Hot tamales are a classic American snack that has been around for over 60 years. They are a spicy, chewy candy that has become a staple in convenience stores and gas stations across the country. However, with the rise of veganism and plant-based diets, many people are questioning whether hot tamales are vegan or not. In this article, we will explore the ingredients used to make hot tamales and determine if they are suitable for a vegan diet.
What Are Hot Tamales?
Hot tamales are a type of candy that is popular in the United States. They are small, chewy candies that are coated in a spicy cinnamon flavoring. They were first introduced in the 1950s and have been a staple snack ever since. The candy is manufactured by the Just Born company, which is also responsible for making Peeps and Mike and Ike candies.
Ingredients of Hot Tamales
The ingredients used to make hot tamales are relatively simple. They include sugar, corn syrup, modified food starch, contains less than 0.5% of the following ingredients: artificial flavors, dextrin, confectioners glaze, artificial color (Red 40, Yellow 5, Blue 1), carnauba wax, and cinnamon oil.
Are Hot Tamales Vegan?
Now, the question arises: are hot tamales vegan? The answer is not so straightforward. While many of the ingredients used to make hot tamales are vegan, some are not.
Sugar: Sugar is a vegan ingredient as it is derived from sugar cane or sugar beets.
Corn syrup: Corn syrup is a vegan ingredient as it is made from corn starch.
Modified food starch: Modified food starch is a vegan ingredient as it is usually made from corn, potato, or tapioca starch.
Artificial flavors: Artificial flavors are vegan as they are typically made from chemicals that are not derived from animals.
Dextrin: Dextrin is usually vegan as it is made from starches such as corn or potato.
Confectioners glaze: Confectioners glaze is made from a resin secreted by the lac bug, making it unsuitable for vegans.
Artificial color (Red 40, Yellow 5, Blue 1): Artificial colors are vegan as they are made from chemicals.
Carnauba wax: Carnauba wax is derived from the leaves of the carnauba palm tree, making it a vegan ingredient.
Cinnamon oil: Cinnamon oil is a vegan ingredient as it is made from the bark of cinnamon trees.
As we can see from the above list of ingredients, the only non-vegan ingredient in hot tamales is confectioners glaze. This ingredient is used as a coating on the candy to give it a shiny appearance. It is made by boiling the resin secreted by the lac bug and then filtering it to remove impurities. While some vegans may still consume hot tamales despite the inclusion of confectioners glaze, others may choose to avoid them.
Alternatives to Hot Tamales
If you are a vegan or prefer to avoid confectioners glaze, there are several alternatives to hot tamales that you can try. Many companies produce vegan-friendly candy that is similar in taste and texture to hot tamales. Here are a few examples:
- Surf Sweets Spicy Bears: These are vegan-friendly gummy bears that are coated in a spicy flavoring.
- Goody Good Stuff Sour Cheery Cherries: These are vegan-friendly candies that are coated in a sour cherry flavoring.
- Unreal Dark Chocolate Almond Butter Cups: These are vegan-friendly chocolate cups that are filled with almond butter.
- Lovely Candy Co. Cinnamon Swirls: These are vegan-friendly candies that are made with natural cinnamon flavoring.
- YumEarth Organic Hot Chili Pops: These are vegan-friendly lollipops that are coated in a spicy flavoring.
Conclusion
In conclusion, hot tamales are mostly vegan-friendly, with the exception of the confectioners glaze used to coat the candy. While some vegans may choose to avoid hot tamales altogether, others may still consume them despite the inclusion of this non-vegan ingredient. However, there are several vegan-friendly alternatives to hot tamales that are available on the market, so vegans do not have to miss out on this spicy candy. It is always important to check the ingredients list of any candy or food product to ensure that it is suitable for a vegan diet.