For the longest time potato chip flavors were pretty much limited to the big three: Cheddar Cheese (which really wasn't all that cheesy); Barbecue (which really wasn't all tha barbecuey); and Sour Cream and Onion (which was quite a feat in itself, seing as how Hyperion liked the chips, while simultaneously disliking both sour cream and and onions).
I don't know if it was lack of imagination or just the difficulty in getting a real world flavor to translate as a dried spice on the chip. In recent years several other flavors have been added, some with more sucess than others. Salt and Pepper and Vinegar don't do much for me, and the Ketchup flavored one is only so so. Kettle Chips have made some headway, but those chips are so good anything they do is usually awesome.
The potato is such a versatile food, people should be making all sorts of flavors. I have taken it upon myself to come up with a few. Those of you who are in Contact with Big Potato: get these ideas to them, and make sure my royalties are covered:
THE TOP SIX POTATO CHIP FLAVORS I WANT TO SEE
#6 Pina Colada - My mom actually suggested this, but it's a good idea. Coconut, pineapple and a dried rum liquer flavoring would make a pretty great chip!
#5 Coca Cola - This is a natural fit. I think that signature fizzy taste on your tongue would go great on a potato chip, and this might lead to a whole new round of polar bear commercials!
#4 Honey - This sweet and salty combo would be out of this world good. BONUS: Honey Garlic is a totally kickass wing flavor: chips would be good here too.
#3 Chili - I know that some chips have recently added Chili as a flavor, but I mean to coat the entire chip in Chili Powder. When I make my award-winning oven fries Chili Powder is my go to spice, with many a secuded comely lass to tell me it works! Bring on the heat!
#2 Mango - It seems to me that Citrus would dry better (and therefore translate to chips) better than other fruits. my mom wanted Watermelon Kiwi, but they are two waterbased. A ripe mango taste would be perfect here. Mangos are sweet but not overpowering, and the added tang would be heavenly alongside the salt of the chip.
and the number one flavor I'd like to see on Potato Chips.....
#1 Chocolate - Frankly I cannot believe this hasn't happened yet. A thin dried potato chip is the perfect medium for chocolate. You could just add cocoa powder for a dark choloate delight, or any amount of sugar and milk cholate solids to make a truly sinful treat. Are you telling me that women wouldn't eat these by the truckload? Even the name is kismet: chocolate chips! I think I should get some congratulatory BJs just for thinking this up!