Borrelnootjes

I’m not exactly sure what they are, but you have to try them.

Peanuts covered in … something or other. Very yum.

When you live in Holland and go to pretty much any party (kids, birthday, corporate, etc.), you’re pretty sure to have a bowl of borrelnootjes arrive at some point. Lucky you.

If you can’t imagine them, think of a peanut M&M, but rather than being coated in chocolate, they’re coating in, well, I don’t know exactly what it is, but let’s call it some sort of batter. It’s almost cookie or cracker-like, a bit chalky or crumbly, but loaded with flavor.

Speaking of flavors, there are all sorts of flavors. I’m sure mostly artificial, but hey, what do you want from a peanut coated in who knows what? There’s oriental, “regular,” cocktail (which is a bit redundant as “borrel” means, more or less, cocktail as well). So that would be the “cocktail cocktail nuts.” Guess you’re really bound to have a party … or at least a drink!

I see them now on Amazon (from Duyvis), which is nice, but does hurt my Is Nothing Hard to Get Anymore? mentality of globalization of, well, everything.

I’ve never bothered to look, but I’m sure they’re loaded with calories and who knows what other ingredients. They don’t even pretend to be healthy except that there are nuts in there. But you’ll have to try some next time you’re in Holland … or if you’re having a cocktail party in the US and want to add a little touch of Holland.