NEW! McCoys Chips: Chip Shop Curry Sauce (Home Bargains)

Crisps are something I go through phases with. Most of the time I'm not bothered by them but then I'll get a random craving and boom! I'm hooked again for a few months. When in a crisp loving phase there is one prerequisite: salt & vinegar reigns. However snack hunting extraordinaire @productsinstore posted a picture of McCoys new chip shop curry chip sauce flavoured 'chips' a few weeks ago on instagram and I was suitably intrigued. Curious, but I still waited a few weeks until they cropped up in Home bargains for £1.

The range of 'chips' crisps are also available in salt & vinegar and sea salted flavours, but for some reason it was the curry that really tickled my pickle. Of course they're not really chips, they are in fact crinkled crisps cut into rectangular shapes. The packet contained 6 individual 25g bags.

"Curry Sauce Flavour Reformed Potato Snack."

I feel sorry for the crisp manufacturers. They have far less options when it comes to innovation within their market, so I guess shaping them is one variation.

I like McCoys crinkle crisps, but they're quite clunky so I liked the 'chip' shape, and found them far easier to eat in a lecture theatre without making too much noise.

As for the flavour, McCoys never hold back, and these were every bit as punchy as their other crisps. There was one factor that you couldn't ignore though: they tasted exactly like Nik Naks. I mean they're indistinguishable. As someone who prefers potato to maize based snacks it meant that these ticked the box. It's the Nik Nak for potato lovers! The heat wasn't too strong either, although I was acutely aware of my stinky curry breath for hours after. The new shape might make them more socially acceptable to eat in public, but the flavour sure doesn't!

7/10

NEW Pringles Pigs in Blankets

These new Christmassy Pringles got me really excited! It was disclosed at the start of November that Pringles were going to be launching a new limited edition flavour based around what is arguably the best part of Christmas Dinner, and I've been eagerly awaiting their arrival into stores since.

Chipolata and Bacon Flavour Savoury Snack

Now the one thing I couldn't get my head around was how Pringles were going to differentiate the two pork products. I think after all, what makes 'pigs-in-blankets' so special is the contrast between the crispy bacon casing and the squishy sausage within. So does it work in Pringle form?

For me? No. Whilst the Pringles had a lovely smoky flavour, I didn't find them particularly meaty. The most powerful flavour by far came from the Paprika, with an acknowledgement towards pork (which was more ham than chipolata or bacon) resulting in a product that's probably better described as Barbeque. I've found in recent years that Pringle's flavourings have become more mild, lacking the 'pow' that once kept you going back for more until you'd finished the entire tube.

They are a pleasant crisp, and make a welcome change to the normal salt & vinegar that is the Pringles staple in our house, but I won't be stockpiling them before they're gone from supermarket shelves.

6/10