Ranked: the world's strangest crisp flavours EVER

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 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 are limited edition – 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.

34. Guacamole

Guacamole might commonly be served alongside a bowl of tortilla chips as a dip – but Mexican snack brand Takis has taken things up a notch by combining the two into one. 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 a little more subtle, with a mild guacamole flavouring.

33. 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 (known as Walkers in the UK). 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.

32. Labneh & Mint

Labneh is a type of strained yogurt that's incredibly popular 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, they were cooked ‘Forno’ style, which means they were baked rather than fried. Reviewers described them as creamy, minty and garlicky.

31. Spicy Lobster

It’s not hugely unusual for Lay’s to release seafood-flavoured snacks, but we think this spicy edition sounds extra tempting. Lay's Stax are similar in shape to Pringles – and the 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.

30. Worcester Sauce

For anyone not from the UK, this flavour may seem a little unusual. 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.

29. Nori

Seaweed-infused crisps may sound controversial to some, but this nori-flavoured, 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 (edible seaweed) – which is often used in sushi – and fans love their salty umami taste.

28. Fried Egg

How do you like your eggs? If you like 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!

27. 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.

26. Salmon Teriyaki

Lucky snack lovers 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, made with ginger, garlic, rice wine and soy sauce.

25. 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.

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 an ice-cold beer for the ultimate taste sensation.

23. Guinness

What do you eat with a pint of Guinness? British snack brand Burts hopes it’s a packet of these stout-inspired crisps. Despite their name, these quirky snacks don’t actually contain any Guinness at all; rather, they're made with a mix of intensely savoury flavours that replicate that signature stout taste. They're available in the UK and Ireland (and thankfully, you won't need to provide ID to get your hands on them).

22. Masala spice

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. 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 unusual pairing worked pretty well.

20. Cheesy Beans On Toast

Cheesy beans on toast is a classic British comfort food – and in 2014, the simple dish hit the big time, inspiring a Walkers crisp flavour. The unique snacks swept 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.

19. Grouse & Whinberry

Probably the poshest crisps in Britain, these extra-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.

18. 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!

17. 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 doner kebab or gyros, made by wrapping ground beef, tomatoes, onions and a special sauce in a pitta. The flavour-packed crisps were created in collaboration with Canadian pizza chain Greco Pizza, whose legendary donairs have legions of fans.

16. Milk Chocolate

Released in time for Valentine's Day 2015 by Lay's Canada, these one-of-a-kind 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.

15. Full English breakfast

Another winning variety to come from one of Walkers’ Do Us A Flavour competitions was this Builder's 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; it won the competition and remained on the market for a year before being discontinued.

14. Haggis & Cracked Black Pepper

These Haggis & Cracked Black Pepper crisps from Mackie’s of Scotland are a gentle introduction to the traditional Scottish dish – 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. Surprisingly, they don't actually contain any animal products, so vegetarians and vegans can enjoy them too.

13. Strawberry pancakes with syrup and bacon

Lay’s Instagram account is always announcing intriguing fake flavours to keep its followers guessing – so when the brand announced this partnership with US pancake chain IHOP, fans 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 a subtle flavour of strawberry and bacon, which cuts through the saltiness of the snack.

12. Cappuccino

We’ve heard of coffee paired 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.

11. Raspberry Bellini

In 2018, popular British crisp brand Tyrells launched a rather interesting limited-edition flavour inspired by a much-loved cocktail: the Raspberry Bellini. A peculiar taste sensation, the snacks featured notes of soft fruit, Prosecco and savoury, starchy potato – and, rather unsurprisingly, crisp lovers weren't impressed. The variety hasn't graced supermarket shelves since its limited run.

10. 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 variety's delectable 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!

9. Cucumber

These Cucumber 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 a fresh tzatziki dip. The divisive flavour was originally sold in China, but is now available online in many countries, including the Canada, the UK (where they're sold under the Walkers brand) and the US.

8. 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.

7. 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 Perogy Platter, Grilled Cheese & Ketchup and Creamy Garlic Caesar to be crowned overall champion.

6. Pecan Pie

Released in the US in 2013, Pecan Pie was a holiday-inspired crisp flavour from Pringles, offering snack fans the sweet 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.

5. 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.

4. Southern Biscuits and Gravy

Part of the Lay’s Do Us A Flavour Tastes of America campaign in 2015, Southern Biscuits and Gravy was a suitably regional idea. A popular dish in the Southern United States, their namesake is made up of crumbly, flaky dough biscuits covered in a rich, creamy sausage gravy. The crisps were said to taste impressively close to the real thing.

3. Sparkling Wine

A showstopping celebratory snack, this ostentatious offering from Spanish brand Torres is said to have fruity notes and a bubbling effect, all thanks to a delicious sparkling wine flavouring and clever use of popping candy. Light, crispy and packed with flavour, the sophisticated snacks would be perfect for a special occasion.

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 – but, 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 made a return since.

Now discover the strangest limited-edition versions of your favourite foods