A dedicated crisps enthusiast has undertaken a months-long taste challenge, sampling more than 40 different salt and vinegar varieties, with a supermarket own-brand packet emerging victorious over well-known favourites such as Walkers and McCoy's. Liv Newman, 28, embarked on the snack quest after returning from a year-long backpacking trip across Southeast Asia, where she found salt and vinegar crisps were nearly impossible to locate. Back in the United Kingdom and craving the tangy snack, she began her search in August 2025 to identify the ultimate version of the classic crisp, consuming around three packets weekly over several months and spending approximately £80 in total.
The Taste Test Criteria
Each crisp was evaluated based on the intensity of its flavour, with particular emphasis on the sharpness and mouth-tingling quality of the vinegar hit. Rather than judging overall taste, the ranking prioritised what Newman described as the 'salt and vinegar-ist' experience. After narrowing her favourites down to a shortlist of seven, she organised a blind taste test with friends to finalise the rankings.
The Top Three
Topping the list were M&S Salt & Double Vinegar Extreme Ridge Cut Crisps, which were praised for their intense flavour and powerful vinegar kick. Although Newman admitted they could be 'almost unbearable' at times due to their strength, they secured the top spot. In second place were Golden Wonder Fully Flavoured Salt and Vinegar Crisps, described as a 'clear leader' and a 'fan favourite' for their consistent performance throughout the taste test. Completing the top three were Asda Exceptional Hand Cooked Sea Salt and Chardonnay Wine Vinegar Crisps, which were commended for delivering a noticeable 'tingle' without overwhelming the palate.
Debate and Reactions
The results sparked online debate, with many surprised that Co-op Irresistible Hand Cooked Salt and Vinegar Crisps failed to make the top three and were placed fifth, despite strong support from fans who described them as an 'elite' option. The ranking also saw several household names, including Walkers and McCoy's, placed further down the list, fuelling discussion among crisp enthusiasts.
Newman's Perspective
Newman explained that the aim was not necessarily to find the best overall flavour but the crisps that delivered the strongest vinegar punch. 'The more salt and vinegar they tasted, the higher the score,' she said, adding that some crisps were enjoyable but too mild to score highly. 'We were going for a pure tingle factor. The ones that made your mouth tingle and hurt your tongue,' she added. She noted that the winning M&S crisps stood out because their flavour built gradually, delivering a powerful hit that lingered. 'I wouldn't say they were the nicest tasting as they could be too vinegary. We all agreed that when you got one of the really flavoured ones it was almost unbearable.'
Future Plans
Newman, from Leeds, West Yorkshire, said the idea for the challenge stemmed from a year abroad where she joked about missing proper British crisps. She now feels she has completed her mission, joking that her 'tongue is burnt' after months of tasting. Her next project is already lined up: finding the UK's best prawn cocktail crisps.
Full Ranking of Top 40
- M&S Salt & Double Vinegar Extreme Ridge Cut Crisps - 7.6/10
- Golden Wonder Fully Flavoured Salt and Vinegar Crisps - 7.6/10
- Exceptional By Asda Hand Cooked Sea Salt and Chardonnay Wine Vinegar Crisps - 7.4/10
- Discos Salt & Vinegar crisps - 7.2/10
- Co-op Irresistible Hand Cooked Sea Salt & Chardonnay Wine Vinegar Crisps - 7.2/10
- Simply Roasted - Sea Salt & Vinegar Crisps - 7.2/10
- M&S Sea Salt and Vinegar Popped Chips - 7/10
- Tayto Fright Bites Salt 'N Vinegar Flavour Corn Snacks - 7.1/10
- Golden Wonder Chippies Salt & Vinegar Potato Sticks - 6.9/10
- Tayto Hunky Dory Salt & Vinegar Crisps - 6.9/10
- Popchips Sea Salt & Vinegar Crisps - 6.8/10
- Morrisons The Best Sea Salt & Vinegar Crisps - 6.8/10
- Sainsbury's Taste the Difference Sea Salt & Cider Vinegar Crisps - 6.8/10
- Greggs Sea Salt & Cider Vinegar Hand-Cooked Crisps - 6.7/10
- Tayto Golden Wonder Rough Cut Salt and Vinegar Crisps - 6.7/10
- Kettle Potato Chips Sea Salt & Balsamic Vinegar - 6.6/10
- Doritos Minecraft Movie THE CREEPER VINEGAR Limited Edition - 6.5/10
- Smiths Chipsticks Salt & Vinegar Crisps - 6.7/10
- M&S Hand Cooked Sea Salt & Balsamic Vinegar Crisps - 6.5/10
- Walkers Max Zingy Salt & Malt Vinegar Crisps - 6.5/10
- Real Sea Salt and Cider Vinegar Crisps - 6.4/10
- Aldi Salt & Vinegar Flavour Potato Hoops - 6.4/10
- Tayto Salt & Vinegar Flavour Potato Crisps - 6.3/10
- Asda Extra Special Sea Salt and Chardonnay Wine Vinegar Hand Cooked Crisps - 6.2/10
- Bobby's Salt and Vinegar Flavour Spirals - 6/10
- Tyrells Sea Salt & Cider Vinegar - 5.8/10
- Yorkshire Crisps Chardonnay Wine & Vinegar - 5.7/10
- M&S Basic Salt and Vinegar Crisps - 5.7/10
- Salt and Vinegar Pringles - 5.6/10
- Aldi Specially Selected Sea Salt & Chardonnay Vinegar Hand Cooked Crisps - 5.5/10
- McCoy's Salt and Vinegar Crisps - 5.5/10
- M&S Salt and Vinegar Star Crisps - 5.4/10
- Hula Hoops Big Hoops Salt & Vinegar Crisps - 5/10
- Aldi Salt and Vinegar Pringles - 4.4/10
- Pomsticks Salt and Vinegar- 4/10
- Salt and Vinegar Squares Crisps - 3.5/10
- Burton's 5 Fish'n Chips Lashings of Salt & Vinegar Flavour Baked Snacks - 3/10
- M&S Salt & Vinegar Combo Mix - 2/10
- Seabrook Trebles Salt & Cider Vinegar Crisps - 1/10
- Jack's Salt & Vinegar Twirls - 1/10
