This West Virginia popcorn is unlike any you’ve ever tried

Move over, microwave popcorn! These family owned businesses give new meaning to the term mom and “pop” store. The folks at Mmm Popcorn and Mountaineer Popcorn Company prepare their gourmet concoctions fresh daily, delivering mountains of flavor to West Virginia. Best of all, both companies’ products are taste tested by their own kids, providing a quality assurance that is backed up by rave reviews from customers.

Can’t decide which flavor to buy? Ask for a sample!

Mmm Popcorn

When you’re in Wheeling, follow the mouth-watering buttery scents to Market Plaza, home of Mmm Popcorn.

A rotating menu of a dozen-plus flavors features classic blends like butter & salt, cheddar and sea-salted caramel or, for the more adventurous, specialty flavors like dill pickle, coconut curry and Wheeling Firehouse—a blend of Kickin’ Caramel and jalapeno cheddar.

Mmm Popcorn also partners with local businesses to offer unique flavors like PJ’s Pizza Popcorn, made with a special seasoning blend from The Original PJ’s Pizza in New Martinsville. If you’re curious about popcorn pairings, the owners are happy to recommend a popcorn flavor to go with stouts and ales from Brew Keepers in Wheeling.

You can buy your popcorn by the individual serving or in larger sizes, from bulk bags to gift tins.

Mountaineer Popcorn Company

At Mountaineer Popcorn Company in Shepherdstown, even the kernels are locally grown, at Town & Country Nursery in nearby Kearneysville.

On any given day you might find a mixture of sweet blends like cookies and cream, chocolate drizzled caramel and red velvet, and savory varieties including Buffalo wing, garlic parmesan and Carolina BBQ. Holidays bring forth seasonal treats like gingerbread and peppermint bark, just right for gift giving.

The shopkeepers rotate their flavors on a weekly basis but will accommodate bulk orders with other requested flavors.

You can buy this mouth-watering popcorn at the shop’s East German Street location, or at several other Eastern Panhandle establishments, from Black Dog Coffee Company and Farmer’s Daughter Market & Butcher to home football games at Shepherd University.

Portion sizes range from individual servings all the way up to 2-gallon tins. (If you order a tin, ask about refills!)

Here’s to more gourmet shops “popping” up throughout West Virginia. In the meantime, if you don’t live near either of these places, don’t fret. You can still place an order online!

Where do you get your popcorn fix?

This post was last updated on March 17, 2022