Who wouldn’t want to try a New Orleans kettle-style potato chip named Voodoo? With voodoo dolls all over the package, this chip jumps out of the crowded chip aisle.

The flavor doesn’t disappoint, but it overwhelmed some of our taste testers. It’s intense—so intense it casts a spell and makes you keep eating!

If you’re a lover of vinegar and salt potato chips, you’ll note the vinegar tang on first bite. But its interesting flavor profile then gives way to a smoky, sweet BBQ, which is magical to some and potent to others.

The chips are crunchy and satisfying; however, it’s the aftertaste that forced us to give Voodoo chips an IMBHO-maybe. Some liked it; some didn’t. We’re ready for the pin jabs, but we’ll stick by our decision. This chip just isn’t for everyone.

Zapp’s had its first chips on the market in 1985. The history of the chip is long but limited in details as it’s now under the umbrella of Utz Snacks (along with 15 other brands). Sometimes, when a small company is acquired by a bigger company, the brand’s history pays the price and eventually disappears. That’s disappointing; it’s always fun to know how and why a new product is created.

Fortunately, Grocery.com highlighted Zapp’s and its history in 2011, which was the same year Utz Snacks started its acquisition of the company. With the founder, Ron Zappe, passing in 2010, the Utz acquisition was likely the best financial decision the Zappe family could make, and so the brand lives on.

Ron Zappe fell on hard times in life, but that didn’t stop him from figuring out how to build a thriving business based on unique potato chip profiles like Cajun Crawtators (the original Zapp’s chip), Cajun Dill Gator-tators, Evil Eye, Voodoo, and Voodoo Heat.

Even though we’re giving Zapp’s an IMBHO-maybe based on feedback from our taste testers, these chips are still interesting and everyone should try them at least once.

We purchased the Voodoo chip from Amazon for $27.60 (Prime shipping) for 42 one-ounce bags. In full transparency, it was a Christmas gift, but we snuck a bag for this review. (Two birds—one stone!). 😊

Below is an excerpt from Food Network’s Unwrapped. It’s a great video that shares the story of Zapp’s, featuring Ron Zappe.