Green is wasabi flavor, blue is sweet flavor, red is sweet and spicy flavor, orange is spicy flavor, yellow is Thai spice flavor!

Let's talk about the bento that comes in a red bag, often referred to as drug squid or something similar, among those who have traveled to Thailand.

At first, everyone thinks it's nothing special, but once you open it, you can't stop reaching for more of that squid snack.

The seasoning is sticky enough to make your hands messy, salty, spicy, and sweet, and it's so stimulating that it makes your mouth tingle, yet you strangely keep going back for more.

That's why it's nicknamed the Thai drug snack. Of course, it doesn't actually contain drugs, but once you start eating, you can't stop, and it makes you realize that everyone feels the same way.

Bento is basically a snack made from dried squid that's seasoned, but it feels completely different from dried squid. It's not about chewing it tough for a long time; it's about tearing it thin and pushing it with seasoning.

The first bite is subtly sweet, which catches you off guard, and then the spiciness kicks in right after. Next, the saltiness takes over your mouth. If that were the end, it would be fine, but the mix of chili and squid flavors strangely keeps stimulating your salivary glands. By this point, your hand is already back in the bag.

Eating one of these while drinking beer, you can finish a whole bag in no time. It's perfect for dipping in mayo as a beer snack, and when watching a movie, you'll find yourself emptying the bag faster than the movie's plot unfolds. The reason this snack is particularly impressive is that the Thai seasoning sensation is very straightforward. It hits you with sweetness, saltiness, and spiciness all at once, which is excessive but memorable.

So, there are people who complain that the seasoning is too strong when they first try it, and some shake their heads wondering why it's tasty.

But the funny thing is, once you get used to it, you keep thinking about it. Especially on days when you crave something spicy, this red bag comes to mind.

Living in America, you can find it quite often in Asian markets, especially those that deal with Thai or Southeast Asian groceries. Sometimes, you can even find it tucked away in the import snack section of Korean markets.

These days, it's not hard to buy online either. If you search for Thai Bento Squid Snack on Amazon or eBay, you'll find a variety of flavors available. From the original red bag to less spicy versions and garlic flavor, there are more options than you might think. The price is naturally higher than in Thailand, but a bag usually costs just a few dollars, so it's not a huge burden to satisfy the occasional craving.

However, this snack has such strong seasoning that eating it on an empty stomach or continuously at night can upset your stomach. So, rationally, it's best to eat it in small amounts, as a side dish or snack.

In my opinion, the problem is that for those with strong stomachs, rationality doesn't work well in front of the bag. That's why everyone jokingly calls it a drug snack.

Living in America, stress can be quite high, so it seems that such stimulating snacks are more appealing at times. So, when I spot that red bag in an Asian market one day, I find myself picking it up, even knowing what I'm doing.

I usually keep about 20 bags at home and eat 2 bags when I drink beer. It's a small flex of healing, haha.