This blog features snacks handpicked by Siwoo Lee personally, helping students figure out which treats are best for every situation- from late night study sessions to movie nights and everything in between.
I’m sure we’ve all had that one very familiar experience of craving something right before going to bed. You open the fridge, only to realize there are no snacks that match your craving - or even worse, no snacks at all. Fear no more, because I’ve put together a very personal snack guide made specifically for students. From snacks that boost your energy and brain power to get you through a late-night study session, to snacks you can mindlessly binge during a cozy movie night, this guide has you covered. Now, this isn’t your typical snack guide where I simply recommend a few products and call it a day. I love tier lists. I think they’re a great way to give a clear idea of what you can realistically expect from something.
To start off, I’ll be separating these snacks into six categories:
1) Chocolates
2) Cookies
3) Bars
4) Sweets
5) Nuts & Dried Fruits
6) Chips
Within each category, I’ll be ranking the products based on the following factors:
Taste – how good it actually tastes
Value for money (Price) – how much you’re getting for the price
Nutritional value / health factor – how healthy (or unhealthy) it is
Convenience – how easy it is to eat and store if it’s not finished in one sitting
Each snack will then receive an overall rating based on these factors. This guide features almost every snack I’ve tried since arriving in Germany. I like to think I have pretty good taste when it comes to spending my money, although I do have a habit of standing in the supermarket for far too long debating whether something is worth buying. With that being said, this tier list will use the following ratings:
S – The best of the best. No downsides, just pure brilliance.
A – Very good.
B – Above average.
C – Mediocre / average.
Without further ado, let’s jump straight into the tier list.
Chocolates
Knusper Schoklis
Taste: A - If you like a crunchy texture mixed with chocolate, this might be exactly what you’re looking for.
Price: S (2.49 euros) – I’m giving this an S because, within the chocolate category, I genuinely don’t think there’s another product that comes close in terms of price compared to how much you get. 100% worth the money. Nutrients: C – Since this is the chocolate category, I think it’s fair to say that most products here won’t score very highly.
Convenience: A – Inside the packet, there are two separate bags. The chocolates themselves come in lots of small pieces and can be eaten in one bite, which makes them super convenient while studying or watching a movie. I usually end up finishing the entire bag in one sitting, but if not, I just clip it shut and store it in the fridge.
Overall: A - This was one of the first products I bought when I arrived in Germany, and I still find myself picking it up pretty often. I enjoy chocolate, but sometimes pure chocolate can be a bit too sweet, and the texture can feel overly smooth. These are perfect when I’m craving something sweet but also want the texture of a biscuit or cereal. I’m pretty sure these are Aldi-exclusive, so if you want to try them out, Aldi is the place to go.
M&M’s
Taste: B
Price: B (0.89 euros)
Nutrients: C
Convenience: S - Easily one of the most convenient chocolate snacks out there.
Overall: B - This is a classic that pretty much everyone has tried at least once. I don’t find myself buying M&M’s very often, but I do pick them up occasionally purely because of how convenient they are to eat. They’re perfect for movie nights, study sessions, or even gaming sessions, since you can snack on them without really paying attention.
Milka Chocolate Bars
Taste: A
Price: B - (4,99euros) - A little on the pricey side for a chocolate bar.
Nutrients: C
Convenience: B
Overall: A - These are easily some of my go-to chocolate bars whenever I’m craving pure chocolate. While the price is slightly on the higher side, Milka makes up for it with the variety of flavors available. My personal favorites are Oreo and caramel.
Ferrero Hanuta Hazelnuss-Schnitte
Taste: S - If you like Ferrero chocolate and wafers, this is basically a match made in heaven.
Price: S - (2,99 euros) - The box comes with 10 packets, and each packet contains two pieces, which makes it great value for money.
Nutrients: C
Convenience: A - Each portion is individually wrapped, so it’s super easy to grab and take with you.
Overall: S- Personally, this is one of my absolute favorites in the chocolate category. I already love Ferrero chocolate and wafers, so coming across this in the supermarket genuinely felt like striking gold.
Lindt Lindor milk Chocolate
Taste: S
Price: C (8,50 euros) - Definitely on the expensive side.
Nutrients: C
Convenience: S
Overall: A - This is, without a doubt, my favorite chocolate of all time. The only downside is the price, which means it’s not something I buy very often and is more of an occasional treat.
Cookies
I absolutely adore cookies. Unfortunately, I don’t have an oven at home, and even if I did, I’m terrible at baking. Because of that, I usually have to resort to buying them from the store.
Leibniz Butter Biscuits
Taste: B
Price: A - (1,99 euros) - Good value for what you get.
Nutrients: C
Convenience: B
Overall: B I originally bought these out of curiosity, but they turned out to be better than I expected. They’re perfect if you’re craving something sweeter than chips, but not quite as sweet as chocolate.
Oreo
Taste: S (With milk)
Price: A - (1,99 euros)
Nutrients: C
Convenience: A
Overall: A - Everyone knows Oreos, but not everyone knows how to unlock their full potential. We all see the ads with people dunking them in milk - and trust me, they’re not kidding. I wasn’t an Oreo fan at first but trying them with milk completely changed my perspective. The key is to dip it just the right amount of time. Done correctly, the texture turns soft, but not so soft that it melts into the milk. Words alone can’t describe what I felt when I first tried it, but if you know the “pink crying dolphin” meme… yeah, that’s about right.
Knoppers
Taste: A -
Price: S - (2.49 euros) - I gave this an 'S' because it’s often on 50% sale at Aldi (a local grocery store).
Nutrients: C
Convenience: S - Extremely convenient, as it comes in bite-sized packets.
Overall: A - Highly recommended if you like wafers. The portioned packets make them perfect for snacking on the go or during study sessions.
Sweet Bars
This might be a bit ambiguous, but I classify bars as snacks that can be eaten in one sitting - something easy to carry around and usually consumed on the go. Since this is the nutritional bar category, I’ve given every product an 'S' for convenience, because they’re all super portable.
FERRERO duplo
Taste: A+
Price: B (2.99 euros)
Nutrients: C
Overall: A - Perfect if you want a mix of chocolate and the crunchy texture that typical bars offer.
FERRERO Kinder Bueno
Taste: S
Price: C+ (2.99 euros)
Nutrients: C
Overall: A - Probably the best tasting bar out there, but it is a bit pricey. Perfect for when you’re craving chocolate on the go.
GOLDEN BRIDGE nutty treaty bar
Taste: A -
Price: B - (1.59 euros) 4 pieces
Nutrients: B
Overall: A - This is perfect if you’re going on a long trip and want something a little more filling than a typical chocolate bar.
GOLDEN BRIDGE Müsli-Riegel
Taste: A-
Price: S- (1.29 euros) 8 pieces
Nutrients: B-
Overall: A This offers better value for money and tastes sweeter than the Nutty Treaty Bar above.
Nuts/Dried Fruits
These are great snack options for students who want something satisfying without worrying about high sugar levels.
Dried Apricots
Taste: A
Price: S- (1,49 euros)
Nutrients: B
Convenience: S
Overall: A - I found these really convenient to snack on, making them a perfect option for a late-night treat.
Dried Plums
Taste: B-
Price: S- (4,99 euros)
Nutrients: S
Convenience: S
Overall: A- I’m not sure I’d call these a typical snack, but they’re great for people with digestive issues. Personally, I’m not a fan of the taste, though I know quite a few people who really enjoy them.
Pistachios
Taste: A
Price: A- (3,49 euros)
Nutrients: S
Convenience: A
Overall: A
I really enjoy having these with yogurt - a simple, tasty snack that feels a bit more wholesome.
Trader Joe’s Peanuts
Taste: A+
Price: S (0,99 euros)
Nutrients: B
Convenience: A
Overall: A+ I buy these a lot because the price to quantity ratio is excellent. The only downside is that they come in a can, which makes them a bit inconvenient to store if you don’t finish them in one sitting. If you enjoy salted peanuts, this is a great option.
Dried Mango
Taste: A-
Price: B- (3,49 euros)
Nutrients: A
Convenience: A
Overall: A I like to buy these before a long train ride. Coming from a tropical country where dried mangoes are exceptionally delicious, I found these weren’t bad at all in comparison.
Chips
This category includes all kinds of chips. Perfect for snacking during study sessions, movie nights, or just when you want something salty and crunchy.
Pringles
Taste: S-
Price: B+ (2,49 euros)
Nutrients: C
Convenience: S
Overall: A
Personally, Pringles are my favorite chips- they taste great, come in so many flavors, and are unbeatable when it comes to convenience. Occasionally, they’re even on discount.
LORENZ paprika chips
Taste: A
Price: A (1,79 euros) for a XXL pack
Nutrients: C
Convenience: A-
Overall: A
Classic paprika chips that you can find all over Germany- a reliable snack for any occasion.
POM-BAR chips
Taste: A-
Price: A- (0.88 euros) for 75 grams
Nutrients: C
Convenience: A-
Overall: B
I picked these up because they looked pretty cute. They taste like your standard potato chips- simple, satisfying, and easy to snack on.
Cheese Popcorn
Taste: S
Price: C (21.99 euros) for 3 x 100g
Nutrients: C
Convenience: B
Overall: A-
If you’re craving popcorn for a movie night at home, this is perfect! The only downside is the price - it’s quite expensive, so I usually save it for special occasions. Just be careful not to burn them in the microwave!
And that’s a wrap on my ultimate student snack guide! Of course, these ratings are based entirely on my personal taste and experience, so not everyone will agree- and that’s totally fine. The goal here is just to give you a baseline for what to expect and maybe save you a little time (and money) in the supermarket. Whether you’re stocking up for a late-night study session, a movie night, or just a snack attack between classes, I hope this guide helps you find your next favorite treat. Remember: snacks are meant to make life a little sweeter, so pick what makes you happiest!
Written by Siwoo Lee (Class of 2026)
