Torres Black Truffle Crisps, 125g

Torres are Spanish crisps, and the Selecta range is their premium line. Black Truffle is the luxurious one, seasoned with real dried truffle and a truffle flavouring. This is the 125g bag, and the maker on the label is Patatas Fritas Torres S.L., in Spain.

The ingredients

According to the published pack listing, the crisps are made from potatoes, sunflower oil, salt, dehydrated black summer truffle (0.09%, Tuber aestivum Vitt.) and truffle flavouring (0.07%).

Black summer truffle

The truffle is the black summer truffle, Tuber aestivum, dried and ground. It is milder than the black winter truffle, with an earthy, nutty, mushroom like aroma.

A little goes a long way

The truffle makes up 0.09% of the crisps and the flavouring 0.07%, tiny amounts, which is normal for truffle: its aroma is strong enough to carry a whole bag.

The taste

The first thing is the aroma, earthy and savoury, then a clean, salted potato crisp. It is a crisp for grown up tables rather than lunchboxes.

Sunflower oil

Unlike the Torres Extra Virgin Olive Oil crisps, these are fried in sunflower oil, which leaves the truffle to lead.

Fat

The label gives 44g of fat per 100g, the most fat of anything we stock, red on the front of pack scale, and 5.4g of saturates, also red, just over the 5g line.

Salt

The label gives 1.5g of salt per 100g, amber on the front of pack scale, right on the line; the Torres Extra Virgin Olive Oil crisps carry 1.1g.

Numbers per 100g

The label gives 588 kcal (2440 kJ), 44g of fat, 5.4g of saturates, 41g of carbohydrate, 0.5g of sugars, 3.8g of fibre, 5g of protein and 1.5g of salt per 100g. The listing gives no serving size, so tip a handful into a bowl rather than eating from the bag.

Reading the front of the pack

On the UK front of pack scale, per 100g, fat at 44g is red. Saturates at 5.4g are red. Sugars at 0.5g are green. Salt at 1.5g is amber, right on the line.

Carbohydrate and fibre

The label gives 41g of carbohydrate per 100g, of which 0.5g are sugars; the rest is starch from the potato. Fibre is 3.8g and protein 5g per 100g.

Potatoes

Potatoes are the first ingredient and the largest part of the bag, sliced into thin, classic crisps.

Truffle flavouring

Dried truffle keeps less of its aroma than fresh, which is why truffle products often add a flavouring beside the real truffle, as this one does.

Energy

At 588 kcal (2440 kJ) per 100g, this is the most energy per 100g of anything we stock, with the most fat too.

Gluten

There is no gluten ingredient on the list, but the listing makes no gluten free claim for this flavour.

Selecta

The word Selecta sits under the Torres name, and the pack calls the crisps premium potato chips.

Keeping the bag fresh

Once the bag is open, clip it shut or tip the crisps into an airtight tin, because crisps soften in damp air.

Allergens and diet

No allergens from the UK list of 14 are on the published ingredient list, and the published listing gives no may contain advice. The listing makes no gluten free, vegetarian or vegan statement. Recipes and factory arrangements change, so check the allergy advice on the pack you receive.

Made in Spain

The listing gives Spain as the country of origin, and the pack text is in English and Spanish: black truffle, trufa negra, premium potato chips, patatas fritas premium.

A small serving

With 588 kcal per 100g, a small bowl goes a long way. Share the bag rather than eating it alone.

Storage

The listing advises a cool, dry place, with the best before date and batch number printed on the back.

The pack

The white bag carries the Torres name in red with the word Selecta, a pen and ink drawing of potatoes and black truffles, the words black truffle and trufa negra, and the line premium potato chips, patatas fritas premium.

Who it suits

A truffle crisp suits anyone who loves truffle and wants a crisp for a special occasion or a drinks table.

Serving ideas

Serve the crisps with a glass of Champagne, cava or a dry white wine, or beside a mushroom risotto or a steak.

At a party

Put a small bowl out with cheese, charcuterie and olives, and the truffle aroma will lift the whole board.

In the kitchen

Crushed, the crisps make a truffle crumb for the top of a macaroni cheese, a cauliflower gratin or a bowl of mushroom soup.

Truffle and potato

Truffle and potato are a classic match, as in truffle chips and truffle mash, and here the crisp does the same job.

Truffle and cheese

Truffle and cheese are a classic pairing too: serve the crisps with an aged Manchego, a Parmesan or a Comté.

Truffle and eggs

Crumble the crisps over scrambled eggs or a fried egg for a quick truffle brunch.

A gift

In its white premium bag, a bag of truffle crisps makes a small gift for a food lover, beside a bottle of wine.

Other Torres

We also stock Torres Extra Virgin Olive Oil crisps in the same 125g bag.

The published listing gives Spain 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.