Have you tried Poppy Popcorn? If you love popcorn and want to support a local small business, KAG contributor, Kristina, has just the place to get some delicious popcorn.
I love my kids dearly but I don’t want to share everything with them. I have to be pretty stealth when it comes to hiding my favorite snacks from them since kids don’t listen when you ask them to pick up their toys yet somehow hear the crackle of you opening a bag of snacks and come running from the furthest place in the house to get some of it.
For more local food, see our many stories on places to find local meat, eggs, bread, and other goodies.
So it goes with Poppy Hand-Crafted Popcorn, a company out of Asheville, NC that makes perhaps the most perfect and delicious popcorn I’ve ever had. They sent us some samples of several of their best-selling flavors like Birthday Confetti and Salted Caramel last fall, which I can pinpoint as the time I fell in love with the company. I’ve searched them out ever since.
The joy of popping those delicious flavors on a hike, at a playground, in the kitchen when my kids were outside playing was blissful. I will readily admit I hid the last remnants of the popcorn from my kids because well, I’m the mom and I wanted this small thing for myself.
During the holidays, I was making an effort to buy local gifts for my clients and sent a bunch of gift packages from Poppy Hand-Crafted Popcorn to all parts of the country. They were such a hit. The company has become my go-to gift for pretty much anyone now and the recipients always enjoy it and I get that good feeling of shopping from a local small business. Win-win.
Poppy Was Started by a Mom
Poppy was founded by a mom named Ginger. She wanted to do something that allowed her to be there for her kids’ sports games, school programs, and all those things a lot of working mothers miss out on. So in 2014, she had one popcorn machine and made some delicious popcorn with no artificial ingredients in efforts to set herself apart from the bigger popcorn brands.
Her popcorn was a huge hit and word got around that this mom was making popcorn that was amazing and delicious. Stores started asking her if they could sell it and the business took off. Everything is still made locally in Western NC and ingredients are sourced as close to home as possible.
Both Savory and Sweet Flavors of Popcorn
Poppy Hand-Crafted Popcorn has both savory and sweet flavors to enjoy. I think my favorites are their Chocolate Peanut Butter and Reindeer Crunch.
Yet they recently came out with a new BBQ line of popcorn I was able to try. Not going to lie here – I was hesitant about these because really, how can you make BBQ flavored popcorn taste good?
They somehow managed to make these new flavors delicious. They have Honey BBQ, Kansas City BBQ, Carolina BBQ, and Texas BBQ, each with different notes of tangy, sweet, and spicy. And they really taste like BBQ, which is pretty crazy considering you are eating popcorn. My kids also loved these.
If you like cheesy popcorn flavors, Poppy also has those concoctions. Try the Chili Cheese, Parmesan and Black Pepper, White Cheddar, or Pimento Cheese to satisfy those cravings.
They also sell vegan, gluten free, and dairy free popcorn flavors. All their popcorn is GMO-free and also has zero artificial flavors/colors/dyes.
Where to get Poppy Hand-Crafted Popcorn
You can get the popcorn at local retailers like the Swamp Rabbit Cafe and Whole Foods. I’ve seen them at the Biltmore and even at a small shop in Florida! For a full list, go to their store locator page.
You can also easily order the popcorn straight from their website. I usually order one of their best-selling gift packages. I find them to be reasonably priced and pretty awesome gifts.
What is your favorite flavor of Poppy Hand-Crafted Popcorn?
For things to do in the Asheville area, see our Guide to Asheville.
Kristina Hernandez
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