Cheez Waffies – Deliciously Crispy Cheese Sandwiches

We all occasionally experience a craving for salty, crispy, and satisfying potato chips. According to surveys, the average American consumes more than four pounds of potato chips annually. There are many alternatives available when that urge does occur, and just at your neighborhood grocery shop, there are probably at least a dozen different potato chip brands. One of the most unusual and delicious potato chips is Cheez Waffies, made by the Wise brand. 

In this article, we will explore the taste, history, and ingredients of those delicious, unusual Cheez sandwiches. 

Overview

In the 1980s, Wise began offering Cheez Waffies, which are constructed of crunchy wafers with a cheese filling that resembles a waffle sandwich. Wise may have officially discontinued the snack at some point, but as early as 2010, people online complained that they couldn’t locate them in shops. After years, fans were still looking for Cheez Waffies. However, only a select few were successful in locating some older bags on Amazon or hidden away at a shop.

Then, in 2019, Wise hinted in a Twitter post that Cheez Waffies would soon return to shop shelves, appearing to confirm that the snack had indeed been withdrawn. Cheez Waffies are still missing from Wise’s product line after three years. Not only that, but they also seem to be out of stock at all of the big supermarket shops, and for some time, it was unavailable on Amazon. So, it’s unclear whether or not this beloved snack will make a formal reappearance.

Where to Buy Cheez Waffies?

Even though the Wise Company officially or unofficially stopped making Cheez Waffies, there are still some places where you may get them. For some time, as already mentioned above, it was hard to even order it on Amazon. However, it appears that it has become more widely available in recent years.

Today, with their limited quantity, Cheez Waffies may be found on Amazon and in large online stores. They are also available at some Walmart locations in a 5-ounce package. 

Ingredients And Nutritional Value

A single package of Cheez Waffies has 5 oz (141 grams) of chips in it. There are 5 servings in the small container, and the serving size is 6. The calorie count per serving is 140. The total fat, which includes saturated and trans fats, is 12% of the daily value. The cholesterol level is 15 and the sodium level is 16%. The total amount of carbohydrates in the snack is 5%. The Cheez Waffies has 2 grams of protein per serving and 2% iron. 

The main components of the snack are enriched flour, coconut oil, corn starch, whey, cheese blend, soybean oil, salt, corn flour, calcium, sodium, buttermilk, citric acid, and lactic acid. 

As for allergies, the Cheez Waffies contain milk, soy, wheat, and coconut. 

Ingredients

• Enriched Flour (Wheat Flour, Niacin, Malted Barley Flour, Reduced Iron, Thiamin Mononitrate, Riboflavin, Folic Acid)
• Coconut Oil
• Whey
• Corn Starch
• Cheese Blend [Granular and Blue (Cultured Milk, Salt, Enzymes)]
• Partially Hydrogenated Soybean Oil
• Salt
• Less Than 2% of Whey Protein Concentrate, Dextrose, Corn Flour, Lecithin, Lactose, Maltodextrin, Calcium and Sodium Caseinate (Milk Derived), Sodium Phosphate, Citric Acid, Buttermilk, Ammonium Bicarbonate, Sodium Bicarbonate, Lactic Acid, Yellow 5, Yellow 6.
• Contains Wheat and Milk

Nutrition

Serving Size:	5.0 Servings Per Container	% Daily value*
Calories	140
Total Fat	8g	12%
Saturated Fat	5g	25%
Trans Fat	0g
Cholesterol	5mg	1%
Sodium	380mg	16%
Total Carbohydrate	15g	5%
Dietary Fiber	0g	0%
Sugar	4g
Protein	2g

• * The % Daily Value (DV) tells you how much a nutrient in a serving of food contributes to a daily diet. 2,000 calories a day is used for general nutrition advice.

What Does Cheez Waffies Taste Like?

Cheez Waffies are for serious cheese fans because they have so much cheese flavor in every mouthful. Each bite is the ideal combination of cheese and crunch thanks to the tangy cheese you want to be sandwiched between two crispy waffle wafers. The snack is made with real cheese, which is definitely worth mentioning.

 For some people, it might have a weird texture because of all the cheese and waffle combinations. So, one may either like it or hate it. However, once you get past the texture, it is quite tasty. 

This snack is great for all adults and kids. So it’s ideal for a family that enjoys snacking. The Cheez Waffies pair perfectly well with beer and other alcoholic beverages.

Packaging

Cheez Waffies have packaging that screams “CHEESE”. The design includes yellow, red, orange, brown, and blue colors. However, orange and yellow are dominant as a background. The “Wise” brand logo is located on the top, middle corner of the snack. It is white and has a blue background. 

In the center, we see “Cheez Waffies” written with a yellow color and a brown background that resembles a rhombus. Below, with white on a red background, in small letters, we see the text, “Made with real cheese.” 

A large illustration in the lower middle section depicts Waffies chips and a wheel of yellow cheese. At the very bottom, we see the following text: “Delicious, crispy cheese sandwiches.” This sentence perfectly describes the snacks that can be found inside the package. 

Logo

Mascot

You may be familiar with the cute owl that used to be on all of Wise’s goods if you grew up eating Cheez Waffies Wise potato chips or have come upon an older bag. The mascot’s name is Peppy, and he used to be a significant fixture on all of the company’s product packaging and advertising. 

Following the opening of Earl Wise’s new, larger production facility in 1946 as a result of the 1944 fire, Peppy was created. According to Berwick, he created the owl in memory of his mother. Perhaps it was for her “wise” counsel in assisting him in turning all those extra potatoes into chips, which would later help Wise build an empire in the snack food industry.

Early in the new millennium, Wise underwent some significant modifications to become more competitive with other expanding snack-food goliaths like Frito-Lay. Wise updated all of its product packagings with assistance from its new owner. Although Peppy himself was taken off of the majority of the packaging, the owl’s eye in Wise’s current emblem ensures that he is still there in spirit.

Rejected Accusations Towards Cheez Waffies 

When you open a bag of potato chips expecting to tuck into the salty, crispy bliss, it might be disheartening to discover only a small number of chips and a large amount of enclosed air. This was a major issue for Wise Cheez Waffies a few years ago, and it even resulted in some lawsuits from hungry and angry potato chip fans. 

Two customers who claimed Wise was “misleading” consumers by leaving their bags of chips up to 75% empty in order to generate more money filed a lawsuit against the firm. Additionally, the lawsuit alleged that rivals’ bags contained more chips and that Wise’s use of slack-fill was excessive.

Ultimately, the lawsuit was rejected by the judge, but Wise was still subject to criticism. Once the lawsuit was made public, several additional clients criticized Wise on social media by uploading depressing images of chip bags that were underfilled.

Company That Invented Cheez Waffies

A firm called Wise Foods, Inc., with its headquarters in Berwick, Pennsylvania offers snacks through retail food establishments in 15 states along the eastern seaboard. Although Wise is most known for its many different kinds of potato chips, the company also sells other snacks such as Cheez Doodles, Bagged Popcorn, Tortilla Chips, Pork Rinds, Onion Rings, Dipsy Doodle Chips, Nachos, Quinlan Brand Pretzels, French Onion Dips.

Cheez Waffies, which was previously produced by Wise, is no longer available. In 2012, the Mexican firm Arca Continental bought Wise Foods.

In 1921, Earl Wise established the Wise Potato Chip Company in Berwick, Pennsylvania, the precursor of today’s Wise Foods. He started creating potato chips as a method to use up extra potatoes while he operated Wise Delicatessen. Initially, he was frying them in his mother’s kitchen and then selling them to clients in brown paper bags. 

At the time, buyers would scoop potato chips into paper bags from Cracker Barrels or glass display cases. The bags later gave rise to waxed paper bags since they acquired grease marks and did not keep the chips fresh for very long.

Customers took an immediate liking to Wise’s chips, and the delicatessen owner quickly rose to prominence as a regional potato chip tycoon. A bird thought to be “intelligent,” the owl became the company’s mascot, and its stylized eye is still used as the company’s emblem. By 1922, he had his first delivery vehicle, and in 1925, he established his first manufacturing facility. 

The Wise family sold the business in 1964, and the Borden Condensed Milk Co. bought it. The Wise Potato Chip Company changed its name to Wise Items, Inc. Moore’s Quality Snack Foods, a producer of salty snacks that sold mostly in Virginia and the Carolinas, was bought by Wise in 1989.

In 1959, Wise released its own cookbook with hundreds of recipes that all use Wise potato chips and are “each picked for enhanced flavor and healthiness.” The cookbook included several classic recipes at the time, yet many feel quite dated by today’s standards.

Pictures

Bottom Line

While potato chips are excellent on their own, the Wise firm has long recognized that there is much more room for growth for this salty snack.  With these Wise Cheez Waffies, all of your appetites will be satisfied. These sandwiches with genuine cheese have a satisfying crunch and burst with flavor in each bite. It’s fun to have this fast snack with a buddy or a loved one. We can only hope that the snack will be back on the market soon.