perfectly uniform, it’s wild) and is coated with a spicy-tingly Sichuan pepper seasoning. It’s like someone dug through my head and created my ideal snack. I cannot stop taking handful after handful of this stuff. It’s just spicy enough to get your mouth excited, but not so spicy that you’re running for the milk. And the textural difference between the extra crunchy rice crackers and tender popcorn is delightful.

And the best part? No one else in my family eats it. It’s mine. All mine.