(SPOT.ph) We spotted pictures of truffle-flavored Lay's Potato Chips on social media in early August, and we’re sure you did, too. This limited-time flavor is something new for Lay’s, and their push to diversify their available flavors sure caught our attention. For so long, we've only had a few, around less than 10, flavors of Lay's in regular circulation here in Manila (the international scene is another story, but we digress). There’s your usual salted potato chips, then variations of cheese, barbeque, sour cream, and salt and vinegar. Truffle-flavored chips stand out because it is a premium flavor not so common in the Philippines, and it can’t be denied that the word “truffle” typically signals niche products at higher price points (read: it sounds fancy-schmancy). So naturally, hearing that a well-known and relatively more accessible brand such as Lay's carries it, we knew we just had to get our hands on it and judge for ourselves.
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Here's what we think about the Lay's Truffle Potato Chips:
The Price
As we said, the Lay's Truffle Potato Chips are relatively more affordable than other truffle-flavored chips out there. It is currently available in Frito Lay's official Shopee and Lazada stores at P183 for a 180-gram pack—you know, the kind for sharing at parties or for binging on while watching Netflix. This price point is around P30 more than the usual Lay's Potato Chip flavors of the same size; considering that this is truffle flavored, we call it a steal.
The Look
We love the look of the Lay's Truffle Potato Chips; the matte purple packaging separates it from the usual flavors and their typically glossier bags, lending it a more premium feel. There’s also a picture of the chips on the packaging —your typical thin and crisp-looking Lay's potato chip with specks of pepper and black truffle. Props to them because the art outside actually matches the product inside.
The Taste
When you open a bag of Lay's Truffle-Flavored Potato Chips, that distinct, earthy scent truffle’s known for hits you immediately. Needless to say, if you're not a fan of truffle anything, you might want to skip this one because the smell is only the beginning.
The chip itself is your usual paper-thin crisp Lay's potato chip that we have come to love. It still has a mildly salty and peppery taste, but the fascinating bit is how the truffle flavor comes through—arguably the point of contention for those who’ve tried it and brought the discussion over to social media. The truffle flavoring used in this snack carries less of the perfume-like flavor and more of the subtle and earthy kind. It is not overbearing. It can be pretty addictive; in our experience, we didn’t even notice we had already gone through the whole bag. That flavoring mixed with the slight saltiness and peppery notes makes for a balanced sweet-salty taste in every bite, while not being too potent that you’d need a beverage to cleanse the palate right after.
The Final Verdict
While P183 pesos may seem like a lot for a bag of potato chips, we're still fans of this new flavor. The distinct truffle flavor is just enough to justify the name, without it being too overbearing of a flavor profile. Aside from that, it doesn't have the usual perfume-like flavoring of typical truffle oils, which would have made it too niche and not snackable. Plus points for how it's relatively less salty than most Lay's chips—a welcome development in our books. Overall, we say give it a shot. It's a great introduction to the flavor of truffles.
You can buy the new Lay's Truffle-Flavored Potato Chips at the official Frito Lay store in Shopee and Lazada.