Lorenz – Crunchips Roasted Smoky Paprika

Sometimes it’s easy to think that because large conglomerates own most of the big brands and chip makers across the world, that they all taste and feel the same. While this is partially true, it’s important to keep in mind that smarter companies try to keep to the heritage and tradition of popular crisps across the world. It’s why some brands can be so different even when the flavour and chips are in theory the same.

Lorenz is not exactly a completely foreign or new brand to me, but I can imagine why some people would see this and think it’s just a European version of Ruffles. I however know better than that. Or at least I think I do based on my limited experience so far. Regardless, what really interested me is the flavour.

Paprika is more of a European flavour when it comes to snacks, and my usual experience with it tends to be with German and Dutch snacks. I wonder if it’s absence in the Americas is because it sounds too exotic of foreign, despite the fact that it’s in such a large number of snacks. I guess Paprika isn’t sexy enough or familiar enough for people here. It’s quite common and popular over there though, and I’m all for it.

The flavour is very familiar – it’s got the paprika, as well as some onion and garlic, and the distinct smoky flavour you find in barbeque flavours of other more common chips. The different here is they don’t taste as sweet and lean in more to the savoury side, so it sort of reminds of all dressed chips but without the strong hit of vinegar or Worcestershire sauce.

The texture of these is not dissimilar to Ruffles, though these are thinner and don’t feel as thick or substantial. The ridges do provide more surface area for seasoning to stick to, which is more of a flavour thing. If you make me choose between a ridged or straight potato chip, I almost always pick the ridged because they have a crunchier texture usually. This is no exception and delivers on that aspect.

I cannot yet tell if the novelty of European chips and crisps is still relatively new to me or not, but so far I am loving what I’ve tried so far. You can be Lorenz is a brand I will be keeping an eye out for in the future.