11 Local Chips and Drinks You Might Find While Traveling

Traveling offers an opportunity to experience the culinary landscape of different regions. Local snacks and drinks are often a highlight, providing a direct connection to the community’s culture and history. These treats, from savory chips seasoned with regional spices to refreshing beverages made with local ingredients, reflect the character of their origin. The flavors encountered can range from familiar to exotic, offering a memorable experience for visitors.

1. Zapp’s Spicy Cajun Crawtators from Louisiana

New Orleans brings you these kettle-cooked chips that pack serious heat and flavor. Each chip carries the taste of a traditional crawfish boil with cayenne pepper, garlic, and onion seasonings. The company started in 1985 and quickly became a Louisiana favorite. These chips use real spices from the bayou region, giving them an authentic taste that tourists can’t find back home. You’ll find them in gas stations and grocery stores throughout Louisiana, especially during crawfish season.

2. Date Shake from Arizona Desert Regions

Arizona’s desert areas serve up this creamy drink made from fresh dates and ice cream that locals have enjoyed for decades. The shake combines the natural sweetness of Medjool dates with cold dairy to create a refreshing treat that helps beat the desert heat. Many roadside stands near date farms offer these shakes year-round. The dates come from local palm trees that grow well in Arizona’s dry climate. Date farms in the Phoenix area and along Highway 95 serve the freshest versions, often blending the dates right in front of customers.

3. Garrett Popcorn Chicago Mix

Chicago’s famous popcorn shop creates this sweet and salty combination that has become the city’s signature snack. The mix combines caramel corn with cheese popcorn in the same bag, creating flavors that shouldn’t work together but somehow do. Started in 1949, Garrett Popcorn shops now fill downtown Chicago with their buttery aroma. The original recipe remains unchanged, and workers still pop corn in small batches throughout the day. Long lines form outside their Michigan Avenue location, especially during Cubs games and tourist season when visitors want to try this Chicago classic.

4. Cherry Soda from North Carolina

North Carolina’s cherry-flavored soft drink has bubbled with more carbonation since 1917, making it older than most soda brands. The drink tastes like cherry syrup mixed with soda water, creating a flavor that’s both sweet and tart. Small town grocery stores across the Carolinas stock this regional favorite alongside national brands. The company still operates from Salisbury, North Carolina, where it started over 100 years ago. Summer barbecue stands serve ice-cold Cheeryto complement smoky meats, and many locals consider it essential for any proper Southern meal or gathering.

5. Boiled Peanuts from Southern Gas Stations

Southern states serve these soft, salty peanuts from roadside stands and gas stations, especially during summer months. The peanuts cook in heavily salted water for hours until they become tender and absorb the salty flavor completely. Fresh green peanuts work best for boiling, so the season runs from August through October when farmers harvest them. Each batch takes 4-6 hours of slow cooking to reach the right texture. Gas stations from Georgia to Alabama keep large pots simmering all day, serving the peanuts in small paper bags to travelers who want to try this regional specialty.

6. Cape Cod Kettle Chips from Massachusetts

Massachusetts produces these thick, crunchy chips using a kettle-cooking method that creates irregular shapes and extra crunch. The company started on Cape Cod in 1980 and still makes chips in small batches using this traditional cooking style. The kettle method cooks chips at lower temperatures for longer times, creating darker spots and more texture than regular chips. Sea salt from nearby Atlantic waters seasons many flavors. New England grocery stores feature these chips prominently, and beachside shops on Cape Cod sell them to tourists who want to taste something made locally with regional ingredients.

7. Mister Bee Chips from West Virginia

West Virginia’s only potato chip company makes these thick-cut chips with varying thickness that adds different textures in each bag. The family-owned business started in 1951 and continues to slice potatoes by hand, creating chips that look homemade. Each chip varies in thickness because they slice potatoes manually rather than using machines. This creates some chips that are extra crunchy while others are more tender. Local stores throughout West Virginia stock these chips, and many residents consider them a point of state pride since they’re made entirely within West Virginia borders using local potatoes.

8. Old Dutch Chips from Minnesota

Minnesota’s favorite chip brand produces thick, hearty chips that can handle heavy dips and toppings without breaking. The company started in 1934 and focuses on making chips sturdy enough for Minnesota’s love of casseroles and hearty snacks. These chips use a cooking method that creates extra thickness and crunch. The company sources potatoes from Minnesota and surrounding states to ensure freshness and support local farmers. Minnesota grocery stores dedicate entire aisles to Old Dutch products, and many families consider them essential for gatherings, especially during football season when people want chips that won’t break under pressure.

9. Faygo Soda from Michigan

Michigan’s soda company offers over 50 flavors, including unusual ones like Red Pop and Rock N Rye that you won’t find from other brands. The company started in 1907 and continues to experiment with new flavors while keeping old favorites available. Rock N Rye tastes like cream soda mixed with fruit flavors, while Red Pop delivers a strawberry taste that’s brighter than regular strawberry soda. Many flavors come in both regular and diet versions. Michigan gas stations and grocery stores stock dozens of Faygo flavors, and many residents grow up drinking flavors that aren’t available in other states, making them regional comfort drinks.

10. Herr’s Horseradish Chips from Pennsylvania

Pennsylvania’s chip company makes these chips with real horseradish that provides heat without the burn of hot peppers. The horseradish creates a nasal sensation that clears sinuses while providing a sharp, clean flavor that doesn’t linger. The company grows horseradish in Pennsylvania and grinds it fresh for seasoning. This creates a more intense flavor than powdered horseradish while maintaining the vegetable’s natural sharpness. Pennsylvania grocery stores stock these chips year-round, and many locals eat them during cold season because the horseradish helps clear congestion while providing a satisfying snack that warms you up.

11. Sparkling Mineral Water from Mexico

Refreshing and effervescent, Topo Chico Sparkling Mineral Water is a staple in many Mexican households. The mineral water is bottled at its source in Monterrey, Mexico, providing a crisp and invigorating experience. Its effervescent bubbles and subtle mineral taste make it a popular choice for hydration and mixology. Since 1895, Topo Chico has been quenching thirsts and adding a fizzy twist to beverages. Whether enjoyed on its own or as a mixer in drinks, this sparkling water is part of Mexico’s beverage culture. The origin story of Topo Chico adds to its charm. Named after a nearby hill, its an refreshing drink.