Redefining Popcorn

Born out of an enthusiasm for her favorite snack, Jean Arnold, a London Le Cordon Bleu Culinary School graduate and founder of 479° Popcorn, embarked on an ambitious journey to redefine popcorn. In elevating the snack to a sophisticated treat, Jean took inspiration from her global upbringing: She was raised in Seoul, Korea, Tokyo, New York City, London and Paris and also traveled to more than 40 countries spanning six continents.

All of 479° Popcorn varieties have worldly influences. Her backpacking trip through India inspired Madras Coconut, and helping a farmer hunt for black truffles in Italy led her to develop Black Truffle and White Cheddar—one of the company’s best-selling flavors. (The name, 479° indicates the precise popping temperature that creates the perfect balance between flavor and crunch.)

Made by hand in small bathes, the products are made with ingredients that are USDA Certified Organic and purchased from small suppliers committed to sustainable business practices. The corn is an heirloom variety grown on small family farms in California near San Francisco. All of the spice blends on the popcorns—such as Madras Curry and Pimenton de la Vera—are organic and ground by hand.

The company is also earth-friendly. Trying to make its carbon footprint as small as possible, 479° packages its popcorn in paper boxes and cylinders made by local, family-owned packaging companies that use only local, sustainably managed resources. Canisters and shipping boxes are made with a minimum of 90 percent recycled paper, and the company never uses Styrofoam peanuts, bubble wraps or air-filled plastic bags to ship products. (Read more about 479°’s green mission)

Flavors include Alderwood Smoked Sea Salt, Black Truffle + White Cheddar, Chipotle Caramel + Almonds, Ginger Sesame Caramel, Fleur de Sel Caramel, Madras Curry Coconut + Cashews, Vietnamese Cinnamon Sugar and Pimenton de La Vera. The company also offers a Pop It Yourself kit.—Nicole Denis

Nicole Denis is a regular foodspring.com contributor and is the author of foodspring’s foodie-mom blog.

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