Chex Mix is certainly a unique snack that can be bought pre-made or made at home using Chex cereals as the primary ingredients. The most popular store-bought flavors are Bold and Traditional (a.k.a. Original). This article will help you determine the differences between these snacks and hopefully will also assist you in deciding the one that is best for you.
Chex Mix Bold Vs Original
Appearance
Chex Mix Bold is on the top row pictured above while Chex Mix Original is on the bottom. The two have the same mix of snack pieces. In fact, the pieces look exactly the same out of each bag. The mix for both snacks going from left to right includes Corn Chex, Round Pretzel, Rye Chip, Wheat Chex, Square Pretzel, and Squiggle Breadstick.
Taste
The most noteworthy difference between these snacks is in their taste.
Chex Mix Bold appeals mostly to people who like their snacks to be spicy or full of flavor. The flavors of dried onion, dried garlic, and Worcestershire sauce are robust but not overpowering. At least that is true for people who enjoy bold flavors.
Traditional or Original Chex Mix is basically a toned-down version of bold. That being said, it is not a bland snack. You can still pick up the flavors of dried onion, garlic, salt, and so on. The flavors just aren’t as intense as bold.
Nutrition
Chex Bold and Chex Original have very similar nutrition facts. The only noteworthy difference is that Original has 30 fewer milligrams of sodium compared to Bold. We think it is safe to speculate that most people don’t opt for Original over Bold simply because of its better sodium content.
| Chex Mix Bold | Chex Mix Original | |
|---|---|---|
| Serving Size | 1/2 Cup (29g) | 1/2 Cup (29g) |
| Calories | 130 | 130 |
| Total Fat | 3.5g | 3.5g |
| Saturated Fat | 0.5g | 0.5g |
| Trans Fat | 0g | 0g |
| Cholesterol | 0mg | 0mg |
| Sodium | 250mg | 220mg |
| Total Carbohydrate | 22g | 23g |
| Dietary Fiber | 2g | 1g |
| Total Sugars | 2g | 2g |
| Includes Added Sugars | 2g | 2g |
| Protein | 2g | 2g |
| Iron | 0.7mg, 4% | 0.7mg, 4% |
Ingredients
Chex Mix Bold – Whole Wheat, Degermed Yellow Corn Meal, Enriched Flour (Wheat Flour, Niacin, Iron, Thiamin Mononitrate, Riboflavin, Folic Acid), Vegetable Oil (Soybean, Canola And/or Rice Bran), Sugar, Rye Flour. Contains 2 % Or Less Of: Monosodium Glutamate, Salt, Maltodextrin, Garlic Powder, Corn Syrup Solids, Yeast, Whey, Spices, Distilled Monoglycerides, Sodium Diacetate, Baking Soda, Onion Powder, Dried Romano Cheese (Made From Cow’s Milk, Cheese Cultures, Salt, Enzymes), Dried Parmesan Cheese (Milk, Cultures, Salt, Enzymes), Molasses Powder, Yellow Corn Flour, Trisodium Phosphate, Disodium Inosinate, Disodium Guanylate, Calcium Carbonate, Disodium Phosphate, Natural Flavor, Soy Flour, Caramel Color, Barley Malt Syrup, Fumaric Acid, Caraway. Freshness Preserved By BHT.
Chex Mix Original – Whole Wheat, Degermed Yellow Corn Meal, Enriched Flour (Wheat Flour, Niacin, Iron, Thiamin Mononitrate, Riboflavin, Folic Acid), Vegetable Oil (Soybean, Rice Bran And/or Canola), Sugar, Rye Flour. Contains 2 % Or Less Of: Salt, Maltodextrin, Yeast, Spices, Color Added, Dextrose, Distilled Monoglycerides, Baking Soda, Yellow Corn Flour, Trisodium Phosphate, Calcium Carbonate, Autolyzed Yeast, Dried Onion, Dried Garlic, Hydrolyzed Soy Protein, Barley Malt Syrup, Fumaric Acid, Citric Acid, Caraway, Disodium Inosinate, Disodium Guanylate, Natural Flavor, Sodium Diacetate. Freshness Preserved By BHT.
Who Makes Them?
Both Bold and Original Chex Mix are clearly made by the same company. But, who makes them?
Chex Mix is owned and made by General Mills. However, Kellogg’s has the right to make the brand for the markets in Singapore and South Korea.
The brand was originally owned by Ralston Purina. Then in 1994, Ralston spun off its food business (which included Chex) into its own company called Ralcorp Holdings. General Mills went on to purchase Ralcorp in 1997.
Chex dates back to 1935 when the original manufacturer started making a wheat cereal called Shredded Ralston. This cereal would go on to be rebranded into Wheat Chex in 1950. According to Culinary Lore, a recipe for ‘Party Mix’ first appeared on Chex cereal boxes in 1952. The ‘Party Mix’ was the Original Chex Mix recipe. Fans of Chex Mix had no option other than to make it at home until 1985 when the pre-made version began to be packaged and sold.