Gold medal munchies

Here are some around-the-world snacks to flavor your Summer Olympics watching.

The Summer Olympics, postponed from 2020 by the pandemic, are a particular cause for celebration for fans of the games. If you’re planning a watch party for friends, or just want to get a little fancy with the family, a trip to some of Milwaukee’s small specialized grocery stores – or the international aisles of the supermarkets — will yield a world of snacks and drinks. Most of them can be enjoyed right out of the package. ● There are some classic choices — Irish Guinness, Australian marmite — and some that require time in the kitchen, such as a pitcher of Spanish sangria and a plate of French macarons — but a little extra effort can widen the options considerably. ● Pick some and root for your second-favorite country, starting with opening ceremonies July 23. Here are a few of the options you can buy in the Milwaukee area.

Africa

Chin Chin Dough Crunch: Chin Chin snacks date back to colonial times in west Africa, according to the New Jersey company that makes them. They are baked dough with a slightly sweet, delicate crunch.

Find at: J&S African Center.

Djansang Akpi: The seeds of a West African tree that can be steamed and ground as a seasoning for rice.

Find at: J&S African Center

China

Chim Dii Pad Thai Flavor: The fried shrimp chin snacks (the chin is the part of the shrimp underneath the head) have a crunch reminiscent of a shrimp shell and have a matching flavor.

Find at: Mei Hua Market Lay’s Cucumber Flavored Potato Chips: The bag, rather than the idea of cucumber chips, lured me, but they do taste like cucumbers. They’ll be the talk of the party.

Find at: Mei Hua Market

Denmark

Junket Danish Dessert: Not right out the package, but simple to make into a pudding, pie filling or fruit glaze. It’s made with sweetened milk and rennet, the digestive enzyme that curdles milk. Mother Goose fans will remember it as curds and whey.

Find at: Karl’s Meat Market

Germany

Hackbraten: This meatloaf seasoning mix can be made into quick meatballs.

Find at: Karl’s Meat Market TopKuss: Similar to a Moon Pie, but taller and fluffier with a single, thinner cookie.

Find at: Karl’s Meat Market

Greece

Kalamata Figs: Sweet Kalamata figs come from the southwestern part of Greece. They are most often found in “wheels” for easy snacking.

Find at: Parthenon Foods - European Market

India

Pillow Delight: Airy, crunchy pillows are spiced with wheat, corn and rice flour and favored with chili powder and spices. The chili powder packs a punch. Find at: Indian Groceries and Spices Parle-G: The largest selling biscuit brand in the world, they are a popular tea-time treat. Not too sweet and reminiscent of animal crackers.

Find at: Indian Groceries and Spices Papadums: Made with lentil flour, this fried classic snack can be quickly made in the microwave and served with chutney.

Find at: Indian Groceries and Spices Naan chips: Made from Indian flat bread, naan chips are a flakier pita chip – and also work well with chutney.

Find at: Indian Groceries and Spices

Italy

Italian soda: A bit more sophisticated and often sweeter than a standard soda, pair this with a Caprese salad from an Italian deli.

Find at: Karl’s Meat Market

Jamaica

Irish Moss: Made from marine red algae boiled in milk with sugar and spices, it has a creamy, slightly spicy vanilla flavor.

Find at: J&S African Center Chippie’s Banana Chips: Salty, crispy with a very subtle banana flavor, these could be mistaken for a potato chip.

Find at: J&S African Center

DG Jamaican Pineapple Ginger: A refreshing soda with balance of tropical flavors. The ginger doesn’t overpower the pineapple.

Find at: J&S African Center

Japan

Green Tea Mochi: Mochi ice cream is Japanese mochi (a soft rice cake) with an ice cream filling. The green tea adds a grassy, herby flavor.

Find at: Area supermarkets

Gyoza: The Japanese version of pork pot stickers. This Sriracha-flavored variety has some heat, but it’s not overpowering.

Find at: Area supermarkets

Hello Panda: A pretty common treat in the U.S., the hollow shortbread bites have a creamy flavored filling — in this case strawberry.

Find at: Area supermarkets

Korea

Milkis: Lightly carbonated mix of water, sugar and skim milk. It has yogurt and banana favors. Tastes a bit like Laffy Taffy.

Find at: Mei Hua Market

Mexico and the Caribbean

Jarritos soda: Jarritos, which means “little jug” in Spanish, come in a range of fruit flavors – mostly tropical. The grapefruit is refreshingly tart for soda. Find at: Area supermarkets

Aqua Fresca: Mixed with water, this drink powder comes in a large selection of fruit flavors, plus hibiscus and horchata varieties. The pineapple favor tastes like vacation.

Find at: Area supermarkets Tostones: A staple in the Caribbean and Latin America, tostones are fried, flattened unripe green plantains. They can be fried in a skillet, but worked just fine in an air fryer.

Find at: Area supermarkets

Serbia

Zele Kocke: These Serbian fruit slices are sweet, but still have a tang that cuts through the sugary taste.

Find at: Parthenon Foods - European Market

Sweden

Fiskbullar: Fish balls in lobster sauce are usually heated and served with potatoes, an omelet, crepe or salad. The ingredients list doesn’t specify what kind of fish is used, but the lobster sauce is the dominant flavor.

Find at: Karl’s Meat Market

Thailand

Vitamilk Choco Shake: The shake is sometimes used as a meal replacement, but has a sweet milky flavor that tastes more like a treat.

Find at: Mei Hua Market

UK

Kipper Snacks: Made of herring that have been butterflied and cold smoked, Kippers are most commonly eaten for breakfast, but the snack variety can top a cracker for an appetizer.

Find at: Area supermarkets Hobnobs: Made from rolled and jumbo oats, they are a popular British biscuit (cookie). The milk chocolate variety is a bit sweeter.

Find at: Area supermarkets

Wine gums: Traditional British sweets, similar to gumdrops but much less sweet and a bit tangy.

Find at: Area supermarkets

Cathy Jakicic is a longtime Milwaukee journalist who has written on a wide range of topics, but all things food related are her favorites.

ANGELA PETERSON, MILWAUKEE JOURNAL SENTINEL PHOTO ILLUSTRATION BY DANI CHERCHIO/ USA TODAY NETWORK Above: The Sanghavi family, from left, Dinesh, his wife Bharti and son Neil take a playful approach with snacks such as Haldiram’s, a combination of sweet and spicy chickpeas, flour noodles, rice flakes, green peas and peanuts, along with Parle-G cookies. They’re at their store, Indian Groceries and Spices.

MILWAUKEE JOURNAL SENTINEL ANGELA PETERSON, The Sanghavi family from left, Dinesh, his son Neil and wife Bharti, display snacks to consider while watching the Olympics. They’re shown at their store, Indian Groceries & Spices at 10701 W. North Ave. in Wauwatosa, on July 9.

ANGELA PETERSON, MILWAUKEE JOURNAL SENTINEL Cocktail samosas are seen at Indian Groceries and Spices at 10701 W. North Ave. in Wauwatosa.

CATHY JAKICIC Milwaukee’s many ethnic Germans can honor the homeland with Hackbraten, a meatloaf seasoning, and TopKuss, a Pac-Man-shaped sweet.

CATHY JAKICIC India will bring dozens of athletes to the Olympic Games, and a local grocery will bring plenty of snacks. Pillow Delights, Naan Chips, Parle-G and Papadums are among the treats.

CATHY JAKICIC Jamaica always has a lot to cheer about at the Olympics. Aside from its athletes, there are Irish Moss, banana chips and a pineapple ginger soda.

JAKICIC CATHY There's no wine in Wine Gums, but the gumdrop-like treats are among the contributions of the United Kingdom, along with Kipper Snacks (herring alert) and Hobnobs, a British biscuit (which we might call cookie).

CATHY JAKICIC Japanese fans can rev up with Green Tea Mochi ice cream, Gyoza (like pot stickers) and Hello Panda, the shortbread bites already familiar to Americans.

JAKICIC CATHY For those from U.S. neighbors Mexico and the Caribbean, Tostones are good munchies, and Jarritos soda and Agua Fresca will keep people hydrated.

CATHY JAKICIC For Chinese influence, try some Pad Thai flavored Chim Dii and some (yes Lay's) Cucumber Flavored Potato Chips:

CATHY JAKICIC South Korean fans can celebrate the Olympics with Milkis, a drink that tastes a little like Laffy Taffy.

CATHY JAKICIC Thailand is a long ways away, but this treat hits close to the heart in America's Dairyland: Vitamilk Choco Shake.