In the past few years popcorn has gone from the cinema to your desk drawer and is the low-fat snack of choice for so many of us. Driving the movement is ProperCorn, the popcorn brand created by Cassandra and Ryan back in 2011 that now boasts 6 flavours made using 100% natural ingredients.
Not content with these flavours ProperCorn have joined forces with mad food geniuses Bompas & Parr to create a Wonka-esque creative seasoning factory, the Institute of Flavour. Open for just two days the Institute of Flavour trusted in the general public’s great taste to create a new limited edition ProperCorn!
The journey began in white and gold popcorn jumpsuits (definite 80s mechanic chic going on here!) in the museum part of the Institute as we gaze upon popcorn artefacts uncovered by the Bompas & Parr team like popcorn gold plated in Hatton Garden and the oldest known popped kernel that is probably the only morsel in the place that we didn’t fancy nibbling on.
Feeling more than a little like Oompa Loompas our adventure began! In the first room we chose three flavours for our new seasoning plumping for a combo we can only call ‘dessert wedges’ with smoky habanero, sweet potato and date with a sweet popcorn base.
Next we were invited to ‘shake it like a polaroid picture with the help of vibrating plates to get our popcorn good and seasoned before a final tasting which sees the group swapping popcorn tips and techniques as we all enter a few prize popped kernels on the wall of fame. If we say so ourselves we think our dessert wedges could really take off, watch this space for snacks from the House of Coco!
How ProperCorn X Bompas Brings Creativity to Food?
The ProperCorn X Bompas collaboration shows how a familiar snack can become a canvas for culinary experimentation. A flavour concept needs more than an unusual ingredient list: aroma, sweetness, saltiness and heat should feel balanced from the first bite to the last. Even the way a seasoning clings to popcorn changes the result. For visitors, seeing those decisions happen in a hands-on setting makes food development feel less mysterious and turns an everyday nibble into a creative conversation.
What Makes an Inventive Popcorn Flavour Work?
If you are tempted to invent a signature blend at home, start with freshly popped, unsalted corn and work in small batches. Pair one dominant taste, such as citrus or smoked spice, with a supporting note instead of adding everything at once. Lightly coat the popcorn so dry seasonings stick, then taste after it cools. Write down your measurements before changing the recipe. That way, a surprisingly delicious experiment can be recreated rather than remaining a one-off happy accident.
To design your own bespoke popcorn seasoning pop (sorry!) over to www.instituteofflavour.com and get creative! The Propercorn team are making some of their favourite flavour combos in their kitchens and the winning flavour will be made for real and stocked as a limited edition flavour in Wholefoods. C’mon House of Coco ‘Dessert Wedges’!
