PepsiCo Portugal
Lay's, Ruffles
Address: Lagoas Park, Edifício 5C, 5º, 2740-298 Porto Salvo, Portugal
Phone: 808 200 969
Website: www.lays.pt
Email: Contact Form

Ruffles York eso Sabor a Potato Chips
The above translates to “York that flavour.” It would be good to know what that is supposed to mean, but as there is a graphic of some rolled processed ham and a slab of cheese that was barely noticeable on the yellow bag design, I would say the flavouring was pretty obvious. The taste was somewhat different. The usual narrow ridged Ruffles chips provided a hearty, warming and totally dominant cheese flavour. A single chip or a handful at once, it was still very difficult to identify any ham in this partnership.  
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Ruffles Jamon Potato Chips
At first, I thought these narrow undulating chips were suffering an identity crisis, but then it became clear. I would not suggest they did not taste of Spanish cured ham, which is obviously a major foodstuff in the country, but the taste was more akin to a flavour far more popular in the United Kingdom. They tasted of mild smoky bacon. Given the availability of that particular flavour in the UK, and Lay’s relationship with Walkers, it is not difficult to find possible influence. Now, identity crisis or not, these were nice, moreish chips that featured a familiar and welcome taste of bacon chips.  
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Santa Ana Patatas Fritas
Good old fashioned traditional salty crisps with plenty of grease. Oil bubbly, and irregularly shaped, with a warming milky taste.  
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​Lay’s Cheese & Onion Potato Chips
The first thing to mention would be the cheese image on the bag. It was a hard Spanish style cheese rather than the more traditional and always expected, Cheddar cheese. There was a traditional Spanish white onion, so I was happy that a regular flavouring would be included. Imagine my surprise when the taste was just like the usual British style cheese and onion crisps. The cheese was a creamy Cheddar, and the equally measured onion was spritely and slightly acidic. I won’t judge Lay’s too harshly for understandably pandering to its Spanish audience, because they were a good old traditional cheese and onion variety.  
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Lay’s Salt & Vinegar Potato Chips
The Frito-Lay / Walker’s Crisps partnership worked wonderfully well with these chips. Lay’s don’t usually turn a chip of this variety out this well, but Walker’s, their UK arm, do. And these were very much of the walker’s standard. A good underlying salt addition to a top-drawer malt vinegar presentation.  
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Lay’s Pollo Asado (Roast Chicken)
A Nose Plunge Test revealed little of the irrefutable fact that these tasted just like chicken. There was a roast flavouring, though this was mild. They featured a very string and accurate ch9cekn flavouring. Certainly among the best of this flavour I have tried throughout my European travels.  
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Lay’s Paprika Potato Chips
This variety is very popular in mainland Europe, especially eastern Europe, where the coking seasoning is most evident. The right reddish orange chips augured well, and they didn’t disappoint. It was not a strong flavour, but it was clearly paprika. The issue for me, was it the mildness was unnecessary. The colouring suggested a stronger taste, but there was just a touch too much potato base shining through.   (14)
Lay's Original Potato Chips
The perfect storm. The oldest commercially available original flavoured potato chip and the country where traditional chips reign. In some respects it was a disappointment that these did not taste of greasy, oily old style chips. On the other, it was a relief.   
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Lay’s Gourmet Original Chips
The gold and black packaging was very attractive. A nice departure from Lay’s usual lacklustre designs. The gold interior was even more impressive and an impressive nod towards the ‘Gourmet’ aspect of the description. The best traditional Spanish chips are generally, warming, greasy but not overly oily. They absolutely have to be tasty and moreish. These ticked all those boxes and the crispy, crunchy quality also excelled.  
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Lay’s Mediterraneas 100% Aceite de Oliva 100% Fietas em aciete Potato Chips
Thin, crispy and light yellow, like a hot sunshiny summer’s day. The heavy crunch was satisfying, and the taste even more so. There was a contradictory healthy taste (they were not, with 7% saturated fat), and a warm, fuzzy, creamy flavour to chips that were cooked in olive oil.  
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