ACCEPT NO IMITATIONS! (McCoys Crisps)

Member Name: ian22

Product:	McCoys Crisps
Date:	18/09/05 (2193 review reads)
Rating:

Advantages: Crunchy, tasty

Disadvantages: A bit expensive

Mc Coy's are without a doubt my favourite brand of crisps. I don't buy them that often, but I always enjoy eating them when I do.

Background
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The Mc Coy brand was first established in 1985. The crisps were an instant hit with the British public and twenty years on are still just as popular. Mc Coy's - or 'The Real Mc Coy's' as they are now known - are renowned for the slogan, 'Accept No Imitations', and you'll see this splashed over all the packets.

Mc Coy's are made by KP Snacks, the guys who also make Skips and Hula Hoops.

How to buy them
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You can either buy single packets of Mc Coy's, costing about 40p each, or multipacks (6 x 35g packets), consisting of three different flavours and retailing for around £1.24.

Flavours
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Mc Coy's crisps come in a range of different flavours. Of course, you have the usual ones like Ready Salted, Salt & Malt Vinegar (Salt and Vinegar to you and me!) and Cheddar and Onion, but there are also some more exotic ones like Flame Grilled Steak, Firecracker Chicken, Spiced Chilli and Balti Curry. You'll find the last four in the New Spice Variety packs.

When it comes to crisps, I am a bit fussy about which flavours I will eat. I would gladly tuck into a packet of Ready Salted Mc Coy's or a packet of the Salt & Malt Vinegar flavour, but I am not at all keen on the Cheddar & Onion flavour and haven't even tried the spicey flavours! So for the purpose of this review, I shall concentrate on the Salt & Malt Vinegar flavour only…

Where better place to start than the packet itself?

The Packet
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Single packets have a net weight of 50g, but because I bought a multipack, packets are slightly smaller and weigh 35g. The packet itself is a shiny, gold and blue affair, with a thick, black strip at a slight angle, and the name, 'Mc Coy's', buried within in chunky, white lettering. The flavour, 'Salt and Malt Vinegar', appears in smaller lettering at the bottom of the packet.

The Crisps: Appearance
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The crisps are described simply as 'flavour ridge cut potato crisps', which, although not the most exciting of descriptions, sums them up perfectly. As you open the packet, you'll notice that they are mostly oval in shape and are crinkly, with a defined, uniform ridge to them. They are a lovely golden colour and look quite chunky and very moreish.

Smell & Taste
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The sharp, acetic smell that greets you when you open the packet fills your nostrils with anticipation and is very appealing. The foil packet also ensures that the crisps retain a fresh flavour and a crunchiness that is unrivalled. It is a rich, malty vinegar flavour, which is less salty than the usual salt and vinegar flavour, but still very nice. The crisps have a quality taste, not just in terms of flavour, but also in terms of texture. The thick, crinkly nature of the crisps makes them especially crunchy and incredibly moreish. In my opinion, no other crisp can rival Mc Coy's for texture and for the sheer quality of the crisps.

Nutrition Information (35g packets)
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Energy 179 kcal (calories)
Protein 2.4g
Carbohydrate 18.5g
Fat 10.6g
Sodium 0.4g

** Contain gluten **
** Suitable for vegetarians **

Conclusion
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Well what can I say…? I love these crisps and cannot really fault them in any way. They may be a bit more expensive than brands like Walkers, but they are worth every penny. Their thick, crunchy potato taste and quality of flavour stand them apart from other crisps.

HIGHLY RECOMMENDED.

Contact Details
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KP Snacks,
FREEPOST (LE6531),
P.O. Box No. 4,
Ashby-de-la-Zouch,
Leicestershire,
LE65 1NZ.

By the way, I haven't got a clue why there is a box of Twinings teabags in the picture above! Very strange!

Summary: Quality Crisps