Somewhere in Indiana, a little shop sells popcorn that tastes like dill pickles mixed with ice cream. They call it the pregnancy mix, and yes, people actually buy it on purpose.
That odd combo is only one stop on a menu of more than 400 flavors. One woman created almost all of them herself, starting with just eight recipes.
She kept going until her list hit 403 unique tastes.
I love how this place treats popcorn like a blank canvas. Ghost pepper, sauerkraut, monkey bread, and cherry cola all share shelf space here.
The smell alone apparently helps people find the front door.
I can’t imagine reading that flavor list without wanting a handful of something strange. So which one would you be brave enough to try first?
One Woman Dreamed Up Nearly 400 Flavors
Back in May 1989, Carole Buck opened a popcorn business with just eight flavors. Most people would have stopped there and called it a nice little shop.
Carole had other plans. She went on to create 395 brand-new flavors, bringing her total to 403 unique tastes by 2016.
That shop is Not Just Popcorn, and it still lives in Edinburgh, Indiana. The business first opened at the Edinburgh Premium Outlets.
Later, it moved into the town’s downtown area.
Here’s a twist in the story. At the end of 2018, Carole closed the business for good.
Fans of her recipes probably held their breath for a moment.
Then a family stepped in to keep the popcorn popping. Charles and Anne Blair, along with their daughter Hayley Roberts, bought the equipment and reopened the shop.
They named it Not Just Popcorn Etc., and they kept Carole’s original recipes. They also kept experienced staff who already knew the craft inside and out.
I believe that choice says a lot about the new owners. They didn’t try to reinvent something that already worked so well.
Today, the same wild flavor library lives on under their care. That makes every bag a small taste of more than three decades of popcorn history.
Dill Pickle Popcorn Is Just The Warm-Up Act
Ketchup popcorn exists, and it lives in a small Indiana town. So does sauerkraut popcorn, which sounds like a dare from a German grandmother.
The adventurous side of the menu is where Not Just Popcorn really shows off. Dill pickle is one of the shop’s best-known flavors, and spicy dill pickle turns up the volume.
Heat seekers have options too. Hot ghost pepper and buffalo breath bring the fire, while candy-coated jalapeno mixes sweet with spicy.
Then come the flavors that taste like whole meals. Pepperoni pizza popcorn is a real thing here.
Cherry cola has made the list as well.
And of course, there’s the famous pregnancy mix. It blends dill pickle popcorn with ice cream-flavored popcorn, matching a classic late-night craving.
The fun part is not knowing what might be on the shelf. With more than 400 recipes, the lineup is bound to surprise you.
My advice is simple. Pick one flavor that scares you a little and one that feels safe.
That way, you get a wild story and a guaranteed snack. Worst case, you have a funny tale to tell your friends back home.
The Sweet Side Will Test Your Willpower
Not every flavor needs to be a wild dare. Some just need to be really, really good.
Caramel sits at the heart of the sweet lineup. From there, the options get fancier and harder to resist.
Chocolate Toffee Crunch takes sweet caramel popcorn and covers it in chocolate. That sounds like a dessert that forgot to stay on a plate.
Heavenly Vanilla Butternut brings a vanilla white chocolate flavor. It’s a gentler pick for anyone who likes things smooth and mellow.
Monkey bread popcorn brings bakery vibes to the bag. Marshmallow is another sweet flavor that has appeared on the menu.
Families also have fun seasonal picks to explore. A Halloween mix has shown up, along with cheerful options like confetti and birthday cake.
A sampler bag is a smart move for indecisive snackers. It lets you try several flavors without committing to one big bag.
I like how the sweet flavors balance out the stranger ones. Grab one of each, and your car ride home suddenly gets a lot more interesting.
Just don’t promise anyone you’ll save some for later.
Caramel And Cheddar Together? Trust The Hoosier Mix
Sweet and salty is a classic pairing for a reason. Caramel and cheddar might sound like strange roommates, but they get along wonderfully.
Not Just Popcorn makes a best cheddar flavor that stands strong on its own. The caramel-cheddar mix ranks among its most loved combinations.
Then there’s the Hoosier Mix, a nod to the shop’s home state of Indiana. It combines caramel, cheddar, and buttery popcorn in one bag.
That mix earned a bit of national attention in 2020. The National Republican Senatorial Committee bought it as a gift for donors.
Not bad for a small-town popcorn recipe. It proves a simple idea can travel a long way when it tastes right.
If you’re new to the shop, this trio makes a great starting point. It covers sweet, salty, and buttery in every handful.
Picky eaters usually find something to love in it. Bold eaters can still use it as a break between spicier bites.
I believe every popcorn shop needs one flavor that pleases everybody. Here, the Hoosier Mix fills that job with plenty of Indiana pride.
Follow Your Nose Straight To The Popcorn Bar
Forget the map app for a second. In downtown Edinburgh, the smell of fresh popcorn helps guide visitors right to the shop.
You’ll find Not Just Popcorn at 101 E Main Cross St, Edinburgh, IN 46124. The current shop sits in an older downtown building.
It’s also bigger than the shop’s previous spot across the street. That extra room gives the colorful inventory space to shine.
Walls are lined with bags and tins of brightly colored popcorn. The effect feels a bit like a candy store that switched teams.
A popcorn bar helps you choose your flavors. With roughly 85 varieties kept in stock at a time, you’ll want that help.
The atmosphere leans quaint and folksy rather than flashy. Small decorations and friendly service match the hometown feel.
Plan your stop for Monday through Saturday, from 10 AM to 5 PM. The shop closes on Sundays, so weekend plans need a little care.
I love that a shop this playful keeps such small-town roots. It feels like the kind of place every downtown should have.
Bring Nine Friends And Peek Behind The Kettle
Ever wondered how a kernel becomes buffalo breath popcorn? A group tour answers that question in delicious detail.
Not Just Popcorn offers tours for groups of ten or more people. You’ll need to schedule ahead, so this isn’t a walk-in surprise.
Children under three can join for free. That makes the tour handy for families with little ones along for the ride.
The tour shows the popping, coating, and packaging process up close. You get a real look at how the magic happens.
Best of all, the visit includes tastings of popular flavors. Learning is always easier with a snack in your hand.
This works well for school groups, scout troops, church outings, or family reunions. Anyone curious about food will find something fun here.
Gather your crew early and call ahead to book. Large group trips can take a little planning to line up.
I can’t imagine a better field trip for kids who love snacks. They’ll come home knowing more about popcorn and probably carrying a bag of it.
Adults won’t complain either.
Coconut Oil And Zero Wasted Kernels
Two pounds at a time. That’s how each batch gets made here, which keeps things fresh and manageable.
Not Just Popcorn pops its corn in coconut oil. It’s a simple choice that gives the shop a clean starting point for every flavor.
Now for the clever part. A special mechanism separates the unpopped kernels from the finished popcorn.
Nobody wants to bite down on one of those, so that alone is a win. But the shop doesn’t just toss them out.
Those leftover kernels go to feed animals. Nothing gets wasted, which is a pretty smart system for a snack shop.
I like how this detail shows real care behind the scenes. Small choices like this add up over thousands of batches.
The shop also sells raw corn by the pound. If you want to pop your own at home, you can take some with you.
Special microwave popcorn is available too. That’s handy for anyone who wants a quick fix after the bags run out.
Either way, the shop gives you a few ways to keep the popcorn party going.
Gift Tins That Make You The Favorite Relative
Holiday shopping just got easier. A themed popcorn tin beats another pair of socks every single time.
Not Just Popcorn offers custom tins in all kinds of designs. Holiday, sports, military, and cartoon character themes are all part of the mix.
The shop also handles corporate gifts. Businesses can send something fun to clients instead of a forgettable pen.
Planning a party? Party bags and sampler bags make it simple to share flavors with a crowd.
Special event colors and flavors are available too. Imagine popcorn that matches a wedding, a baby shower, or team colors.
Schools and groups can look into the shop’s fundraising programs. Selling popcorn sounds a lot more fun than selling wrapping paper.
Tins come in different sizes, so you can go small or truly huge. Ask about tin refills, since they’re offered at a discount.
I believe a good gift should feel personal and a little fun. A tin filled with dill pickle and caramel popcorn checks both boxes.
Your friends might start dropping hints before every birthday from now on.
Famous Fans From TV To The Kentucky Derby
For a small-town shop, this popcorn sure gets around. It has been sold internationally and even served at the Kentucky Derby.
Not Just Popcorn also landed on the Food Network back in 2001. That’s a big stage for a shop that started with eight flavors.
The attention didn’t stop there. Food Network Magazine, Indianapolis Monthly, and Yahoo Travel in 2015 have all highlighted the shop.
Edinburgh makes a fun day trip, too. The town sits about 33 miles south of Indianapolis.
Within roughly three square miles, you’ll find premium outlet shopping and a golf course designed by Masters champion Fuzzy Zoeller. The town also claims Indiana’s largest tenderloin sandwich.
So you could shop, golf, eat a giant tenderloin, and grab popcorn in one afternoon. That’s a pretty solid lineup for any road trip.
I like how the popcorn shop fits right into that quirky small-town mix. It adds a sweet and salty finish to the day.
Just remember to stop before 5 PM. Leaving Edinburgh without a bag of something weird would feel like a missed opportunity.
