Could strawberry crisps a-salt our UK taste buds?

Unusual flavour designed for China could eventually make its way into UK’s shops

The Tayside producers of an unusual snack made for the Chinese market have not ruled out it hitting the shelves of UK shops.

The first batch of Mackie’s of Scotland’s new strawberry-flavoured crisps will soon be on the way to Shanghai after samples proved a huge hit at the SIAL China Trade Show in the city last month.

And yesterday residents of Scotland’s soft fruit capital, Blairgowrie, had their say on the unique delicacy after The Courier got a hold of an exclusive bag of some strawberry samples.

The fruit-flavoured crisps were launched alongside a salted caramel blend, also specifically for the Chinese market.

Initially the premise started out as an April Fool’s Day joke by staff at the Mackie’s at Taypack factory in Errol.

However the idea was quickly developed as the company noted the “sweet tooth” of the Chinese market.

Commercial director at Mackie’s of Scotland, James Taylor, said: “Strawberry and salted caramel were what was shortlisted after trying a wide range of different flavours, from banana and chilli to banana and honey.

“It is just something completely unusual for the UK market but out in China it just seemed to be something that worked. You name it, they have pretty much got it in any kind of sweet flavour.

“It’s something completely different to us, something new to us and something we wouldn’t ever have necessarily wanted to launch as a firstoff in the UK.

“The product is developed and ready to go. We’ve had small local cafes and delis (in the UK) all quite interested in it, to some of our larger retail customers saying they wouldn’t put it past ever putting it on their shelves.

“Who knows, we’ll have to test the water in China and if it does prove to be really successful, maybe adapt it and see if we can do a limited edition or special buys in this country, just to give the consumer here the chance to pick them up.”

“It is just something completely unusual for the UK market but out in China it just seemed to be something that worked

“

I think they are nice. I don’t know (if ) I’d eat them every day but they’re not bad. It does actually taste like strawberry.” Retired software engineer Rob Burke, 65, from Perth.

“

That is unusual because you do get the strawberry flooding out; it starts off tasting very much of strawberry and then it starts to taste of crisp.” Technical writer Andy Meeson from Blairgowrie.

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It tastes like strawberry ice cream but in a crisp. I think I would buy that, actually.” Angus student Chloe Gruneber-Mackenzie.

James Taylor, commercial director at Mackie’s, with some of the company’s strawberry crisps at its Perthshire factory. The flavour may make its way to the UK at some point. Picture: Angus Findlay.