Asian snacks have quietly become staples in shopping baskets across the UK. They’re colourful, packed with flavour, and often carry a sense of novelty that sparks curiosity. What starts as an impulse buy at the checkout often turns into a regular treat. Some are familiar, others are a little wild, but all have something memorable about them.
Why Asian Snacks Are Gaining Popularity
The global appeal of Asian flavours
British shoppers have long had access to crisps and chocolate, but more are reaching for snacks that offer something different. Asian flavours like matcha, seaweed, red bean, and spicy chilli add a twist to the typical snack shelf. With a growing interest in Japanese, Korean, and Southeast Asian cuisine, many are turning to snacks as an easy entry point into those food cultures.
Social media trends and snack culture
A lot of the buzz comes from TikTok hauls, YouTube taste tests, and Instagram reels. People love watching others try durian candy or sour plum for the first time. Korean snack boxes and Japanese convenience store reviews have helped turn niche favourites into mainstream items. The packaging, often cute or unusual, helps too; it’s easy to see why they photograph so well.
Accessibility through Asian supermarkets
There was a time when finding authentic Asian snacks meant travelling or relying on international delivery. Now, an Asian supermarket in London offers everything from Taiwanese pineapple cakes to Japanese curry crisps in one aisle. Even in places like Leeds, customers can browse dedicated sections with snacks from across Asia, labelled clearly and imported directly.
Classic Japanese Snacks Everyone Recognises
Pocky and Pretz
Anyone who’s tried Pocky remembers it. These thin biscuit sticks coated in chocolate, strawberry, or matcha are a staple of Japanese snacking. Pretz, its savoury cousin, comes in flavours like salad or tomato and is just as addictive. Easy to share and perfect with a drink, they’re ideal for anyone new to Japanese snacks.
Senbei (rice crackers)
Senbei are crispy rice crackers that come in dozens of varieties, sweet, salty, spicy, or savoury. Some are wrapped in seaweed, others glazed with soy sauce. What they all share is a light crunch and a strong umami hit. They’re a popular choice for tea-time, often eaten in Japan alongside green tea.
Wasabi peas and spicy crisps
Wasabi-coated peas deliver a sharp heat that clears the sinuses. They’ve become a common find in Asian supermarkets because they pack a punch and pair well with drinks. The same goes for Japanese crisps, which often come with punchy flavours like prawn, curry, or soy and vinegar.
Favourite Korean Treats on the Shelves
Choco Pie and its cult status
Soft, chocolate-coated cakes filled with marshmallows might sound familiar, but Choco Pie has a nostalgic pull for many across Asia. First produced in South Korea, this snack has gained fans worldwide thanks to its satisfying texture and sweet flavour. It often features in Korean dramas, which has helped fuel its international appeal.
Honey Butter Chips and their hype
When Honey Butter Chips launched in Korea, they caused queues and sold out across convenience stores. The sweet and salty flavour combination hit a nerve with snack lovers. Imported versions now line the shelves of most Asian supermarkets in London, and the bright yellow packet is easy to spot.
Seaweed snacks and roasted laver
Seaweed snacks are one of those items that divide opinion but once people enjoy the umami taste, they tend to become loyal fans. Lightweight, crisp, and packed with flavour, they’re often eaten on their own or as a crunchy topping on rice. They’re also one of the few snacks that feels like a treat but still ticks health-conscious boxes.
Must-Try Chinese and Taiwanese Snacks
Haw Flakes and White Rabbit candy
Haw Flakes are small, thin discs made from the hawthorn fruit, often eaten as a mild, fruity snack. White Rabbit is a soft milk candy wrapped in edible rice paper, with a gentle, creamy taste. Both carry a strong sense of nostalgia for many, having been childhood favourites across generations.
Dried fruits and plums
Preserved plums, salted mango, and spiced guava are common Chinese and Taiwanese snacks. They often come with bold sour, salty, or sweet flavours and make good palate cleansers. Many shoppers unfamiliar with these items are drawn in by the unusual packaging and stay for the bold taste combinations.
Bubble tea DIY kits and jelly cups
Bubble tea isn’t limited to cafes anymore. Supermarkets often stock DIY kits, complete with tapioca pearls and flavoured powders or syrups. Taiwanese brands lead the way, making it easy to recreate the café experience at home. Jelly cups, which come in fruit flavours and have chewy centres, are another hit with both kids and adults.
Southeast Asian Snacks Worth Exploring
Thai coconut rolls and banana chips
Thailand offers a rich variety of snacks that balance sweetness and crunch. Coconut rolls are light, crisp, and made with coconut milk and sesame seeds, often sold in tubes and ideal for sharing. Banana chips are another classic, sometimes fried with a honey glaze or chilli dusting, giving them a mix of textures and heat.
Vietnamese rice paper snacks
These aren’t just for summer rolls. In Vietnamese markets, rice paper is often turned into a snack on its own. It’s sometimes grilled, cut into strips, or seasoned with chilli oil and tamarind. Pre-packed rice paper treats have become more common in the UK, usually spicy and sour, with a chewy texture that surprises first-time tasters.
Durian treats and tropical candies
Durian is famously divisive, but it has a loyal following. Found in everything from wafers to toffees, its strong flavour appeals to those who’ve grown up with it. Other tropical flavours, like lychee, mango, and jackfruit, are often used in chewy sweets, hard candies, or lollies. These colourful bags are often tucked into checkout aisles at an Asian supermarket in London.
Where to Find These Snacks in the UK
Exploring an Asian Supermarket in London
London is home to some of the most diverse Asian grocery shops in the UK. From Chinatown to specialist shops in South and East London, it’s easy to find everything from Korean crisps to Japanese jelly drinks. These supermarkets often have entire aisles dedicated to snacks, sorted by country, and packed with imported favourites. Whether in-store or online, they make trying new things simple.
Speciality aisles and imported sections
Even large mainstream supermarkets now include sections with Asian products, but the variety is often limited. A dedicated Asian supermarket offers greater choice, better authenticity, and fresher stock. Products are often labelled in English and native languages, helping shoppers recognise favourites or discover something new with confidence.
Visiting an Asian Supermarket in Leeds
For those outside the capital, cities like Leeds also have strong offerings. An Asian supermarket in Leeds typically stocks Thai, Vietnamese, and Chinese snacks, along with Japanese sweets and Korean drinks. These stores serve both local Asian communities and curious shoppers looking to try something different, making them ideal for discovering hard-to-find snacks without travelling far.
