Bamba, the Israeli peanut snack, has become a bit of a global star. It may be responsible for the low rates of peanut allergies in Israeli kids, and it’s so ubiquitous across the U.S. that it’s now sold at Trader Joe’s and other stores. But when it comes to Passover, quite a few Jews have to forgo the deliciously savory snack. It is made of corn and peanuts, which are considered kitniyot — legumes — and are not eaten by some Jews on Passover. In Israel though, there are many Sephardi and Mizrahi Jews who do eat kitniyot, as well as lax and secular Ashkenazi ones who do as well. For Passover, bamba goes under Sephardi kashrut certification, making it kosher for the eaters of kitniyot only.
This Passover, Bamba has leveled up their holiday marketing game by offering a very special Bamba Haggadah. For those hoping for Bamba-themed Passover songs, I’m sad to disappoint you — Israelis don’t really do themed or reinvented haggadahs as much as Americans do — our national pastime is mostly just getting through the haggadah as fast as we can. So aside from the Bamba slogan (“there’s nothing, nothing, nothing like Bamba”) the text is that of a classic haggadah. The illustrations, however, are delightful. There’s the signature Bamba baby (the snack’s mascot since 1993) dancing with timbrels and eating bamba fare, and seder tables laden with the peanut snack. The Bamba Haggadah is mostly just a nicely illustrated classic book.
The best thing about it? If you buy it at your local grocery store, it comes in a pack with two booklets and two bags of pyramid-shaped Bamba. My aunt who recently visited me from Israel brought me a pack and dare I say? They’re even more delicious than classic Bamba. I bet they taste even better with a glass of cold kosher for Passover coke.
Photo courtesy of the author
