It seems like Khloud, the protein popcorn by Khloé Kardashian, popped up out of nowhere. Announced last month, after Kardashian watched her pal Lauren Sánchez go to space for a few minutes, the new snack hit Target shelves on Tuesday. The gluten-free snack promises “good stuff, zero fluff” and offers seven grams of protein per serving.
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It’s worth noting, though, that the protein source is not the popcorn itself but something called “Khloud dust,” a blend of milk proteins and seasoning that coats, like really coats, the popped kernels. There are a few different flavors: White Cheddar, Sweet and Salty Kettle Corn, and Olive Oil and Sea Salt. It all begs the question: Does popcorn need more protein? We tried all three to give our honest review. Below, what the Cut team thought.
“I tried the Sweet and Salty Kettlecorn, which was dry and dusty and neither sweet nor salty. Is there a spit bucket? —Emily Gould, features writer
“White Cheddar is the best because I expect a dust on that one. The others just taste … dusty :/” —Julia Reinstein, morning blogger
“The White Cheddar is basically Smartfood.” —Catherine Thompson, features editor
“I had one kernel and decided that was enough. There is a filmy sensation that wasn’t tasty enough to make my stomach beatbox with the whey dusted on top.” —Danya Issawi, fashion news writer
“I am a protein fanatic, but this is offensive.” —Lindsay Peoples, editor-in-chief
“There is an upsetting dusty-chalky quality, presumably the ‘Khloud dust,’ that is really off-putting … the cheddar flavor somewhat covers it up.” —Danielle Cohen, senior news editor
“Tastes like it’s been sitting on a bodega shelf for ten years.” —Angelina Chapin, features writer
“The olive-oil flavor tastes vaguely like a fried egg, which threw me off. White Cheddar is slightly better.” —Carol Lee, beauty writer
“The kettle corn tastes like sweet chalk.” —E.J. Dickson, senior writer
“The White Cheddar is good, but only because the dust reminds me of cheesy dust that would be on other popcorn. The Sweet and Salty Kettle Corn was nice, but the dust was weird. And the Olive Oil and Sea Salt was not good. I would eat maybe a handful of the cheddar one.” —Brooke LaMantia, editorial assistant
“The flavor is nice. However, the texture is not. The aftertaste is almost gritty; the dust (powder? Protein? Who knows?) literally sticks to the roof of your mouth.” —Hanna Flanagan, shopping editor
“Tastes exactly like I thought it would.” —Jen Ortiz, deputy editor
“I usually really like kettlecorn popcorn, but it never has a texture like this. I ate a bowlful over the weekend and I had really bad gas. The White Cheddar was a bit better because I’m used to other white-cheddar popcorns having a light dust, but I still probably wouldn’t buy it because it’s not worth the smelly gas.” —Asia Milia Ware, beauty editor
“If I’m going to eat white-cheddar popcorn, I want it to be filthy, flavorful, and fattening. I do not believe in ‘healthy’ snack foods. If I wanted to snack on something ‘healthy,’ I would eat a nut or a grape. Therefore, I am morally opposed to Khloud as a concept.” —Emily Liebert, writer
“White Cheddar is the best, but that’s not saying much.” —Erik Maza, editor at large at New York Magazine
“I’d rather skip snacktime altogether than have to endure these.” —Noelle Lacombe, photo director
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