Tayto Salt & Vinegar (Northern Ireland)

This is the third little packet of Tayto crisps from the multi-pack I found in Tesco.

This is a retro style Salt & Vinegar flavour; quite strong but not so strong your tongue curls up in horror. And a little bit sweet too. Not a super exciting, wow! this is the best Salt & Vinegar flavour ever, but pretty good nonetheless. And in a 25g bag which I always appreciate.

Tayto crisps are the Tall Taste Tester’s childhood crisps. He assures me that the singing potato on the packet is in fact Neil Sedaka. I much prefer my Guys & Dolls idea. And I understand that the Tayto packet used to be clear. I wonder when that changed?

Tayto Prawn Cocktail Flavour Crisps

This is another little 25g packet from the Tayto multi-pack I found in Tesco. And something of a disappointment.

As before I noticed that the Tayto crisps are very small. Which is fine. After all the size of the potato doesn't affect the taste of the crisp.

But the flavour. How can I put it? Very sharp tomato ketchup. That's how.

No prawns were harmed in the making of these crisps which are suitable for vegetarians. And you might think that they are suitable for healthy eaters because just like breakfast cereals they contain iron, thiamin and niacin. I wonder why?

On the other hand you might say they really aren't suitable for healthy eaters because of all the Disodium 5 Ribonucleotide and Sodium Diacetate etc. Surely these days a proper crisp doesn't need to be covered in chemicals.

Oh yes, and the tomato ketchup taste? Where does that come from? No idea at all. Unless from the mystery "flavouring" on the list of ingredients.

The reluctant taste testers were not impressed. The extremely senior volunteer taste tester ate one and a half bags (at the very least) all by himself. But I have to tell you that he'll eat almost anything. We don't think he's allowed crispy snacks at home.

Tayto Cheese & Onion (Northern Ireland)

The people's choice says the packet. And it well may be.

I had heard about Tayto crisps. They seem to be some sort of Irish legend. Like Finn MacCool perhaps (no; not really). Anyway when I spotted this multi-pack in Tesco's world food section (where else?), obviously I had to buy it.

What a weird selection though. Cheese & Onion, Salt & Vinegar and..... Prawn Cocktail. What? No plain Salted?

And I have to say (sorry Tayto) I really do not admire the branding of this product. The colours are a bit too brash and (sorry again) I hate the cartoon potato. I hate the fact that a potato, that's Mr Tayto to you, is drawn to look like Frank Sinatra or Marlon Brando in Guys & Dolls. I mean, look at him: he's about to burst into song.

However, I have to stop picking holes in the design because in fact these crisps are every bit as good as rumour had it.

Rather small, in fact surprisingly small crisps, and a little pale in colour. But the crunch is wonderfully light, and the taste is superb. Brilliant.

The multi-pack bag was too long to fit in my scanner so you have to imagine another 40mm or 50mm of turquoise on either end.

And here's the 2016 60th anniversary packet which Noble Friend found at Fortnum & Mason.