“Is this the oldest popcorn I’ve ever eaten?” I wonder, as I dip my hand in the beautiful blue and black striped tin that sits on the table.
I’m sitting in The Hospital Club with my very own Garrett Popcorn Chicago Mix bucket. Garrett Popcorn heralds from the US and has continued to keep its heritage alive since 1949 by handcrafting their popcorn using old-fashioned copper kettles. Each kernel is hot air-popped and then mixed with their secret family recipes to give it its taste.
I am relieved that the tub I’ve been given is ample enough for me to share with friends, otherwise, I would have to guard it. Having said that, the Chicago Mix is said to strongly divide people, in a similar way to the Love It / Hate It response you have with Marmite. The Chicago Mix is a mixture of two of Garrett Popcorn’s most popular flavours. I asked both the boyfriend and the 
housemate what they thought it was. Their guesses of ‘Toffee & Nut’ and ‘Caramel & I have no idea’ weren’t correct. But they were close. Strangely, it’s the second flavour that is so hard to identify. Chicago Mix is a unique combination of their Caramel Crisp® and CheeseCorn®. Yes, it’s weird, but yes it works; cheese and caramel, who’s have thought? The tub was ¾ after the first day I had it. Within weeks it was down to the last morsels – it seems that even when you hide it at the back of the cupboard human mice can still sniff it out. If I had to choose between the two, I would say my favourite is the Caramel, but then I love sweet popcorn. It’s actually pretty clever as you can eat each flavour separately, as well as combining them both. You just have to make sure you don’t end up with lopsided amounts!
A little birdie said that a Garrett Popcorn shop will be making its way to the UK in 2014. So you’ll have to wait until then to try it. But try it you must! In the meantime, you can take a look at their website.
Leave a Reply