Popcorn is one of the best snack foods available, and it is straightforward to make. There are so many regular and popular popcorn flavors, such as salty, sweet, toffee, and chocolate.
These flavors are delicious, but we have found we are left wanting more, as well as more adventurous flavors. Well, not to worry. Gourmet popcorn is now a thing of popularity, and it is easy to get your hands on.
There are various retailers that sell popcorn and regular grocery stores. In this article, we will be giving you some of the best gourmet popcorn flavors that you can buy today.
Best Gourmet Popcorns
OUR TOP PICK
Funky Chunky makes some amazing gourmet popcorn, and all of their corn is handcrafted in small batches. Funky Chunky has a simple process.
Caramel popcorn smothered in delicious drizzles; add some toppings and deliver in style. Their packaging is the epitome of gourmet popcorn, and we thought it was truly delicious. The company is over two decades old and is based in Minnesota.
Their sweet and salty treats are super popular, and the company is world-famous. Now, back to the popcorn. The delicious combination of salty peanut butter with sweet milk chocolate is a no-brainer, and the caramel popcorn itself is rich and sweet.
The popcorn is topped with crunchy peanuts, and the chocolate drizzle consists of dark chocolate, milk chocolate, and white chocolate. All of their corn is handcrafted and is certified kosher, and they only use the highest quality ingredients.
Pros
- We couldn’t say anything apart from delicious about this popcorn. The rich caramel with peanut butter and chocolate really is one of the best combinations.
- Funky Chunky gives you the option to choose what size you want this popcorn in. They sell mini canisters, gift boxes, tall canisters, a 5lb gift tin, and a 2oz eight pack.
Cons
- We thought the popcorn could’ve been slightly crunchier and crispier.
EDITORS CHOICE
This caramel clustered popcorn is delicious and rich. It is crunchy and buttery, with a rich toffee caramel flavor. We loved this popcorn, and the popcorn is combined with small bits of almonds, cashews, and caramel toffee.
This is obviously not an option for those with nut allergies, and you should not eat them around those who may be allergic. This gourmet popcorn comes in a tub that makes it easy to share, not that sharing will be happening if you get your hands on this popcorn!
These caramel popcorn clusters are gluten-free as well as trans-fat and cholesterol-free. Company Utz, has been producing some amazing gourmet popcorn since the 1920s, and they are a family-owned company. They are also known for their delicious potato chips.
Pros
- We loved these caramel popcorn clusters, and they were incredibly rich and crunchy.
- The buttery taste, along with the nuts and caramel is a true gourmet combination.
Cons
- We did think that this popcorn was rather crunchy, to a point where we thought we may lose a tooth! Bear this in mind with this popcorn.
BEST VALUE
This ‘zebra’ popcorn is another gourmet popcorn that is delicious. The zebra popcorn is a caramel and chocolate striped corn, and we thought it was absolutely delicious.
The rich milky chocolate with the crunch of the corn was truly exciting. The popcorn contains cane sugar, corn syrup, butter, caramel, and chocolate.
Sometimes, simple is better. We love the unique look of this popcorn, and we have not seen anything like it. The popcorn was simple and effective, and we could not stop reaching for more!
Pros
- We think this popcorn is dangerously addictive, and each popcorn kernel was thoroughly coated and was thick and crunchy.
- The popcorn was almost moist, where it had been so well coated with caramel and chocolate.
Cons
- We think that this popcorn was slightly overpriced for the amount of popcorn you receive.
RUNNER UP
This peppermint popcorn is one of the most unique and delicious flavor combinations. This popcorn is truly gourmet. Popsanity is one of the top gourmet popcorn companies, and they produce some great artisanal confections.
All of their popcorn is made in the US, and all of their ingredients are locally sourced and of the highest quality. Their ingredients are all premium, and all of their popcorn is kosher certified.
Like many gourmet popcorn companies, Popsanity produces their popcorn in small batches, ensuring all of the bags of popcorn are perfect and delicious. This peppermint hot chocolate flavor is so unique and is insanely delicious.
With the peppermint and candy crunch, the sweet, smooth dark chocolate flavor is a delicious addition to any crunchy popcorn. It is incredible and unique and also makes a perfect holiday treat.
Pros
- The dark chocolate in this popcorn was amazing, and we thought it was perfectly balanced with the sweet peppermint.
- The popcorn itself is also caramel-coated, adding that extra layer of sweetness.
Cons
- We did think this popcorn was more expensive than others, primarily because of the small amount you receive.
RUNNER UP
This popcorn is a solid and delicious choice for gourmet popcorn. ‘In Queso Fire’ is a spicy, cheesy popcorn, and it is one of the best we have tried. The primary flavors are onion, garlic, jalapeno, and rich cheddar cheese.
It is perfect because the spice and garlic are strong but counteracted by the creamy cheese. This popcorn contains cheese powder, blue cheese, jalapeno pepper, onion, garlic, tomato powder, and cayenne pepper.
This popcorn is a solid favorite among gourmet popcorn lovers and is said to be extremely easy to eat in one sitting! Grab yourselves a few bags of these!
Pros
- The flavors are perfectly balanced, with the spice being counteracted by the rich cheese.
- The popcorn is moreish and delicious, with vibrant orange color.
- Double Good’s packaging is attractive and eye-catching.
Cons
- This gourmet popcorn contains cheese as well as wheat and soy, so it has a few allergens present - more so than regular popcorn.
- The powder from the cheese was quite concentrated, so if you’re not one for spice, this may not be for you.
RUNNER UP
This gourmet popcorn is delicious and popular. The flavor is dill pickle, which is a popular snack as well as a chip flavor. This popcorn is popped in virgin olive oil, and its seasonings are gluten-free and of great quality.
The fact it is popped in olive oil makes this snack a flavorful and rich healthier snack. Their ruby-red popcorn kernels are artisanal and are locally grown and sourced.
Pop Daddy cares about their quality and seasonings, and we thought it was evident in their flavors. This dill pickle popcorn is hand-seasoned, bold, and delicious.
The corn is popped in small batches, ensuring the best quality all around. It has no artificial flavors, and its ruby red popcorn kernels resemble pomegranate seeds, looking bright and exciting.
When they are popped, they look like regular popcorn. Pop Daddy also makes other gourmet flavors such as black pepper, BBQ chipotle, garlic, hot sauce, kettle, and the unique smoked gouda.
Pros
- This popcorn has high ratings and is high quality and delicious.
- The flavor is really bold and fresh and is extremely moreish.
Cons
- We thought the dill flavor was slightly subdued.
RUNNER UP
This maple caramel bacon and cheddar popcorn sounds like an obscure mix, but it truly is delicious and unique. The maple and caramel flavor is similar, and it perfectly complements the saltiness of the bacon and cheddar.
All of the popcorn is crunchy from the caramel, and it is rich and dark. The cheddar and bacon-coated popcorn are crunchy from the cheese and bacon, so there are two different flavors of the popcorn that go together perfectly.
We thought this flavor was incredibly unique and we personally could not get enough of it! Poppingtons makes a variety of gourmet popcorn flavors, and all of them are just as exciting as each other, such as golden cheddar, spicy bacon cheddar, beer cheddar, churro caramel and lemon chocolate popcorn.
Pros
- This popcorn is a perfect snack, and it is super moreish.
- The popcorn is crunchy and tastes incredibly fresh.
Cons
- We did think that the cheddar was slightly overpowering compared to the flavor of the bacon.
RUNNER UP
This gourmet popcorn from popular company Killian Korn is delicious, and they have some awesome flavors. Some of their other flavors are truly unique, such as the black licorice, blue raspberry, butter rum pecan, caramel apple, hot cinnamon, and huckleberry.
This honey cashew popcorn features crispy honey-coated popcorn, with honey-crusted cashew nuts. This popcorn is so unique, and it is a perfect gourmet treat for those who love nuts.
Killian Korn only uses the highest quality ingredients, and each batch is made from a much-revised family recipe. This popcorn comes in rustic and beautiful packaging, and the popcorn contains brown sugar, honey, butter, vanilla, and cashew nuts.
Pros
- We thought this popcorn was really unique and delicious, and the honey goes perfectly with the flavor of the slightly salty cashew nuts. You get a lot of popcorn for the price, and it is worth the money.
- The popcorn was crunchy and fresh, and it was perfectly balanced.
Cons
- We thought the honey flavor could be a little bit stronger.
RUNNER UP
The Popcorn Factory is one of the best gourmet popcorn and confectionery retailers. They predominantly sell gift boxes and baskets consisting of popcorn, cookies, chocolates, and baked goods.
Their gift boxes usually consist of their classic four flavors which are caramel corn, white cheddar, butter popcorn, and cheese popcorn. This sugar cookie popcorn is a real treat and is truly gourmet.
We absolutely loved the flavor of the sugar cookie, which was drizzled in sweet, sugary icing and candy sprinkles. The popcorn is crunchy and delicious, with the popcorn being coated in caramel and butter before being smothered in sugar cookie drizzle.
The drizzle is rich, sweet, with a hint of caramel cookie. The great thing about this popcorn bucket is the fact that it is HUGE, containing eight cups of popcorn.
This popcorn bucket also comes with candy-coated and snowflake-shaped pretzels which are deliciously crunchy and topped with even more sprinkles.
Pros
- This popcorn was a guilty treat, and the candy drizzle with the crunchy popcorn was delicious.
- We loved the crunchy sprinkles on top as well as the addition of pretzels.
Cons
- Overall, we thought the popcorn could’ve had a bit more flavor, as it was quite sweet.
RUNNER UP
As the last gourmet popcorn on our list, this one packs a punch. This popcorn is perfect for those with a savory tooth, and the flavor in this popcorn is phenomenal.
The cracked black pepper deliciously complements the crunchy salted popcorn with the sea salt flakes. We loved the punch of the black pepper with the crunch of the popcorn kernels, and we couldn’t think of anything more delightful!
The only ingredients in this popcorn are corn oil, black pepper, and salt, and the ingredients are locally sourced and of the highest quality.
Pros
- We absolutely loved the cracked black pepper with the crunchy kernels.
- The quality and amount of popcorn you receive (5 cups) is exceptional for the price.
Cons
- The popcorn could’ve been seasoned with a hint more of salt or a hint of butter.
Best Gourmet Popcorns Buying Guide
Sweet vs Salty Popcorn
Gourmet popcorn comes in all flavors, sizes, and textures. There is typically a better range of sweet gourmet popcorns, as there is more variety within the flavors.
For example, you have peanut butter, candy canes, raspberry and white chocolate, double chocolate, and sugar cookies. The flavors tend to be cheese-orientated with savory popcorn and complemented with spice and garlic.
Some of the most famous savory flavors of gourmet popcorn include white cheddar, cheddar and beer, jalapeno, salted butter, and curry. However, with gourmet popcorn, the flavor profiles tend to overlap.
For example, peanut butter and chocolate flavor tend to have salted peanuts, with a salted popcorn base, or a caramel base. A lot of sweet popcorns contain salty, savory nuts, and they pair perfectly well together.
Most sweet popcorns have a caramel coating and are topped with amazing toppings such as brown sugar, maple syrup, or bacon bits!
Quality Ingredients
Popcorn is super easy to make and produce, and ‘non-gourmet’ popcorn is usually sweet, salted, or crunchy caramel. It is not to say that non-gourmet popcorn is bad quality, but they are usually catering to the masses, and producing large amounts of popcorn at once.
Gourmet popcorn is different. Gourmet popcorn companies sell different types of popcorn, such as savory blends and sweet blends. Because the demand is not as high, they can take extra time thinking about the ingredients and processes to make their popcorn.
They use higher quality ingredients because they have so many flavor combinations, so there is no huge mass production of these varieties. For example, some popcorn companies may sell maple syrup and bacon flavor, along with jalapeno honey flavor.
These two flavors are different, so they need to buy lots of different ingredients. This is also why gourmet popcorn tends to come in smaller packages because it takes more ingredients and time to make.
Gourmet popcorn companies are known for being gourmet, which implies that they are using only the best ingredients, which they usually are.
The popcorn industry is booming, and it is a lot easier to make high-quality seasonings for popcorn with processes such as dehydration and popping the kernels in a flavored liquid.
Type of corn
Surely popcorn is popcorn, right? Wrong. There are a few different types of corn kernels, and some are wider used than others. All of the popcorn kernels taste relatively similar, but they may have different textures within the popped kernels.
Some kernels may be harder than others. There is the ladyfinger variety, white, yellow, and mushroom kernels.
Yellow popcorn is easily found, and it has a yellow tinge to it. It is not expensive and is easy to grow. This variety of popcorn is also what you will find soaked in butter when watching a movie.
White popcorn has a whiter and brighter color and is a bit softer than yellow kernels. Mushroom popcorn is bigger and looks a lot fluffier than white or yellow kernels. Ladyfinger popcorn is smaller and is shaped like a small finger protruding from the shell.
There are also colored corn kernels! There are red, blue, and purple kernels, too. All of the colored kernels pop up in the same color, which is unfortunately not bright red. Red popcorn has a neutral taste and a big crunch.
Purple popcorn has the most flavor out of all of the colored popcorns and has a very natural taste. Blue popcorn is smaller and has a crunchy texture.
Frequently Asked Questions
What is the healthiest popcorn?
One of the healthiest forms of popcorn is, unfortunately, gourmet. Unsweetened, unsalted, and air-popped popcorn is the healthiest.
Popcorn, in general, is heart-healthy and nutritious and has a lot of fiber. It makes an excellent snack; it is always healthy as long as it has limited seasonings and sugar.
What does gourmet popcorn mean?
In smaller batches, gourmet popcorn is usually made with the highest quality ingredients. Gourmet popcorn also comes in more interesting flavors, and the flavor combinations may be odd, but they are always delicious. Gourmet popcorn is always fresh, and typically more care is gone into it.
Who should not eat popcorn?
Popcorn is a really healthy snack, but it is not suitable for young children. There is nothing worse than a sharp popcorn kernel stuck at the back of your throat, and it can pose a choking hazard for small children.
Premade popcorn may contain a lot more sodium than you need and can cause issues for people with high blood pressure.
Final Thoughts
There are so many different types of gourmet popcorn, and all of them are delicious. We tried some of the best and top-rated gourmet popcorn flavors, and we had the time of our lives! We hope this article will help you find some of the best gourmet popcorn brands and flavors.
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