Unusual food product ideas often land in my inbox, yet one caught my attention: “9V battery-flavored corn chips.” This quirky concept immediately provoked my curiosity (What’s the flavor profile? Who thought of this? Why?!), but the most pressing question was about the taste.
The unique flavor is part of a limited launch by Rewind, a brand that aims to evoke “nostalgia with exciting flavors.” While the rest of their offerings feature more typical choices such as cheese and onion or sriracha, the allusion to the peculiar memory of licking a battery is undoubtedly intriguing.
To satisfy my curiosity, I conducted a little experiment and licked a 9V battery myself. According to various sources, it’s considered safe to do so, though Rewind emphasizes it does “not endorse or encourage licking, biting, or consuming actual batteries.” Since my colleague Sean seemed to have survived the experience, I thought I’d give it a try. The result was as expected: an unpleasant jolt and a metallic aftertaste—definitely not the flavor you’d seek in corn chips.
The flavor crafted by Rewind presents a less aggressive approach. Upon tasting, there is an initial sharpness that quickly fades to a surprisingly tame profile. As someone fond of salt and vinegar chips, these do not pack as intense a punch as others I’ve tried. A distinct mineral aftertaste emerges, offering a tang reminiscent of battery metal, but milder. The chips themselves were a bit thinner than I prefer, lacking the crunch I typically look for.
According to chef Mattias Larsson, who was instrumental in developing this unusual flavor, “The concept was indeed unique. We utilized a mixture of citric acid and sodium bicarbonate for a tingling effect and balanced it with mineral salts to give the chips that metallic flavor.”
Though the 9V battery chips are a limited-edition offering, interested consumers can request a sample that ships globally.
