BRB Popped Potato Chips Review – Cheese, Salt Pepper & Bhel

Movie night, an intense cricket match, or just something to munch on during a relaxing weekend, potato chips have their lovers across age groups. Perfectly fried and seasoned, potato chips can be super addictive. But because chips are fried, they are extremely calorie-dense.

Those who like to watch what they eat tend to incline towards ‘lighter’ snacks like popcorn. The primary source of calories in a bowl of popcorn comes from corn kernels and not oil or butter (homemade popcorn, not instant packs).

BRB played around with this ‘popping’ technique and launched a range of ‘popped potato chips’ with claims that sound too good to be true! We ordered three of the four flavors- Pasta Cheese, Salt & Pepper, and Bhel and here’s our BRB Popped Potato chips review. 

Can these chips make for a guilt-free indulgence for the diet conscious?

From how they are made to the claims they make, here is all you need to know about BRB Popped potato chips. 

1. Available Flavours

BRB Popped chips are currently available in four flavors, namely-

• Salt & Pepper
• Sweet Chipotle
• Bhel
• Pasta Cheese

2. Available Sizes

BRB Popped chips are available in two sizes.

• 65-gram Squad packs
• 100-gram XXL Tubs

3. Packaging

The packaging varies based on net quantity. The larger tubs are reclosable, have a wide mouth, and are fully recyclable. Thumbs up, BRB!

The Squad packs that hold two servings are packed like other commercially available snacks. 

4. Price Range

We ordered three of the four flavors in 52-gram packs. Each 52-gram pack is priced at Rs 40.

5. Shelf Life

These popped potato chips have a shelf life of nine months. 

Related Reading- Have you heard of PRAN Potata and Sunfeast All Rounder? These are a hybrid between potatoes and biscuits!

Taste, crunch, and nutrition label were the prime focus. We were also eager to check the appearance of these popped chips; are they flat or fluffed?

1. Main Ingredients

Dehydrated Potato, Potato Starch, Rice Bran Oil, Spices, and Condiments are ingredients used in all variants.

The spices and condiments vary based on flavor. 

2. Taste

These popped chips are offered in rather interesting flavors. Are the flavors bold enough to make these chips an indulgent snack?

Or like low in calories, are these also low on taste?

3. Texture

Corn kernels when popped get a very light (on the tummy) texture. This ‘lightness’ can vary if the kernels have been pre-soaked in some form of fat (oil/butter) or fat has been added when popping. Since popping is traditionally used for popcorn, we discussed this before moving to potatoes.

The brand claims their popped chips are ‘super light’ and ‘extra crunchy’. How well do they deliver on these claims?

4. Appearance

All variants are disc-shaped. They aren’t too dense, but the thickness is relatively more than that of average fried potato chips. The surface isn’t completely flat, and there are some pops.

We could also see the seasoning sprinkled on all three variants. 

5. Crunch

In the FAQ section, the brand mentions how they pop the potato ingredients first and then garnish it with seasoning and rice bran oil. 

Does this drizzle of oil post-popping affect the crunch?

1. Pasta Cheese 

We ordered 52-gram packs of the three variants we tried for our review.

The Pasta Cheese variant comes in a dark amber-colored pack. Generally, pasta has a cheesy, herby aroma. We got a similar aroma after opening the pack. 

On to the texture- these popped chips do complete justice to the labels. As we bit into one, these felt super light. Commercially available potato chips are thin too, but they do not have this airy, light texture that BRB shows.  

In terms of taste, these chips held more of a cheesy flavor than other elements you’d relish in a bowl of pasta. The spice and salt levels in this variant were spot-on!

Additionally, the mild garlic flavor made this even tasty. 

All-in-all, the flavors are beautifully balanced ensuring there’s not too much or too little of one ingredient. 

Features

• A 52-gram pack is priced at Rs 40.
• This has a shelf life of nine months.
• Spices & condiments mix- sugar, salt, onion powder, milk solids, whole milk powder, chilli, and garlic powder. 

Likes

• The brand uses rice bran oil. 
• We loved the crunchy bite!
• The salt and spice levels were well-balanced.
• Flavors of cheese and garlic were great. 

Best Suited For

Love cheese but not the calories? Since cheese was the most prominent flavor profile here, we recommend cheese lovers give this a try. 

2. Salt & Pepper

Salt and pepper is a flavor combination typically used in Western foods and can be ‘bland’ for the Indian palate.

The taste test had us delightfully surprised! Despite having no prominent aroma of either of the ingredients, this variant was quite tasty. The salt to pepper ratio is just right; these chips aren’t overly salted, nor do they hold too much pepper. 

Salt and pepper are ingredients that hold the power to make or break a dish. If there’s too much salt, it makes the dish inedible. Whereas generously adding pepper will lead to a spice-overload. 

Just like the taste, the texture was brilliant too. The ‘smartphone-friendly’ claim was delivered well. 

In addition to the camera eating first, we also left the pack unsealed for a couple of hours. The crunch had only marginally reduced but these chips still had the ‘bite’!

 Since these chips aren’t loaded with oil, they do not leave the fingers greasy, aka any smudges on the phone screen!

Features

• Price & shelf life same as the above variant.
• Main ingredients- Dehydrated Potato, Potato Starch, Rice Bran Oil, Spices and Condiments (salt, black pepper, garlic powder)

Likes

• These chips are very crispy.
• Salt and pepper have been added proportionately.
• These have a desirable peppery kick.
• BRB Popped chips are devoid of artificial flavors.
• We appreciate the use of rice bran oil. 

Best Suited For

If you’re looking for a healthier version of potato chips with classic flavors, BRB salt & pepper is what we recommend. 

3. Bhel

Bhel is a hearty blend of all flavors. Salty, spicy, tangy, and sweet! Ingredients like tomatoes bring the tangy sourness; tamarind adds khatta meetha flavor, and we have many other flavorsome agents.

BRB Chips in the Bhel variant had the authentic herby, masaledar aroma. These looked just like the previous variants in terms of shape and size. But the masala coating was superior in the Bhel variant. 

These chips had a masaledar taste that was primarily tangy. Other bhel flavors like spice and sweetness were very balanced. Safe to say, this is a delectable snack. The use of mango juice powder adds the literal ‘lip-smacking’ factor to this snack. 

Features

• Price and shelf life are the same as above.
• Spices and condiments- salt, onion powder, chilli, sugar, mango juice powder, cumin, tamarind, garlic powder, tomato solids, parsley.
• Calories per serve- 110 Kcal.

Likes

• The flavors are almost identical to homemade bhel.
• There’s a lovely balance between the varied flavors.
• We like how these are low in calories but effective for curbing cravings. 

Best Suited For

Evenings are usually when cravings are at their peak. If you’re craving for something chatpata, something desi, BRB Bhel chips may be the answer.  

All the three variants we tried did complete justice to the flavor tags. 

But the top pick for us was the BRB Popped Potato Chips Bhel – this is the variant we loved best. It comes exceptionally close to the real thing and has a very addictive taste!

BRB Popped Potato chips are tasty, crunchy, and the ideal snack for weight watchers! With 60% less fat than regular (fried) potato chips and almost 100 Kcal per serve, these popped chips are devoid of additives or artificial colors/flavors. 

What is your go-to flavor when it comes to snacks?

Related Reading: Best Potato Chips Brands In India [2021]

Here are some interesting FAQs on BRB popped potato chips

1. Are BRB potato chips healthy to consume?

Yes, not only are these low in calories but they are also made using good-quality fats. 

2. How to retain the crispiness of the chips after unpacking?

You can transfer the contents in an air-tight container. 

3. Can these chips be paired with tea or coffee?

If you prefer having tea/coffee with something savory, then yes. 

4. Do these chips lead to any stomach ailments?

These chips are gluten-free so any digestive issues may be unlikely. But it is best to consult a nutritionist. 

* If you do agree with our review, please give it a thumbs up! And, tell us which one is your favorite from this list. If you don’t, please tell us why!

* Food & Beverage is a constantly evolving segment with new products launched daily. Our endeavor here is to help shoppers buy better. If there’s a product you would like us to review tell us by clicking here.

* Our reviews are unbiased and all samples used during the reviews were paid for by us. Read our entire ethics statement here.

* No part of this review is sponsored by any brand. All expenses were borne by us.