It’s no secret that Singapore is a leading food and nutrition hub in Southeast Asia. Take it from the island nation’s abundance of Michelin-starred restaurants, exactly 52 establishments as of 2023, and its hawker centers, over 100 community dining spaces that present affordable food options.

It’s a little-known fact that in the Lion City snacking could be considered an official sport. About 98 percent of Singaporeans have been found to be “snacky,” according to lifestyle page Wonderwall.sg. Meanwhile, 60 percent of the citizens would frequently reach for crackers, chocolates, cakes, sweets, and crisps.

From kitchens to couches, the “husky chips of potatoes,” as Charles Dickens wrote in A Tale of Two Cities, or simply potato chips, emerged as a cultural phenomenon, especially in Singapore with a plethora of brands from F.east to Irvin’s, Mala Mala, Ooh, Wokwok, Snacky & Crisps, and The Golden Duck, to name a few.

In the Philippines, Singapore’s biggest grocery retailer, FairPrice Group, has officially launched its famous line of chips. Known for securing the top spot in crisps sales for the FairPrice Group in Singapore, FairPrice Potato Chips are now readily accessible at leading supermarkets across Metro Manila.

Having personally tasted the starchy snack, I would describe it as a well-balanced blend of fat, salt, and sugar in a single crunchy package. Apart from being crafted from 100 percent fresh potatoes, it is available in seven interesting flavors—Original, Truffle, Sour Cream, Black Pepper, Hot and Spicy, Cheese, and Barbecue.
 
The Truffle Chips is so celebrated for its premium truffle taste that it earned the prestigious Retail Product of the Year Award at the 2023 Retail Asia Awards. Obsessed with all things truffle, I enjoyed the variant’s slightly sweet, exquisite, and earthy flavors. This one tastes legit, unlike cheap truffle imitations that taste like petroleum. Best paired with a bottle of wine or juice, depending on your company.

The black pepper variant blew me away. Leaving a tingle on the tongue and the lips, it is pleasantly spicy, a tad briny, plenty savory, and even herbaceous, with lingering notes of pepper—think Kentucky Fried Chicken turned potato chips.

In response to the growing demand for healthier snack alternatives, the group is also gearing up to introduce a selection of nuts that include California Pistachios, Baked Almonds, and Baked Cashews to Philippine supermarkets.

The initial wave of FairPrice snacks is already accessible at 70 supermarkets, including SM, WalterMart, Landmark, AllDay, Unimart, South Supermarket, Ever Supermarket, and Sta. Lucia Supermarket.