I Tried 10 Food Items Featured On "Shark Tank India" And Here's Their Review And Rating

Read this if, like me, you have a Shark Tank hangover!

Hi, my name is Sumedha and I have a problem — I love Shark Tank India a little too much. Not only do I find the show extremely entertaining, I am a fan because of how educational it has been for someone like me who knows practically nothing about business and entrepreneurship.

Sumedha Bharpilania

It was while watching the finale episode of the second season that I realised just how many food brands had been featured on the show, and decided to review some of them for work because, why not?

So, here we go!

1. Healthy Master — Baked Ragi Chips

BuzzFeed / Sumedha Bharpilania

Price (MRP): Rupees 290 for 200gm of product.

My review: These taste a lot like the unbranded ragi chips that we get in several grocery stories and supermarkets. They're also very spicy, which is something I like. What I don't like, however, is the fact that a majority of the chips in the packet were crushed, which happens a lot during transit but is a bummer nevertheless. 

My rating: 7/10

Did they receive an investment?: Yes, they received 50 lakh Rupees from Vineeta Singh in exchange for 6.5% equity.

Would I invest?: No. I don't have the kind of money that Vineeta does.

2. The Healthy Binge — Quinoa Crispies and Moringa Jowar Crispies

BuzzFeed / Sumedha Bharpilania

Price (MRP): Rupees 40 per packet with 40gm of product in each packet.

BuzzFeed / Sumedha Bharpilania

My review: These are basically flattened puffs that taste...healthy and fibre-y. While I did not get any smoky barbecue taste from the quinoa crispies, the moringa jowar crispies had a Maggi masala-like flavour that I quite enjoyed. I, however don't think that this would serve as a replacement for regular chips and puffs because you can really taste the difference.

My rating: 6/10

Did they receive an investment?: Yes, they received 50 lakh Rupees from Aman Gupta and Peyush Bansal in exchange for 5% equity.

Would I invest?: No, my net worth is nowhere near that of both Aman and Peyush.

3. The Green Snack Co. — Quinoa Puffs

BuzzFeed / Sumedha Bharpilania

Price (MRP): Rupees 80 per packet with 50gm of product.

My review: The "Peppy Cheese" flavour actually tastes a lot like Peppy Cheese Balls that we ate as children, except that these are a bit sweeter and have more texture. I honestly enjoyed devouring the entire packet after tasting one puff. I only wish they weren't this expensive.

My rating: 9/10

Did they receive an investment?: Yes, they received 1 Crore Rupees from Vineeta Singh in exchange for 8% equity.

Would I invest?: Yes, if I owned a business like SUGAR Cosmetics.

4. Makino — Nacho Chips

BuzzFeed / Sumedha Bharpilania

Price (MRP): Rupees 35 per packet with 60gm of product in each.

BuzzFeed / Sumedha Bharpilania

My review: These nachos are DELICIOUS! They're a lot thinner than the ones you get from other brands and are somehow crispier. While I love lots of spice in my food, the Peri Peri flavour could be a bit too spicy for some people. My favourite, however, is the Cheese variant. Having said that, it is imperative to note that these packets do contain more air than actual chips.

My rating: 8.5/10

Did they receive an investment?: No

Would I invest?: Yes, because I think my expertise lies in the consumption of nachos.

5. Lil' Goodness — Prebiotic Chocolate

BuzzFeed / Sumedha Bharpilania

Price (MRP): Rupees 200 for 90gm of product.

My review: While these chocolates had bloomed a little, they tasted wonderful to me. This Teff Crackle variant was reminiscent of good-quality dark chocolate mixed with Cadbury Dairy Milk Crackle. You'd be paying a premium for these, though.

My rating: 9/10

Did they receive an investment?: Yes, they received 50 lakhs for 1% equity and 50 lakhs in debt at a 10% interest rate from Peyush Bansal.

Would I invest?: Yes, if I owned a company that had SoftBank as one of its investors.

6. London Bubble Co. — Waffle Chips

BuzzFeed / Sumedha Bharpilania

Price (MRP): Rupees 50 for 35gm of product (I also paid 70 Rupees in delivery charges).

My review: While the waffle chips are moderately sweet (which I like) and pretty crispy, one cannot possibly justify paying 120 bucks for the tiniest amount of product. I was quite disappointed.

My rating: 4/10

Did they receive an investment?: Yes, Namita Thapar invested 75 lakh Rupees in exchange for 15% equity.

Would I invest?: I am out.

7. Patilkaki — Shankarpali

BuzzFeed / Sumedha Bharpilania

Price (MRP): Rupees 279 for 400gm of product.

My review: I fell in love with these shankarpalis. They were very crispy, weren't too sweet, and tasted like they were freshly prepared by my grandmother because they have zero preservatives. Their shipping was also lightning fast. I'd absolutely recommend trying out snacks from this brand.

My rating: 9.5/10

Did they receive an investment?: They received 40 lakh Rupees in exchange for 4% equity from Anupam Mittal and Peyush Bansal.

Would I invest?: Yes, if I had invested in as many companies as the founder of Shaadi.com.

8. Gladful — Choco-Chip Protein Cookies

BuzzFeed / Sumedha Bharpilania

Price (MRP): Rupees 300 for 80gm of product.

My review: These cookies do not have a relatively soft, crumbly texture like regular cookies and taste like they have protein powder in them. They are tiny and also very hard to chew. I wasn't a huge fan.

My rating: 6/10

Did they receive an investment?: Yes, Amit Jain, Aman Gupta, and Namita Thapar gave them 50 lakhs in exchange for 3.5% equity.

Would I invest?: No. My teeth still hurt.

9. TeaFit — Premium Instant Assorted Unsweetened Tea Premix

BuzzFeed / Sumedha Bharpilania

Price (MRP): Rupees 399 for 12 sachets.

My review: I tried the cardamom premix and it was beautiful — creamy with the right balance of elaichi flavour. I did not add any sugar because it somehow tasted mildly sweet. I'd certainly recommend trying out these premixes, especially if, like me, you travel a lot. This brand also provides super-fast shipping.

My rating: 9/10

Did they receive an investment?: Yes, four sharks — Peyush Bansal, Vineeta Singh, Anupam Mittal, and Aman Gupta invested 50 lakhs in exchange for 8% equity.

Would I invest?: Yes, if Peyush, Vineeta, Anupam, and Aman gave me some of their money.

10. VS Mani & Co — Instant Filter Coffee Decoction

BuzzFeed / Sumedha Bharpilania

Price (MRP): Rupees 290 for 440ml (I got a pack of 2).

My review: This tastes like authentic filter coffee and will certainly appeal to all coffee fans. There's no added sugar, which is excellent. My mother, who also tried out all of these snacks and beverages with me, has declared that this is her favourite product of them all.

My mom's rating: 9.5/10 

Did they receive an investment?:  Yes. Namita Thapar invested 19 lakhs for 1% equity and gave 41 lakhs in debt at a 10% interest rate. Anupam Mittal is already an investor.

Would my mom invest?: Yes and she's asking me to pay on her behalf.

Have you tried (or plan on trying) any of these snacks? Let me know in the comments!

Oh and if you're a Shark Tank India fan like me and you're sad about the second season wrapping up, here's a fantastic book about the show that'll keep you company until the new season begins. Authored by Prerna Lidhoo and published by Juggernaut Books, "SHARK TANK INDIA : Startup Fundas from the Sharks and Participants" is packed with straight-talking, no-bullshit advice, inspiring stories, and leadership lessons from the Sharks and participants.

Amazon / Via amazon.in

You can grab it on Amazon in order to know:

• Why Anupam thinks panic can be good for you

• How Amit nearly sunk his first business

• The many pivots Vineeta made before she hit jackpot

• How Peyush’s mentors helped him out

• Why Namita thinks you need more women in your team

• How Aman found the perfect co-founder