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CLOSED GH Cretors review and giveaway: Back to school I go – to snack in style!

shared by MickyN | 102 Comments

Update: This giveaway is closed.

Fall is here, and so are many beautiful things: pumpkin patches, canning and baking sessions, amber-colored trees – and school, glorious school 🙂 Gone are the days of summer and the luxurious long break I loved so much. It’s fall, I’m back into the classroom to teach several demanding classes, and I need quality food to keep me going. I know from experience that popcorn is one of the best options to have on hand to appease hunger pangs in-between school sessions. Filling, tasty and nutritious, popcorn has been one of my favorite snack options in recent years. While it keeps me satisfied for hours, it also brings back beautiful childhood memories. I just love to go back in time and to remember those many evenings I spent popping corn with my parents, in the kitchen of our tiny apartment. Those were some really happy days!

Enter G.H. Cretors Popped Corn for the perfect school snack 😉 I had seen this brand on shelves at my local healthy food grocery store, but I wasn’t really familiar with its products until earlier this year, when I attended the Sweets&Snacks Expo (you can check out my review here), talked to their reps and sampled lots of their popcorn, which I thought was amazing. This is why I was very excited when I was contacted recently to review their products and to host a giveaway for my readers.

G.H. Cretors have been popping corn for five generations – since 1885, to be precise. Their mission: to create “the most obsessively delicious popcorn you’ve ever tasted.” The company stays true to its commitment to quality ingredients and artisanal craftsmanship by using non-GMO corn and other ingredients whenever possible in their flavors, and only organic ingredients in their Organics line. As someone who has done a lot of research on GMO food, I find their approach refreshing and reassuring.

G.H. Cretors sent me a box full of products as well as a tote bag and a S’well bottle to make my snacking-on-the go a breeze this fall:

I took G.H. Cretors popcorn to school a few days in a row, and I am happy to report their Honey Butter Kettlecorn is my new favorite snack. Organic and certified gluten free, this popcorn is not overly sweet, and the butter flavor works well with the honey to keep me full and satisfied for longer. There is no greasiness and no metallic or sickly sweet artificial flavors or aftertaste, and the popcorn has a perfect crispy texture and an appealing overall appearance. Here’s a wholesome and delicious way to keep up with a long, exhausting day!

If you’re more into salty snacks, then I highly recommend the G.H. Cretors salted butter popcorn, which is a fluffy organic popcorn drizzled with organic salted butter and just a pinch of sea salt. This variety has pleasant light buttery notes, and it’s the closest in taste to the popcorn I used to make with my parents when I was growing up. Its honest and straightforward flavors do not allow for gimmicks or artificiality. It’s as close to natural as possible, just like nature intended:

As a cheeseaholic through and through, I had a lot of fun sampling the Just the Cheese Corn variety. G.H. Cretors melt the cheddar in special kettles before pouring it over the non GMO corn, and then add non GMO sunflower oil. Decadently cheesy and fulfilling, this popcorn keeps hunger at bay long-term: I ate a handful around 6:30pm and it kept me full all through the evening class, which ended at 9pm:

For a lighter cheesy popcorn, you can go with the white cheddar variety. In line with G.H. Cretors’ commitment to authenticity and closeness to nature, the list of ingredients is minimalist (popcorn, white cheddar cheese and sunflower oil), and they are all organic. Clean, light and delicious flavors: what’s not to like?

Even before receiving the box from G.H. Cretors I had my reservations about their Organic Dill Pickle variety. As a fan of popcorn and dill pickles eaten separately, I was concerned these two might not work well together as part of a single product. Once I tried this variety however, my worries were put to rest. Made of organic corn, organic sunflower oil and organic dill pickle seasoning, the popcorn actually benefited from the inclusion of the special seasoning, which provided kosher deli-inspired deliciousness and did not overpower the other flavors.

In the end, eating popcorn tasting of dill pickles proved to be an enjoyable experience. I would definitely eat this as a midday snack:

If you want to satisfy both sweet and savory cravings, you can go with G.H. Cretors The Mix, a combo of Buttery Caramel & Real Cheddar Cheese popcorn. Made of non GMO corn treated with no artificial flavors or colors, this truly is sweet&salty snacking perfection. Being the sweet-toothed gal that I am, I just loved the caramel popcorn, which was chock-full of decadent caramel melting away in my mouth and releasing heaps of flavorful sweetness. Sooo good!

Overall, I enjoyed the minimalist, close to nature approach displayed by the G.H. Cretors popcorn varieties I tried, and for this reason I believe they are a better snacking option than other options currently on the market. I also like the portability of this popcorn, which can easily be stored in containers and transported to and from work with no ensuing loss of flavor or staleness. As a fan of both popcorn and healthy snacking, I think G.H. Cretors are on the right track on a gourmet market which is increasingly appealing to consumers everywhere.

G.H. Cretors is offering Chicago Loves Panini readers the chance to win one pack of delicious popcorn products to snack in style this fall.

To enter the giveaway, leave a comment on this post and answer the following question: Sweet or savory? How do you like your popcorn?

Giveaway open to US residents only 18 years of age or older. One entry per person. Deadline for entries is 6PM central time on September 29, 2017. One winner will be chosen on or around September 30, 2017 by using a random number generator and will have 72 hours to respond to the winner notification email. I reserve the right to pick an alternative winner if the original winner does not contact me 72 hours after receipt of winner notification email.

Good luck!

*Disclaimer: GH Cretors sent me a pack of complimentary products to facilitate this review. All opinions expressed here are my own.

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Comments

  1. Austin Hanczarek says

    September 17, 2017 at 11:41 am

    Savory. Butter, cheese, salt and so on. I do like a good kettle corn too though.

    Reply
  2. BRITTANY DOERFLER says

    September 17, 2017 at 11:47 am

    I like my popcorn savory!

    Reply
  3. Char says

    September 17, 2017 at 12:52 pm

    I really love sweet, thank you so much for the offer. I love your blog!!

    Reply
  4. Phil H. says

    September 17, 2017 at 4:54 pm

    Savory popcorn is my favorite.

    Reply
  5. jberry says

    September 17, 2017 at 5:11 pm

    Mood dependent, but overall savory.

    Reply
  6. c.m says

    September 17, 2017 at 5:29 pm

    i like it savory. i also like dipping popcorn in nacho cheese.

    Reply
  7. Karley Moore says

    September 17, 2017 at 6:34 pm

    I love both, but Savory is my Favorite popcorn! Thanks for the awesome giveaway!!

    Reply
  8. Christine Labelle says

    September 17, 2017 at 6:56 pm

    I love sweet popcorn. I over mine drizzled with chocolate. I do like cheesy popcorn once in a while.

    Reply
  9. Donna L says

    September 17, 2017 at 9:36 pm

    I like savory popcorn.

    Reply
  10. al says

    September 17, 2017 at 11:59 pm

    SAvory–Butter & Cheese, is best, but I wouldn’t turn my nose up at caramel.

    Reply
  11. Sheila K. says

    September 18, 2017 at 12:10 am

    I like my popcorn to be savory!

    Reply
  12. Jen D says

    September 18, 2017 at 12:29 am

    Such a hard choice since I love both, but I choose savory over sweet as my preference.

    Reply
  13. Mara T says

    September 18, 2017 at 12:49 am

    I like my popcorn sweet and buttery.

    Reply
  14. Suzanne says

    September 18, 2017 at 1:07 am

    Sweet

    Reply
  15. Michelle Coles says

    September 18, 2017 at 1:21 am

    I prefer my popcorn savory!

    Reply
  16. Carrie Messer says

    September 18, 2017 at 1:23 am

    I like to mix caramel corn and cheese popcorn for sweet and salty! YUM!

    Reply
  17. Wendy Williams says

    September 18, 2017 at 2:36 am

    sweet with nuts……yummmmmm

    Reply
  18. Surinder Gurm says

    September 18, 2017 at 3:15 am

    Tough choice I’ll go with salty

    Reply
  19. Margot C says

    September 18, 2017 at 5:14 am

    I think savory is best, but I like them both!

    Reply
  20. Wendy R. says

    September 18, 2017 at 5:23 am

    Savory popcorn for me! But, I do enjoy kettle corn a couple of times a year.

    Reply
  21. Julie says

    September 18, 2017 at 6:49 am

    Both! But if I have to pick, savory.

    Reply
  22. Natalie says

    September 18, 2017 at 12:19 pm

    I like my popcorn to be savory! Bring on the salt and cheese!

    Reply
  23. Kelly D says

    September 18, 2017 at 1:29 pm

    I like savory popcorn.

    Reply
  24. Sandy H says

    September 18, 2017 at 1:34 pm

    I like sweet.

    Reply
  25. Jessica W. says

    September 18, 2017 at 2:55 pm

    I like savory over sweet. Butter and cheese flavors are my favorite.

    Reply
  26. Noah Ramer says

    September 18, 2017 at 6:17 pm

    I prefer savory, more specifically cheddar cheese popcorn!

    Reply
  27. Lisa Brown says

    September 18, 2017 at 7:53 pm

    Definitely savory popcorn for me. Anything with cheese!

    Reply
  28. Megan Wulff says

    September 18, 2017 at 8:13 pm

    I prefer savory popcorn. I like cheese popcorn and my husband makes a wonderful stovetop recipe that just needs salt.

    Reply
  29. meredith says

    September 19, 2017 at 12:35 am

    OMG I love popcorn – I prefer the savory popcorn, however sometimes mixing them is amazing

    Reply
  30. Candace Miller says

    September 20, 2017 at 12:28 am

    I prefer savory popcorn and eat with oreos for the sweet side.

    Reply
  31. Darlene Carbajal says

    September 20, 2017 at 3:38 am

    I like my popcorn savory!

    Reply
  32. Annamarie V says

    September 20, 2017 at 3:52 am

    I like my popcorn savory but I wouldn’t turn down a good caramel corn.

    Reply
  33. Marina says

    September 20, 2017 at 12:09 pm

    I like my popcorn savory, but sweet is delicious too!

    Reply
  34. Pat says

    September 20, 2017 at 8:29 pm

    I like savory popcorn.

    Reply
  35. latanya says

    September 21, 2017 at 2:01 pm

    I like my popcorn sweet

    Reply
  36. manda says

    September 21, 2017 at 5:22 pm

    Savory!

    Reply
  37. Kelly Tupick says

    September 21, 2017 at 7:38 pm

    I like my popcorn savory!

    Reply
  38. Brittany McKnight says

    September 22, 2017 at 12:54 am

    I prefer mine savory! Now I really want popcorn!

    Reply
  39. Tim says

    September 22, 2017 at 6:46 pm

    I like savory popcorn. There are go to snacks when you want something sweet and go to snacks when you want something salty. I have never viewed popcorn as a member of the sweet category.

    Reply
  40. Carmen says

    September 24, 2017 at 4:17 am

    I like savory, but sweet is good too.

    Reply
  41. Susan Christy says

    September 24, 2017 at 4:53 am

    Sweet! Kettle Corn is my favorite.

    Reply
  42. Irene C. says

    September 24, 2017 at 9:55 pm

    I love savory popcorn

    Reply
  43. Katie Bellamy says

    September 25, 2017 at 2:39 am

    I’m a sweet fan! My favorite is Kettle corn!

    Reply
  44. Sarah Klauss says

    September 25, 2017 at 10:52 am

    Sweet & salty is the best!

    Reply
  45. beth says

    September 25, 2017 at 1:34 pm

    I’m more of a savory fan.

    Reply
  46. cyndi br says

    September 25, 2017 at 7:48 pm

    savory with white cheddar

    Reply
  47. Donna L says

    September 27, 2017 at 10:43 pm

    I like my popcorn savory.

    Reply
  48. Sheila K. says

    September 27, 2017 at 10:45 pm

    I prefer savory popcorn.

    Reply
  49. Sarah Cool says

    September 28, 2017 at 8:00 am

    I love both but if i had to choose id pick sweet 🙂

    Reply
  50. Jennifer H. says

    September 28, 2017 at 7:30 pm

    I like my popcorn sweet. I like kettle corn.

    Reply
  51. John H. says

    September 28, 2017 at 7:34 pm

    I like savory. I like cheddar jalapeno.

    Reply
  52. Carol says

    September 28, 2017 at 8:05 pm

    I prefer sweet popcorn.

    Reply
  53. Missy says

    September 28, 2017 at 10:56 pm

    I love savory. I usually have air popped popcorn with garlic salt.

    Reply
  54. Jessica Whitehouse says

    September 28, 2017 at 10:57 pm

    I like sweet caramel corn and cheesy salty popcorn.

    Reply
  55. Patricia Crowley says

    September 29, 2017 at 3:33 am

    I like both….but probably savory more.

    Reply
  56. kathy Persons says

    September 29, 2017 at 11:14 am

    I love the sweet./ Either caramel or drizzled in chocolate

    Reply
  57. Cynthia Schmied says

    September 29, 2017 at 12:21 pm

    I love savory flavors!

    Reply
  58. Anne Perry says

    September 29, 2017 at 12:33 pm

    The Chicago Mix is amazing. I like sweet & salty.

    Reply
  59. amy guillaume linderman says

    September 29, 2017 at 12:54 pm

    if i had to pick one i would pick sweet, but i do love to mix savory and sweet together

    Reply
  60. Annmarie W. says

    September 29, 2017 at 1:03 pm

    I like it savory! I’m all about white cheddar cheese popcorn!

    Reply
  61. Lauren says

    September 29, 2017 at 1:05 pm

    I like the Chicago Mix–sweet & savory!

    Reply
  62. Kristina Leezer says

    September 29, 2017 at 1:20 pm

    Savory is my favorite but sweet popcorn is a nice treat sometimes too.

    Reply
  63. sheila ressel says

    September 29, 2017 at 1:27 pm

    I like savory popcorn best.

    Reply
  64. Darlene Owen says

    September 29, 2017 at 2:36 pm

    I like savory popcorn. I usually eat my popcorn with butter on it. But this looks good also.

    Reply
  65. Erin Sluka says

    September 29, 2017 at 3:30 pm

    I go for popcorn when I have salt cravings!

    Reply
  66. Lissa Crane says

    September 29, 2017 at 3:38 pm

    I love my popcorn sweet!

    Reply
  67. jeremy mclaughlin says

    September 29, 2017 at 4:10 pm

    Like my popcorn sweet.

    Reply
  68. Leah Shumack says

    September 29, 2017 at 4:32 pm

    Savory. Butter and a little salt! Sometimes I add some parm cheese on it.

    Reply
  69. Katrina Angele says

    September 29, 2017 at 5:28 pm

    I like savory….either lots of butter or rich kettle corn.

    Reply
  70. Audrey Stewart says

    September 29, 2017 at 5:34 pm

    I love both. I love sweet caramel popcorn, and I love white cheddar cheese popcorn.

    Reply
  71. Aaron B. says

    September 29, 2017 at 5:57 pm

    I like mine savory.

    Reply
  72. Lynne T says

    September 29, 2017 at 6:31 pm

    Savory. One of my favorite flavors is Jalapeno.

    Reply
  73. Lisa Walker says

    September 29, 2017 at 6:47 pm

    I like sweet popcorn, but I love savory flavors!

    Reply
  74. Jennifer Mays says

    September 29, 2017 at 7:17 pm

    I like my popcorn savory.

    Reply
  75. Angie S says

    September 29, 2017 at 7:25 pm

    SWEET! I love adding M&Ms to my bowl of popcorn!! Chocolate and popcorn is the best together!!

    Reply
  76. Natalie says

    September 29, 2017 at 7:45 pm

    I love salt and vinegar popcorn, so savory for this girl

    Reply
  77. Kristen J. says

    September 29, 2017 at 7:55 pm

    I actually like both. I like savory flavors for snacking during the day, and I like sweet flavors for like popcorn during a movie at night. I just like popcorn. 🙂

    Reply
  78. Angelica Dimeo says

    September 29, 2017 at 8:14 pm

    I like mine savory

    Reply
  79. TallulahJane says

    September 29, 2017 at 8:44 pm

    I love sweet popcorn best of all.

    Reply
  80. Crystal Rose says

    September 29, 2017 at 8:53 pm

    I like both. When it comes to popcorn I actually like savory more because you can be so creative with it.

    Reply
  81. angie w says

    September 29, 2017 at 9:17 pm

    It’s a tough choice! I’d say sweet and salty.

    Reply
  82. Nancy Bowers says

    September 29, 2017 at 9:19 pm

    I prefer savory to sweet.

    Reply
  83. Kelly Skibbe says

    September 29, 2017 at 9:26 pm

    I like a little bit of both. The Chicago Mix is the best!!!!

    Reply
  84. Maryann D. says

    September 29, 2017 at 9:31 pm

    I really would prefer sweet!

    Reply
  85. wen budro says

    September 29, 2017 at 9:32 pm

    I usually prefer my popcorn on the sweet side. Kettle Korn and caramel corn are my favorites.

    Reply
  86. Julie Waldron says

    September 29, 2017 at 9:35 pm

    I like both, I also like salty/sweet.

    Reply
  87. Yona Williams says

    September 29, 2017 at 9:36 pm

    At first, I was going to say that sweet popcorn was my favorite, but actually, white cheddar popcorn is my absolute favorite.

    Reply
  88. Aaron says

    September 29, 2017 at 9:36 pm

    I like my popcorn sweet and kernel-free.

    Reply
  89. Shelly Leatham says

    September 29, 2017 at 9:51 pm

    Savory! Unless I find it sweet and salty!!

    Thanks for the chance to win!

    Reply
  90. miranda says

    September 29, 2017 at 9:57 pm

    I love savory

    Reply
  91. gary says

    September 29, 2017 at 9:58 pm

    sweet is best for me

    Reply
  92. bill says

    September 29, 2017 at 9:59 pm

    I love savory – cheddar cheese

    Reply
  93. Chickie says

    September 29, 2017 at 10:01 pm

    Savory would be my favorite choose.

    Reply
  94. elizabeth miller says

    September 29, 2017 at 10:03 pm

    Savory is the best for me. My daughter says she likes both.

    Reply
  95. Richard Brandt says

    September 29, 2017 at 10:30 pm

    I like sweet AND I like savory. (Not necessarily together, although Isn’t that what they call the Chicago style?) I’ve had some sweet flavored varieties with chocolate and they were amazing.

    Reply
  96. monique s says

    September 29, 2017 at 10:46 pm

    I love my popcorn to be savory

    Reply
  97. Kimberly Bauer says

    September 29, 2017 at 11:00 pm

    I like mine Savory.

    Reply
  98. Gina Rock says

    September 29, 2017 at 11:03 pm

    I love sweet popcorn especially caramel corn!

    Reply
  99. Jackie says

    September 29, 2017 at 11:10 pm

    Savory…most of the time.
    Thank you!

    Reply
  100. Miz Vickik says

    September 29, 2017 at 11:47 pm

    Savory for sure!

    Reply
  101. Kim Reid says

    September 29, 2017 at 11:53 pm

    I love sweet – my favorite is caramel with chocolate drizzle!

    Reply
  102. desiree says

    September 29, 2017 at 11:55 pm

    wow what to choose i like the sweet and savory both and then the carmel look great and so do the ornge one wow what to choose

    Reply

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I have a passion for writing and an appetite for cooking. I love to tell stories about foods, cultures, and people - and I love to eat! Come join me on this delicious foodie adventure! Read More

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