I like trying some new things from Aldi, and there’s really no better time than when they have their German offerings. Just in case you are not aware, Aldi is based in Germany, so it’s neat to get a little taste of their culture, though I wonder if any of it is “Americanized” any to better fit our palettes.
On my latest trip to the discount grocer, I stumbled on paprika chips, which I picked up with no hesitation. I’m not really too familiar with the spice, but I was just anxious to try a different flavor of potato chip beyond the ‘typical offerings’ (barbeque, sour cream and onion, etc.), and even beyond the ‘atypical but still readily available offerings’ (ketchup, hot dog, loaded baked potato, etc.) My advice? If you want to try something new, pick up a bag, because these things are pretty addicting.
By appearance, they look like a typical “regular” potato chip (as in, not rippled), and have a very satisfying crunch when bit into. There’s also a generous serving of paprika in each bag, with many of the chips offering up a very reddish-hue thanks to its coating of the titular spice. Also like most potato chips, it’s pretty heavy on fat and sodium contents, so those watching those would do best to find an alternative.
The smell is a little hard to pinpoint…I would state the obvious and say it smells like paprika, but I can’t even say that for sure, because I’m not sure what paprika smells like. And unfortunately my wife, who is the family cook and has a much stronger sense of smell than I do, is currently sick and unable to smell anything. So all I’ll say is it has a very spicy smell, but without being too overpowering, and I’ll leave it at that. Besides, who buys these bags just to smell them?
Taste, however, is something I’m slightly more adept to describe, and I will say that the first thing that grabbed me is the uniqueness of the flavor. It’s almost like a barbecue, but without the added tangy sweetness. The paprika on display here is nowhere near overpowering, but is clearly evident in the taste, making it almost depressingly easy to down way too much in one sitting. The aftertaste is mild, also akin to a typical barbecue chip.
Overall: 7/10. There’s no way I could eat these all the time, but for an occasional treat, Deutsche Kuche Paprika Chips really satisfy. They have the same appearance and crunch of most “original” potato chips, making them instantly familiar, yet differ enough in taste to offer up a little originality from the main chips on the market today. But by no means is the “different” flavor a knock–once I get started, I eat way more than I should. Their $1.49 price point is also pretty good, and even though the 7.05 oz. bag is somewhat smaller than average chip bags, there are still plenty of deliciousness to go around. Recommended for those looking for something new.
