A Crunchy Passport to Global Snacks
Ever browse the chip aisle at a grocery store abroad? International brands tend to experiment with edgier, location-specific flavors outside of the States. Which means America never gets some of the coolest chips. These are actual chips you can find (or may have found) on shelves at stores outside the US. Try them if you're traveling!
1. Lay’s Cucumber (China)
Cucumber-flavored Lay’s will remind you of dipping a chip into aperitif drinks. Mildly salty and addictively refreshing once you get over the mental hurdle of vegetables being used in chip form. Commonly available at Chinese convenience stores and grocery chains.
2. Lay’s Grilled Squid (Thailand)
Thai flavors love to embrace seafood on chips and this contender is no exception. Offering a smokier, more savory flavor than your average Thai chip, grilled squid comes with an unmistakable punch of umami flavor. Don’t let the pretty design fool you, as this chip tastes as wild as street vendor-style seafood.
3. Lay’s Wasabi Ginger (Japan)
Balance and precision are key elements of Japanese cooking, which shows here. Fresh wasabi zest hits first followed by warming ginger spice instead of sweetness. Your tongue tingles instead of burns, which is why you’ll probably go back for more.
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4. Walkers Prawn Cocktail (United Kingdom)
Prawn cocktail chips have been popular in the UK for generations, and they still taste bizarre if you weren’t raised eating them. Tomato-forward, slightly sweet, and tangy instead of fishy, this chip is crowd pleasing even among Americans who might not expect to like it. It’s worth trying at least once.
5. Lay’s Honey Butter (South Korea)
These chips blew up so much in South Korea at one point that retailers could not keep them stocked. Rich and buttery with just enough sweet honeyness to feel indulgent without overdoing it. Danger zone for those of you who love sweet-and-salty snack foods.
6. Pringles Paprika (Germany)
Smoked paprika chips can be found all over parts of Europe, but Germans make it especially well. Smoky with just enough sweetness, paprika packs more complex spice than your standard barbecue chip in the States. It’s an experience that might get you hooked.
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7. Lay’s Masala (India)
Flavors from India tend to be heavily spice blend-forward, and Masala is no exception. Cumin, coriander, chili, you’ll taste all of these at once, layered on top of a hearty potato flavor. Potent, but bursting with flavor.
8. Smith’s Chicken Salt (Australia)
Chicken salt is an Aussie favorite, and it’s a seasoning that works exceptionally well on chips. Savory with just a hint of onion, chicken salt delivers on flavor in a way that your standard-issue chicken chips do not. You’ll never want regular salt chips again.
9. Lay’s Blueberry (China)
Wait, blueberry-flavored chips? Yes, they actually exist. Sweet, fruity, and almost candy-like, this snack tastes like walking ghosts of candy-covered crisps past. Weird? Yes. Downright delightful and surprisingly popular in parts of China? Also yes.
10. Lay’s Nori Seaweed (Japan)
The flavor of these crispy snacks actually tastes like roasted seaweed snacks. Salty, seaweed-flavored, and brimming with that unmistakable umami that nori provides. Great for fans of sushi-flavored snacks, which makes total sense once you take a bite.
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11. Pringles Ketchup (Poland)
Ketchup chips are beloved throughout Europe, especially in Eastern Europe. Sweet, vinegary, and right in the tomato notes, ketchup chips taste like drowning fries in the stuff, without the mess. If you’re not visiting Poland any time soon, Canada has them as well.
12. Lay’s Roast Duck (China)
Chinese roast duck is a classic for a reason. Rich, deep flavors with hints of five spice blend and roasted meat rather than plain poultry. Each chip is savory enough to make you forget it technically qualifies as a snack.
13. Walkers Marmite (United Kingdom)
Love it or hate it, there’s no in between when it comes to Marmite. That’s also exactly how these chips will make you feel. Extremely salty with a yeasty, concentrated flavor loved by Marmite enthusiasts everywhere.
14. Lay’s Mexican Chicken Tomato (Mexico)
Tomato base meets roasted chicken flavor notes on these chips. Seasoned to taste like a popular Mexican snack instead of pure chili heat. You’ll find this flavor to be well-rounded and savory.
15. Calbee Pizza Potato (Japan)
Tastes that bring other foods to mind are Calbee’s specialty. These chips are no exception, they will make you think you’re biting into a pizza, pizza-flavored crust and all. Tomato, cheese, and herb flavors all mingle together in a messy but delicious way.
16. Lay’s Crab Curry (Singapore)
Singapore’s infamous chili crab makes for one serious shrimp boil, so it only makes sense that their crab-flavored chips would be too. Spicy, slightly sweet, with a heavy emphasis on seafood-driven umami. Every bite packs flavor, but isn’t too heavy that you can’t finish the whole bag.
17. Pringles Rice Fusion Seaweed (Japan)
Not made with potato, this chip will have a lighter crunch thanks to a rice-based crisp. The seaweed flavoring gives it a light, savory finish that feels less fatty than your standard chip. It’s definitely on the border of being called a chip.
18. Lay’s Truffle (France)
Truffle chips seem to appear out of nowhere all over Europe. Thankfully, this French version is aromatic and earthy instead of tasting like cheap plastic. It’ll make you feel fancy eating them whether or not you eat yours straight out of the bag.
19. Lay’s Ham and Cheese (Brazil)
All the tastiness of a ham and cheese sandwich without the actual sandwich. Smoky ham flavor hits you first, followed by the savory zest of cheese. Comforting, familiar, and not available in the States.
20. Lay’s Spicy Hot Pot (China)
Spice bomb chips with a purpose. Hot pot inspired Lay’s marries the tingling sensation from chili spice with numbness-inducing Sichuan peppercorn flavor. Expect to chase your foodies with beer and sweat through your shirt the first time you try this one.
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