I really like crisps, so when I was asked if I'd like to review some the answer was obvious.

There were two reasons I agreed. No.1 I really like crisps and no.2 they're grown and produced in East Anglia (which is home to me).

The crisps in question are Corkers Crisps. Great name and I love the patriotic branding with British icons - the Mini, a London taxi, a cricket bat, a telephone box...

Anyway, I thought I'd do a tasting session with Andy one night, perhaps whilst watching a DVD or several episodes of The West Wing, but with him working silly hours at the moment I had to take the crisps to him.

Whilst waiting for this opportunity I scoffed the Sea Salt, and Sea Salt and Cider Vinegar. But that's just between you and me.


My opportunity came a few days ago when Andy was working in one of the fields nearby. I hopped into his tractor cab and proceeded to fill him with crisps. He didn't seem to mind.

I decided to amuse myself by making it a blind taste test. He was happy to play along, although he did give me a sideways glance when I told him his thoughts would be published on the worldwide web.


First up the Red Leicester and Caramelised Onion. His guess - sour cream and cheese, which I thought was a pretty good guess. I liked these ones especially, but then this is the sort of flavour I prefer. They're not your average cheese and onion, they taste more authentic, perhaps less processed or more naturally flavoured, I can't quite put my finger on it. Maybe I need another bag to be sure ;)


We agreed that they had a good crunch to them, I'd been promised this in the PR info and wasn't disappointed. They're not called 'crisps' for nothing. Apparently the crunch comes from the potato being grown in peaty fenlands - so well done the peaty fields of Cambridgeshire.

After that we tried the Sea Salt and Cracked Black Pepper. He said 'lots of pepper and something'. These did have a strong pepper flavour, especially as an after taste, the salt was a little lost but we both liked it.


Then we tried Sweet Thai Chilli. 'A chilli something' he said. These were a lovely colour and I think he knew they would be chilli before he even tried it.


Next up Gressingham Duck and Hoisin Sauce. He pondered over this for a while, he knew the flavour but couldn't put his finger on what it was. In the end he guessed at prawn crackers, knowing that it wasn't right. As soon as I told him, he could put the two together, and declared these his favourite.

And finally we tried Pork Sausage and English Mustard. "I want to say turnip, but I might not know what a turnip tastes like. It's an earthy root vegetable anyway" he said. I liked these, I thought the mustard flavour came through first and then gave way to the meaty taste but Andy couldn't taste either. Interestingly he likes mustard and eats loads of it and I'm not a fan and yet I could taste it and he couldn't.

I should point out that he has rather odd taste buds, according to Andy a digestive biscuit spread with tartar sauce is a taste sensation.

Yeah, he's a wrong'un.

As for the ones I tried at home - Sea Salt, and Sea Salt and Cider Vinegar - both were really tasty, the crisps seem slightly thicker and more robust than other brands. The Sea Salt and Cider Vinegar had a lovely tang to the after taste, and the perfect amount of sharpness. I can see why they have recently won Potato Grower of the Year by UK Growers and been named Best Regional Supplier by Waitrose (they also have a host of Great Taste Awards).


Most recently they've launched vegetable crisps, I kept these to myself as Andy isn't a fan and these are really tasty too. The bag disappeared far too quickly and I could've easily eaten another pack... or several.

So, would I buy them again? Yes. Especially the Gressingham Duck (that are reared on the farm) and Hoisin Sauce, and the vegetable crisps.

They're available from National Trust properties, the Tate, selected Waitrose stores and also Waitrose.com

Have you tried Corkers Crisps?

///

Thank you to Corkers Crisps for sending me these tasty treats. All opinions, my crisp obsession and oddly taste-budded husband are entirely my own. 

///

(Day 32 of blogging everyday for 40 days)