And when I pass by snack kiosks at travel stops or step into 7-11s, I am automatically attracted to the chips section. It's like there's a magnet pulling me there. There will always be some unique, creative, one-of-a-kind flavour that just does not exist in Singapore. Really though, all we ever get in Singapore is Sour Cream & Onion, BBQ, Salt & Vinegar, Cheddar, and Original. Sometimes Seaweed if you're lucky. That's about as innovative as the local chips scene has gotten. (Talking about the big chip players here, no indie chip brands).
After a detailed analysis of all the flavours of Lay's potato chips stocked at the 7-11s in Bangkok, through an intensive fieldwork spanning 30+ trips to 7-11, I now present to you 3 unique potato chips flavours that you must try in Thailand (must try, but cannot guarantee if you like okay).
Sweet Basil Flavour
I wonder if the person who thought of this chip flavour was eating pad krapow (stir-fried basil chicken) when he came up with this idea. Pad krapow must be one of the most beloved Thai street food of all time, and there must of course be a Lay's chip flavour to pay tribute to this dish.
I'm on the fence for this one. The fragrance of the basil that I was expecting was not evident for me. If somebody made me do a blind taste test, basil would be the furthest thing on my mind.
The more prominent flavour is instead the chili flavour, and the spiciness of the chili is also the main thing you will taste will eating these chips. Chili is not what is normal paired with basil in Western cuisine, but is very common in Thai cuisine, so this is perhaps expected of a flavour named Sweet Basil. On the spiciness spectrum, these chips probably won't be considered spicy at all, unless you really cannot take spicy food.
The chips have a nice savoury taste despite the missing basil flavour, and the spiciness also adds a very addictive kick to it. Although this pack of chips seems to be misnamed, it's still pretty delicious, and worth picking up to try anyway if you ever come across it.
Rating: 3/5
Miengkam Krobos Flavour
What is Miengkam Krobos? I have to thank Lay's for introducing me to Miengkam through potato chips. Miengkam is actually a Thai snack where things like shrimp, chilies, ginger, etc. are wraped in a leaf. It's what's represented on the Lay's packet. I've never tried this personally so I can't judge if this Lay's flavour is an accurate representation of Miengkam. It is an interesting flavour though.
The first thing that struck me when I ate the first chip was the strong lime and ginger scent. Although there's chilies on the packet, these chips are not spicy at all. The lime and ginger flavour is the most prominent flavour. They are also slightly sweeter as compared to regular savoury chips.
I also liked that the chips were the thin kind, instead of the thick cut or wavy kind. The flavour of the chips is quite light and fragrant, which works really well with thin crisps.
This packet of chips was a pleasant surprise. It's a fresh and refreshing flavour, and while it may seem a bit strange on the first try, I have to say this flavour has grown on me and I really liked it. Definitely would buy again.
Rating:4/5
Hot Chili Squid Flavour
Hot Chili Squid flavour actually sounds the safest to me. It may seem like a strange flavour to westerners, but to Asians, especially Southeast Asians, the flavour of dried seafood is pretty common and quite delicious.
The moment you open the packet, you probably can guess what flavour it is. The smell is quite strong, some would say pungent, some would say fragrant. Eating it, the flavour is unmistakable. While I probably wouldn't be able to definitively say if the flavour is that of squid, cuttlefish, octopus, etc. in a blind taste test, it is without doubt some kind of dried seafood. And that's good enough for me.
The "hot" part is not that spicy. There is a slight kick to it, but it definitely isn't going to burn your tongue and throat. It has the flavour of "hot" more than the spiciness of "hot". It's kind of like a barbeque flavour with the added umami-ness of dried seafood flavouring.
If you like dried cuttlefish strips, you're probably down for this flavour. It's pretty delicious, and a fairly familiar flavour without being too common.
Rating: 4/5
Pricing
The smallest packs are 30 baht only. That's something like $1.25 (SGD). That's kind of expensive for Thailand, but it's standard chip price in Singapore.
Location
You can find these chips at 7-11 stores. Just walk into any to check it out, there's thousands of 7-11s across Thailand. Different shops may stock different flavours though, so check out a few.
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