We get it. You don't want something sweet, and plain salt just isn't cutting it today. You're craving that deep, rich, savory flavor that makes your mouth water just thinking about it. You're craving umami.
Often called the "fifth taste," umami gives food a meaty, broth-like, savory depth, even when there's no meat involved. Biologically, it comes from naturally occurring glutamates found in incredible plant-based ingredients like mushrooms, tomatoes, fermented foods, soy, and nutritional yeast.
For years, the snack aisle leaned on artificial flavoring to fake that savory profile. But you deserve snacks that hit those bold, craveable notes using real food and avocado oil. Today, we're rounding up a lineup of umami-forward snacks, including a few of our own, that prove savory and feel good can absolutely coexist.
Snacks that bring the savory
Biena edamame variety pack
Soy is a classic source of plant-based umami, and Biena's Variety Pack delivers with Himalayan Pink Salt, Ranch, and Chili Lime flavors. Because the edamame is roasted rather than fried and finished with avocado oil, you get a crisp texture that holds the seasoning beautifully.
- Highlights: Plant protein, made with avocado oil, and a variety of savory flavor profiles.
- Dietary Specifics: Gluten-free, low carb.
- Why: Soy is a natural source of umami, and the Ranch flavor taps right into those savory notes we love.
Brad's Crunchy Kale: cheeze it up
Brad's leans into nutritional yeast, known affectionately as "nooch" in vegan circles, for a savory, cheddar-like flavor. Combined with chickpea miso, these air-dried kale chips deliver a depth of flavor that's rare in raw snacks.
- Highlights: Nutritional yeast and chickpea miso for a double dose of natural umami.
- Dietary Specifics: Vegan, gluten-free, organic, non-GMO.
- Why: Fermentation and nutritional yeast replicate the comfort of cheese in a plant-based format.
Read: 10 alternatives to Sun Chips that bring the crunch
Cleveland Kitchen spicy kimchi
Sometimes the best snack is a forkful of something fermented. Cleveland Kitchen's Spicy Kimchi delivers a complex umami profile thanks to the fermentation of cabbage, garlic, and green onion, with Gochugaru red pepper adding heat that amplifies the savory notes. Fermented foods like this are also a well-known source of probiotics, which may support gut health.
- Highlights: Thick-cut crunchy texture, authentic spicy Korean flavor.
- Dietary Specifics: Vegan, gluten-free, fermented.
- Why: Fermented vegetables are a flavorful, natural way to experience deep umami.
Foodies PumThins smokey chedda cheeze crackers
These crackers lean into "cheeze" flavor using nutritional yeast, with a twist of smoked paprika that adds a layer of depth. Built on a base of pumpkin and sunflower seeds, they offer a dense, satisfying crunch.
- Highlights: Seed-based crunch flavored with smoked paprika and nutritional yeast.
- Dietary Specifics: Grain-free, gluten-free, vegan, paleo-friendly.
- Why: Smoke and nutritional yeast combine for a rich, savory profile.
Gimme sea salt & avocado oil seaweed snacks
Seaweed is arguably the original umami ingredient. Gimme keeps it simple by roasting organic seaweed in avocado oil and finishing it with sea salt, resulting in a light, crispy sheet with a pure, oceanic savory taste.
- Highlights: Low calorie, roasted in avocado oil.
- Dietary Specifics: Organic, vegan, gluten-free, keto-friendly.
- Why: This is umami in its purest, lightest form, with avocado oil adding subtle richness.
Jackson's picks for savory cravings
Jackson's Super Veggie Straws® variety pack
We're reinventing the veggie straw game with bold, savory flavors everyone can enjoy. Our Super Veggie Straws® are made with a real veggie blend of yellow peas, brown rice, cassava, and sweet potato. The Cheddar and Ranch flavors in this variety pack are game-changers for umami lovers, built with tomato powder, onion powder, and yeast extract, all without a drop of dairy.
- Highlights: Real veggie blend, cooked in avocado oil, dairy-free Ranch and Cheddar seasonings with big savory flavor.
- Dietary Specifics: Top 9 allergen-free, vegan, gluten-free, kosher.
- Why: These straws prove you don't need dairy to get a rich, savory cheese or ranch profile.
One of our customers, Rainyroo, put it best: "These veggie straws are absolutely addictive! I especially love the ranch flavor, and the cheddar flavor is equally delicious. I will continue to purchase these indefinitely."
Jackson's Wavy Sweet Potato Chips
If you're a dipper, this one's for you. Our Wavy Sweet Potato Chips are cut thick to hold up to your favorite salsas and dips, but the Cheddar & Sour Cream flavor is a savory standout all on its own. We spent a long time perfecting a vegan seasoning that captures that tangy, rich, cheddar-and-sour-cream flavor combo.
- Highlights: Thick wavy cut, dairy-free Cheddar & Sour Cream seasoning, cooked in avocado oil.
- Dietary Specifics: Top 9 allergen-free, vegan, gluten-free, kosher, PaleoFLEX™ certified (Sea Salt only).
- Why: We nailed the cheddar and sour cream profile without the dairy, for a savory experience that feels indulgent.
Root Chips - tomato
Tomatoes are one of the most accessible sources of natural umami. Root Foods flash-crisps sun-ripened tomato slices in avocado oil, concentrating the flavor into a fresh, garden-forward chip finished simply with sea salt.
- Highlights: Whole vegetable slices, simple ingredient list.
- Dietary Specifics: Gluten-free, vegan, plant-based.
- Why: A single ingredient, prepared right, can carry a surprisingly complex savory profile.
Siete queso puff snacks
Siete's Queso Puff Snacks use a lentil flour base for a light, airy texture, with "queso" flavoring built from nutritional yeast, tomato powder, garlic, onion, and mushroom powder for a sophisticated savory wave, all dairy-free and cooked with avocado oil.
- Highlights: Grain-free lentil base, layered seasoning blend, dairy-free queso flavor.
- Dietary Specifics: Dairy-free, grain-free, gluten-free, vegan.
- Why: Mushroom powder paired with nutritional yeast creates a multi-layered umami experience.
Stellar truffle pesto pretzel thins
Stellar Snacks combines the earthy depth of truffle with herbal pesto notes, using cassava and chickpea flour for gluten-free crunch. Mushroom powder reinforces that savory backbone, and the pretzels are baked with avocado oil.
- Highlights: Truffle and mushroom powder for deep earthiness, baked with avocado oil.
- Dietary Specifics: Vegan, gluten-free, peanut-free.
- Why: Truffles and mushrooms are heavyweights of the umami world, making for a satisfying, savory bite.
The Only Bean crunchy roasted edamame (sea salt)
The Only Bean offers a straightforward, high-protein snack: dry-roasted edamame lightly seasoned with sea salt and avocado oil. The natural savoriness of the soybean shines through for a crunchy, nutty experience.
- Highlights: High protein, dry-roasted for maximum crunch.
- Dietary Specifics: Keto-friendly, gluten-free, vegan, kosher.
- Why: A back-to-basics approach to umami snacking that relies on the bean's inherent flavor and avocado oil.
Always check your labels!
Before you toss anything in your cart, always check the label of any packaged snack, including everything on this list, to confirm it fits your dietary needs and that the formulation hasn't changed. Just because one product from a brand is made with avocado oil or fits a certain diet doesn't mean every product from that brand follows the same recipe. Ingredients and sourcing can shift, so a quick label check is always worth it.
At Jackson's, we make this easy. Our snacks are always cooked exclusively in avocado oil, and every bag is vegan and top 9 allergen-free, made in our dedicated allergen-free facility in Muskego, WI. When you grab a bag of Jackson's, you know exactly what you're getting.
Snack with savory joy
Living a life full of feel good snacking doesn't mean saying goodbye to the rich, savory flavors you love. Whether it's the tang of fermented veggies, the earthiness of mushrooms, or the cheesy comfort of nutritional yeast, real food gives us incredible sources of umami to explore.
As Bon Appétit noted in its guide to standout snacks, Jackson's sweet potato chips are "the ultimate editor-approved treat." We're proud of that kind of recognition, and we're even prouder of the flavor and ingredients behind it.
We invite you to satisfy that craving the right way. Next time you need a crunch that packs a savory punch, reach for a bag of Super Veggie Straws® or grab our Wavy Sweet Potato Chips. You'll get that bold, mouth-watering flavor you're after, made with avocado oil and real veggie ingredients, snacks you can feel good about. Shop the full lineup at snackjacksons.com and find your new savory favorite today.
Read: The mighty yellow pea: your new go-to for flavor and sustainability
