In recent years gourmet popcorn has gone from being the latest ‘foodie fad’ to a snack sensation thanks to its healthier credentials and the wide range of flavours on offer. Brands like Joe and Seph’s and Metcalfe are going from strength to strength by offering grown-up variations of our favourite childhood treats and gone are the days when popcorn is simply flavourless cardboard pieces served up at your local cinema. Now you can expect imaginative flavours like strawberries and cream or peanut satay and the popularity of popcorn seems to be at an all time high.
Since I’m always snacking on something while writing my blogs posts, you can imagine how pleased I was when I came across Portlebay Popcorn at Darts Farm last weekend. Portlebay create homemade flavoured popcorn from their base in Devon and offer some pretty outrageous sounding flavours. As well as wasabi and sweet ginger, chilli and lime, and bacon and maple syrup; they’ve also introduced 4 new sweet flavours including ‘Very Berry’, ”Cappuccino’, ‘Cinnamon Swirl’ and ‘Lemon Sherbet’.
Needless to say, I sampled every popcorn on offer and came away with a few more packets than I initially anticipated..
Chilli and Lime
There’s something strangely refreshing about this flavour combination. I don’t know whether it’s the zingy lime or the kick of the chilli but I was surprised to discover that popcorn could taste so exotic. I was instantly reminded of those tangy lime chutneys that you find served with asian foods and I found myself totally addicted to this flavour after the first few bites.
Lemon Sherbet
This one has to be tried to be believed. The popcorn is light and the flavour is very sweet but not off-putting (biting into these reminded me of the sherbet lemon sweets I would eat as a child). While this variety certainly isn’t for everyone, its perfect for those of us with a sweet tooth who’d rather nibble on some low calorie popcorn than a chocolate bar.
Cinnamon Swirl
This variety was by far the most impactful in terms of flavour. I dare say that there was almost too much cinnamon sprinkled on them, though I guess that all depends on your personal preference. I for one love cinnamon and I was reminded of the warm cinnamon buns that are served in coffee shops during winter. Having said that, one handful of these was enough for me and only diehard cinnamon fans are going to be able to get through the whole pack.
Bacon and Maple
This one has to be my favourite variety by Portlebay. I’ve been a convert to this sweet and savoury flavour combination for quite some time thanks to a trip to New York City, where bacon and maple syrup are served on stacks of pancakes as staple part of breakfast. This particular variety has it’s own distinctive flavour that is guaranteed to have you going back for second helpings. There’s a subtle smokey bacon flavour and the occasional crunch of raw cane sugar to give it a sweeter dimension. I could happily eat a whole packet of these to myself and I recommend giving them a try if – like me – you enjoy munching on something a little bit different.
www.portlebaypopcorn.com