The universally munched snack food takes on global flavors.

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Turn the page to test your potato chip knowledge.

BY HANNAH SHEINBERG PHOTOGRAPHS BY CHRISTIAN LALONDE
ILLUSTRATIONS BY CLAIRE McCRACKEN M O N T H 2 0 16 67
 all them chips or call them crispswhatever
you call them, these humble snacks are the
crunch heard around the world. Potato
chips are the affordable souvenir that can be
Dip into your chip smarts scooped up at a bodega, vending machine, or
to guess where these train terminal. The flavor, however, varies by
flavors are from. location. Ali Payne, vice president of global
snacks innovation at PepsiCo, explains how cultural cravings
affect seasonings. If travelers want to eat like a local, look no
further than inside a shiny bag.

WHY ARE SOME FLAVORS SO POPULAR AROUND THE WORLD?

Most are popular because of their familiar profiles, like
picanha (beef) in Brazil, masala in India, and barbecue in the
U.S., while other flavors, like cucumber in China, are popular
because theyre unexpected. Even within the U.S., there are
regional preferences: Limn on the West Coast, salt and
vinegar on the East Coast, and spicy flavors in the South.

WHEN CREATING CHIP FLAVORS FOR VARIOUS COUNTRIES,

WHAT FACTORS DO YOU CONSIDER?
While we keep a close eye on emerging flavor trends, local
cuisines are the tastes that resonate most. In our Do Us a
Flavor program, where we invite consumers to invent new
Lays flavors, weve seen time and again that preferences are
largely in line with local comfort food. In the U.K., winning
flavors include pulled pork in a barbecue sauce and Builders
Breakfast, which captures all of the elements of a full English
breakfast, while in the U.S., winners include southern
biscuits and gravy and cheesy garlic bread.

WHAT ARE THE EMERGING FLAVOR TRENDS?

Were definitely seeing flavor trends transfer from the restau-
rant world into snacks. Years ago you never would have seen
sriracha on a chip, but the condiment has made its way into
our restaurants, our kitchens, and our Lays as one of the
2013 Do Us a Flavor finalists in the U.S. Were also seeing
interest in ingredients from other countries, since people are
increasingly exposed to flavors around the world through
travel and social media.

WHICH COUNTRY FAVORS THE SPICIEST FLAVORS?

Mexico has the spiciest flavors in their portfolio. However,
we continue to see the spice trend grow globally.

WHAT GOES IN TO RESEARCHING A NEW POTATO CHIP FLAVOR?

Once we decide on a flavor, our chefs create dozens of
versions of the dish to identify the ideal flavor profile, which
they then replicate on a chip. It can take four or five months
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PHOTO CREDIT

to develop and perfect the new flavor.

FOR MORE ON CHIPS AROUND THE WORLD, VISIT NATGEOTRAVEL.COM.

7. England (Walkers) 8. Japan (Nissin) 9. Mexico (Sabritas) 10. Turkey (Lays) 11. India (Lays) 12. Brazil (Lays)
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1. Russia (Lays) 2. Scotland (Mackies of Scotland) 3. Canada (Old Dutch) 4. China (Lays) 5. Korea (Nongshim) 6. Peru (Lays)
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