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Small Electrics SMALL ELECTRICS www.kitchenwarenews.com ■ JUNE 2014 ■ KITCHENWARE NEWS & HOUSEWARES REVIEW 1 5 Sponsored by BY AMBER GALLEGOS Wasabi, pesto, chipotle, Vietnamese cinnamon, dill pickle, and smoked Gouda flavored popcorn are all culinary takes on the humble snack that are increasingly likely to be found on grocery store shelves. With the explosion of unexpected flavors and seemingly renewed interest in the long-standing treat comes the opportunity for home cooks to put their own twist on the classic food. For those wishing to partake in the exotic flavors that are on trend in the food industry, popcorn is a familiar way to do so, explains Victoria Ho, Creative Director and Co- Owner of Popsalot Gourmet Popcorn. "Popcorn is in and of itself a wholesome, delicious snack. But it's also a blank canvas ripe for culinary imagination," Ho says. "It is a convenient, affordable and accessible way to enjoy the flavors they are hearing about." The nature of the hyper-connected society we now live in translates into a demand for new and previously unthought-of tastes, agrees Dakota-Rae Westveer of Quinn Popcorn. "I think it has a lot to do with the growing global influence on culture and food – which provides even more places to draw inspiration from. Plus, popcorn is a familiar classic snack with lots of room for reinvention." The recent sriracha flavor phenomenon is an example of this. Although the flavored hot sauce is not a new product, as Americans discover it they want it on everything. Rather than investing the time and money to go to a restaurant featuring dishes with trendy flavors, that they are uncertain of enjoying, consumers can experiment with these flavors through a recognizable path by eating popcorn. "Familiarity with popcorn encourages people to experiment with fresh, adventurous flavors that might otherwise seem intimidating," says Ho. "Popcorn is fun!" Also attracting consumers to popcorn is the explosion of gluten-free food offerings. Popcorn is a whole grain which is naturally gluten-free, allowing it to fit right in with the trend. While recognizing the increased interest in popcorn flavors other than traditional Exotic Popcorn Flavors Open Up a New World for Home Cooks butter, popcorn industry insiders say the demand has always been there. Fisher's Popcorn has been specializing in caramel popcorn since 1937. "Popcorn has always been around, but new products waken them up again," says William Hall, Fisher's Popcorn Delaware General Manager. "These things go in cycles; we may be going through a cycle again." "Every year since Popsalot was born we hear popcorn is the new trend. That's eight years of trending," agrees Ho. "We have noticed an uptake in business but also an influx of really diverse competitors." Another factor contributing to the current popularity of popcorn is the fact that it is a simple, wholesome food. One cup of air- popped popcorn contains over one gram of fiber, one gram of protein and only six grams of carbohydrates with no cholesterol. The USDA recommends popcorn, with little or no added butter or salt, as a healthy snack for consuming whole grains. Quinn Popcorn takes the good-for-you angle to another level by providing a batch number on every bag for customers to track where each ingredient comes from with the aim of making snacking more transparent. "There is an increased demand because it's a healthier alternative," says Westveer. "Popcorn can have a lot of health benefits depending on how it's prepared, while at the same time remaining a fun and easy snack you can feel good about sharing with friends and family." Americans consume 16 billion quarts of popped popcorn every year with 70 percent eaten in the home, according to the Popcorn Board, a non-profit research program funded by U.S. popcorn processors and enacted by Congress in 1998. Not surprising then, is the creation of new popcorn makers that allow home cooks to get in on the action. To illustrate why consumers choose popcorn instead of other overly processed favorites, consider the example of trying to make a batch of potato chips from scratch at home versus making a batch of popcorn. A home cook could cut and peel a bag of potatoes, get out a quart of oil, and deep fry them to make their own chips or they could simply air pop some kernels and have popcorn in minutes. While not all of the gourmet popcorn offerings are as simple as this example to produce, their availability alone can be inspiration enough for aspiring home chefs. "People are so busy these days that it's hard to carve out an extra hour or two to make a batch of traditional caramel corn at home," says Ho. "But the fact that they can imagine doing it, or remember their grandma having done it makes popcorn a really special treat." 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