Popcorn is becoming one of the UK’s favourite snacks and is the perfect addition for a movie night on your La-Z-Boy sofa or lounger.
Saturday (January 19) is National Popcorn Day in the United States but the treat is now a firm favourite in British households too. Annual sales of popcorn in the UK are now around the £100 million mark and more and more flavours and varieties are making it onto supermarket shelves.
A major part of popcorn’s appeal is that it is high in fibre and low in fat and, in its natural form, contains no sugar or sodium. How healthy it is when you actually get round to eating it depends very much on what toppings or flavours it is mixed with.
Picking popcorn for a cosy night in is now about much more than deciding whether you prefer sweet or salty. There are so many different options to choose from, including some quite unusual flavour combinations.
Here’s a selection of some of the varieties you could be tucking into next time you watch the latest blockbuster:
- Cacao, goji berries and pistachio
Despite being eaten in China for more than 2,000 years, goji berries are relatively new to the UK food scene. Often hailed as a superfood, these berries probably aren’t the first thing that pops into your mind when you think about popcorn. Created by Nina’s, this luxury popcorn is hand-popped in coconut oil in artisan kettles.
- Prosecco
Joe and Seph’s make gourmet popcorn in 50 different flavours with everything from marmite and cheese on toast to gin and tonic and strawberries and cream. Their Prosecco flavour is likely to be a hit with fans of the Italian sparkling wine. This air-popped snack is coated with caramel which has been infused with a 5% Prosecco.
- Sweet and Chilli
If you prefer your snacks to have a bit of a kick, you might want to check out the Sweet and Chilli variety by Popcorn Kitchen. According to the company, this snack always proves popular when they hand out samples at events and it has previously won a gold star at the Guild of Fine Foods’ Great Taste Awards.
- Lemon Sherbet
Made by Devon-based company, Portlebay Popcorn, this sharp and fizzy flavour could help you relive your childhood. The popcorn from Portlebay is described as Kracklecorn because of its brittle, crunchy texture created by adding raw cane sugar into the pot as the corn is popping.
- Sour cream and black pepper
This savoury popcorn is seasoned with a creamy blend of spring onions and cracked black pepper. Produced by Propercorn, a Midlands firm which prides itself on making simple snacks on British soil using natural seasonings, it is 96 calories per 20g serving.
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