Packet #109: Lays Thai Taste Shrimp Tom Yum Flavour

I picked these up for day 2 of the slow boat to Luang Prabang, a 9 hour boat journey so snacks are essential.

I had seen this flavour in shops  before but I’d been burned with the very disappointing seaweed flavour I’d tried so I’d been dragging my heels and my expectations were low.

I’ve never been happier to admit I was wrong.

They were a revelation! Slowly revealing the bouquet of flavours with each delicious bite. First the prawn, then the lemongrass, then the chilli...it was all there. A crisp to be savoured rather than devoured, and packing a very pleasing punch that lingers in your mouth after you’ve finished but will linger even longer in my memory.

I’d go as far as to say that, outside of the generally acknowledged standard crisp flavours, they’re the nicest tasting crisp I’ve ever had.

I only hope they’re readily salted available throughout the rest of SE Asia. Any crisp aficionados visiting the area in the future should make this their first port of call.

Seán

Packet #94 - Boots Shapers Rendang Curry Flavour Cracker

While half of my brothers are on honeymoon in Asia, I decided to indulge in a little Asian cuisine myself. This Rendang Curry flavour crisp is sweet, gingery, a bit salty and has a whisper of a spicy kick.

It is terrible.

Most of the crisps are lightly coated in the flavouring, which is a blessing as the flavouring is awful. When you have a sneaky one with tonnes of flavouring, it's a disaster. Very, very unpleasant.

Texture-wise, it's like eating hard styrofoam. According to the packet, these are made out of tapioca and cassava.  God knows what they're like in their raw form, but in this snack, they are a losing combination.

On taking a second look at the packet, I note that these are billed as 'crackers' as opposed to 'crisps'. That explains it. No crisp could ever be this unpalatable.

So, readers, I was duped by not fully reading the packet before I chomped and ended up with discounted, low fat crackers made by a chemist. Let this be a lesson to us all.

Next time, I won't be so hasty.

Christine