Quesitos Diana

A Central American clásico that wins over palates. Quesitos Diana are puffed corn sticks covered in Danish cheddar cheese. Their flavor is a mix of saltiness with a milky cheese kick, plus a subtle spicy heat from chile picante in the recipe. That combo delivers a balanced, addictive taste — not too salty, not too cheesy, just right.

¿What can you eat with quesitos Diana?

Quesitos Diana are super versatile and can be enjoyed en varios ways:

• Salsas: Pair them with guacamole o tomato salsa for a cool flavor contraste.
• Bebidas: Perfect to snack with jugos naturales o sodas.
• Salads: Toss some into your ensalada for that extra crunch and cheesy note.

Historia del producto: Quesitos Diana, de un snack experimental a un ícono centroamericano

They came up as a respuesta to changing consumer behavior in the 80s, cuando Productos Alimenticios Diana saw a growing demand for bold, salty snacks, beyond just plain toasted corn or sweet boquitas.

Primeros experimentos: finales de los 70

Back then, salty snacks weren’t a big category. El equipo de desarrollo began experimenting with puffed corn sticks as a base — they were cheap, lightweight, and perfect for flavor absorption.
Early versions used local cheese seasoning, pero los resultados were either too soft or flavorless after packaging.
In 1982, formulators decided to import dehydrated Danish cheddar cheese, which brought a richer umami, salty, and creamy profile. That was the breakthrough that made quesitos Diana a hit.

Lanzamiento oficial: 1983

After 14 months of flavor testing with consumers in San Salvador, Santa Ana, and San Miguel, the company officially launched quesitos Diana in 1983, under the slogan: “Un sabor que se queda contigo”.
Packaged in small plastic orange bags, they quickly attracted the youth market — students, workers, bus drivers, and niños.
Internal data showed that in their first year, quesitos Diana made up 12% of all salty snack sales for the company.

Décadas de consolidación: 1990–2000

In the 90s, quesitos Diana became a flagship product. They were exported to Guatemala, Honduras, and Nicaragua, and family-size bags were introduced.
Packaging tech also improved, using modified atmosphere to keep them fresh por más tiempo.
It was during this time that chile picante was added to the recipe, giving a mild but persistent spicy twist that fans quickly loved as “el nuevo toque de los quesitos”.
By 1999, Diana reported quesitos were the top-selling snack in their category, even above classic fried corn chips.

Adaptación y relanzamientos: 2010–2020

With international competition and new food labeling laws (like sodium reduction and allergen flags), Diana adjusted the formula in 2015.

• Salt content was reduced by 9%.
• Synthetic colorants were removed.

In 2017, they launched mini packs for kids’ lunchboxes, and special editions with extra spicy or chile-limón flavors.
Social media campaigns focused on nostalgia, using lines like “Los quesitos de mi infancia”, reconnecting with generations who grew up eating them.
El presente: símbolo de identidad cultural
Today, quesitos Diana are more than a snack. They’re part of daily Central American life — in corner stores, lunchboxes, stadiums, buses, and ferias.

Latest company data shows:

• Over 7 million bags are produced every month.
• Sold in more than 22,000 retail points across the region.
• In 2023, they were the #2 most consumed snack in El Salvador (after corn churros).

Also, they’re a key ingredient in street recipes like the “quesitonadas”: a wild mix of quesitos, Worcestershire sauce, lime, chili powder, and grated cucumber — super popular with teens.

Brand History: Diana

Productos Alimenticios Diana was born in 1951, when Max Olano and Pablo Tesak started cooking up snacks in a tiny San Salvador garage. Over the decades, the brand expanded fast across Central America and even reached the U.S. Latino market.

Today, Diana stands as one of the region’s most loved snack brands, known for boquitas, dulces, cookies, and the legendary quesitos Diana.Their identity is built on tradición, sabor auténtico, y comunidad — values that remain strong in every bag you open.