9 Washington Snacks That Instantly Take You Back To The 90s
Remember the ’90s? Back when Tamagotchis were a legit responsibility, dial-up internet tested your patience, and snack time was basically a competitive sport? Washington has a secret snack history that will teleport you straight back to those glory days.
These treats aren’t just food, they’re edible time machines. One bite, and suddenly you’re in a neon windbreaker, blasting your favorite hits from a Walkman, debating which cartoon was actually the best.
From salty chips to sugary confections, each snack tells a story of lunchboxes, sleepovers, and Saturday mornings that smelled faintly of Pop-Tarts and possibilities.
Whether you grew up roaming Seattle streets or small-town corners, these bites bring back the kind of nostalgia that makes you grin like you just found a $5 bill in your old jeans. So for all the ’90s kids: snack o’clock is about to get real.
1. Almond Roca
If you grew up here, you know the pink-and-gold tin of Almond Roca. Buttercrunch toffee, chocolate-coated and rolled in almonds, it’s fancy yet approachable.
Crackly, nutty, sweet, with that perfect snap that begs for just one more piece.
Made in Tacoma by Brown & Haley for generations, Almond Roca had this cross-seasonal magic in the 90s. It showed up at holidays, teacher gifts, and airport pickups, where the tin doubled as a keepsake box afterward.
You’d shake it like a maraca to see how many were left, then pretend you hadn’t been counting.
The flavor is simple but tuned like a good guitar: browned-butter notes, a clean toffee finish, mellow milk chocolate, and almond crunch that sticks around.
The individually wrapped pieces made sharing easy, but the real trick was rationing. You promised to save them, then unwrapped three in a row, because that golden shimmer is persuasive.
In a world of limited editions and rotating flavors, Almond Roca remains unwavering. It’s a treat that connects decades, and it still pairs beautifully with an afternoon coffee or a night-in movie.
If you want that 90s jolt, stash a tin in the pantry and casually slide it out when the conversation drifts to old TV intros.
The moment the foil crinkles, the time machine starts humming. One bite, and suddenly the living room carpet is the same, the playlist is gentler, and the toffee is, as ever, exactly right.
2. Tim’s Cascade Style Chips
The crunch that defined Washington? Tim’s Cascade Style Chips.
Open a bag and every ridge snaps like kettle-cooked percussion, with Jalapeño, Original, and Sea Salt & Vinegar elevating any sandwich to legend.
Born in Auburn, Tim’s nailed a thicker cut that practically dared your molars. The oil sheen gave that just-fried look, while seasoning stayed unapologetically bold.
Sea Salt & Vinegar had that nose-tingle, Jalapeno carried real pepper warmth, and Original tasted like after-school TV with a side of rebellion.
In the 90s, this was the chip you brought to picnics because everyone recognized that red-and-white bag from a mile away. The ridges caught dip like it was their purpose in life.
You could eat them alone and still feel like you completed a mission.
They resist sogginess next to a sub and refuse to crumble into dust at the bottom of the bag. That matters when you are strategically pairing bites with sips of soda or bites of a towering burger.
Craving the time warp? Go for Jalapeno and let the heat build, then chase with something cold and fizzy.
The first bite lands, the second confirms, and by the third, you are nodding like a chorus line.
Nothing else quite delivers that Pacific Northwest crunch anthem.
3. Aplets And Cotlets
Powdered sugar on your fingers meant the Aplets and Cotlets box had been found. Liberty Orchards’ fruit-and-nut treat tasted like a postcard from Wenatchee, apple and apricot gel studded with walnuts, square and jiggly between candy and tradition.
In the 90s, a sampler plate at holidays or road trip pit stops meant these chewy cubes made an appearance. They carried a whisper of old world Turkish delight, adapted to Pacific Northwest fruit.
The texture was tender, the sweetness gentle, and the walnut crunch kept things interesting without getting fussy.
The boxes felt retro even then, like they time-traveled from a mom-and-pop candy shelf. You’d peel back the paper liner and dust would puff into the air like the start of some tiny snow globe.
The best move was slicing them into smaller bits and pretending it made you patient.
It tastes like the region’s fruit belt and proves that candy can be simple and earnest. No neon colors here, just a sincere chew with a clean finish.
It’s a snack that invites a slower conversation and a second piece. And yes, you will definitely tap the box to shake out the last cube, because some habits refuse to retire.
4. Chukar Cherries
Nothing said 90s like a box of Chukar Cherries, chocolate-coated fruit from Yakima Valley, bright, sweet, and perfectly dipped.
Dark chocolate, milk chocolate, sometimes a dusting of cocoa, and always that bright cherry pop.
The fruit itself is the hook. Dried or candied cherries carry concentrated tartness that slices through sweetness.
A handful becomes a study in contrast: glossy shell, snap, then juicy chew that refuses to be boring.
Packaging made it gift-worthy without getting stuffy, so it was the perfect pick for road trip fuel or a movie night bowl.
In the 90s, it felt grown-up to choose fruit candy on purpose, and Chukar made that choice taste exciting. Variety boxes ensured everyone found a favorite without negotiating.
Today, the magic holds. Toss them onto a cheese board or into trail mix to create a premium snack lane.
They also nail that afternoon slump with a small handful delivering a big flavor return.
Back then, chocolate-covered cherries were the pinnacle of snacktime, today, adding a crisp apple slice turns that nostalgia into a moment that feels even bigger than it tastes.
5. Frango Mints
Open a box of Frango Mints and the room immediately smells like cool chocolate confidence. These silky mint chocolates, long tied to Seattle’s department store lore, brought a touch of city polish to movie nights and special occasions.
Each square melts fast, leaving mint that clears the palate without shouting.
In the 90s, that tidy green or brown box felt like a grown-up secret shared freely. You could stack three on a napkin and feel like you made a smart plan.
The texture is the star: not crumbly, not waxy, just satin-smooth with mint woven right through.
Flavor consistency turned them into a default gift. They worked after dinner, during study breaks, even mid-errand, because two bites and done.
The mint stayed balanced, avoiding toothpaste territory, which is rarer than it sounds.
They still deliver an instant refresh with coffee or hot cocoa. Pop one in the freezer for a firmer snap if that is your style.
Or pair with a simple butter cookie and call it a minimalist dessert win.
6. Johnny’s Seasoning Salt
This is the orange-tinted magic dust a Washington pantry refuses to skip. Johnny’s Seasoning Salt turns roasted potatoes into legends and eggs into something you actually remember.
Shake, taste, and suddenly dinner has a backbone.
From the Pacific Northwest to your skillet, the blend hovers in that sweet spot of salty-savory with garlic, onion, and a peppery wink. In the 90s, it lived next to the stove like a well-worn remote.
A couple of shakes over fries, popcorn, or chicken and you felt like a pro.
The secret is balance. It adds depth without masking the original flavor, the way a good baseline holds a track together.
On vegetables, it coaxes browning and adds a diner-style finish that makes home cooking feel like a victory lap.
Today, it still rescues bland leftovers and brings cohesion to sheet-pan dinners. Sprinkle before roasting for crust, after frying for pop, and on salads for that snacky edge.
The jar moves fast because you will keep reaching for it.
If you want 90s energy, dust it over hot waffle fries and do not overthink it. The aroma climbs, the first bite hits, and the rest is automatic.
Johnny’s is the shortcut that never feels like cheating.
7. Krusteaz Pancake And Waffle Mixes
On classic Saturday mornings, the soundtrack was clear: whisk clinking, waffle iron hissing, and a box of Krusteaz waiting. Pancakes puffed into golden rounds, waffles crisped at the edges, buttery pockets ready before cartoons disappeared.
Seattle-founded Krusteaz meant Northwest pride right in the batter bowl. Add water or milk, stir, and the kitchen turned into a short-order setup.
The aroma alone had a way of calling everyone to the table without a word.
Texture is where it wins. Pancakes land fluffy but not spongey, while waffles hold crisp lines that love syrup.
The batter also plays well with add-ins like blueberries, chocolate chips, or a pinch of cinnamon for extra warmth.
It’s still the easy button for brunch, camping trips, and midnight snacks. Batch-cook and freeze, then toast for fast-school-morning sanity.
Top with peanut butter and banana for a portable throwback that keeps you full. Stack pancakes high, drop a square of butter, and watch the syrup lazily map its way down.
The fork does the rest. Krusteaz makes breakfast feel like a win, even on the busiest days.
8. Dilettante Chocolate Truffles And Bars
A Dilettante display didn’t just sit there, it shimmered. European-style truffles and polished bars turned an ordinary night into something dressed up, all gloss outside and velvet within.
In the 90s, picking out a mixed box felt like choosing a soundtrack.
Dark, milk, and white chocolates coexisted without drama, each flavor showing up fully. You would cut truffles in halves just to stretch the decision-making, then promptly eat both anyway.
Texture defines the memory. The chocolate breaks clean, then the center drifts into mousse-like territory.
Bars run smoother, perfect for tidy squares that do not linger long on the plate.
Dilettante is a sure bet for dessert trays and quiet winter nights. It pairs beautifully with fruit and anchors coffee breaks with ease, the packaging whispering “special” without shouting.
Arrange a few truffles on a saucer and watch the conversation turn to favorites. Shine, first bite, then a string of small, satisfying decisions.
Elegance, fully snackable.
9. Jones Soda
Flip the cap, read the fortune, and welcome to Washington’s fizzy time capsule. Jones Soda made the 90s taste like creativity with flavors that felt both classic and left-field.
Green Apple, Cream Soda, Berry Lemonade, and a rotating carousel of what-just-happened kept things interesting.
The labels were half the fun, built from crowd-sourced photos that turned shelves into art galleries. You picked bottles by mood, then compared fortunes under the cap like it was a personality test.
The carbonation leaned lively, the sweetness stayed punchy, and the whole experience felt like hanging out after school.
Flavor clarity made favorites stick. Green Apple popped tart without going sour, while Cream Soda gave smooth vanilla nostalgia in every sip.
And those limited flavors were conversation starters that lived rent-free in your brain.
Today, Jones still shines at picnics, movie nights, and spontaneous porch sessions. Chill it hard, pour over ice, and let the color take center stage.
The bottle itself becomes a keepsake you are oddly reluctant to toss.
For a throwback moment, line up a trio, blind taste, and guess the flavor like it is a game show. The bubbles sparkle, the memories ping, and suddenly the 90s are not that far away.
Jones Soda makes fun feel carbonated.