Hippeas Organic Chickpea Puffs (WHSmith)

I first spotted these Hippeas chickpea puffs a few weeks ago in the WHSmith in Birmingham train station. I looked at the price and assumed that I'd be able to pick them up cheaper elsewhere (seeing as train station stores are usually so overpriced). The trouble was, I couldn't find Hippeas again anywhere! So on my way back from London on Saturday afternoon I made sure that I popped into the Paddington WHSmith especially to pick some up. At £1.50 for two bags they had also come on offer and didn't break the bank, hurrah!

Sowhat are Hippeas? Hippeas are organic, vegan, gluten-free, high fibre, and low fat puffed chickpeas. The company are also keen to 'give back' and say:

"We believe in change from the ground up. That’s why we support Farm Africa, a charity who do just that.Working in Sub-Saharan Africa, they help farmers become more pioneering andproductive, climate-smart and competitive, enabling them and their communitiesto grow their own way out of poverty."

So, they're healthy and ecologically friendly, but that only matters if they taste good! I picked up a pack of the "Pepper Power" and "In Herbs We Trust" to try.

Pepper Power

Why did I opt for this flavour when I know I'm not keen on overly hot foods? WHSmith only had two varieties and I wanted to be able to compare both. 

The bag was only half full, but that's on par with most other savoury snack bags, and it only claimed to weigh 22g after all. The golden puffs looked like larger -less luminous- Wotsits, but the texture was entirely different. They were crunchier, and more satisfying to eat than the cheesy maize based snack. The trouble was, they were very 'flavourful' -and by that I mean they were super peppery. I needed a large glass of water to wash them down with!

6/10

In Herbs We Trust
This Hippeas flavour seemed to be much more up my street. A quick scout at the ingredients list revealed that they were seasoned with a mixture of sea salt, onions, basil, oregano, rosemary, thyme, garlic and pepper. That sounds almost Italian. I like Italian.

Wow, as soon as the bag was open I was struck by the most wonderfully Mediterranean aroma. Seriously, had I just wandered down the streets of Sorrento? It was clear that these shouldn't be eaten on the train or bus -for fear that you'd be mugged for them. I hoped that the smell would be a true indication of the taste...

..and it was. They were so utterly moreish. The earthy tones of the chickpeas amalgamated with the flavourings perfectly. I enjoyed their crunchiness too, which was much more satiating than eating a bag of potato crisps. They were seriously good.

10/10

Summary
Pepper Power might not be my bag, but if you like spice I'm sure that you'll be able to handle it better than me. I loved the herby flavour, and now am desperately seeking the "Far Out Fajita" and "Sweet & Smokin'" packs too. I've noticed that Holland & Barrett have just started stocking Hippeas, but our local branch only stocks the two flavours I've reviewed! Keeping my eyes peeled...

Chilli & Lime Portlebay Popcorn

The popcorn that sounded the second least appetising to me in the box that Portlebay sent was the Chilli & Lime Kracklecorn. Again it's just because it's a savoury product that it doesn't appeal to me, but given how much I enjoyed the Wasabi & Sweet Ginger, I wasn't entirely dreading it.

When I opened the bag I was met with quite a strong spicy aroma. The popcorn was a dusty orange colour, and I worried about whether they'd blow my head off. I like my spice, but I'm more of a Rogan Josh than a Vindaloo kind of girl. I don't understand the enjoyment of eating food that makes you sweat. I'd appreciate any insight from anybody who's a Scotch Bonnet fan! 

The popcorn didn't taste as spicy as I feared, and actually reminded me of tikka. The heat intensified as I continued through the bag, but not to the point where I couldn't eat it. I could taste a refreshing hint of citrus coming from the lime, but it was only just distinguishable against the spice. I offered a bite to my discerning taxi driver who was surprised to discover that he enjoyed it. He compared it in similarity to Tyrell's chilli rice crackers but I can't pass comment having never tried them. 

I'm pleased to have had the opportunity to  try this flavour, and I don't think it's unpleasant, but I also don't think I'd buy it again. If you like curry rice crackers and/or crisps, this might be your cup of tea- it's just unfortunately not mine. 

2/10

Wasabi & Sweet Ginger Portlebay Popcorn

This morning was a miserable morning in my house, it was cold and drizzly outside and I faced a great wedge of economics research. All wasn't lost though because I recieved a lovely suprise which turned my day around- the guys from Portlebay kindly sent me a big box full of their different flavour popcorn. 

I fell in love with their Lemon Sherbet Popcorn when I reviewed it last month, and I've been hooked ever since. Last Monday I learnt my lesson by buying the Boots limited Edition Cinnamon & Vanilla which was awful in comparison , a faux pas I shan't make again. Portlebay have since contacted me and asked if they could send me a taster box- how could I refuse?

The box contained four sweet and four savoury bags:
Sweet & Salty
Crispy Bacon & Maple Syrup
Sweet Chilli & Lime
Wasabi & Sweet Ginger
Lemon Sherbet
Very Berry
Cinnamon Swirl
Cappuccino(which I've been dying to try!) 



I've got to admit I've never been a savoury popcorn fan, ive always preferred sweet, and so I wasn't all that excited to try the savoury flavours. I met some friends this afternoon, told them about my present, and one of them got very excited as she told me how great the Wasabi one is. I trust her implicitly but I still wasn't sure my tastebuds would agree with hers. Anyway, I tend to eat food in a bit of a weird way, eating my least favourite first and saving the best until last. With my preconceptions being questioned by my friend I decided to dive in and give the Wasabi flavour a shot. 

The popcorn was dusted with a green powder which actually fits in well with the time of year (probably more so than Butterkist's 'Halloween' popcorn which is in fact their sweet popcorn dyed green). I presumed the green powder was the Wasabi flavouring but it made me all the more hesitant. I offered a piece to my other half, but he refused to touch it. 

 I couldn't have been more wrong though. My ideas of a sushi, fishy tasting popcorn were wrong, and instead  I was met with the warmth from the ginger and a little heat from the Wasabi. The popcorn was sweet too, and the odd sounding combination actually was really well balanced. The mixture of sweet, savoury and slight spice was not overwhelming, but utterly delicious. Once again, Portlebay didn't disappoint with the lack of unpopped kernels- there wasn't even one in the entire bag.

I actually kind of wished I'd waited to try this flavour until later on because I'm sure the others can't all be this good, but who knows...

9/10