How KFC's Zinger Popcorn Chicken Differs From Regular Popcorn Chicken
Even though its forays into shoe fashion and raunchy movies produced some incredibly weird (albeit iconic) results, KFC does at least know what it's doing when it comes to chicken — useful, really, considering the entire franchise relies on its Original Recipe Chicken of 11 secret herbs and spices (via KFC).
Perhaps it is secrecy that has allowed the chain to continue to brim with success long after the departure of its founder, Colonel Sanders (via Food & Wine). But even historic greats need to constantly adapt to keep pace with the extremely competitive business world, meaning that KFC products vary and fluctuate in different countries.
KFC restaurants in the U.K. have been gifted with the presence of Zinger Popcorn Chicken, something that isn't available at U.S. outlets (which can only serve up the basic Popcorn Nuggets Combo, according to KFC's website). The inspirational addition to the KFC range is unquestionably hot stuff.
KFC's Zinger products have been suppressed in the U.S. for a long time
Zinger chicken is different from regular popcorn chicken because it is bursting with extra spices (as if 11 weren't enough). Providing an explosive "zinga-zinga" flavor, according to a KFC press release, the new invention was trialed in a select number of U.K. stores to determine whether the whole world would one day benefit from Zinger popcorn chicken (via Delish).
However, the U.S. has consistently been left in the dark when it comes to KFC's Zinger range. The Zinger burger has been present in Britain for so long that it has essentially become part of its heritage (statues and museums are inevitable), but, despite a comeback in 2017 (via The Comeback), the beauty of Zinger failed to stand strong and is no longer available on the U.S. menu (via Eat This, Not That!).
Perhaps KFC is simply respecting The Colonel in the country where the legendary company was raised and nurtured by refusing to indulge in exotic alternatives to the traditional recipe he created. Still, food deliveries are available everywhere these days — it can't take too long for a moped to travel across the Atlantic ocean.