Trail mix is a type of snack mix, typically a combination of granola, dried fruit, nuts, and sometimes candy, developed as food to be taken along on Hiking. Trail mix is a popular snack food for hikes, because it is lightweight, easy to store, and nutritious, providing a quick energy boost from the carbohydrates in the dried fruit or granola, and sustained energy from fatty nuts.
The combination of fat nuts, raisins and chocolate as a trail snack, dates at least to the 1910s, when outdoorsman Horace Kephart recommended it in his popular camping guide Camping and Woodcraft.
Other names
In
New Zealand, trail mix is known as
scroggin or
schmogle.
In Australia, the term "scroggin" is used almost exclusively, although in more recent years, "trail mix" has been imported into the jargon from the US. Some claim that the name stands for
raisin, carob, raisins, orange peel, grains, glucose, and nuts or alternatively sultanas, chocolate, raisins and other goodies including nuts; but this may be a
backronym.
The term gorp is often used by camping and hikers in North America. Some claim it is an acronym for "good ol' raisins and peanuts."
In Germany, Poland, Hungary, the Netherlands, Scandinavia, and several other European countries, trail mix is called student fodder, student oats or student mix in the local languages. It usually does not include chocolate.
Ingredients
Common ingredients may include:
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such as granola
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Carob chips
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Chocolate candies, such as chocolate chip, chocolate chunks, and M&M's
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Dried fruits such as , Dried cranberry, , , , sultanas or Caramelization orange peel
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Ginger (crystallized)
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Yogurt chips
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Nuts, such as or
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Legumes, such as or baked .
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Rye bread
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, such as Pepita or
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Shredded coconut
Popular mixes
There are common trail mix varieties, which can be made at home, or bought pre-mixed from supermarkets by numerous producers.
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Asia mix (sometimes called Zen mix): peanuts, sesame sticks, , and soybeans.
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Cape Cod trail mix (sometimes called Northeastern): almonds, cashews, and dried cranberries.
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Hawaiian trail mix (also known as Tropical): pineapple, mango, banana chips, coconut, and cashews.
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Mexican trail mix (also called Sweet and Spicy): mango, sunflower seeds, pepitas, raisins, and chili powder.
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Monster trail mix (or Peanut Butter and Chocolate): peanut butter chips, peanuts, M&M's, and sometimes either or both raisins and cranberries.
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Omega-3 trail mix: cashews, walnuts, raisins, cinnamon apples pieces.
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Santa Fe trail mix (also known as Southwestern or Hatch): toasted corn, peanuts, pumpkin seeds, , and New Mexico chile powder.
See also
