Crunching into cookies from India or unwrapping sweets from Korea, students in Snacks of the World are turning everyday snacking into a way to explore cultures from across the globe.
PJ Koppany, sophomore in Business and president of the club, founded the RSO after discovering new cultures through international treats. The idea started from a trip to D.C., Philadelphia and New York. PJ and his dad visited over 60 international grocery stores, discovering new nibbles from all around the globe.
Snacks of the World aims to turn tasting into an adventure, sharing global flavors and the excitement of discovering something new together.
Founded just this month, the club is already bringing students together one bite at a time. Meetings are held every other week, each week highlighting a snack from a different country.
“I think a goal would be consistently having members show up every day, but I also think having new people come to every meeting as well,” Koppany said. “It is super important that more people get the opportunity to get exposure to different types of cultures and snacks.”
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Meetings begin with a quick presentation from Koppany that dives into the snack’s origins, history and cultural story. After the presentation, members analyze the packaging of the food and view nutritional facts as they perform tasting and sensory immersions.
As members bite, chew and taste the treat, the club as a whole converses about the snack. Discussions arise about the quality, textures, flavors and comparisons to other products on the market, both national and international.
When it came to analyzing a Choco Pie, popular in Korea, members commented about its fluffiness, discussed ways to enjoy it, one member saying dipping the pastry in coffee would complement its taste.
Ratings and opinions are a big part of the meetings; the executive team strongly encourages its members to create conversations around the delicacies. One member said the Choco Pie held special significance, reminding him of what his mom would pack for his lunches as a kid.
For Maya Musata, sophomore in Business and the club’s VP of Finance, that same sense of connection is what drew her to Koppany’s vision.
“What PJ is sharing with others made me really passionate about being a part of it too, by helping him support it and bringing his vision to life,” Musata said. “It has been a very rewarding experience, getting to bring people together and experience the cultures.”
The team hopes that sense of connection continues to grow. They encourage members to suggest snacks for future meetings and share the childhood treats that hold special meaning to them.
With an executive board made up of students from a variety of cultural backgrounds, the club is eager to bring flavors from all over the world to the table. Aidan Letzel, sophomore in Business and club member, hopes the meetings continue to bring the same energy and well-prepared presentations.
“It is not just five minutes of eating and then being done,” Letzel said. “It is really learning about something and then getting each other’s thoughts, talking with people and building genuine connections. I think it’s super cool, I just hope to continue seeing the growth and presence of the club on campus.”
With new countries and bites still waiting to be explored, Snacks of the World is just getting started. The club continues bringing global flavors, munchies and students closer together on campus, proving that the world really is just a crunch away.
