Would you try these 36 bizarre crisp flavours?

Brilliantly bizarre varieties

Move over, lightly salted. Goodbye, boring barbecue. These days, there’s a whole host of seriously inventive (and often questionable) crisp flavours to dig into. From döner kebab and cheese-loaded pizza to fried egg, we've rounded up the ultimate list of unusual crisp varieties from around the world. Some are still available, while others were limited editions – and all of them would draw strange looks if you cracked open a packet in public.

Read on to discover the world’s strangest crisp flavours, counting down to the most bizarre of all. 

We've based our ranking on the reaction to each product at its time of release, and on the opinions of our well-travelled (and well-fed) team. This list is unavoidably subjective.

36. Guacamole

Guacamole might often be served alongside a bowl of tortilla chips as a dip, but Mexican snack brand Takis took the combo up a notch when it introduced its guacamole flavour. Though they're not technically 'crisps' per se, we think these corn snacks are interesting enough to deserve a mention; rather than being spicy and fiery like many of Takis' other varieties, they're more subtle, with a mild guacamole flavouring.

35. Seafood Chili Lime

Seafood, chilli and lime are a classic culinary combo, so we can get on board with this limited-edition variety from Lay's Indonesia. The flavour launched in 2017 and while we're not sure exactly what seafood is in them (could it be prawns, lobster, squid or oysters?), we'd certainly give them a go.

34. Labneh & Mint

Labneh is a type of strained yogurt that's often used in Middle Eastern cooking, so it was only a matter of time before this flavour came onto the market. Available in the United Arab Emirates, the crisps were cooked ‘Forno’ style, which means they were baked rather than fried. Reviewers described the flavour as creamy, minty and garlicky.

33. Spicy Lobster

It’s not hugely unusual for Lay’s to release seafood-flavoured snacks, but we think this spicy edition sounds particularly tempting. Similar in shape to Pringles, this Lay’s Snax Spicy Lobster variety is available to buy in a few Asian countries, including Thailand and Vietnam. Expect a super-salty lobster flavour with an added fiery kick.

32. Worcester Sauce

For anyone not from the UK, this flavour may seem decidedly odd. It was inspired by Worcestershire sauce, a savoury fermented condiment from Worcester, England. Instantly recognisable by their signature purple packet, these cult-favourite crisps had a delectably zingy, tangy flavour. Sadly in 2023, Walkers (Lay's in the US, Canada, Australia and elsewhere) confirmed that the variety had been discontinued.

31. Nori

Seaweed-infused crisps may sound controversial to some, but this wavy-cut variety from Japanese snack brand Jack ‘n Jill Calbee was a huge hit when it first launched in 2016. Still available today, the crisps are made with nori (an edible seaweed which is often used in sushi) and fans love the salty, umami taste.

30. Fried Egg

How do you like your eggs? If you favour them sunny side up, you may well enjoy this crowd-dividing offering from Spanish snack company Torres. The gourmet brand is known for thinking outside the box with its bold flavours and this unusual variety is no exception. Expect a super-savoury flavour with notes of, well, fried egg!

29. Burger

Popular Czech snack brand Bohemia made fast food lovers' dreams a reality in 2014 by launching a new burger flavour. Sadly, the variety is no longer available, but we imagine (and hope) that it tasted like a cross between grilled steak, cheese and onion and ketchup-flavoured crisps. Several other snack brands have introduced burger-inspired variations since, including Lay's popular cheeseburger flavour.

28. Italian Red Meat

Comfort food fans intrigued by the idea of combining pasta and crisps will love this one. In China and Thailand, you can enjoy Lay's Italian Red Meat crisps, a flavour based on spaghetti Bolognese. They apparently taste more like tomato sauce than a rich meat ragu, but we'd still give them a try.

27. Salmon Teriyaki

Crisp aficionados in Indonesia have access to a wide variety of unique Lay's flavours and Salmon Teriyaki is just one of them. This Japanese-inspired offering has remained hugely popular in the Southeast Asian country since it launched in 2019. We'd love to know how similar they taste to the sweet and sticky dish they're inspired by.

26. Jalapeño Mac n' Cheese

Canada has blessed the world with many culinary delights (who can resist poutine, BeaverTails and butter tarts?) – but we’re not sure these Jalapeño Mac n’ Cheese crisps, which landed on supermarket shelves in 2014, are one of them. Said to have been inspired by summery barbecue flavours, the cheesy variety was created as part of Lay’s Do Us A Flavour contest, which invited the public to send in flavour ideas for the chance to win a big cash prize.

25. Mint Mischief

Lay's Mint Mischief combined mint with lime and jalapeño to make a particularly zesty crisp with a touch of sweetness, hint of heat and a vaguely floral note. A decidedly strange taste sensation, the distinctive flavour, which was available in India, is perhaps unsurprisingly no more.

24. Wasabi

A few Western brands have introduced wasabi-flavoured crisps over the years, but none of them can compare to Jack ‘n Jill Calbee’s hugely popular take on the kicking flavour. Launched in Japan in 2018 and still available today, these tasty snacks are made with 100% real wasabi. As you might expect, they're pretty fiery; pair them with a cold drink for the ultimate taste sensation.

23. Gyro

A gyro or gyros is a Greek pitta wrap filled with rotisserie-cooked meat, tomato, onion and tzatziki – and this snack-sized take on the classic dish was released as part of Lay’s Do Us A Flavour Tastes of America campaign in 2015. They were inspired by their creator's favourite Greek restaurant in Wichita Falls, Texas.

22. Magic Masala

Sure to delight curry fans, Lay’s India's Magic Masala is one of the most delicious-sounding flavours on our list. Masala is a spice blend that pairs well with potatoes in a wide variety of dishes, so naturally, masala potato crisps are a match made in heaven. The nicely spicy snacks are available to buy online in both the UK and US.

21. Cuban Sandwich

Lay's introduced three limited-edition, sandwich-themed crisp flavours in May 2023: BLT, Buffalo Chicken and Cuban, and it was the latter that became the most popular. The crisps were infused with dill, yellow mustard and Swiss cheese and those that tried them were quick to note the meaty, pork flavour and the similarity in taste to the much-loved American sandwich.

20. Wasabi & Beef

As if wasabi-flavoured crisps weren’t enough on their own, Doritos went one step further and released a Wasabi & Beef take on its signature tortilla chips in 2015. Available in Japan, the taste bud–tingling creation combined the spicy, pungent flavour of wasabi with subtly beefy notes, and fans thought the classic pairing worked pretty well in crisp form.

19. Southern Biscuits and Gravy

Part of the Do Us A Flavour Tastes of America campaign in 2015, Lay’s Southern Biscuits and Gravy aimed to encapsulate the taste of the popular southern American dish (which sees crumbly, flaky dough biscuits covered in a rich, creamy sausage gravy) in crisp form. Rather impressively, they were said to taste very close to the real thing.

18. Fried Pickles with Ranch

No need to buy a dip to pair with these tasty creations; the ranch is already included! Part of Lay's 'Flavor That Hits Home' range, these limited-edition crisps hit US supermarket shelves in spring 2024 – much to the delight of pickle fans up and down the country. Inspired by the classic Midwestern bar snack, fried pickles (or frickles), each playful pack features layer upon layer of flavour, with notes of dill, batter and tangy ranch dressing coming through in every mouthful.

17. Cheesy Beans On Toast

Beans on toast with cheese is a classic British comfort food and in 2014, the simple dish inspired a crisp flavour. The unique snack appeared on supermarket shelves as part of Walkers' Do Us A Flavour competition. Sadly, they were only available for a short time, and they ultimately lost out to a pulled pork–inspired crisp flavour in the contest.

16. Grouse & Whinberry

Probably the poshest crisps in Britain, these fancy snacks are designed to taste just like game meat from the English countryside paired with whinberries (a type of wild European berry). They were released in 2015 to encourage people to try more unusual meats such as grouse and pheasant and they're still available to purchase online.

15. Salted Caramel

These salted Caramel crisps, launched in Japan in 2017 by Jack ‘n Jill Calbee, are a sweet and savoury sensation, just like sweet and salty popcorn, chicken and waffles, and bacon cinnamon rolls. If the picture on the packet – perfectly crinkled crisps drizzled in caramel – is anything to go by, we think they could well taste delicious!

14. Halifax Donair

It's not just any kebab on the packet of these limited-edition crisps from Canadian brand Covered Bridge. Available in 2016, the crisps were inspired by the donair – a Halifax speciality similar to a döner kebab or gyros, made by wrapping ground beef, tomatoes, onions and a special sauce in pitta bread. The flavour-packed crisps were created in collaboration with Canadian pizza chain Greco Pizza, whose legendary donairs have legions of fans.

13. Milk Chocolate

Released in time for Valentine's Day 2015 by Lay's Canada, these crinkle-cut crisps had such a thick coating of chocolate that they blurred the line between savoury snack and sweet treat. Paired with a cup of coffee, they made for a great afternoon pick-me-up – but sadly, they were limited edition, so they're no longer available to buy.

12. Builder's Breakfast

Another winning variety from one of Walkers’ Do Us A Flavour competitions was this English breakfast–inspired creation, released in the UK in 2009. The flavour was rather peculiar, with snack fans describing it as a cross between fried egg and baked beans. However, against all odds it proved a hit and remained on the market for a year, before being discontinued.

11. Haggis & Cracked Black Pepper

These Haggis & Cracked Black Pepper crisps from Mackie’s of Scotland are a gentle introduction to the traditional Scottish dish which is famously made with minced sheep’s heart, liver, lungs, oatmeal, onions and suet. The thickly cut potato slices are coated in a mix of spices inspired by the delicacy, resulting in a super-savoury finish. They don't actually contain any animal products, so vegetarians can enjoy them too.

10. Strawberry-topped Pancakes with Syrup & Bacon

Lay’s Instagram account is always teasing fans with fake flavours to keep its followers guessing, so when the brand announced this partnership with US pancake chain IHOP, many were surprised to find out it was real. Unveiled in February 2024, this fruity variety is available from Walmart’s website for a limited time only. Expect to taste subtle notes of strawberry and bacon, which apparently cut through the saltiness of the snack brilliantly.

9. Cappuccino

We know that coffee works well with savoury foods like red meat, but cappuccino-flavoured crisps are something else. These unusual snacks were released for a limited time in the US in 2014 as part of Lay's Do Us A Flavour contest, and they caused quite a splash. Most people were bemused by the flavour – but whether you loved them or hated them, they certainly got people talking.

8. Honey Butter

In August 2024, Lay's announced the release of three new international flavours: Tzatziki, Masala and Honey Butter. The latter was inspired by the fact that honey butter is one of the most popular crisp flavours in Korea; international crisp fans are similarly enamoured, with many praising the blend of underlying sweetness from the honey and rich notes courtesy of the butter.

7. Pizza

If you love potato snacks and you love pizza, this Italian-inspired Pringles flavour might be for you. Available in the UK and US, the distinct pizza taste is all down to a clever blend of onion, tomato, garlic and Cheddar flavouring. Pringles joked that if you're a fan of cold, 'morning-after' pizza, you should store your tube in the fridge. Genius!

6. Cucumber

These cucumber-flavoured crisps from Lay's are marketed as 'cool and refreshing', but we're not sure if that's what we want from a potato snack – though we reckon they could be quite tasty dipped into fresh tzatziki. The divisive flavour was originally sold in China, but is now available online in many countries including Canada, the UK (where they're sold under the Walkers brand) and the US.

5. Maple Moose

Not one for vegetarians, this moose and maple syrup offering is another flavour that won one of Lay’s Do Us A Flavour contests, this time, in Canada. Newfoundlander Tyler LeFrense came up with the idea for Maple Moose crisps in 2013, after swapping the ham in a maple ham recipe for moose meat with tasty results. The variety beat flavours including Perogy Platter, Grilled Cheese & Ketchup and Creamy Garlic Caesar to be crowned overall champion.

4. Pecan Pie

Released in the US in 2013, Pecan Pie was a holiday-inspired crisp flavour from Pringles that arguably offered snack fans a seasonal taste of pecan pie without the hassle of baking. It was Pringles' second foray into sweet-flavoured crisps; the year before, the brand released their unanimously despised White Chocolate Peppermint variety.

3. Brussels Sprout

The Brussels sprout is a notoriously divisive little vegetable, so we get the feeling that British brand Walkers made these Christmas-themed crisps for their novelty factor, rather than to show its appreciation for the brassica. They launched as a limited-edition flavour in 2018, and surprisingly, they were popular enough to make a return the following year.

2. Cajun Squirrel

Another quirky Do Us A Flavour creation (what else?), Walkers Cajun Squirrel crisps were released in the UK back in 2009. It's said that a dish on a restaurant menu inspired this unusual variety, which were surprisingly tasty, with a gentle Cajun flavour (and thankfully, contained no traces of squirrel).

1. Christmas Tree

Part of British frozen goods retailer Iceland's 2018 festive range, these Christmas tree–flavoured crisps divided snack fans. They were made with oil from real pine needles – and let’s just say, the result was slightly strange. While they packed a punch, the overall taste became a little grassy and bitter the further you got down through the pack. It’s hardly surprising that they haven't been made permanent.

Now discover the world’s best chocolate bars of all time

Last updated by Dominique Ayling.