Kettle Sweet Chilli and Sour Cream Potato Chips, 130g

Sweet chilli and sour cream is a pairing that works in a dip bowl, the sticky heat of sweet chilli sauce cooled by soured cream, and Kettle puts both halves into one seasoning on a hand cooked chip. This is the 130g sharing bag, which the label suggests serves five. The full product name on the pack is Hand Cooked Potato Chips with Sweet Chilli and Sour Cream Seasoning.

The ingredients

According to the published pack listing, the chips are made from selected potatoes, vegetable oils (rapeseed and sunflower, in varying proportions) and a sweet chilli and sour cream seasoning of sugar, dried skimmed milk, dried yoghurt (milk), rice flour, dried sour cream (milk), dried yeast extract, dried onion, sea salt, dried chilli, ground paprika, dried red pepper, citric acid, natural flavouring, dried garlic, dried lemon juice, chilli extract and paprika extract. The label adds that the chips may be fried in either oil or a blend, depending on supply.

Sweet, cool and warm

The seasoning has three layers. Sugar leads, which gives the sticky sweetness of a sweet chilli sauce. Dried skimmed milk, dried yoghurt and dried sour cream bring the cool, creamy half, with the gentle tang of cultured dairy. Then dried chilli and chilli extract bring the warmth, with ground paprika and dried red pepper adding a sweet pepper flavour and colour. Dried lemon juice and citric acid give the sharp lift you would get from lime or vinegar in a sweet chilli sauce, and yeast extract, onion and garlic give a savoury base.

Why the dairy matters

Chilli heat comes from capsaicin, which dissolves in fat rather than water, and dairy proteins help carry it away. That is why a sour cream dip calms a hot chip, and why this seasoning, with three dairy ingredients alongside the chilli, tastes warm rather than fiery. The heat builds gently and the cream softens it.

Hand cooked in Norfolk

The pack says the chips are hand cooked in Norfolk from British potatoes, and claims absolutely nothing artificial. Batch cooking gives the harder, curled, deeper golden Kettle chip, and its thickness suits a seasoning with this much going on.

Numbers per 100g

The label gives 505 kcal (2112 kJ), 28g of fat, 2.5g of saturates, 52.3g of carbohydrate, 3.3g of sugars, 4.6g of fibre, 8.9g of protein and 0.44g of salt per 100g. With five servings in the bag, a serving is about a fifth of the bag.

Reading the front of the pack

On the UK front of pack scale, per 100g, fat at 28g is red, as it is for fried crisps generally. Saturates at 2.5g are amber. Sugars at 3.3g are green, even with sugar leading the seasoning, because the seasoning is a small part of each chip. Salt at 0.44g is amber, towards the bottom of the band.

Allergens and diet

The published ingredients highlight milk, in the dried skimmed milk, dried yoghurt and dried sour cream. The published listing gives no may contain advice for this bag. The pack says the chips are suitable for vegetarians and carries a gluten free claim; the seasoning is carried on rice flour rather than a gluten containing cereal. They are not vegan, because of the milk. Recipes and factory arrangements change, so check the allergy advice on the pack you receive.

How hot is it

Two sources of chilli are listed, dried chilli and chilli extract, but sugar and three dairy ingredients sit ahead of them. Expect a warmth that builds rather than a burn: a sensible step for anyone new to chilli flavoured chips.

Serving the bag

Sweet chilli and sour cream suits a party table, a film night or a barbecue. Serve the bowl with a cold beer or a glass of cider, beside chicken wings, halloumi fries or a platter of wraps. A soured cream and chive dip on the side doubles down on the cool half of the flavour.

In the kitchen

Crushed, the chips make a sweet, warm crumb for chicken strips or fish goujons, pressed onto egg washed pieces before baking. A handful over a chicken and avocado salad adds crunch and a little heat.

The oils

The label lists rapeseed and sunflower oils in varying proportions, the standard wording when the blend can change with supply. Both are light oils, and the label gives 2.5g of saturates per 100g.

Storage and packaging

The pack's own storage advice is a cool, dry place away from bright light. The published recycling guidance says the whole packaging can be recycled with carrier bags at large supermarkets and should not go in home recycling. The pack names Kettle Foods Ltd as the maker.

Other Kettle flavours

In the same 130g bag we stock Kettle Lightly Salted, Sea Salt and Crushed Black Peppercorns, Sea Salt and Balsamic Vinegar of Modena, Mature Cheddar and Red Onion, Brie and Caramelised Onion and Honey Dijon Mustard.

Other 130g packs of Kettle Chips we stock

Figures as published on each pack's label.

The published listing gives the United Kingdom as the country of origin. The tasting notes on this page are our own editorial assessment against the current pack format and the brand's published description.