Salt and vinegar hoops work better than they should. The ring format provides more surface area for seasoning than a flat crisp, and salt and vinegar benefits from maximum coating. More vinegar per bite equals more satisfaction.
These are properly tangy. The vinegar is assertive, cutting through the potato starch with genuine sharpness. It’s not the brutal assault of the Popouts, but it’s definitely present and accounted for.
The texture advantage
Hoops have a different mouthfeel than crisps. That tube-like structure creates a specific crunch, slightly more airy than a solid crisp but more substantial than a puff. For salt and vinegar, this works well. The acidity doesn’t overwhelm because the texture provides counterbalance.
Finger ring considerations
Salt and vinegar hoops on your fingers mean vinegar residue on everything you subsequently touch. This is worth considering before committing to the decorative eating experience.
Beating the ready salted version
These are significantly more interesting than Snackrite’s ready salted hoops. The vinegar gives them personality, purpose, a reason to exist beyond format novelty.
If you’re buying potato hoops anyway, this is the flavour to choose.
The conclusion
A successful marriage of format and flavour. Not revolutionary, not life-changing, but a well-executed product that delivers what it promises.
Quietly competent.
