The festive season heralds the arrival of novelty snacks on supermarket shelves, with crisp manufacturers competing to offer the most nostalgic – and sometimes bizarre – seasonal flavours. From turkey and stuffing to gingerbread corn chips, the options range from delicious to downright deranged.
The Crisp Connoisseur's Verdict
Self-confessed crisp addict and chef Ravinder Bhogal undertook the formidable task of sampling this year's festive offerings. While a purist might favour simple salted potato, Bhogal approached the lively and new-fangled creations with an open mind, though some combinations sounded decidedly unhinged. The mission: to separate the genuinely tasty from the mere novelty.
The Top Tier: Crisps Worth Celebrating
The standout winner for best overall was crowned as Waitrose's Turkey and Stuffing Tortilla Chips. Priced at £1.60 for 200g, these chips earned four stars for their toasty, meaty flavour that evoked a warm family roast dinner without being heavy.
The title for best bargain went to Morrisons The Best Pigs in Blanket Crisps. At just £1 for a 125g bag, these thick, ridged crisps captured the irresistible flavour of singed bacon and dark sausage skin. Bhogal noted they were particularly addictive and best eaten with a Christmas hangover.
The Middle Ground and The Misfires
Several offerings landed in the middle of the pack. Co-op's Irresistible Hand-Cooked Duck and Clementine Crisps (£1.80/150g) offered a pleasant citrus note, while Sensations Honey-Glazed Roast Ham flavour (£1.50/150g at Iceland) was deemed sweet, smoky, but a tad cloying. M&S Butter-Basted Roast Turkey Crisps (£1.80/150g) delivered a nice herbal stuffing flavour but were criticised for being heavily salted.
The lower end of the spectrum featured some clear disappointments. Aldi's Camembert, Chilli and Honey Crinkle Crisps (99p/150g) failed the 'moreish' test, starting like sour cream and chive and ending overly sweet with no discernible camembert. Lidl's Lobster Cocktail Crisps (£1.15/150g) tasted unpleasantly of sour tomato ketchup, and Tesco Finest Roast Turkey and Herb Butter crisps (£1.50/150g) were dominated by onion powder despite their 'made with British turkey' claim.
The Unholy Grail: A Flavour Too Far
The dubious honour of the lowest rating – zero stars – was reserved for Doritos Gingerbread Flavour Corn Chips. Available for £1.50 at Iceland, these were described as 'ginger nuts dressed as tortilla chips'. The strong, fiery ginger flavour was so off-putting that Bhogal confessed it was the only crisp she ever wanted to spit out, awarding no stars despite their accurate gingerbread taste.
This annual foray into festive snacking proves that while some limited editions become instant classics, others are best left on the shelf. The quest for the perfect party crisp continues, but this year, the traditional flavours of the Christmas dinner table, cleverly translated, seem to reign supreme.
