I have a confession to make. It's a bit "out-there"; a bit unusual, especially for a girl. I'm really not that mad on chocolate. I know - I posted those delish pics of chocolatey nomminess on a previous post, but outside of my *happy place*, I just don't have a sweet tooth, so my go-to snack is... Crisps.
I grew up on Walkers, of course, and started out with Cheese & Onion, in the green packets as they were in those days! I remember the day I stopped eating them - a boy who lived on my street wandered over to where I was resting on my pink Raleigh Bluebird and demanded a crisp. I obliged, happily enough, but he sniffed the crisp and pretended to throw up into the packet. Nice. I haven't deliberately eaten a Cheese & Onion crisp since!
Nowadays, we are spoilt for choice - last year's foray into the world of the unusual was a bit of a flop - Chilli & Chocolate was disappointing to say the least, and Cajun Squirrel must have contained authentic squirrel flavours as there wasn't a hint of cajun about it! I bravely tried each one, but the only enjoyable flavour was the Hoi Sin Duck, slightly reminiscent of the delicious (and greatly missed!) Spare Rib flavour in their Great British Takeaways range, but nothing like that BBQ Rib nonsense they're serving up now.
Discovery of these various flavours is mostly serendipitous - stumbling upon something you've never tried before in a random corner shop or vending machine is a true delight. I'd like to take a moment to thank Kaplan in Bristol for the lime-green packets of Pickled Onion that got me through many a tax class, and McColl's of Walsall for being the first place to supply me with the heavenly Thai Sweet Chilli. What can I say, the life of an accountant requires snacks!
This time around, I'm particularly excited about their new range, themed around the World Cup - the Flavour Cup. Now this is a World Cup event that a girl like me can really get interested in!
Friday night's planned Pimmsathon was a bit of a wash - lots of Pimms, but all in one place... It was redeemed, somewhat, by the inclusion of a mass crisp-tasting session!
English Roast Beef & Yorkshire Pudding - this was tasty, but bizarrely creamy... Also, contained the rather ominous-sounding "poultry stock", so our vegetarian panellist couldn't partake.
Japanese Teriyaki Chicken - well, you really can't go wrong with a flavour like this. Full-bodied and tangy!
Dutch Edam - very cheesy, but very weird. Things that crunch ought not taste like things that squidge!
American Cheeseburger - this has been a forerunner on a couple of occasions! Beefy and cheesy, with a delicious hint of gherkin!
German Bratwurst Sausage - so accurate that it was spooky! Lord only knows how those chemists rustled up such a medley of flavours, but we were left thinking of Violet Beauregarde... A proper, smoky sausage with a definite burst of sauerkraut and hint of mustard.
French Garlic Baguette - I am a garlic fiend - awaiting our trip to the Stinking Rose in San Francisco with great relish! - but this was just weak...
Argentinean Flame Grilled Steak - this tastes of not just beef, but grilled beef. Less freakish than some others - I could really see this becoming a regular flavour.
Brazilian Salsa - Oh yawn. A little tomatoey, a little spicy, but mostly blah.
I have yet to try the remaining countries' flavours...
Spanish Chicken Paella
Irish Stew
Australian BBQ Kangaroo
Italian Spaghetti Bolognese
Welsh Rarebit
Scottish Haggis
South African Sweet Chutney
Has anyone given these a try? Or are you too grossed out by the bizarre ingredients lists? What's your favourite crisp flavour?
