Guardian Newspaper Taste Test

Photo stolen from The Guardian 

OK everyone, strap yourselves in for this article about crazy flavour crisps published in The Guardian newspaper this week.

I was having a cup of tea with my neighbours (who are the only people on the planet capable of making me drink tea), and for some reason was explaining that I write this blog about crisps and crispy snacks. And they said: well perhaps I should offer to write an article for The Guardian. I explained that over the years I have posted a number of articles about crisps that have appeared all over the place: Daily Mail, The Guardian… I can’t remember, all sorts. 

So writing about crisps is nothing new. I mean, you knew that. Nobody has ever heard of me, but more than a million people have read my blog. And continue to read it. I am also well aware that blogs are old fashioned and I should maybe get myself a substack: but… I have even been referenced by Wikipedia! Woohoo!

Anyhow, the very next day who should publish a piece about weird flavoured crisps but The Guardian. Coincidence? Alternative universe? Who can say. And here’s the link. 

Do read it, because some of these crisps sound utterly bonkers. You know I have attempted many different flavours over the years for your entertainment and delight, but some of these I have never come across.

I think this reviewer has been asked to review too many flavours all at once and has been overwhelmed by the incredible amount of flavours available to us these days. Frankly far too many. Honestly, I think in the end I really like Ready Salted best. If it’s done well it’s hard to beat it.

Co-op Irresistible Hand Cooked BBQ Lamb Kofta & Tzatziki Flavour Limited Edition

I’ve only gone and bought yet another bag of crisps that I don’t like.

I don’t care that they’re a limited edition, I don’t find them irresistible and I can’t taste Lamb Koftas, BBQ or otherwise. 

That’s unfortunate. The Co-op, that’s the UK Co-op, usually produces a good crisp. And here we have a nice sized crinkle cut crisp, not too large, with the expected good crunch. But… whatever were the flavour scientists thinking? I know what you’re thinking; it’s probably just my weird sense of taste. But seriously, I can just barely detect the lamb and the tzatziki not at all.

What a pity. I love lamb koftas. And I’m rather partial to tzatziki. Hey ho.

I’m really sorry but I cannot recommend this crisp. Look, it’s not a nasty flavour it’s just not the flavour as advertised. Luckily, it is as I said before, a limited edition crisp and probably all the bags that were made have been sold and eaten by people less fussy than me. But remember, I am an internationally renowned taste tester. So that’s my job.

Sorry everyone.

Mini Cheddars Cheeselets Intensely Cheese & Onion Flavour

This is a bit odd. This crispy snack is not a Mini Cheddar. They are round and biscuitty. This crispy snack is not a Cheeselet. True, Cheeselets are roughly square, but they too are biscuitty, and these squares are thin and quite pointy at the corners. 

What’s going on?

Nice crispy crunch, a slight cheese and onion flavour which I actually prefer to the promised intense flavour, but not a lot of flavour dust. Extremely sharp at the corners or pointy bits. I probably wouldn’t give these to a younger child. Quite palatable, but not very exciting.

So pladis, who seem to be the owners of Jacob’s these days, have appropriated two of Jacob’s best known brands to present us with something that is neither one nor the other. (Also pladis doesn’t have a capital letter.)