A few weeks ago, I went on a 4-day
hike with several Israelis. One of the foods that I brought on this hike in
order to sustain myself was peanut butter. I figured it is protein dense,
filling, and can be eaten as part of a meal, or as dessert. To me, peanut
butter is a perfect food.
When I removed the peanut butter
jar from my backpack, one of the Israelis immediately shouted, “Oh! Peanut
butter! Peanut butter comes from Bamba.”
I know he was joking, because everyone knows peanut butter comes from peanuts,
right? But this statement was a perfect testament to the popularity of the
Bamba snack in Israel.
Bamba was created in 1963, and
the sales have not declined since the first store shelf emptied. Others have
compared the texture of Bamba to a puffed Cheeto without the cheese. In fact,
this was initially how Bamba started out- but the cheesy taste was not nearly
as appealing to Israelis as it is to Americans. Therefore, cheese was replace with
a powdery peanut butter coat. The result is a light, savory snack that leaves
you licking your fingers for more!
Bamba became a household name after
it was given to soldiers during the Six Day War because of it is light-weight, filling,
and easily preserved. The snack was brought home from the battle field and is
now a staple in every Israeli lunchbox.
The key to Bamba’s success in Israel
is its mildly sweet flavor. Israelis tend to shy away from dense confections
like flans or chocolates. As the world shrinks and the food choices here become
more influenced by outside forces, like Belgium’s sweet chocolates and
American’s sugar high, the sweet gene is becoming more apparent in Israeli
foods. Bamba even introduced two new flavors within the past few
years—strawberry and nougat-filled. Only time will dictate the success of these
new tastes in this region.
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| In front of the Bamba factory in Holon. |
Bamba is made by heating corn
kernels into a puffed up and weightless “Cheeto” shape, very similar to
packaging peanuts or foam insulation. The long strands of “puff” are then cut
into inch-sized pieces and placed in a large bin. The bin spins so that when
peanut butter is poured in, every last piece is coated to a powdery perfection.
Natives and tourists of all ages
can be found sharing a bag of Bamba with friends. They are a staple at most
parties, and a favorite to most anyone who tries them. This snack can be found
in every convenience store and supermarket in Israel, as well as Kosher
specialty stores worldwide.
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| Bamba prominently displayed in a Tel Aviv convenience store. |
