We tried Lay's bizarre new potato chip flavors - here's the verdict
Last year, Business Insider taste-tested the eclectic flavors competing for Lay's "Do Us a Flavor" contest to see if the recent flavor winner, Southern Biscuits and Gravy, was deserving of its crown.
Now, Lay's is introducing four new flavors based on recent flavor trends: Fiery Roasted Habanero, Korean Barbecue, Olive Oil and Herbs Kettle Cooked, and Smoked Gouda and Chive.
These flavors are part of the new "Flavor Swap", which pits them against comparable classic flavors.
But how do these new flavors hold up? We tried them to find out.
Fiery Roasted Habanero
These have a strange taste that is difficult to describe - but the heat is there, surprisingly. It's fairly spicy, but any real taste is lost in the heat, apart from a hint of peppercorn. An entire bag may prove to be a challenge.
The verdict: hot, but no taste. If you're into that, go for it - if not, skip.
Korean Barbecue
The flavor here is subtle. There's a delicate sweetness that compliments a smokey saltiness nicely. There's also a strong savory note of soy sauce, adding complexity. Pretty impressive, actually.
The verdict: a surprisingly complex flavor. Definitely worth trying a bag.
Olive Oil and Herbs
The flavored kettle-cooked chips are a whole different ball game. The chips themselves pack more of a punch and crunch, so the flavoring tends to be stronger in compensation. One bite and I immediately pick up on flavors of thyme and basil, with the familiar smoothness of olive oil. These might just be the easiest to snack on - I could go through a whole bag of these without tiring of the taste, unlike many gimmicky chips.
The verdict: world, meet your new "I feel like eating a whole bag of chips and no one is going to stop me" chip.
Smoked Gouda and Chive
As I open the bag, I'm hit with a certain whiff. It's disconcerting. Cheese flavors seem to be the most difficult to nail down, so I'm hesitant -smoked Gouda is by far my favorite cheese. The taste is something akin to sour cream and onion (no surprise, given the chive addition), yet with a subtle aftertaste that reminds me of Swiss cheese, but smokier. It's strangely close to Gouda, but it doesn't have the mellow feel quite down. They're odd chips, but ... I keep eating them. It's a decent effort to replicate the subtlety of smoked Gouda cheese. I'm not sure what the chives add though, apart from making it comparable to sour cream and onion.
The verdict: curiously accurate, but pretty close to sour cream and onion. Eat a few - but you'll get tired of them quickly.