As the festive season arrives, supermarket shelves are groaning under the weight of limited-edition Christmas snacks. This year's offerings promise everything from the nostalgic comfort of a roast dinner to combinations that border on the bizarre. Self-confessed crisp addict and chef Ravinder Bhogal took on the daunting task of tasting them all, separating the truly tasty from the downright dreadful.
The Crisp Connoisseur's Verdict
Bhogal, owner of London's Jikoni restaurant and author of several cookbooks, approached the tasting with an open mind. While admitting a preference for simple salted potato, she was willing to explore the "lively and new-fangled" festive creations. Her mission was clear: to navigate an ever-growing market where crisp brands compete with increasingly nostalgic and sometimes unhinged flavour combinations, so you don't have to.
The Top Tier: Crisps Worth Celebrating
The clear winner in Bhogal's review was Waitrose's Turkey and Stuffing Tortilla Chips. Priced at £1.60 for a 200g bag (80p per 100g), they earned four stars. She praised their toasty, meaty flavour that cleverly evoked the savoury warmth of a family roast dinner without being heavy.
For the best bargain, the title went to Morrisons The Best Pigs in Blanket Crisps. At just £1 for a 125g bag (80p/100g), they also scored four stars. Bhogal found them "quite clever," capturing the irresistible taste of singed bacon and crispy sausage skin. She noted their thick, ridged cut and addictive quality, dubbing them "best eaten with a Christmas hangover."
The Middle of the Road: Festive Flops and Near Misses
Several offerings landed in the three-star territory. The Co-op Irresistible Hand-Cooked Duck and Clementine Crisps (£1.80 for 150g) offered a pleasant citrus note, though the duck flavour was subtle. Walkers Sensations Honey-Glazed Roast Ham (available at Iceland and Tesco) were sweet, smoky, and crunchy but deemed a little oily and cloying—perhaps best suited for a Boxing Day sandwich.
M&S Butter-Basted Roast Turkey Crisps (£1.80 for 150g at Ocado) delivered a good crunch and a nice herbal, stuffing-like flavour but were criticised for being heavily salted.
The Bottom of the Sack: Crisps to Avoid
The lower rankings featured some notable disappointments. Aldi's Camembert, Chilli and Honey Crinkle Crisps (99p for 150g) scored just one star, failing the "moreish" test and tasting predominantly of sour cream and chive with an overly sweet finish, with no discernible camembert.
Lidl's Lobster Cocktail Crisps (£1.15 for 150g) also received one star, described as sour and unpleasant, akin to "sucking on a packet of tomato ketchup" rather than a prawn cocktail.
Tesco Finest Roast Turkey and Herb Butter Flavour Crisps (£1.50 for 150g) were another one-star letdown. Despite packaging that claims they are "made with British turkey," Bhogal found the overwhelming flavour was onion powder, with little else of merit.
The absolute nadir of the tasting, receiving zero stars, was the Doritos Gingerbread Flavour Corn Chips. Available at Iceland and Tesco, these were the only crisp Bhogal ever wanted to spit out. She described them as sweet with a fiery ginger hit—essentially ginger nuts disguised as tortilla chips—and confessed she hated them too much to award any credit for accuracy.
This comprehensive taste test serves as a crucial guide for snack lovers navigating the festive aisle. It proves that while some seasonal innovations hit the mark with delicious nostalgia, others are best left on the shelf, saving your palate for the real flavours of Christmas.
