Description

The chips you are referring to are manufactured by Chheda Specialties Foods Private Limited (Chheda's), a well-known Indian brand that started in Mumbai in 1993, specifically focusing on offering high-quality traditional banana chips in standardized packaging. Chheda's Banana Chips are distinct from potato chips and are characterized by their unique texture and traditional flavors. 1. Product Type and Texture Base Material: Made from thinly sliced raw or unripe green bananas (or sometimes ripe yellow bananas, depending on the variant). Cooking Method: Traditionally deep-fried in Palm Oil to achieve maximum crunch and a long shelf life. They are not baked. Texture: They are known for their sturdy, hard, and satisfying crunch—much firmer than a potato chip. They have a slightly thicker feel, and the texture is dense and less airy compared to a wafer chip. Appearance: They are typically golden-brown or light yellow, often with a slight curvature. 2. Key Flavor Variants Chheda's offers a range of flavors, moving beyond the traditional salted version to cater to various tastes: Yellow Banana Chips (Plain/Salted): Made from ripe yellow bananas. Offers a subtle, natural sweetness from the banana, balanced only by salt. This variant is closest to the traditional Kerala-style banana chip. Salt-N-Pepper Banana Chips: A bold, savory, and spicy flavor. The seasoning includes Salt, Pepper, Red Chilli Powder, and a tangy kick from Dry Mango Powder (Amchur). This creates a hot and sour chatpata profile. Tomato Banana Chips: Features a tangy, sweet, and zesty tomato seasoning. Often seasoned with spices and a hint of lemon/chilli to mimic a rich tomato masala flavor. Onion-Cheddar Cheese (Less Common): A fusion flavor bringing the creamy, savory taste of cheddar cheese and tangy onion to the banana chip base. 3. Brand Positioning Nostalgia: The brand carries a high degree of nostalgia in India, having popularized the packaged banana chip. Difference from Potato Chips: They are positioned as a separate category of savory wafers, offering a different density, crunch, and the unique earthy/sweet base flavor of the banana. Ingredients: The use of real raw banana is the main selling point, appealing to those seeking an alternative to the potato. In summary, Chheda's Banana Chips are a sturdy, deep-fried wafer made from real banana slices that provide an extremely crispy texture and are available in simple sweet-and-salt variants (Yellow Chips) and bold, savory chatpata masala flavors (Salt-N-Pepper, Tomato).