Walkers Max Punchy Paprika Crisps, 50g

Walkers Max Punchy Paprika in a 50g grab bag: a single portion of the deep ridged range, sweet and smoky rather than hot. The full product name on the pack is Paprika Flavour Ridged Potato Crisps, and the pack names Walkers Snack Foods Ltd as the maker.

The ingredients

According to the ingredients panel on the pack, the crisps are made from potatoes, vegetable oils (sunflower and rapeseed, in varying proportions), a punchy paprika seasoning (sugar, paprika powder, dextrose, flavouring, salt, dried onion, potassium chloride, citric and malic acid, dried tomato, dried garlic, hydrolysed vegetable protein, smoked maltodextrin, smoked sunflower oil and paprika extract for colour), and antioxidants (rosemary extract, ascorbic acid, tocopherol rich extract and citric acid).

A recipe that has changed

The panels on the current 50g pack show the same recipe as the 140g sharing bag and the six bag pack, with potassium chloride in the seasoning. An older version of this bag, still described in some published listings, had more salt, 1.2g per 100g, and listed celery in its may contain advice. The figures on this page are from the current pack; if you receive an older pack, its own label applies.

Sweet paprika, not hot

Paprika is made from dried, ground sweet peppers, and it is sweet and warm rather than hot. Sugar leads the seasoning, so the first taste is sweet, like a barbecue sauce, with tomato, onion and garlic behind it.

Where the smoke comes from

Smoked maltodextrin, a mild starch powder exposed to wood smoke, and smoked sunflower oil carry the barbecue note. Citric and malic acid, the acids of lemons and apples, give a fruity tang.

Numbers for one bag

The pack's nutrition panel gives 254 kcal (1061 kJ), 14g of fat, 1.1g of saturates, 27g of carbohydrate, 1.6g of sugars, 2.4g of fibre, 3.1g of protein and 0.32g of salt for the 50g bag, which it treats as one serving. The pack puts that at 13% of an average adult's daily energy reference intake, 21% of the fat and 5% of the salt. Per 100g it is 508 kcal (2121 kJ), 29g of fat, 2.2g of saturates, 54g of carbohydrate, 3.1g of sugars, 4.7g of fibre, 6.2g of protein and 0.65g of salt.

Reading the front of the pack

On the UK front of pack scale, per 100g, fat at 29g is red, as it is for fried crisps generally. Saturates at 2.2g are amber. Sugars at 3.1g are green. Salt at 0.65g is amber, towards the low end of its band.

Potassium chloride and the salt figure

Potassium chloride tastes salty but contains no sodium, and the salt figure on a UK label is worked out from sodium, so it seasons the crisps without adding to that figure. The current pack gives 0.65g of salt per 100g and 0.32g for the bag.

Hydrolysed vegetable protein

Hydrolysed vegetable protein is made by breaking down a plant protein into smaller pieces, which gives a savoury depth. The list does not name the plant, and no allergen is highlighted in the ingredients.

Antioxidants

Rosemary extract, ascorbic acid, which is vitamin C, and a tocopherol rich extract, a source of vitamin E, protect the oil from going stale; they are not there for flavour.

Allergens and diet

No allergens from the UK list of 14 are highlighted in the ingredients. The allergy advice on the pack says the crisps may contain milk, soya, mustard, wheat and other cereals containing gluten. The pack says they are suitable for vegetarians; there is no vegan claim and no gluten free claim. Recipes and factory arrangements change, so check the allergy advice on the pack you receive.

Deep ridges

Max crisps are cut with deep ridges, which makes each slice thicker and stiffer than a classic crisp, with a heavier crunch and more seasoning in the grooves.

A bigger single bag

At 50g, this is a bigger portion than a standard lunchbox bag, and the pack counts it as one serving. It suits a hungry afternoon, a journey or a lunch where the crisps are the main side.

How hot is it

There is no chilli on the list. Punchy means bold, sweet and smoky here, not hot.

What the pack leaves out

The pack says there are no artificial colours and no added MSG; the colour is paprika extract, from peppers.

Serving ideas

A single bag goes with a chicken wrap, a cheese and tomato sandwich or a bowl of soup, and it makes a good travelling snack.

In the kitchen

Crushed, the crisps make a sweet, smoky crumb for a chicken breast or a tray of baked sweet potato wedges.

Storage

The pack advises a cool, dry place. Finish the bag once it is opened.

Other sizes

The same recipe comes in a 140g sharing bag and a six bag pack of 27g bags, which we also stock. In the 140g bag there are Walkers Max Strong Jalapeño and Cheese, Sizzling Flame Grilled Steak and KFC Original Chicken.

Sizes of Walkers Max Punchy Paprika Crisps 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.