We tried Novo Protein Pops from Asda and one flavour scored top marks

Whether you're looking to maintain a healthy weight, build muscle or curb hunger, eating enough protein is an essential part of a balanced diet that comes with a multitude of benefits. Fitness fanatics swear by the stuff and it's the reason supermarket shelves are now stocked with protein snacks, shakes and more.

One of those protein products is Novo Protein Pops, which are available in six flavours at Asda. The soya and yellow pea snacks are high in protein, low in saturated fat and suitable for vegetarians.

With so many high protein products available, some of the Liverpool ECHO team decided to put the Novo Protein Pops to the test. Five of the flavours have 10g of protein, whereas the tangy cheese flavour has 9g.

Barbecue Novo Protein Pops - Courtney Eales - 3/5

I tried the BBQ Novo Protein Pops and was impressed by how much flavour was on them. I have had BBQ crisps in the past that have not had the flavour I would have expected but the BBQ flavour on these protein crisps was impressive. I could smell a smoky BBQ immediately when I opened the packet and the flavour was just as instant. My colleagues weren't as impressed with the flavour with one describing them as having a 'burning taste'. My only complaint is the taste does linger in the mouth so keep mints on hand.

Cheese and Jalapeno Novo Protein Pops - Paul Philbin - 4/5

Having already tried the salt and pepper and sweet chilli flavour I wanted to enter the world of cheese and jalapeno. One chip in and I realised they're not for the faint-hearted. I am okay with spice up to a point and these are well within my threshold but for others, it might not be a good idea.

From the first crisp, I felt my mouth flame up which was a surprise because they didn't smell like they'd have much spice. The cheese part of the flavour wasn't too overpowering so the balance was perfect for me. I always worry about cheese flavoured snacks being a bit too cheesy but this wasn't the case. The cheese and jalapeno are nothing on the salt and pepper flavour but I would purchase them.

Salt and Pepper Novo Protein Pops - Jess Molyneux - 5/5

I regularly opt for some form of pop chip crisp, usually a barbeque flavour, so I was intrigued to try the salt and pepper flavour from this brand. First impressions, the chips had no smell and the colour was a darker beige tone than the image on the packet, but I got stuck right in. The crisps tasted incredible, with the usual texture you;d expect of not being too crunchy but also melting easily in your mouth.

The pepper was definitely the overpowering flavour, which I preferred as it definitely tastes different to your standard salty flavoured crisps that tend to dominate the supermarket shelves. It’s not my usual flavour - but I definitely prefer it and will be getting more from now on. In many ways, it’s also up there with M&S, as it reminded me of their salt and pepper crisp combo bags. This brand is definitely worth it, whether you’re just having a single packet to yourself or emptying loads into a bowl to share.

Sour Cream and Chive Novo Protein Pops - Gary Stewart - 3/5

These are decently sized crisps that are quite thick and have that 'popped' feel like they have somehow swelled up in the production process. They aren't like a normal crisp (they aren't made from potato but some kind of soya) and don't have so much of greasy feel. The sour cream and onion flavour was pretty strong and I liked it. I Googled it and at 190 calories per 45g bag it compares favourably to Walkers at around 233 calories but I doubt they qualify as a health food either and I won't be relying on them for my protein goals.

Sweet Chilli Novo Protein Crisps - Hannah Rees - 3/5

These were a mixed bag for me, pardon the pun. I really liked the citrus-spice kick on your first bite. But I weirdly found they soon had a slightly charred aftertaste. However, I wouldn't say it was strong enough to put me off. Just odd.

I do think the snacks are good value for money. There's nothing worse than opening a bag of crisps and realising that its content will be gone in a few mouthfuls. But these were a good portion and 10g of protein. You can't argue with that.

Tangy Cheese Novo Protein Crisps - Steve Graves - 3/5

Has there ever been a bigger gap between a food and the so-called, artificial "flavour" of that food than cheese? Maybe strawberry, I'll give you that. But cheese is right up there. Actual cheese is magnificent, but anything "cheese-flavoured" tends to bring me out in a rash.

This used to be the case literally - I was allergic to Wotsits for some years in my childhood. Nowadays the rash is a rhetorical device I'm employing to tell you I don't really enjoy cheese-flavoured stuff. So a 3/5 from me is a decent score for these - they definitely deliver on the tanginess, and the overall flavour isn't as sickly or outright repellent as in many similar products. If you like cheesy crisps add an extra mark.