Chex Mix is a type of snack mix that includes Chex breakfast cereal as a major component. There are commercially sold pre-made varieties of Chex Mix, as well as many recipes for homemade Chex Mix. Though contents vary, the mixes generally include an assortment of Chex cereals, chips, hard breadsticks, pretzels, nuts or crackers. It is generically known as Nuts & Bolts, particularly outside the United States.
History
Wheat Chex cereal was introduced in 1937 and Rice Chex in 1950 by Ralston Purina. In 1952 an advertisement for Chex party mix appeared in Life Magazine with a recipe that included Wheat and Rice Chex. In 1958 Corn Chex was introduced and added to the recipe. However, it was not until 1985 that pre-packaged products were introduced commercially by Ralston Purina and the trademarks registered to it. Chex party mix became popular as a holiday treat when purportedly in 1955, the wife of a Ralston executive in St. Louis served the snack at a holiday function. However, Chex party mix was not a unique idea: it was one of many popular "TV mixes" - snacks which could be consumed without interrupting television watching - which appeared in the 1950s with the introduction of television. For example, a 1950 Betty Crocker cookbook includes a recipe for a snack mix made with Kix cereal. In the late 1980s and early 1990s, Charlie Brown and the "Peanuts" gang were used in animated TV commercials to promote Chex Party mix. In August 1996, General Mills acquired the Chex product line from Ralston Purina along with other brands.
Commercial contents and varieties
All commercial Chex Mixes contain some form of Chex cereal. Other ingredients generally include rye chips, bagel chips, breadsticks, pretzels, nuts, and crackers. In total, General Mills produces 13 varieties of Chex Mixes, not including limited editions. These flavors can be broadly divided into three categories: salty, chocolate, and sweet 'n salty. Sometimes, limited edition varieties of Chex Mix are released. Past examples of these include Winter Chex Mix Cocoa and Summer Chex Mix Ranch. In 2009, two new flavors, Spicy Szechuan and Teriyaki, were introduced and made available exclusively at convenience stores.
