Roy Choi Partners With TSUMo Snacks To Create Spicy Cheesy Ramen And Spaghetti & Meatballs Edibles

Cannabis users who are looking for a fun way to snack while still enjoying their experience, meet TSUMo Snacks, an innovative cannabis brand that transforms the edibles experience with savory THC-infused snacks that are full of flavor and pack a punch.

In partnership with legendary chef Roy Choi, TSUMo Snacks is releasing two new chef-driven flavors—Spaghetti & Meatballs and Spicy Cheesy Ramen. These unexpected, but exciting flavors come in shareable and resealable snack bags infused with 100mg of THC.

While typically cannabis edibles don’t allow for much of a sharing situation, TSUMo Snacks’ savory treats are designed for exactly that. The treats are presented like a bag of chips or in this particular case, puffs (think similar to Cheetos), where the entire bag contains 100mg of THC and lists a serving size as roughly 9 puffs equaling 10mg of THC — giving consumers the chance to designate their own dosage, in a way that’s more of a tasty experience than just popping one gummy or piece of candy.

“Most Americans as a snacking culture lean toward salty and savory snacks versus something sweet and that’s not something you find much of in dispensaries, so we wanted to address that need while also creating an actual snacking experience instead of just a one bite kind of dosage,” says Caroline Yeh, Co-Founder and CEO of TSUMo Snacks. Together, Choi and TSUMo Snacks aim to inspire the cannabis edibles landscape to become more open to creating that flavorful, shareable social experience.

The name TSUMo comes from the idea of creating a tsunami of flavor in each bite. Yeh explained that as a company their core values are “be bold” and “flavor first,” saying she knows the market is competitive enough these days that if something doesn’t taste good, people won’t buy it — whether it’s a cannabis related product or not.

Choi is in great company when it comes to who Yeh and TSUMo Snacks have collaborated with in the past including, the king of cannabis himself, Snoop Dogg, who released Uncle Snoop’s Snazzle Os in both an onion and spicy onion variation that were crunchy onion ring-like snacks.

“I’m not a huge fan of celebrity partnerships and cannabis, I just don’t believe they’ve generally proven successful and you can see that in the sales data. They aren’t typically the best sellers,” Yeh explained. “I’m not an advocate of these partnerships, unless, and this is key, it is authentic to the brand and it makes sense. Are they passionate cannabis users? And do they fit with my brand? At TSUMo we’re all about fun and tasteful experiences, we aren’t on the medical side of things — we want to bring the fun back to cannabis. And Roy was really a dream for a celebrity partner and brings such fun to the brand.”

As for Choi, he had similar feelings about doing a cannabis partnership, saying it’s not the first time he’s been approached to do one, and none of the offers ever felt like the right fit, until TSUMo. “It took me a long time to get into the cannabis-infused edibles game, because I wanted to honor the cannabis plant that I love so much,” said Choi. “It was important to me that if I developed a cannabis edible, it would be authentic, inclusive, thoughtful, delicious, and most of all, fun—the same approach I take with all my other food projects.”

Playing off of Choi’s favorite childhood flavors, these TSUMo Snacks’ puff balls and curls come in two super nostalgic offerings:

Spaghetti & Meatballs: Corn puff snacks that capture all the umami and fun of a homestyle spaghetti dish, with just the right hit of THC. Red sauce, red eyes, can’t lose—and they’re gluten-free.

Spicy Cheesy Ramen: Craveable cheesy curls pack Roy’s touch with THC to bring instant ramen to life in a chip. These puffs made of sorghum are tangy, cheesy, and slightly spicy — and they’re corn-free and gluten-free.

What do they taste like? Exactly what they are supposed to taste like! Pop a Spicy Cheesy Ramen curl into your mouth and instantly you’re hit with a super cheesy crunch that’s packed with umami flavors and spices that makes you want more. As for the Spaghetti & Meatballs, these little round puffs taste just like you’ve twirled your fork into a big hearty plate of pasta filled with red sauce and a big meatball on top. The taste resemblance is uncanny and honestly, quite impressive.

Known for pioneering the rise of food trucks and his enthusiasm for street food and culture, Choi and TSUMo made sure that was reflected in the packaging for his Spicy Cheesy Ramen curls and Spaghetti & Meatballs puffs, which are full of whimsy and feature an astronaut in space on the the front.

I got the chance to chat with the legendary chef about how the partnership came about, how he decided on the flavors, and what foods he’s eating once he has the munchies. Here’s how it went.

Amber Love Bond: How did this collaboration come together?

Roy Choi: I’ve been wanting to do edibles for a long time, but never wanted to force it. For many years the opportunities that came just never felt right, and then out of the blue, I met the TSUMo team. It all felt right from the jump and everything fell into place naturally. I tried the chips at a music festival and right at golden hour it hit and it was the most beautiful feeling in the world. Just like that it was sealed and we were off and running.

ALB: How did you land on the flavors spaghetti & meatballs and spicy cheesy ramen?

RC: I wanted something far out — something other cannabis consumers would see and say, ohhhh snap! That’s how the Spaghetti & Meatballs came about. The Spicy Cheesy Ramen is something I’m known for and it’s such a stoner food, so I was thinking can we turn this into a bag of chips without the cooking but still achieve the same umami. And we did! They both had to be delicious first and foremost, and not a gimmick. I think we honored that.

ALB: What was the most important factor in getting these flavors just right?

RC: I’d say it was evoking the flavor of each dish in one bite. We had to encapsulate the flavor and the feeling. It couldn’t feel fake. It had to feel like you really were eating spaghetti & meatballs or instant ramen. It took months and months of research and development and tweaking things by the milligram. But we did it! I know we did it because when you eat it you don’t wanna stop and it feels like the promise of the name itself. It’s a trip!

ALB: What’s your go-to after these edibles give you the munchies?

RC: I’d say to make it hella meta go to the actual dish after. Spaghetti & meatballs and instant cheesy ramen. A milkshake never hurts either.

Anyone else suddenly craving a milkshake? I tried these snacks and can attest that they are out of this world delicious. If you’re hoping to get your hands on this collaboration, these TSUMo Snacks will be available in California MedMen locations starting April 15, the new flavors will roll out statewide on May 1.

Additionally, Choi and TSUMo Snacks will be hosting a meet and greet event on May 12 at MedMen’s Venice, California dispensary from noon to 2pm, where fans can sample TSUMo Snacks, meet the man himself, and experience some special surprises. And the first 100 people to make a purchase get treated to free tacos from Choi’s famous Kogi BBQ Taco Truck.