Eating Lay's latest batch of new potato chip flavors is kind of like that scene in Charlie in the Chocolate Factory where Violet Beauregarde chews gum that tastes like an entire meal. Minus the whole turning-into-a-massive-blueberry part.
Each chip seems almost layered with flavor, bringing out different spices as you chew. Some taste like entire meals, and for good reason: They're inspired by classic dishes from around the world. All four new flavors hit stores on or around July 25. Here's a breakdown of each one:
- Brazilian Picanha — This was editors' clear favorite, which has the smoky, meaty taste of a steak, and the zesty brightness of an herby chimichurri sauce.
- Indian Tikka Masala — You'll taste turmeric, cumin, and a tomato-y essence, reminiscent of the creamy, spicy curry.
- Chinese Szechuan Chicken — Taste-testers liked this blend least, which starts out with a strong, rotisserie chicken-like flavor, then gives way to bold, blistering spice (at least for a potato chip). If you like chips with a little kick, you'll love this.
- Greek Tzatziki — While this flavor isn't inspired by an entire meal, per se, it may be the most universally appealing. Fans of sour cream and onion chips will go wild for these tangy crisps, which feature a blend of dill, garlic, cucumber and a distinctly yogurt-y flavor. What gives it that yogurt-like taste is unclear, as it's just listed as "Natural Yogurt Type Flavor" in the ingredients.
The brand is also running a promotion tied to the limited-edition flavors, called "Passport to Flavor." For every bag you buy that's marked with "Passport to Flavor," there's a special code that you can enter on Lays.com to score "miles" that can help you win all kinds of prizes, from a tablet to a two-week trip to the four countries that inspired the flavors (Brazil, India, China and Greece).
Over the past 10 months, Lay's has released eight other limited-edition flavors, as part of it's "Do Us A Flavor" contest. At this point, the brand has covered so many of the classic potato chip combinations—and even some of the more bizarre ones, like Cappuccino and Smoked Gouda and Chive—that posting Photoshopped pics of extremely specific, beyond-bizarre combos has become a meme in itself.
Thankfully, the brand has never taken these erm, suggestions, seriously.
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