Kokova Magazine

When is a crisp not a crisp? When it is a Darling Spuds Hand Cooked Potato Chip...

And the difference between the two is immediately obvious if you have ever tried one of the fabulous flavours in their range.

Gone are the days when a crisp is nothing more than a thin slice of potato thrown into the oil - at Darling Spuds they cut them a little thicker but manage to keep them crunchy all the way through. If you are a fan of Kettle Chips then you will almost certainly love Darling Spuds, who come a very close match on texture.

At present, the range holds six flavours: Sea Salt & Italian Balsamic Vinegar; Sour Cream with a hint of Mexiacan Chilli; Sun Ripened Tomato, Green Olive & Oregano; Fire Roasted Jalapeño Peppers; Crushed Natural Sea Salt; West Country Cheddar, Leek and Pink Peppercorns - all available in 40g bags.

With the flavours you will discover that these are flavoured potato chips, meaning that you taste the potato as well as the natural flavourings, and are not overwhelmed with a mouthful of artificial coating. With the natural flavours the overall effect is more subtle and if you are looking for a potent punch flavour wise you may feel a little cheated. But if you like the natural addition of flavour to your potato chips then we can recommend a bag of Darling Spuds any day.

Favourite flavours at YST? Definitely the Sun Ripened Tomato, Green Olive & Oregano, closely followed by the Fire Roasted Jalapeño Peppers, which pop in quite a kick and have the added bonus of not containing milk either - great if you are also dairy-free. Other flavours that contain no major allergens are the Sea Salt & Italian Balsamic Vinegar, and the Crushed Natural Sea Salt.

Aside from the crispy texture and great flavours, these chips are all less than 200 calories a bag. Whilst this may seem high for a small snack you have to bear in mind that this is less than the average mainstream crisp and Darling Spuds are also 20% lower in fat than many other brands.

More importantly, if you have Coeliacs disease or follow a gluten-free diet, you no longer have to squint at the list of ingredients and then try to work out whether the 'clean' ingredients rubbed shoulders with gluten in the factory - because every packet of Darling Spuds carries the 'gluten-free' symbol on the front of each and every pack. Darling Spuds are, at present, the only hand cooked crisps licensed by the Coeliac Society.

"These are delicious, authentic chips with wholesome characters and feisty flavours, borne out of our potatoes enjoying a well-grounded upbringing.

Not only are our chips handcooked but also gluten free, vegetarian friendly, completely free of any unsavoury GMO's and 20% lower in fat than standard crisps.

Darling Spuds

And now they have added a fun-sized multipack of popcorn to their range - in a great Sweet & Salty flavour. Gluten-free and less than 40 calories a bag, these are an ideal treat for adults and children alike, satisfying the craving for a sweet treat but salty enough for those who prefer their popcorn 'clean'.

Pick up a bag for the week and pop one in the kids lunchboxes for a cheeky treat.

For more information on Darling Spuds and to view their range visit www.darlingspuds.co.uk