First, thanks for all your suggestions!

[conuly]

Secondly, new question: Why is it that if I want to spend my life spitting out sunflower seed shells I can find a variety of flavors, but if I just want them pre-hulled for ease of eating without littering my choices are "raw unsalted", "roasted unsalted", and "fine, we'll let you have a little salt"?

Comments

[alexseanchai]

I found honey roasted sunflower kernels on Amazon but (1) the reviews were universally of the opinion that "honey" is a misnomer (2) I was specifically looking for honey roasted

(for fic reasons, unfortunately, not because I have any money to get any with; honey roasted sunflower kernels—if indeed they taste the least bit honey-ish—would be a delightful addition to my diet)

...what are the purveyors of flavored sunflower seeds, as opposed to sunflower kernels, doing to accomplish the flavoring? surely any additives would attach to the shells, not the kernels?

[peoriapeoriawhereart]

With shell sunflower seeds are about generating spit without chaw tobacco. They're more effective if the shells stay in the mouth awhile, thus the flavorings.

[alexseanchai]

*nod*

[conuly]

That's right, they attach to the shells. Since you need to bite the shell to get it off anyway you can suck off the flavoring at the same time. Which is fine (if gross to contemplate) but why can't we also flavor hulled seeds?

[alexseanchai]

oooh gotcha

[bladespark]

Flavor your own, maybe? I've done flavored pumpkin seeds starting from the gourd. By raw unsalted and roast them in the oven with/then toss with thing of choice? Kinds spitballing here, but it seems possible.

[conuly]

Well, aside from the fact that I'll have to fix the oven first, I'm kinda lazy and don't wanna hafta.

[bladespark]

That is entirely fair!

[gingicat]

I found them with tamari:
https://nuts.com/snacks/sunflowerseeds/organic-tamari.html

[quirkytizzy]

LOL about the sunflower seeds. I'd never realized it, but you're right about the choices offered when it's just the seeds!

[calimac]

I am similarly perplexed by seasoned shrimp dishes when the shell is still on the shrimp. All the seasoning comes off on your fingers when you peel the shrimp, with none left for the actual shrimp meat, and while you can lick it off, that's not optimal, and it more makes your fingers messy than tasty.

[silveradept]

They probably assume the already hulled ones are going on salads or other things where there will be sauces and flavorings present.