You can’t ever go wrong with a box of Arnott’s BBQ Shapes, they are perfect for any occasion. However we have periodically seen new Shape flavours from Arnott’s. Is it a case of why fix what isn’t broke?
This time last year Arnott’s hosted a poll to discover what were Aussie’s favourite Shape flavours and to absolutely no ones surprise BBQ came out on top. Closely followed by Pizza in second and Chicken Crimpy in third, as expected. Now we have three new contenders for the top spot.
At the end of 2019, Arnott’s released its first two flavours of the Aussie Legends range, Sausage Sizzle and Meat Pie. Most recently, in July 2020, another Aussie Legend was released, Lamb and Rosemary. It should be noted that 2018, although they are now categorised in the ‘Originals’ section, we got the Vegemite and Cheese Shapes.
Now, I personally love a Bunnings Snag, a meat pie at the footy, a lamb chop straight from the BBQ and a good old Vegemite and cheese sanga as much as the next Aussie, but I don’t know if I need to eat it in Shape form. And I believe that if you add a packet of BBQ Shapes to that list you’d have the full range of stereotyped Australian cuisine.
And whether or not you believe Shapes are chips or biscuits (they are biscuits) everyone knows that its the flavour that counts.
So what do we actually think about the new flavours of shapes? When Arnott’s changed their original recipes to ‘new and improved’ versions in 2016 there was outrage with Australians everywhere disgusted by the difference. So do we just not care if new ones come and go as long as the originals stay in tact? Are they just a novelty and its cool to try but the originals will always be the favourite?
There were some critical reviews on Arnott’s Instagram about the Aussie Legends:
“Vegemite flavour was bad enough but now really?! Shapes need to stay original flavours! Not these impostor shapes that are terrible.”
“They taste very strange.”
“Yep. Just ruined biscuits.”
“Please, 2020 is horrible enough already. Don’t put lamb flavoured biscuits into the mix.”
“It’s disgusting.”
“This is just too far…”
“Yuck ?- I’ll take a real Meat Pie and Sausage Sizzle, thanks!!”
And there were people who believed the exact opposite:
“Meat pie shapes are amazing. Can you keep making these forever. I don’t understand how you managed to make these taste like a pie with sauce. Can’t stop eating these.”
“you had me with Vegemite n cheese.”
“Yum!!! Awesome.”
“THE BEST.”
“I’ve been waiting for these shapes ?.”
We may be a nation divided over Arnott’s shaking things up, however this final statement is what I think truly sums up our feelings every time they hint at a new flavour combination:
“Excited? Or terrified?”
Check out Arnott’s Aussie Legends newest addition, Lamb and Rosemary, and make your own judgements:
