The Holiday Pringle Flavor From 2012 Most People Couldn't Stomach
When the holiday season comes around, snack companies like to launch festive flavors of our favorite treats. Some of them are big hits, like Costco's famous peppermint bark that's sadly been hit by economic inflation in recent years. Others, however, haven't done nearly as well. One good example of a seasonal snack flop is Pringles' white chocolate and peppermint potato chips, released in 2012.
Ordinarily, sweet and savory is a winning combo. You only need to look at the success of other chocolate-covered chips to know that, including from other chip giants like Lay's, which released the limited-time treat in 2013. In the case of Pringles' rather unique chip flavor, though, the result was less than appealing. Instead of being coated in chocolate, they had a white chocolate and peppermint flavored dusting that many found unpalatable. Customers and reviewers alike were unhappy with this combination, with some unflatteringly comparing it to rancid mouthwash.
Unsurprisingly, these chips are nowhere to be found today, having joined the ranks of discontinued chip flavors we'll never get back ... likely to consumers' relief. However, Pringles didn't give up entirely. In 2013, it released a similar flavor with no peppermint to be found. Like the originals, the peppermint-free version was divisive, though maybe not to the degree the minty version had been. Even professional chocolatiers found they couldn't taste much white chocolate in the snack at all.
What people had to say about white chocolate peppermint Pringles
People had plenty to say about Pringles' white chocolate peppermint flavor. One of the most common complaints was the strong mint flavor, which is an excellent complement to white chocolate but not so much to potato chips. According to Today show taste testers, it was akin to a chip with "a thin layer of toothpaste on it." Apparently, no one wanted seconds.
Another food reviewer, Robert Dyer, featured this Pringles flavor in a YouTube video. In addition to agreeing about the overwhelming presence of peppermint, he was disappointed by the lack of an actual chocolate coating. He deemed this to be "false advertising," as the packing on the tube implied there would be one. He gave the chips one star and advised potential customers to avoid them. Reviewer Junk Food Betty unflatteringly said the chips "tasted exactly like how they're supposed to [...] Should I give points to Pringles for nailing a flavor so unlikely for a potato crisp? No, because they're gross."
It's not just professional reviewers that had something to say. Though the chips are not currently available on Amazon, Reddit has managed to preserve some less-than-positive reviews. One dissatisfied customer concluded that "In one fell swoop we ruined chocolate, potato chips, and Christmas. Something must be done. Or I fear for our children." While the review is exaggerated, its vehemence and one-star rating serve to show just how divisive Pringles' white chocolate peppermint flavor was.