America’s Popcorn Mix-Up: Chicago Popcorn Mix

Chicago mix is one of those foods that perks you up, puts a smile on your face and leaves you feeling full and satisfied. It’s no wonder that Americans feast on over 16 billion quarts of popped corn each year. That’s more than any other country on the planet. Add to that fun and delicious flavorings and you’ve got a healthy whole grain snack that not only tastes good, but is good for you!

Two of the most popular flavors, caramel and cheddar cheese are normally eaten separate, but then years ago, popcorn eaters in Chicago famously started mixing the two and Chicago mix was born! But the love affair with Chicago mix popcorn didn’t just end in Chicago. Now you can get the succulent mixture of cheddar and caramel in every state and even in several other countries!

Americans have always loved the uniqueness of popcorn and the ability to sweeten it, sour it, salt it or make it cheesy. There are so many different flavor varieties of popcorn that it’s hard to keep up with them all, but Chicago popcorn mix always seems to stand out from the rest. That’s because there’s something very familiar and comfy about cheese and caramel residing in the same space. If you think back to the days when Cracker Jack’s were the rage in popcorn, you’ll notice that even then there was a demand for sweet molasses-covered popcorn mixed with salty crunchy peanuts.

Popcorn has come a long way since then. This healthful snack, even when mixed with flavorings is still naturally low in both fat and calories and tastes amazing, which explains why popcorn is still today America’s favorite snack food. It’s cheap to buy and easy to make, with its history going back centuries. Initially, served at fairgrounds, movie theaters and ball parks, popcorn these days can be sold in department stores, convenience stores, online and even from street vendors and popcorn trucks.

Chicago mix has stood the test of time when it comes to creative popcorn flavors. One thing is certain, people love their Chicago mix and there are many who claim to have the best batch, but it really comes down to what the consumer likes. The great thing about all the choices is the ability to eat all that delicious popcorn! So mix it up, eat it separately, but do eat it and share your Chicago popcorn mix with the masses. It’s an Americanism that’s well worth eating!

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Make Your Day Special with Chicago Popcorn Mix

Chicago popcorn mix has been popular since the early 90s and remains a favorite snack food for people of all ages worldwide. It’s so good that if popcorn retailers don’t offer it, customers will purchase the two flavors separately and combine them. That would be, cheddar cheese popcorn and caramel popcorn. And it was apparently born in Chicago.

Something as special as Chicago mix deserves to be shared with others. If you have a special event coming up, such as a birthday, anniversary or bridal shower, you can’t go wrong with Chicago popcorn mix. It’s the best of both worlds all in one happy space. And its fun to eat too! Some people may eat handfuls of both flavors mixed, while some still prefer to eat them separately – eating all the caramel or cheddar first.

Even wedding receptions are ideal for this dynamic duo of flavor! With the onset of more modern foods and the breaking away from traditional “wedding norms”, popcorn bars are becoming a fixture at wedding receptions. Partygoers enjoy the change of pace, and of course, the excellent popcorn. Even the rich shades of orange and brown provide a decorative lift to a food buffet by adding a pop of color. Not only is Chicago mix fun to eat, but it has a festive appeal to it as well.

The aroma? Imagine sweet buttery caramel and savory mild or sharp cheddar cheese filling your nostrils simultaneously, on top of that well-known mouth watering popcorn smell. Heavenly. Your guests will enjoy your choice of food on your special day, so you may want to send them off with their own personal bags to take home with them. Gestures such as these guarantee that they will still be thinking about you and all the fun they had at your celebration.

Chicago mix popcorn is also great for corporate events as well. Retirement or promotion parties are fun special occasions. You can make it a success with the amazing flavors found in Chicago mix. Your guests will light up when they see it and enjoy every bite. Popcorn is filling and satisfying, so most times you can scale back your spending on other food items. Whatever you decide, have a great time on your special day and enjoy the wonderful taste that Chicago popcorn brings to the party! Not only will you be the most awesome party host ever, but you’ll enjoy every bite you take as each kernel melts in your mouth. That’s a pretty special day!

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Digging in: Chicago popcorn mix

There’s Cheddar popcorn and there’s Caramel popcorn. Then there’s Chicago popcorn mix - a sweet and salty combination of the two aforementioned flavors that sends people all over the globe into popcorn oblivion. What is it exactly about the mixing of two opposites that lures foodies in to wait patiently in the cold for a bag of the stuff? That’s easy. It’s delicious.

Chicago popcorn mix, or Chicago mix as it is usually called, was created by popcorn lovers in Chicago. It’s history is a bit unclear when it comes to who really created that exact pairing, but many say it all started with a man named Frederick William Rueckheim, who came to the United States and settled in Chicago in the late 1800s. Frederick is credited with the creation of the Cracker Jack brand – a mixture of sweet popcorn shared with salty peanuts. Much to its success, salty & sweet flavors fare well with people’s taste buds and Chicago mix is no exception.

You can find it just about anywhere in the world, with each popcorn maker doing there’s slightly different from others. You may find that some have sweeter caramel than others. Even still, some retailers will have more caramel on their popcorn or have a more buttery flavor than their competitors. The cheese is handled the same way. While some retailers may use a powder, others may use a cheese sauce. These slight variations will cause several different tastes when eating Chicago mix popcorn.

So whose is the right one? Well pretty much, all of them are. Even though the name “Chicago Mix” was trademarked in 1991 by a popular popcorn maker, the concept – which is its name – is based off of combining two different flavors together in one bag. Cheddar cheese and caramel - something that was done by Chicago popcorn eaters who were initially buying separate bags of the two and mixing them together. Thus, it is known as a Chicago tradition.

But a tradition like this was just too good to keep locally. News spread and Chicago popcorn mix has been going strong ever since. Now, Chicago popcorn can be found virtually anywhere. People even try to make their own at home, but it’s not quite the same! It just shows you just how tasty this treat is. No one can resist the crunchiness of fresh popcorn mixed with a lot of flavor – the sweet and cheesy kind. Grab a bag of Chicago mix today and get ready for a taste explosion!

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