Puerto Rican Snacks and Candy You Miss When You Live in the States

There's a very specific kind of homesickness only people who left Puerto Rico understand: opening the pantry in Orlando, the Bronx or Houston and not finding platanutres. Puerto Rican snacks aren't just snacks; they're school recess, the ride to the beach, the stop at the colmado and afternoons at grandma's.

Here's our list of the Puerto Rican snacks and candy people miss most off the island, and how to get them delivered wherever you are.

The savory ones

Platanutres

Crispy, salty green plantain chips are the quintessential Boricua snack—on their own, with a cold drink or with dip, and impossible to stop at one. Order platanutres or the garlic platanutres for more flavor.

The Caribbean variety pack

Can't decide? The Dulzura Sabor Caribeño snacks variety pack brings an assortment of tropical snacks in one box—great for sharing or for a gift box.

From the bakery

Mallorca

The soft, spiral sweet bread dusted with powdered sugar is the classic Puerto Rican bakery breakfast, often pressed on the griddle with ham and cheese. The El Boricua guava and cheese mallorca and the cheese mallorca come individually wrapped and ready for the lunchbox.

All things guava

Guava is the flavor of the Puerto Rican merienda. Dulzura guava paste is sliced and eaten with white cheese, spread on crackers, or used in pastelillos and glazes. Grandma's trick: a slice of guava with cheese and a cup of coffee is the perfect 4 p.m. snack.

Love coconut and guava together? Try the Dulces La Fe guava coconut candy.

Cookies from here

• Butter cookies in a Puerto Rico–shaped tin. The tin is shaped like the island and stays in the kitchen as a keepsake. One of our best-sellers: butter cookies in a tin.
• Bimbo Puerto Rico sandwich cookies. Mantecado cream and duplex, in 8-packs for the lunchbox.
• Polvorones, mantecaditos and besitos de coco from Oro Candy, the cookies of always.

Colmado candy

The colmado counter always had a jar of candy. These are the most requested:

• Coconut candy, hard coconut drops, and the ginger version.
• Red pilones, the festival candy.
• Coconut turrón, mampostial and sesame candy.

The full list is in Puerto Rican candy: 15 classic sweets.

How to order Puerto Rican snacks from the U.S.

• Shipping to the continental U.S.: 50% off the shipping cost.
• Orders over $100: 10% off automatically in the cart, no code needed.

Three tips to make your order go further:

1. Combine orders with family or friends. A bigger order makes better use of shipping and reaches the $100 discount more easily.
2. Add coffee. A bag of Puerto Rican coffee completes the nostalgia box.
3. Think about the weather. In summer, soft or chocolate sweets may suffer in transit; platanutres, cookie tins and turrones travel better.

Is it a gift? See gifts from Puerto Rico to send family in the U.S.

Puerto Rican snacks FAQ

What are the most popular Puerto Rican snacks?

Platanutres, mallorcas, guava paste, butter cookie tins, and candy like pilones and coconut turrón.

Can I order Puerto Rican snacks if I live in the U.S.?

Yes. We ship to the continental U.S. with 50% off shipping, and orders over $100 get 10% off automatically.

Which Puerto Rican snacks travel best?

Packaged, dry ones: platanutres, cookies, turrones and hard candy. Always check each package's expiration date.