After watching a commercial for the ump-teenth time for time Tornado chips, I saw them at the store today and decided to buy them.  I have this problem. I watch a commercial or see something advertised on every billboard around town and if/when I actually see the product in person, I decide I have to try it.  I know that this is what advertising is for but I hate that I have such a hard time resisting it. I am better in the States at resisting.  I am not sure why.

But a snack named after a weather pattern like a tornado--how's a girl to say no to that? Doesn't that imply powerful yet scary flavor and crunch? The kind of snack that sneaks up on you, grabs a hold of you and then spins you around and around? I mean this is how Dorthy ended up in Oz...  so I gave it a go.  My review: ho-hum.

[caption id="attachment_1408" align="alignleft" width="500" caption="Tornado Paprika Chips! "]<img class="size-full wp-image-1408" title="Chips " src="http://www.karolinkabulgaria.com/wp-content/uploads/2009/11/dsc01199.jpg" alt="Chips " width="500" height="375" />[/caption]

So I bought these chips that are aptly named Tornado because guess what shape they are!? They are like little tornados. I had two choices: paprika or original.  I bought the paprika.  I was looking for some flavor.

The thing is I am not sure what flavor paprika is supposed to taste like but these didn't taste like much.  I imagined that paprika would taste either peppery and spicy or smokey with a hint of sweet.  In fact they just looked red-ish and tasted like an overgrown more airy handful of<a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Chex"> corn chex cereal</a>. Whatever flavor paprika is I wasn't blown over by it (get it?! that's a tornado joke.).  But this does bring up an interesting point of difference between American and Bulgarian culture.  Paprika is not a flavor that stands alone in the States. Sure we have paprika but you sprinkle it on deviled eggs or you add a dash or two to soups, stews, beans or maybe chicken.

Flavor aside, the packaging is pretty hip--with the name in a spray painted graffiti style and like a CD there's a parental advisory in the lower left hand corner for explicit taste. It kind of makes you feel young to buy them. But these things don't really make up for lack luster taste.

Oh and after eating a few I was reminded of the American snack: <a href="http://content.etilize.com/Large/1012370007.jpg">Bugles</a>.  Hum. Sneaky.  The shape isn't so different. The corn flavor is about the same and they crunch the same.  Only these Bulgarian snacks (if they are in fact Bulgarian) aren't made by General Mills.