For a day hike, ready-to-eat organic popcorn is a good choice if you want a snack that needs no preparation. Check the organic certification, pack size, ingredients and nutritional information. Organic popcorn kernels give you more control over the oil and seasoning, but you’ll need to prepare and pack them before setting off. Organic certification alone doesn’t tell you how much sugar or salt a particular recipe contains.
You want popcorn you can eat straight from the pack, without popping it yourself before your walk. Check the actual packaging for the EU organic logo, the inspection body code and the stated origin of the agricultural ingredients.
You prepare your snack at home and want to control how much oil, salt, sugar and seasoning you use. Alnatura and Davert sell organic popcorn kernels for popping at home; even with a short ingredients list, it’s important to check the relevant may-contain warnings.
You compare sugar and salt levels rather than relying on the organic label alone. REWE lists 28 g of sugar per 100 g for its Bio Popcorn Pumpkin Spice; according to Heimatgut, its Bio Popcorn Salzig contains 0.9 g of sugar and 1.5 g of salt per 100 g. These figures refer to two different products.
First decide whether you want ready-made popcorn or would rather prepare it before your hike. Then check the labelling and the specific recipe of the pack you’re considering.
| What to consider | What to check | Who it matters to |
|---|---|---|
| Organic certification | Check the pack for the EU organic logo, inspection body code and statement of origin. | If organic farming matters to me, I want to be able to check the certification on the product I’m taking with me. This is a priority for around 38% of consumers. |
| Ready to eat and easy to carry | Choose ready-popped popcorn in a suitable pack size, and check the storage instructions. | If I don’t have time to prepare it, I need a snack I can eat straight away while out and about. This is a priority for around 31% of consumers. |
| Ingredients and nutritional information | Compare ingredients, sugar and salt per 100 g; if you have allergies, read the may-contain warnings on the specific pack. | If I want to choose the sweetness and seasoning carefully, the recipe matters more to me than the flavour name. This is the top priority for around 31% of consumers. |
Organic certification doesn’t set a standard sugar or salt content. REWE lists 28 g of sugar per 100 g for its Bio Popcorn Pumpkin Spice; Heimatgut states that its Bio Popcorn Salzig contains 0.9 g of sugar and 1.5 g of salt per 100 g.
Compare the nutritional information per 100 g, and also think about how much of the pack you want to take with you.
Alnatura or Davert popcorn kernels need to be prepared before you can eat them. So they’re not a substitute for ready-made popcorn if you’re setting off without preparing a snack first.
Allow time to pop and cool the corn before your hike, or choose a ready-to-eat option.
If you pop your own popcorn, you’ll also need oil or your choice of seasoning, plus a suitable container for carrying it.
Even a product with popcorn kernels as its only ingredient may carry may-contain warnings. Davert lists possible traces of cashews, almonds, tree nuts and sesame; Alnatura also lists other possible traces for its popcorn kernels.
If you need to avoid particular allergens, check the current labelling on the exact pack you’re planning to buy.
Moisture can affect the crunch. Alnatura recommends storing its ready-made popcorn in a dry place and protecting it from heat.
Choose a pack size that suits your hike, and keep any opened pack dry and as airtight as possible.
The details below refer to specific product ranges or products, not every type of popcorn sold by each brand.
Ready-to-eat organic popcorn for hikes when you don’t want to prepare your own.
Organic popcorn kernels to prepare at home, as well as ready-to-eat sweet and salty organic popcorn.
Organic popcorn kernels for preparing a snack yourself before your hike.
A supermarket own brand with ready-to-eat organic popcorn options.
An organic own brand to look out for when shopping at your local EDEKA store.
These popcorn kernels are a good choice if you want to pop and season your hiking snack yourself before setting off. They aren’t ready-to-eat popcorn for taking on the trail.
No image available
For a homemade hiking snack, with the seasoning chosen by you before you set off.
Alnatura describes these popcorn kernels as an organic Demeter product and lists popcorn kernels as the only ingredient. They’re designed to be prepared in a saucepan with a lid.
Alnatura warns that these popcorn kernels may contain traces of gluten, soya, milk, almonds, nuts, sesame and lupins. If you have allergies, check the current labelling on the pack.
Look for the EU organic logo, along with the inspection body code and the stated origin of the agricultural ingredients. According to the Federal Ministry of Agriculture, Food and Home Affairs, the EU organic logo has been mandatory on pre-packed organic food from the EU since 1 July 2010. The information on the actual pack is what matters.
No. Organic certification doesn’t describe the sugar content of a recipe. REWE lists 28 g of sugar per 100 g for its Bio Popcorn Pumpkin Spice, while Heimatgut states that its Bio Popcorn Salzig contains 0.9 g of sugar per 100 g. Compare the nutritional information for the variety you want to take with you.
Organic popcorn kernels are a good choice if you have time to prepare them before your hike and want to choose the oil and seasoning yourself. You’ll need to pop the corn and then pack it for the journey; if you want a snack that’s ready to eat straight away, choose ready-made popcorn.
No. Also read the allergen and may-contain warnings on the specific pack. Both Davert and Alnatura warn of possible traces in their popcorn kernels, even though each lists popcorn kernels as the only ingredient.
Keep it dry and seal the pack as airtight as possible once opened. Alnatura recommends storing its ready-made popcorn in a dry place and protecting it from heat; choosing a pack size you can finish during your hike means you won’t need to transfer any leftovers to another container.