It's been a while, but today I'll be talking about a product from the same country I'm from--the U.S. With a slight foreign twist, as you'll see. Anyway, this post is about Hippeas chickpea snacks, from Green Park Brands. I tried two types of their puffs--the nacho vibe kind, and their vegan white cheddar one.
The official Hippeas website (hippeas.com), was a bit terse, especially about the product's history, and about who makes it. It was mostly a list of their products, associated recipes, and a "where to buy" section. For the record, aside from the two I tried, for the puffs they also make a Bohemian barbecue and then a srircacha sunshine flavor. Their chickpea chip (crisp) flavors include rockin' ranch, straight up sea salt, and jalapeno vegan cheddar. Like a lot of hippy-type products, these snacks are proudly touted as being gluten-free, kosher, vegan, organic, non-GMO, and free of milk, soy, wheat, peanuts, tree nuts, fish and shellfish. (Although some of the facilities where their snacks are made do use milk and soy for other company's wares.) Plus, the FAQ section notes that Hippeas mimic cheese via onion, garlic powder, and chili powder.
Fortunately, other online sources provided a little company history. The founder of the Hippeas brand is Livio Bisterzo. He's moved around a lot in his life. He's Italian in heritage, but spent most of his adult life in London, England. However, he then moved to California, in the U.S., and made it his home. He's described as being an entrepreneur. Other ventures he's been involved with in the past include the hospitality brands Maddox Club and Pollen Street, and the men's grooming brand Kyoku. Hippeas is just one of the brands under his Green Park Brands umbrella. His other Green Park brands are Betr (medication), Reel (eco-friendly toilet paper), Maverick (snacks), and the surprisingly named Ugly (flavored sparkling water). A chocolate brand is on the horizon. Hippeas began in 2016, and has been a huge success. After a start combining with Starbucks, the brand is now sold in most of the big supermarket chains across the country, and is also exported to the U.K. As of April 13, 2021, the CEO of Hippeas is Paul Nardone, as Bisterzo is now the Executive Chairman.
Since Hippeas is so obsessed with chickpeas, I thought I'd delve into them some. Chickpeas are one of the oldest domesticated crops, as evidence indicates that they were being cultivated for at least 9500 years, beginning in the areas that are now the Middle East and Turkey. The chickpea is undeniably nutritious--in addition to being a good source of protein, it contains decent amounts of Vitamins B1 and B6, folate, iron, magnesium, manganese, and phosphorus. Although pretty much every part of the world utilizes it, it's especially prevalent in Middle Eastern, Indian, and Southeast Asian cuisines. Also, I was shocked to learn that it's even sometimes a beverage. In the late 1700's and during World War I, it was ground, roasted, and then made into a drink. This seems mostly done during times of coffee shortages (like during the War), but some still enjoy it as a beverage today. To me it sounds off-putting, to say the least, but at the same time I'd love to try it.
Hippeas chickpea puffs, nacho vibe flavor: These were a thick rod shape, about 4.5 cm (about 1.75 inches) long. They looked like Cheese Doodles, or cheese curls, but with a light orange-yellow color. The taste was similar to Cheese Doodles/curls as well. They were airy and crunchy, with a nice cheese tang. I don't know if I could have distinguished between these and real cheese curls/doodles in a blind taste test. Which is impressive, since these Hippeas don't have any actual cheese in them, of course. So all in all, these were quite tasty. If you're looking to be vegan, but miss the taste of Cheese Doodles/curls, these are a very good imitation.
Hippeas chickpea puffs, vegan white cheddar flavor: These looked the same as the other kind, except that their color was a dull yellow. These were also good. Puffy and cheesy-tasting, with a nice crunch. Maybe a hair less great than the nacho vibe ones, but still very respectable. Like before, I would definitely recommend these, even to folks who aren't vegan. I'll have to try the Hippeas chips when I get the chance.
One final note. If you dislike puns, you might want to avoid Hippeas' social media and such. Hell, even their brand name is one, obviously. But other than that, the company also talks about "giving peas a chance," "Peas, love and giving back," and about their "philosoPEA." Jesus, Hippeas, we get it--you adore chickpeas! Maybe show a little restraint, and try using some more sophisticated chickpea-related humor. (I know this an awfully small nit to pick, about a product I really enjoyed, but it did strike me.)
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