Chamoy

Chamoy is a tangy Mexican condiment made from pickled or dried fruit, such as apricot, plum or mango, blended with chili, lime juice, salt and sugar. It comes as a sauce, paste or powder and is famous for hitting sweet, sour, salty and spicy notes all at once.

Origin

Chamoy is widely believed to trace back to Asian salted, pickled fruit, such as Chinese preserved plums, which arrived in Mexico and was adapted with local chilies and lime. Over the twentieth century it became a signature of Mexican snack culture, sold by street vendors and in candy shops.

How it is used

• Drizzled over fresh mango, cucumber, jícama and watermelon.
• Poured into mangonadas, frozen mango drinks rimmed with chili-lime seasoning.
• Coating candies, gummies and tamarind sweets.
• Rimming drink glasses together with chili-lime powder.

The taste profile

Think of a sweet fruit flavor hit first by sharp, puckering sourness, then salt, then a mild, lingering chili warmth. It is bold rather than fiery; most chamoy is more tangy than spicy.

Chamoy at Polkadot

Two Craft Gummies are built around this flavor:

• Polkadot Chamoy Mango Craft Gummies: ripe mango juice with a chili kick, inspired by the classic street snack.
• Polkadot Chamoy Tamarind Craft Gummies: sour-sweet tamarind with chili for an even tangier bite.

Both are vegan, made with organic pectin and real fruit juice.

Which to try first

If you're new to chamoy, start with Chamoy Mango: the mango's sweetness softens the tang. If you already love tamarind candy or sour snacks, go straight to Chamoy Tamarind. Fans of tangy flavors should also explore our sour gummies.