Forget wine tastings and cheese boards. The hottest trend in casual entertaining is the humble chip tasting party. It's affordable, accessible, surprisingly engaging, and guaranteed to spark lively debate among your guests. Whether you're looking for a unique party concept or simply want an excuse to sample a wide variety of crisps, this guide will help you organise an event that your friends will be talking about for months.
A well-executed chip tasting combines the structure of a formal tasting event with the relaxed, fun atmosphere of a casual get-together. The result is an evening of discovery, discussion, and delicious snacking that brings people together in unexpected ways.
Planning Your Chip Tasting Event
Choosing a Theme
While you could simply buy a random assortment of chips, having a theme adds structure and focus to your tasting. Consider these popular approaches:
- Brand Battle: Compare the same flavour (e.g., Salt & Vinegar) across different brands
- Flavour Exploration: Focus on one brand and taste their entire range
- Classic vs. Premium: Compare budget options against gourmet alternatives
- Regional Showdown: Australian brands versus international imports
- Texture Tournament: Compare thin cut, crinkle cut, and kettle cooked styles
The "Brand Battle" format tends to generate the most discussion, as guests are often surprised by how different the same flavour can taste across brands.
Guest List and Quantities
A chip tasting works best with 6-12 guests. Fewer than six can feel too quiet, while more than twelve makes it difficult to have cohesive group discussions. For quantities, plan on sampling 6-10 different chip varieties, with about 25-30 grams per person per variety. This ensures everyone gets enough to form an opinion without filling up too quickly.
Setting Up Your Tasting Station
Presentation matters even for casual snacks. Transfer chips from their packets into individual bowls or plates, numbering each one clearly. Keep the original packets hidden to prevent brand recognition from influencing opinions. Provide each guest with:
- A tasting scorecard (template suggestions below)
- A pen or pencil
- A small plate for sampling
- A glass of water for palate cleansing between varieties
- Optional: plain crackers or bread for neutralising strong flavours
Creating Your Tasting Scorecard
A good scorecard helps guests articulate their opinions and creates a record of the evening. Include these rating categories:
Appearance (1-5)
Before tasting, examine the chips visually. Are they uniformly shaped or varied? What colour are they? Do they look appetising? Is the seasoning evenly distributed or clumped in patches?
Aroma (1-5)
Smell the chips before eating. A good chip should have an inviting aroma that hints at the flavour to come. Does it smell artificial or natural? Can you detect the individual seasoning components?
Crunch Factor (1-5)
The hallmark of a quality chip is its crunch. Is it satisfyingly crispy or disappointingly soft? Does the crunch hold up or quickly dissolve? Does it shatter pleasantly or feel tough to chew?
Flavour Intensity (1-5)
How strong is the seasoning? Rate whether it's too mild, perfectly balanced, or overwhelmingly intense. Consider whether the flavour matches what's promised on the packet.
Overall Enjoyment (1-5)
This is the subjective bottom line. Would you buy this chip again? How does it rate against your personal favourites? Is it something you'd recommend to others?
Conducting the Tasting
The Blind Tasting Approach
For the most unbiased results, conduct a blind tasting where guests don't know which brand they're sampling. This eliminates the influence of brand loyalty and preconceptions. Assign each chip a number and only reveal the identities after all scoring is complete.
Tasting Order
Start with milder flavours and progress to more intense ones. If you're tasting Salt & Vinegar varieties, for example, begin with the gentler options before moving to the mouth-puckering ones. This prevents palate fatigue and ensures each chip gets a fair evaluation.
Pace and Palate Cleansing
Allow 3-5 minutes between each chip variety for discussion and scoring. Encourage guests to take sips of water or nibble on plain crackers between samples. This cleanses the palate and prevents flavour overlap that could affect subsequent ratings.
Encouraging Discussion
After everyone has sampled and scored each variety, open the floor for discussion. Ask prompting questions like:
- "What stood out to you about this chip?"
- "How would you describe the flavour in three words?"
- "Would you pair this with a dip? Which one?"
- "How does this compare to the previous sample?"
Complementary Food and Drinks
While chips are the star, thoughtful accompaniments enhance the experience:
Dips
Set up a separate dip station for guests to experiment with pairings. Classic options include French onion, tzatziki, hummus, salsa, and guacamole. This adds an interactive element and can lead to surprising flavour discoveries.
Beverages
Crisp, refreshing drinks complement salty snacks perfectly. Consider offering sparkling water with citrus, light beers or ciders, or even a simple wine selection. Avoid overly sweet drinks that can clash with savoury chip flavours.
If you're setting out chips for extended periods, ensure the room isn't too warm or humid, as this can cause chips to lose their crunch. Keep backup supplies sealed until needed.
The Grand Reveal
After all chips have been tasted and scored, tally the results. Create drama by revealing brands one at a time, starting with the lowest-scoring option and building to the winner. Many hosts find that the results surprise everyone, as expensive premium chips don't always triumph over budget options.
Discussion Points for the Reveal
- Were there any upset victories?
- Did brand expectations match reality?
- What was the most divisive chip (biggest score variance)?
- Would anyone change their scores knowing the brands?
Beyond the Party
A chip tasting party can become a recurring event. Consider starting a "Chip Club" that meets monthly to explore different themes. Keep records of your tastings to track how preferences evolve over time. You might even develop your own rating system or chip reviewing criteria that becomes more refined with each gathering.
The beauty of a chip tasting party is its accessibility. Unlike wine or cheese tastings that can feel intimidating, everyone has an opinion about chips. It's egalitarian, affordable, and genuinely fun. So gather your friends, stock up on crisps, and prepare for an evening of crunchy entertainment that proves you don't need fancy ingredients to host a memorable event.