Walkers Sensations Roasted Chicken and Thyme Crisps, 150g

Roasted Chicken and Thyme is the herby roast dinner flavour in the Walkers Sensations range, on a thicker cut crisp. This is the 150g sharing bag, which the pack says holds five servings. The full product name on the pack is roasted chicken and thyme flavour potato crisps, and the pack names Walkers Snack Foods Ltd as the maker.

The ingredients

According to the published pack listing, the crisps are made from potatoes, vegetable oils (sunflower and rapeseed in varying proportions), a roasted chicken and thyme seasoning (flavourings containing thyme oil, sugar, potassium chloride, salt, onion powder, dried parsley, citric acid, white pepper powder and paprika extract for colour), a firming agent (calcium lactate) and antioxidants (rosemary extract, ascorbic acid, tocopherol rich extract and citric acid).

Chicken without chicken

There is no chicken on the list. The roast chicken taste comes from the flavourings, and the pack states the crisps are suitable for vegetarians. That makes it a roast dinner flavour a vegetarian can share, though it is not labelled vegan.

Thyme

Thyme oil, the aromatic oil of the herb, is part of the flavourings, and dried parsley adds a green note. The pack describes three stages: the smell of roast chicken first, then the roast flavour itself, then a lemony, peppery thyme finish.

Lemon without lemon

There is no lemon on the list. The fresh, lemony note the pack describes sits with the thyme, and citric acid gives the seasoning a light sharpness.

White pepper

White pepper gives a gentle, peppery warmth at the finish. It is the only pepper on the list, and there is no chilli, so the crisps have no real heat.

Sugar

Sugar is second in the seasoning, but the amount is small: 1.1g of sugars per 100g and 0.3g in a serving. It rounds the savoury flavour rather than making the crisps sweet.

Thicker cut

The pack says Sensations use specially selected potato varieties, cut thicker for a satisfying crunch. A thicker slice holds more seasoning and has a firmer bite than a standard crisp.

Calcium lactate and the antioxidants

Calcium lactate is a firming agent: the calcium helps the potato slice keep its structure through frying. The antioxidants, rosemary extract, vitamin C (ascorbic acid) and tocopherols, protect the oil from going stale.

Potassium chloride and the salt figure

Potassium chloride sits in the seasoning beside salt. It tastes salty but contains no sodium, and the salt figure on a UK label is worked out from sodium. The label gives 0.65g of salt per 100g and 0.2g for a 30g serving.

Numbers per serving

The pack gives 146 kcal (610 kJ), 7.8g of fat, 0.7g of saturates, 16g of carbohydrate, 0.3g of sugars, 1.8g of fibre, 2.1g of protein and 0.2g of salt for each 30g serving, which it puts at 7% of an average adult's daily energy reference intake, 11% of the fat and 3% of the salt. Per 100g it is 487 kcal (2033 kJ), 26g of fat, 2.3g of saturates, 53g of carbohydrate, 1.1g of sugars, 6g of fibre, 6.8g of protein and 0.65g of salt.

Reading the front of the pack

On the UK front of pack scale, per 100g, fat at 26g is red, as it is for fried crisps generally. Saturates at 2.3g are amber. Sugars at 1.1g are green. Salt at 0.65g is amber, in the lower part of its band.

Allergens and diet

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

What the pack leaves out

The pack says there are no artificial colours, the colour is paprika extract, and no added MSG, and none is on the list.

The pack

The black bag shows sprigs of thyme beside the Sensations name, with the flavour written in orange and a pile of crisps below.

Who it suits

A herby, savoury crisp suits anyone who likes a roast dinner flavour without heat, and vegetarians who miss a chicken crisp. Check the may contain advice first for anyone with a milk, gluten, soya or mustard allergy.

Serving the bag

Roast chicken and thyme goes with a chicken or stuffing sandwich, a green salad or a glass of white wine. Serve it in a bowl beside a lemon and herb dip.

In the kitchen

Crushed, the crisps make a herby crumb for chicken goujons or the top of a pie or a gratin, with no extra seasoning needed.

Five servings

The pack says the bag contains five servings of 30g. Tip a serving into a bowl rather than eating from the bag.

Storage and packaging

The pack advises a cool, dry place and eating the crisps within three days of opening; the bag is packed in a protective atmosphere, which keeps the crisps fresh until it is opened. The pack points you to recycling the packet in store.

Other Sensations flavours

In the same 150g bag we stock Walkers Sensations Mature Cheddar and Chilli Chutney, Thai Sweet Chilli and Balsamic Vinegar and Caramelised Onion. For roast chicken on a standard Walkers crisp, there is Walkers Roast Chicken in the 45g bag and the six bag multipack.

Other 150g packs of Sensations 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.