The first reaction is usually a question: "Shawarma popcorn?"
Then the jar opens.
The aroma is warm and savory. The seasoning hits first, followed by the full crunch of a big mushroom-shaped piece of popcorn. It is familiar enough to make sense and different enough to make you reach back in.
Shawarma is POPRUS's signature flavor because it says something about who we are: a Brooklyn family popcorn company that respects the classics but is not afraid to put a bold flavor on the table.
From a familiar seasoning to a new kind of snack
Shawarma seasoning is known for its aromatic, savory character. Most people expect to find it around a meal, not in a popcorn jar. But popcorn is a natural carrier for seasoning when the kernel is sturdy enough and the flavor is applied while the batch is fresh.
We did not want our Shawarma flavor to feel like a gimmick. It had to taste balanced, not like a spice cabinet tipped over. The goal was a snack you could keep eating, with enough personality to stand apart from ordinary cheese, caramel, or plain salted popcorn.
That balance is why Shawarma has become one of the flavors that best represents POPRUS.
Why we use mushroom popcorn kernels
The kernel matters. Butterfly popcorn opens into light, irregular wings. It is great for an airy movie-theater handful, but the delicate edges can break and shed seasoning.
POPRUS starts with mushroom kernels. They pop into larger, rounder pieces with a full crunch and a strong surface for seasoning. That shape gives the Shawarma blend somewhere to land, so the flavor reaches the bite instead of collecting at the bottom of the container.
The result is not just seasoned popcorn. The kernel and seasoning work together.
Hand-popped in Brooklyn
We make POPRUS in Brooklyn in thoughtful batches. We pop in coconut oil, watch the batch closely, and season the popcorn while it is fresh.
That small-batch rhythm matters with a flavor like Shawarma. Aromatic seasoning needs an even hand. Too little and the idea disappears. Too much and the popcorn loses its clean finish. We want the first bite and the last handful to belong to the same jar.
Our popcorn is kosher parve under the Vaad HaKashrus of Tarnopol, dairy-free, and made without preservatives. Those are not extras added to a marketing list. They are part of how we choose to make the product.
Where Shawarma popcorn fits
Shawarma popcorn is an easy conversation starter in a gift box, but it is not only for novelty. It works anywhere a savory snack belongs:
- On the table before a meal
- In a movie-night spread
- Packed for a road trip
- Shared at work or school
- Given to the person who has already tried every ordinary popcorn flavor
It is especially good in a mixed tasting. Put it next to Classic or Butter and the contrast is clear. Add Jalapeno, Salt & Pepper, and Barbecue Friday, and you get the whole POPRUS range from familiar to bold.
A flavor that feels like Brooklyn
Brooklyn is full of families with strong food traditions and stronger opinions. Familiar flavors travel, mix, and find new homes. Shawarma popcorn feels natural to us because it carries that same energy: rooted in a recognizable seasoning, made into something new, and built to be shared.
We are still a growing family business. Every jar matters. When someone tries Shawarma for the first time, we want the surprise to turn into a second handful.
That is the whole idea behind POPRUS: take popcorn seriously without making it formal. Use good kernels. Make bold flavors carefully. Send out a snack that feels like someone made it for you.
Curious now? Find Shawarma in the full POPRUS flavor collection, alongside Classic, Butter, Jalapeno, Salt & Pepper, and Barbecue Friday.
