Popcorn is one of the most popular snacks in the world, yet it’s usually considered a movie theater treat or simple at-home snack. But what about those seeking the delicious and crunchy treat on its own, without the comfort of a featured film or without the disappointment of the preservative-heavy microwave bags that dull the flavor? Well, Teddy B’s Popcorn is that much-needed alternative, allowing you the chance to pick-up a bag of your favorite popcorn flavor or even an extra-large tub for special occasions.

Teddy B’s has simple roots in the Midwest, providing people with a healthy and exciting alternative to store bought bags of popcorn. Currently, their salty and sweet snacks can only be purchased at the Bloomington, Minnesota location, but there are plans to expand throughout the metro area, with locations coming in 2017 for Eden Prairie, Maple Grove and Roseville, Minnesota, according to their website.

The local popcorn shop thrives on providing its customers with fresh popcorn that’s popped daily using flavorful seeds, coconut oil and a various array of seasonings. Teddy B’s Popcorn selection includes Butter Bear, Cheesy Bear, Honey Bear, Sugar Bear, Healthy Bear and a Special Bear, which is a rotating flavor that’s switched out periodically.

My first visit to Teddy B’s had me sampling all of their trademark Bear ‘corns, with the traditional Butter Bear sticking out as the true winner. What gives their classic popcorn an edge up on the competition is their use of flavorful kernels, mixed with the popping in fresh oil and perhaps the most important ingredient – real butter to top the popcorn. Most movie theaters have gotten rid of that real buttered topping in exchange for flavored oil that comes by the gallons, while Teddy B’s has smartly decided to melt real butter daily to ensure a hot and fresh bag of buttery goodness.

Another distinguished difference can be found in their Cheesy Bear, which uses real melted cheese to ensure a perfectly flavorful crunch, instead of most popcorn stores, which offer cheese powder sprinkled on top for “safe” measures. Teddy B’s is all about quality and flavor, which makes their use of real melted cheese a welcoming surprise that gives their popcorn a distinctive taste advantage.

Their Honey Bear is a familiar play on caramel corn, with a sweet and sticky bite, while their Sugar Bear gives you that kettle corn taste that will transport you back to a fond memory of a fair or festival, with the sweet aroma of freshly-popped kettle corn in the air.

Some of their Special Bear flavors, meanwhile, include white cheddar and Jalapeno cheddar, which I assure you is the perfect blend of spicy and cheesy to set your taste buds on fire.

Teddy B’s sells their popcorn in small, medium and large-sized bags, with the ability to mix and match any flavor of your choosing. I suggest mixing the Cheesy Bear with a Special Bear white cheddar for an exceptionally cheesy bite or the classic Butter Bear with Cheesy Bear for those looking for something rich, yet still salty. The possibilities are truly endless when it comes to mixing and matching flavors to create the perfect popcorn treat.

Those of you looking for something to take home or share at a party will be happy to know that Teddy B’s also sells popcorn tins of various shapes and sizes, which means that you can feed virtually any appetite.

The company currently only has one location, with more set to come in 2017, which simply means that those living in the Minneapolis area will want to make the trip to discover one of the best batches of popcorn around, neatly tucked away in between a hair salon and a karate studio in a random strip mall in Bloomington, Minnesota.

The store brings an updated approach to the classic popcorn snack, using high-quality ingredients and an always-fresh presentation to produce a treat that we all know and love. Their classic flavors are some of the best forms of popcorn that I’ve ever had, with their Butter Bear and Cheesy Bear absolutely destroying the competition, while their rotating Special Bear flavors bring new and exciting ideas to the table that will hopefully stay around for a while.

Minnesota-based readers will want to mark down Teddy B’s as a must-visit whenever they’re in the mood for a large bag of the classic-popped snack, while everyone else will want to bookmark it in case they ever find themselves in this part of town and are itching for a snack that goes good with just about everything. Teddy B’s Popcorn offers up friendly service, with an eye for quality popcorn that will wow you with each and every bite. It’s not often that you find a place so dedicated to their craft, yet here Teddy B’s sits, continuously popping up fresh batches of popcorn daily for its loyal customers.