The World Cup is finally here, which means two things: an unhealthy amount of football and an equally unhealthy amount of snacking. And while I patiently wait to see how Morocco performs in the office sweepstake, I've discovered a much more immediate way to get involved: eating my way through the incredible range of World Cup-inspired crisps that have quietly appeared on supermarket shelves. And some of these flavours are bold - but i'm determined to work my way through the list completely!
Leading the line-up has to be Wotsits Golden Balls Smokin' Cheese Puffs. Not only is the name making me laugh every time I see it, but a smoky cheese version of one of Britain's most beloved snacks feels like a very strong place to start. These are everything you love about a Wotsit, just playfully reangled.
Over at Doritos, they've launched a Mexican Beef Taco flavour, which sounds like it could be one of the most flavour-packed options in the range. Smoky beef, warming spices and that classic tortilla crunch? Sign us up.
Walkers has also embraced the international theme with a series of country-inspired flavours. English Bangers & Mash brings a nostalgic British favourite to the crisp aisle, while Spanish Queso Cheese sounds ideal for anyone who believes there's no such thing as too much cheese. Then there's Portuguese Chorizo & Onion, which has us particularly intrigued thanks to its sweet and smoky flavour combination.
ASDA has perhaps gone the most adventurous. Its Poutine Fries snacks take inspiration from Canada's famous comfort food, while Vindaloo Nah-Nah Goalie Gloves wins the award for the most ridiculous name (and shape) in the competition.
Whether you're watching every match or simply here for the snacks, these limited-edition flavours are making the World Cup a lot more fun.
Mel is the Senior Food & Drink Writer for Good Housekeeping UK, covering all the delicious new product launches that come her way, writing about food and drink topics, and curating gift guides for the best foodie products to buy. Alongside that, she can be found developing and creating cocktails for GH and holds her WSET Level 2 in Wine and Spirits. She was part of the Good Housekeeping Institute food testing team for over four years before moving over to the digital side, so knows a thing or two about great food products. You'll find her scouring the supermarket shelves in her spare time for new and exciting ingredients to experiment with in her kitchen.
