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The Guardian
22 minutes ago
- The Guardian
‘Serve me these with an aperitivo immediately': the best (and worst) supermarket salted crisps
'What I've learned today,' says my friend Lucy, stepping firmly away from the crisp buffet, 'is that you can have too much of a good thing.' My volunteer testers and I were enthusiastic about the prospect of tasting our way through 10 types of lightly salted, crisply fried potato, but we all agreed, once they were laid out side by side in anonymous bowls, that it was surprisingly hard to differentiate between them. That said, good news: every single one had its cheerleaders, so there were no real duds in this sample. The Guardian's journalism is independent. We will earn a commission if you buy something through an affiliate link. Learn more. To outline what I'm looking for from a salted crisp, it should be crisp, obviously. To this end, all the bags were opened at the same time, just before the blind tasting. Salt levels are a matter of personal preference, though it should be upfront rather than a mere seasoning, while, in an ideal world, the potatoes themselves would be the primary flavour, rather than a mere texture. They should be cooked long enough that they crunch, rather than melt between the teeth, but it's a delicate balance: too long in the oil and they'll be bitter. And that oil – if you can taste it at all – should be pleasant: too strong a flavour, even of the best fat, will overpower the spuds. Last, crisps should be dangerously moreish: if you can eat one and stop, they're not good crisps. ★★★★☆ The most divisive crisps of the day, with marks ranging from one (Rose, seven, and representing the youth vote) to five (me). Noticeably yellow, thanks to the extra-virgin olive oil they're cooked in (which, unlike the Himalayan pinkness of the salt, comes through in the flavour, hence, perhaps, the loss of the kid vote), they prompt the demand: 'Serve me these with an aperitivo immediately: crunch, salt, good oil – YES.' Sadly, these Andalusian crisps have a far higher fat content than any of the others tested. One for picking at elegantly over a chilled glass of sherry. ★★★★☆ Though some find them a little undersalted, these chunky crisps' 'classic flavour' finds favour, with several testers noting with excitement that they 'actually taste of potato!' While the comments section attracts several variations on 'mid-range' (Rose judges them merely 'OK'), the decent flavour and excellent crunch make this a great value choice. ★★★☆☆ Rose finds these too crunchy, but that very quality appeals to the person who says they'd be perfect for a hangover. 'Nice enough,' someone else says, 'but surprised not to find one I like more.' That sums these up – a decent, aggressively crunchy crisp with a high salt content, but missing that elusive potatoey flavour. ★★★☆☆ 'Perfectly fine,' one tester finds, before admitting: 'Actually quite moreish.' Someone else judges them 'generic'. Thin and crisp, which divides opinion, from 'nothing to them' to 'better – lighter!', Rose judges them 'too spicy', but I rather like their saltiness and the fact that – hurrah! – they taste of baked potato. I'd buy these again. ★★★☆☆ Cooked skin on, which gives them a decent potatoey flavour. There are a few slightly sweet, caramelised ones in here, suggesting an older potato, but in general these are crunchy, well-balanced crisps that would perform well in most situations, from festival pre-drinks to family picnics. 'Middle of the road,' as Rob observes. Sign up to The Filter Get the best shopping advice from the Filter team straight to your inbox. The Guardian's journalism is independent. We will earn a commission if you buy something through an affiliate link. after newsletter promotion ★★★☆☆ Fun fact: I once visited the Kettle Chips factory in Norwich and was allowed to cook a kettle of crisps, so I can confirm that, as the packet suggests, they are indeed hand fried in small batches. They're not my favourite, though, even when cooked by the pros – I find these a bit greasy, while other testers judge them 'blah' and 'cardboardy … does not break when you bite in'. Several testers say they 'need more salt', but I'll let them off, given they're described only as lightly salted (always a red flag for me). ★★☆☆☆ 'Bang average' sums up the response to these. 'Wouldn't put out for guests.' Rose finds them 'too bitey' (they are, it must be said, very crisp), someone else finds them 'bland', and several tasters say they feel 'cheap' and 'basic', which is not reflected in the price. Disappointing. ★★☆☆☆ These apparently taste as if 'they were opened last night'. 'A bit stale,' someone else agrees. 'Wrong texture, dense.' Personally, I like a thicker crisp, but these are a little too chewy and even I find them a touch salty, though, checking the labels afterwards, they contain less salt than some of the others, so maybe it's just that the flavour is more intense. Might be better served with a creamy dip to balance this out. ★★☆☆☆ 'Too thick, like eating greasy batter out of the bottom of the chip paper, and not in a good way,' one tester says, and although I love a thicker crisp, I'm inclined to agree – these are a bit tough, rather than snappy, and taste, as Rose notes, 'too oily'. ★★☆☆☆ Rose, who confides in me that these are the only crisps she knows, picks them out from the lineup in seconds – they're far paler and more uniform than the others – but even she's not that enthusiastic. 'Not crunchy enough' is a common complaint, while someone else thinks they're so light, they're almost 'a health snack'. The final damning verdict comes from Claire: 'An anaemic pub crisp. Fine with a cold pint, otherwise lacking.'
BBC News
an hour ago
- BBC News
Closure warning for visitors to part of Nuneaton cemetery
Visitors to a Warwickshire cemetery are being warned part of it will be fenced off for two weeks for repair will not be able to get to memorials, urns and benches in the old garden of remembrance area and some parts of the Rose Lawn at Oaston Road Cemetery, Nuneaton, the borough council of the memorials could also be temporarily moved from their paving slabs so the slabs can be re-laid but they will be put back, a spokesperson work is starting on Monday and due to finish on 18 August. The repairs were needed to keep the cemetery "at its best and safe for visitors", councillor Brady Hughes said."We apologise for any inconvenience caused. We thank you for your patience at this time," she added. Follow BBC Coventry & Warwickshire on BBC Sounds, Facebook, X and Instagram.
Powys County Times
2 hours ago
- Powys County Times
Student in Gaza unable to reach UK before start of term ‘refuses to give up'
A student trapped in Gaza who has been awarded a place at a UK university said she 'lost access to education overnight' but refuses to 'give up'. Dalya Ibrahim Shehada Qeshta was studying pharmacy at Al-Azhar University in Gaza while her twin sister Dalal was specialising in engineering when the campus was 'completely destroyed' in the ongoing conflict, she said. The 22-year-old, from Rafah city in southern Gaza and who has family in the UK, said despite this, the pair 'refused to let go of our dreams' and applied to study in the UK. 'Our university was completely destroyed, along with many of our personal belongings, and we lost access to education overnight,' she told the PA news agency. 'Like thousands of others, our lives were thrown into chaos. 'Education is not just a dream for us, it is our hope for healing, rebuilding, and having a future beyond war,' she said. Dalya has been offered a place to study pharmacy at the University of Manchester while Dalal secured a place at the University of Bristol on an aerospace engineering course. However, both are unable to leave Gaza as their way out is 'physically blocked' by the closure of borders and crossings in the region as well as a lack of financial support, Ms Qeshta said. Last week, the Guardian reported that a group of 40 students in Gaza are unable to take their places at UK universities in September despite being awarded full scholarships because of a Home Office requirement for biometric data for visa applications. According to the paper, the UK-authorised biometrics centre in Gaza closed in October 2023 and it has been 'impossible' for the students to travel to centres in neighbouring countries. For Ms Qeshta, continuing her education is 'key to breaking the cycle of hardship,' she said, adding that it would 'change our lives for the better'. During the early months of the war, Ms Qeshta said her family home was 'completely destroyed' and they have been 'forcibly displaced' 11 times since. They are currently living in a tent in Al-Mawasi. Of life in Gaza, she told PA it was a 'living nightmare' and that children were searching for 'water and bread, not toys or books'. 'Prices are unimaginably high, and basic essentials like flour, rice, or canned goods are almost non-existent,' she said. 'True hunger is not just a feeling, it's a daily reality. 'Medicines and healthcare are either unavailable or unaffordable, and the sick often go without help.' She said: 'There's no sense of routine, just survival.' 'Children in Gaza no longer know what childhood means,' she said. 'The war has stolen their laughter, their innocence, and their dreams. 'They search for water and bread, not toys or books. 'They are dying not because of illness or because they are hungry, but simply because they are children of Gaza.' One of 'the most terrifying moments' the family experienced was in Al-Mawasi when 'shelling began without warning' as they were gathering their belongings, Ms Qeshta said. 'My brother was injured, and my sister's young children were paralysed with fear. 'We were caught between life and death, fleeing under fire.' On another occasion, bullets pierced the family's tent as they were preparing a meal in a moment of 'terror' she will never forget, the student said. 'But through all this darkness, we hold onto hope – hope that we can survive, rebuild, and one day live in peace,' she added. 'Hope that we can still pursue our dreams like any other young people in this world. 'We refuse to give up. 'Even when everything is stripped away from us, we cling to our humanity, to our stories, and to the belief that our voices still matter.' As pressure mounts on the UK Government to take further action to help end the conflict, Sir Keir Starmer announced this week that the country could take the step of recognising a Palestinian state in September ahead of a gathering at the UN. The UK would refrain from doing so if Israel allows more aid into Gaza, stops annexing land in the West Bank, agrees to a ceasefire, and signs up to a long-term peace process over the next two months. Although this is an 'important step', recognition 'should not be used as a bargaining tool' but as a 'moral and political obligation', Ms Qeshta said of the announcement. 'We have seen many promises before,' 'What matters most now is action.' She added: 'I hope this move is real and followed by real change on the ground, because words alone cannot save lives. ' The student urged the international community not to 'turn away' from the suffering in Gaza and to push for an 'immediate end' to the conflict. 'We are not numbers,' she said. 'We are people, and we want to live.' Campaigners are reportedly calling on the Government to grant students with scholarships a biometrics deferral and assist them in finding a safe route to a third country where they can complete their visa application before travelling to the UK. Of this group, a Government spokesperson said: 'We are aware of the students and are considering the request for support.' Labour MP Abtisam Mohamed, who is campaigning on this issue, said: 'Gaza's education system, like so much else, has been all but obliterated. 'Schools have become overcrowded shelters, every university has been reduced to rubble, and educators have been deliberately targeted and killed.' The Sheffield Central MP added: 'Ireland, France and Belgium have acted to ensure their students can reach safety, the UK has not. 'This is not hypothetical, some of these students have already been killed while waiting and others remain in constant danger. 'I'm pressing ministers to address this as soon as possible, as every minute increases the likelihood that more young lives will be lost.'
