Mishry Rating
Summary
Super crunchy and crisp! Chheda’s Bhel Mix is a perfect tea-time snack. However, the missing sweet-tangy flavors of a classic bhel puri led to a low rating, taste-wise.
A bowl of murmura mixed in with onions and tomatoes, crunchy peanuts, crispy papdi, tossed in a sweet, tangy and spicy chutney, then topped with sev and drizzled with a zest of lemon. OK we know it got your mouth watering. A blend of sweet, tangy and spicy flavors, Bhel puri is an all time favorite evening snack.
While the taste of the local street style bhel wala is unbeatable, brands have introduced ready to eat bhel mixes that can be had anytime and anywhere. Chheda’s, a brand established in 1993, started its journey with the introduction of banana chips. After reviewing a series of namkeen, we picked up Chheda’s Bhel Mix for our current review.
Yay or Nay? Let’s find out the answer to this in our Chheda’s Bhel Mix review.
Table of Contents
Chheda’s Bhel Mix – Quick Glance
Here is all that you need to know about Chheda’s Bhel Mix :
Chheda’s Bhel Mix | Product Details |
Price | Rs. 55/- |
Net Quantity | 170 gm |
Buy Now | On Amazon |
Shelf Life | 6 months from the date of manufacturing |
Mishry Rating | 3.50 |
Our Review Factors
What do we expect? We expect a namkeen with mixed flavors – sweet, tangy & spicy all at once and a crisp texture.
For a detailed review of Chheda’s Bhel Mix, we have set out the following review parameters :
1. Taste
A traditional bhel puri is a mix of sweet, spicy, and tangy flavors. How close does this ready-to-eat bhel mix come to the much-loved street-style bhel puri? Does it maintain a perfect balance between flavors? How fresh does it taste?
2. Texture
We expect this bhel mix to be crunchy and non-oily. In addition, we also gauge the crunch of the different components.
3. Main Ingredients
Here we gauge the list of ingredients to find the use of any preservatives and added flavors. We also look for the source of fat used.
4. Other Observations
Aroma
We check for the aroma on opening the pack. Is it unpleasant or off-putting?
Packaging
Is the product well packed? Does it offer the convenience of easy storage?
Price
How competitive is the pricing?
Related Reading : Haldiram’s Fatafat Bhel
Chheda’s Bhel Mix – Detailed Review
Here’s what we found during our review of Chheda’s Bhel Mix :
Packaging
Chheda’s Bhel Mix comes in a purple pouch pack. It is not resealable. The price of a 170 gm pack is INR 55. It comes with a shelf life of 6 months.
Appearance
This bhel is a mix of different components, which are as follows: puris, murmura, bareek sev, cornflakes, yellow boondi, fried rice flakes, fried curry leaves, peanuts, and chana dal.
There were 3 small-sized puris in our review pack. These are flat and have a perforated design on top. The murmura is yellowish in appearance and has a tinge of masala. It has unpeeled, fried peanuts which are slightly glossy. There’s chana dal too, which appears to be dry.
Aroma
On opening the pack, we noticed that this has a peculiar oily aroma which is not inviting.
Ingredients
The primary ingredient here is puffed rice. In addition, it also includes – gram flour, wheat flour, palmolein oil, peanuts, Bengal gram, curry leaves, and spice mix.
On scanning the list of ingredients, we did not find the use of any preservatives or added flavors. Thumbs up! But the use of palmolein oil is what we do not appreciate. Details of the spices used are not mentioned.
Per 100 gm, it contains 567 kcal of energy.
Taste & Texture
To provide a fair review, here we have discussed in detail the taste and texture of the different components :
Papdi discs/ Puris
These have a well-balanced salt level with a hint of chili flavor. Texture-wise, it is crunchy.
Murmura
These are less salty and have a slight flavor of turmeric. The crunchiness is on point.
Peanuts
Non-oily and fresh! The peanuts add a nice nuttiness. These are crunchy.
Boondi
It has a low to medium salt level. In terms of the texture, these are crunchy and amp up the overall taste.
Corn flakes
The cornflakes have a chatpata flavor and a well-balanced salt level. We loved that! It is super crunchy and feels non-oily.
Curry Leaf
Fresh & tasty and crisped up to its optimum level, the curry leaves are non-oily.
Chana Dal
The chana dal is not laced with spices. It is salty and showcases medium crunch.
Rice Flakes
Sweet & sour, these taste delectable! These have a medium crunch.
Sev
With balanced salt levels, the sev has a light crunch. These are non-oily.
Overall, this bhel mix has a low to medium saltiness and slight sweetness. The spiciness is almost negligible. We would have loved it if the salt was balanced and the sweet, spicy and tangy flavors were more prominent. Texture-wise, we have no complaints. The crunch is on point.
Pros
- This bhel mix is super crunchy.
- It contains no preservatives and added flavors.
- The peanuts and curry leaves taste fresh. We like it!
- It does not feel oily.
Cons
- We do not appreciate the use of palmolein oil.
- The aroma is slightly oily.
- The brand has not mentioned the ingredients used for the spice mix.
- The tanginess and sweetness of an authentic bhel puri is missing.
Best Suited For
Looking for a savory snack to satisfy those evening cravings? Then Chheda’s Bhel Mix should be your next buy. You can also add in onions, tomatoes, sweet and spicy chutneys and prepare an instant street-style bhel at home.
Frequently Asked Questions
Here are some interesting FAQs on Chheda’s Bhel Mix.
1. Is this bhel mix healthy to consume?
Though it contains no preservatives and added flavors, the source of fat (palm oil) is not meant for regular consumption. Hence, we cannot say that this bhel mix is healthy. We recommend mindful eating.
2. What is the shelf life of this bhel mix?
This bhel mix has a shelf life of 6 months from the date of manufacture.
3. Can this bhel mix be paired with tea or coffee?
Yes. You can pair this bhel mix with tea or coffee.
4. Does this bhel mix contain preservatives?
No. This bhel mix has no preservatives.
5. Is this bhel mix a completely vegetarian food item?
Yes, absolutely! Chheda’s Bhel Mix is a vegetarian product.
Who gets the title of the tastiest bhel puri? Check out our ultimate face-off review featuring Haldiram’s Vs Garden.
In Conclusion
So what’s our final verdict? Chheda’s Bhel Mix is a super crunchy and crisp namkeen! All the components are crunchy and non-oily. Taste-wise, this could have been better considering a bhel is supposed to have tangier flavors or atleast come with a chutney mix. The low to medium salt levels and the missing flavors of an authentic bhel puri resulted in a low rating on the taste parameter.
Are you a fan of ready to eat bhel mix?
Our reviews are unbiased and all samples used during the reviews were paid for by us. Read our entire ethics statement here.