I’m kind of fascinated by Katy Perry. She’s this marvellous contradiction, a gospel-raised chanteuse who rose to mainstream prominence through a risqué image and songs that leave nothing to the imagination. Even the dimmest of bulbs has little trouble reading between the lines of Peacock. (“Superliminal” comes to mind.)
As Beyonce has Sasha Fierce, I imagine Katy Perry’s performance alter-ego is entirely different than her real self. Which is why I have absolutely no trouble reconciling these Popchips endorsed by Perry based on what I know of the singer. After a show, once she’s wiped away the makeup and hung up the cupcake brassiere for the night, I reckon she’s the sort of normal person who munches on a bag of Popchips while watching PVR’d episodes of Grey’s Anatomy in sensible, comfortable pyjamas. For every Notorious B.I.G., there’s a Christopher Wallace making a turkey sandwich in the kitchen at 11 on a Thursday night.
Kettle corn is a guilty pleasure, a tantalizing mix of sweetness, saltiness and oily delight, yet the Popchips version promises to be a healthier alternative to the real thing. On the surface, it’s sweet and crunchy, but below the surface, it’s allegedly somewhat wholesome.
Perhaps I’m overanalyzing things.
The Pitch: “Sweet. Salty. Sinless.” “It started with a late night craving and a bag of Popchips. It was love at first bite. Super tasty and less than half the fat of fried chips. What’s not to love? So I jumped at the chance to create my own flavour. Katy’s Kettle Corn is deliciously sweet and salty. It’s only a sin if you don’t share it.” Also: “Nothing fake about ‘em! I’m not into phonies. Good thing there are no fake colours or flavours in Popchips. They only taste like they’re bad for you.”
The Look: The packaging is a pretty black/purple/magenta/mauve mix, with golden yellow highlights. Through the magic of Photoshop, some sparkle has been added to the product shot on the front, making them look all magical and yes, sort of Katy-Perry-like. Also note the heart dotting the “i” in the Popchips logo. The chips are triangular, like typical tortilla chips, and have a bubbly surface.
The Taste: Unexpectedly delicious, and not lacking in flavour at all. These hit all the right notes: sweet, with a nice level of salt, a light hint of oil (a bit like movie theatre popcorn) and a corn flavour that’s more Corn Pops than anything on a cob. I could easily demolish a bag with little effort.
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RATINGS AND DETAILS
Cost: $2.69 for a 99 gram bag at London Drugs.
Value for cash money: Good.
Availability: There was a display full of these at my London Drugs. Probably easy to find these in Canada and the U.S.
Nutrition?: Per 23 chips (40 grams): 180 calories, 6 grams of fat, 180 mg of sodium, 2 grams of fibre, 3 grams of protein.
The verdict: I like. I’d buy them again in a hummingbird heartbeat.