A few weeks ago I reviewed some fantastic crisps, Irish Roast Beef & Peppercorn Sauce, from Northern Irish brand Tayto which had been very kindly sent to me by Becca to try. The lovely people at Tayto got in contact with me to tell me about the other three flavours in their range; Sweet Chilli & Red Pepper, Causeway Sea Salt & Cracked Black Pepper and Mature Irish Cheddar & Sweet Onion. I loved the flavor and quality of the first Tayto handcooked crisps I'd tried so I was very excited to try out the rest of the range.
All three flavours sound fantastic and look it too, the packaging is sleek and well designed, with silver lettering and an image of the Tayto Castle. First up, we decided to try the Sweet Chilli & Red Pepper flavor. The inclusion of red pepper seemed like an interesting twist on the usual sweet chilli crisp variety.
These "handcooked" crisps have a fantastic appearance. Just like the flavor I tried previously, they have a slightly darker edging which gives them an unique and almost home cooked appearance. They have a great crunch to them, without being too crispy or oily. They're also liberally covered in seasoning - this flavor has a distinctive reddish colouring from the chilli and sweet pepper.
The flavor is a real feast for the senses. The chilli is earthy and very sweet with a mild heat. The red pepper provides a tanginess, similar to a tomato flavoured crisp, that perfectly counterbalances the sweetness of the chilli. There's also some paprika and onion undertones coming through which add to the overall depth of flavor. It's a much more flavoursome experience than the usual sweet chilli crisps and we all enjoyed them.
Tayto crisps is a family run business with a fantastic history which you can read about on their website here. They were first made at Tayto Castle in the Ulster countryside and are now the largest selling brand of crisps in Northern Ireland. You can also follow Mr. Tayto on Twitter!
Tayto kindly sent me this product for an honest review but all views expressed are my own.
Grocery Gems Verdict: Tayto Sweet Chilli & Red Pepper Handcooked Crisps
RATING: 8.5 out of 10.
Buy them again?: Yes.
Nutrition: (per 25g) 123 calories, 1.6g protein, 13.4g carb., 6.8g fat.