PHOTO COURTESY OF POPPY HANDCRAFTED POPCORN.
Whether you’re headed for your meemaw’s hollow or Hilton Head, pack these Appalachian snacks.
There’s just something about driving long distances that makes you want to eat gummy worms and pork rinds by the handfuls. Maybe it’s the boredom of logging monotonous interstate miles. Or maybe it’s the anticipation of getting to your destination. Either way, munchies are always in order.
Lucky for you, we’ve rounded up eight Appalachian-made road trip snacks that hit the spot.
PHOTO COURTESY OF ROUTE 11 POTATO CHIPS.
Route 11 has one goal and one goal only: to make damn good chips. And considering this company’s cult-like following in Virginia’s Shenandoah Valley, it’s pretty evident they’ve achieved that. Charismatically crunchy with a diplomatic dusting of salt, these crisps are sure to curb your cravings.
PHOTO COURTESY OF LANDCRAFTED FOODS.
Landcrafted Food believes in simple, wholesome nourishment. That’s why the company’s beef sticks are made using grass-fed, humane-certified beef harvested from small farms in Grayson County, Virginia. Plus, unlike the mystery meat snacks found in gas stations, these beef sticks are gluten-free, GMO-free, and actually delicious.
PHOTO COURTESY OF NOKE'S GRANOLA.
If you think Oreos are addicting, try the Bourbon Glazed Pecans from Noke’s Granola in Chattanooga, Tennessee. According to owner Luther Cutchins, the snack food is made by smothering roasted Georgia pecans in maple syrup, brown sugar, and a kiss of what he calls the “holiday spirit” (aka Chattanooga Whiskey). Put together, these components make for a dangerously delicious munch.
PHOTO COURTESY OF FRENCH BROAD CHOCOLATES.
Sure, you could gobble those off-brand M&M’s you found in your dashboard. But we’d rather dine on artisanal bonbons from French Broad Chocolates. Artfully prepared in Asheville, North Carolina, these chocolates showcase interesting flavor combinations (think grapefruit and fennel) that make you scratch your head and ask for seconds.
OTHER TASTE TREATS
PHOTO COURTESY OF POPPY HANDCRAFTED POPCORN.
Though popcorn may seem like a predictable nibble, there’s nothing predictable about Poppy. Handcrafted in Asheville, North Carolina, using local ingredients, this crunchy bite pushes the envelope with an assortment of sweet and savory flavors like Birthday Confetti, Pimento Cheese, and Kansas City BBQ.
PHOTO COURTESY OF FERMENTI FOODS.
Vegetables aren’t usually a mainstay of road trips. (Unless Funyuns count…) Nevertheless, Fermenti Foods is here to brighten up your on-the-go fare with kimchi, sauerkraut, and other naturally fermented veggies. We especially like this Woodfin, North Carolina, company’s take on Sichuan carrots. Salty and tangy with a zip of spice, they’re the gut-friendly copilot you never knew you needed.
PHOTO COURTESY OF LA VACHE MICROCREAMERY.
When the housing bubble burst in 2008, Charlottesville, Virginia architect Stephanie Williams turned to her other love: food. Specifically, made-from-scratch caramels. In the years since, she’s perfected the sticky, buttery treat using citrus, espresso, lavender, ginger, and other unexpected embellishments. Decadent and flavorful, the resulting candies are like nothing you’ve ever tasted.
PHOTO COURTESY OF UNICOI PRESERVES.
unicoi preserves PB&J
We know what you’re thinking: Jelly? That’s not a snack. But see, the fruit spreads coming out of Unicoi Preserves in Sautee Nacoochee, Georgia, are so darn tasty that we’ve been known to eat them by the spoonful. Fun flavors like Cherry Key Lime and Salted Caramel Peach also play well with nut butters, taking your roadside PB&J from boring to brilliant in a hurry.