Kropek

Kropek (or kropeck), photographed above, is a very common Pinoy snack that has stood the test of time. It is a fish or prawn cracklings (mixed with flour) that have been dried in the sun and deep fried. The Star brand pack consists of around 20 pieces of rectangular-shaped kropek cracklings. There is another variety, though, the oval-shaped one that is slightly a bit thinner but same delicious taste.

In one sitting, I could eat one pack of this kropek, especially if I sink each of its contents in a small bowl of sukang maanghang. When I was a kid, a piece of kropek was 10 centavos (one pack would be around 2 pesos). No one sells it by the piece now, however, as it is usually sold in one pack for ten pesos. The sukang maanghang is always free, though. Back then, one pack of kropek would be an ideal snack while watching the Crispa-Toyota games in our old Black and White TV set. Or perhaps a snack while reading Tagalog Klasiks or Aliwan Komiks.

I think every Pinoy must have had acquired a taste of this ubiquitous snack, especially as it is sold in every street corner by our same Balut vendor. In Sari-sari stores, the kropek is among the bestsellers, especially on Sundays, when many Pinoy istambays, hard of cash, prefer it as pulutan with the Tanduay, over the slightly more expensive chicharong baboy.

With the numerous arrivals of foreign-branded snacks like Pringles or Pik-nik, I still prefer the lowly kropek, especially if paired with a bottle of Cosmos or Mirinda. Although some older people would have preferred a sarsaparilla.