Dare to be square (Walkers Squares)

Member Name: Emily_09

Product:	Walkers Squares
Date:	28/09/09 (30 review reads)
Rating:

Advantages: Tasty, not too expensive, not too calorific

Disadvantages: Can make your mouth sore

Whoever came up with the idea of Walkers Squares wasn't exactly a genius. As far as ideas for products go, this one was very simple but sometimes simple is best especially when it comes to food. Lately I've been varying the crisps that I eat and really enjoyed trying Walkers new flavours that were invented by members of the public. Last week at work however, I had a sudden craving for a nice pack of good old salt and vinegar and as the local newsagents had sold out of Walkers original Salt and Vinegar I had to settle for Squares.

I'd never really tried Squares before, not particularly because they didn't appeal to me but I'd just never really considered them. I was pleasantly surprised after tasting them however and they are now a frequent addition to my supermarket trolley.

The packaging
**************
Squares come in a standard size packet of crisps and the packaging is coloured according to which flavour they are. The crisps come in three flavours, salt and vinegar (in a blue packet), ready salted (red) and cheese and onion (green). Each packet has the Walkers logo on the front, the name 'Squares' and an image of the crisps, all on a coloured background patterned with squares. The back of the packet displays the ingredients, nutritional information and everything else you need to know about the product. Simple and effective packaging to go with simple and effective crisps!

The taste
***********
Personally, my favourite flavour of these crisps is Salt and Vinegar as I have always loved this flavour but I've also tried the other flavours which are very nice.

Salt and Vinegar
**********
One thing that really annoys me about some Salt and Vinegar crisps is when they hardly have any flavour and you can barely taste the salt, let alone the vinegar. Squares are nothing like this however and are so vinegary that I can't eat them if I ever have a cold sore as they sting like mad! You can really taste the vinegar which is good in my opinion and they are are flavoured evenly so you don't get some that taste more than others.

Ready Salted
**********
I'm also a big fan of this flavour but these are just a bit too salty for me. If you like the taste of original ready salted Walkers crisps then you'll probably like these but they are too salty for my liking and make me really thirsty after eating a whole packet. They might be a bit better with dips as it may take away the saltiness but on their own they aren't so good.


Cheese and Onion
*************
Cheese and Onion flavour crisps are my least favourite but I don't mind this flavour of Squares. They are quite cheesy with just a hint of onion that you can taste more after you have eaten a few of them. The only thing I don't like is that, as with most cheese and onion crisps, they leave an after taste in your mouth that doesn't go away for ages. I avoid eating these at work as I'm really conscious about my breath after eating a packet!


Texture
******
One of the things that make Squares different to the original Walkers crisps is their texture. They are obviously square in shape but are really thin and have kind of bubbles within the potato. This sounds a bit weird but when you try one you'll know what I mean! Their crunchiness compliments their flavour well and they are nice and light to eat for a snack.


Nutritional info
*************
Amazingly it's not just their texture that is light, they aren't too high in fat either. Hurrah! A packet contains around 95 calories and 0.3g of saturated fat which isn't too bad for crisps. They also contain 55% less salt than other Walkers crisps which is an added bonus! Granted, they aren't exactly a health food, but if you're going to be a bit naughty they are a good option.

Price
********
There's nothing particularly special about the price of these as they are average really. A single pack will usually cost you 45p-50p although it's much better to buy a multipack as you get 12 packs for around £1.40. Buying a mixed multipack means you can also try all the flavours so you know you've had the full Squares experience!

Overall I love these as they are a tasty snack that isn't too pricey, either money or calorie wise!

Summary: 5 stars