Turtle Chips: The Crunchy Revolution in Snack Chips

What happens when you spend eight years developing the perfect crispy, crunchy chips? You get turtle chips! These snacks are among the most popular in Korea, and with good reasons.

Introduction to Turtle Chips: A New Era of Snack Chips

Turtle Chips, also called Kkobuk Chips, are the products of a South Korean food company. They also have a unique appearance and texture, thanks to having four crunchy layers of overlapping potato chips. The result is light pieces that look like turtle shells, hence the name.

The brand has produced a variety of flavors. However, the crunchy nature is constant, no matter the flavor. That is perhaps the most cherished treasure of the brand. According to the manufacturer, Orion, they spent eight years developing the four-layer design that gives the product its satisfying crunch. It’s little wonder that upon release in 2017, Orion got a patent that gave them exclusive rights to the product’s manufacturing facility for the next two decades.

In only a few years, Turtle Chips have taken over the global snack market. You can find them in the US, India, Australia, and the UK. In 2018, they created a version for China called “Langligelang.” That too was a smash hit, selling 60 million units in a year!

The Secret Behind Turtle Chips' Popularity

If people of all ages don't enjoy a snack, we think it's unlikely that it would perform so well on a global scale. Both adults and kids clearly enjoy Turtle Chips. But what makes it such a popular snack choice? The most obvious reason has to be its unique taste and puffy, multi-layered texture. However, there’s more to it than that. Below are some ideas:

Turtle Chip’s Wholesome and Appealing Packaging

The chip’s bag is eye-catching and sure to grab the attention of people shopping in a store. The packages have comic-book-style graphics that will remind you of newspaper cartoons. It also contains the image of a cute turtle with a big smile, appealing to the younger generation of consumers.

Effective Global Advertising: Turtle Chips X Psy

When South Korean singer Psy released his hit song “Gangnam Style” in 2012, he became an overnight global sensation. Orion leveraged his influence in 2017 by partnering with the artist on a serenade dedicated to Turtle Chips. He also served as an advertising model and ambassador for the brand. This strategy increased the product's popularity both domestically and internationally.

Leveraging the Korean Love for K-Drama and Snacks

Binge-watchers all over the world feel the urge to munch on something crunchy while they sit in front of the TV. In many regions, popcorn is the go-to snack. However, Turtle Chips are preferred by some of the people in South Korea, a country with a massive binge-watching culture thanks to the love for k-drama.

Unending Choices with Turtle Chips Flavors

Since its 2017 launch, the brand has continued to deliver variety by releasing new flavors. This strategy has allowed it to serve a broad consumer palete. However, some flavors are more popular than others, and despite the variety, the original sweet corn flavor is still considered by many to be the best.

 

Sweet Corn Turtle Chips: A Flavorful Adventure

When Orion first came up with Kkobuk, they released the original flavor: Sweet Corn or Corn Soup Turtle Chips. Over the years, more flavors have hit the market, but none have been as successful as the original.

It offers the sweet and creamy taste of boiled and buttered corn with a touch of crispiness. Eating it will make you feel like you’re enjoying actual creamed corn with a bit of salt and extra sweetness. The chips are light, and of course, the four-layered structure only adds to the texture. They will dissolve in your mouth once you start to munch on them, leaving you with the desire to request more.

The Unique Layered Texture of Turtle Chips

So far, we’ve mentioned the multi-layered structure of the Turtle Chips, but we haven’t talked about its ingenuity or why it sets the brand apart from traditional chips and crackers.

While traditional chips tend to come in thick, individual pieces, Turtle Chips follow the opposite pattern. The product overlaps four thin chips on top of each other. This creates an airy, puffy texture with extra crunch. The design only helps to sharpen the taste in each chip and make the snack more addictive by allowing the flavors to linger after bites. You can’t have the same effect with a single, thick layer of potato chips.

 

Turtle Chips Varieties: Exploring Different Flavors

The crunchy layers of the chips only work because the flavors are so great. We’ve already explored the original flavor of sweet corn. However, there are at least ten other variants we haven’t revealed. Some of them are only manufactured in specific countries. Let’s check out a few of these tantalizing flavors.

Cinnamon:

Although you may struggle to find Cinnamon Turtle Chips on the market due to some internal issues with the manufacturer, this is a fantastic product. It balances sweetness and saltiness perfectly, making it an all-time favorite.

Chocolate Churros:

The Chocolate Churros Turtle Chips also contain cinnamon. Chocolate is the main ingredient and the integration with other flavors only serves to enhance it. That is why it’s been popular since its launch in 2020.

Seaweed:

This is a great choice for lovers of umami. The Seaweed Turtle Chips provide the perfect balance between salty and sweet in a crunchy snack.

Sweet Soybean or Injeolmi:

The Korean rice cake flavor of Injeolmi makes its way into these Sweet Soybean Turtle Chips. It’s a great option if you want to experience Korean culinary traditions.

Flamin’ Lime:

You’ll only find Flamin’ Lime Turtle Chips in US grocery markets. They were manufactured exclusively to serve the average American snack eater, and are moderately spicy and sour.

 

Pairing Turtle Chips with Your Favorite Snacks

Let’s explore ways to combine Turtle Chips with other snacks for a delightful taste experience.

Eat it with crab dip:

Turtle Chips, especially the seaweed and shrimp flavors, taste fantastic when eaten with some crab dip. The combined flavor of seafood is both bold and satisfying. 

Coat chicken fries with it:

Crush any flavor of Turtle Chips of your choice and add it to the dough used for chicken fries. After that, you can bake the chicken fries in an oven. The result is a crunchier and tastier meal that pairs well with barbecue sauce and ranch dressing.

Eat it with onion dip:

You can also enjoy your chips with some French onion dip. It tastes better if you choose a sour flavor, like Flamin’ Lime.

Add it to burgers:

If you want to add an extra kick to your burgers, mix these chips with pretzels and use the mixture as an ingredient. We recommend that you use a food processor for a thorough mixture.

Turtle Chips: A Delicious Addition to Any Occasion

One thing we love about Turtle Chips is that they hardly ever look out of place, no matter the occasion. You can enjoy it alone at home or at the office during your break. The chips are also excellent for social gatherings like picnics and house parties.

Couples can get cozy in front of the TV with a big bowl of Turtle Chips in front of them. These snacks add value wherever you find them!

 

Conclusion: Why Turtle Chips Are a Must-Try Snack

The Turtle Chips brand is still relatively young compared to household products like Lays, Doritos, and Pringles, which have been here for decades. That makes the rise in its popularity ever since the 2017 release all the more impressive.

The four-layered chips, brand variety, and traditional Asian flavors seem to have resonated with consumers around the world. The sky's the limit for Kkobuk chips! Get a fresh batch and you’ll have snacks that are perfect for all occasions.