Mystic Kettle Popcorn, Michigan Popcorn Company Grows and Gives Back
If you’re reading this, there’s a good chance you have visited Detroit’s Eastern Market at least once. In that case, you’ve probably seen (or smelled) Mystic Kettle’s popcorn, popping right before your eyes and enticing you to take a bite.
Owners Randy and Larry Lipman started Mystic Kettle back in 2009 when they purchased a custom-made, cast-iron kettle and a sorting screen, about the size of a small car. In 2011 they started vending at farmers markets and fundraisers throughout Southeast Michigan. Close to a decade later, they are popping five to six days per week, often at multiple locations throughout Southeast Michigan.
What makes Mystic Kettle so unique (and tasty) are their quality ingredients, all sourced locally. They are proud members of Buy Michigan Now and the Michigan Farmers Market Association.
“We use Michigan-grown, non-GMO, mushroom popcorn kernels,” explains Randy, who purchases popcorn kernels from a supplier in upstate Michigan. “When the corn is harvested, it’s dried naturally, whereas most kernels are dried very quickly in a kiln.”
It takes approximately one year to dry kernels naturally, but it is worth the wait because naturally dried kernels distribute heat more evenly during cooking, producing better results. Mystic Kettle also uses Michigan-made corn oil and Michigan-produced beet sugar in the popping process. The popcorn is free of peanuts and tree nuts, gluten, soy and animal products.
Each batch of popcorn requires close attention to detail. Lead “poppers” wear flame-resistant jumpsuits, welding gloves and face masks to shield them from hot oil and premature kernels popping out of the kettle. Once a kettle is at temperature, they add corn oil, then a scoop of raw kernels. Poppers use a large wooden paddle to constantly stir the kernels as they are sizzling in the oil. Moments later they add beet sugar, which begins to melt and caramelize.
The kernels begin to pop, creating a sweet cacophony inside the oval-shaped sea of white- and brown-speckled maize. When popping ceases, they dump the hot popcorn on a screen that filters out unpopped and underdeveloped kernels. They sprinkle salt on the popcorn and bag it as it cools.
“Larry and I are really meticulous about salting the popcorn and sorting out any bad kernels,” says Randy. “Everything needs to be consistent. It’s what makes our popcorn taste so good.”
Aside from their signature popcorn flavors, including but not limited to White Cheddar, Hot & Spicy and Dill Pickle, Mystic Kettle offers its Michigan-grown unpopped kernels in one- and two-pound bags. Kernel sales have been so successful that the Lipmans have plans to open a packaging facility in the Eastern Market Accelerator building with assistance from the Eastern Market Partnership Plan.
“We’re looking forward to expanding our wholesale business and making our kernels available in stores throughout Michigan,” says Randy.
Mystic Kettle also supports local schools and many nonprofit organizations.
“We make it a priority to give back to the communities that support us,” Randy says. “We take great pride in our partnership with Children’s Miracle Network by setting up, popping and selling at local markets and retail stores.”
Mystic Kettle participates in the Wayne State University HIGH Program, which supports financially stressed students. In 2019, Mystic Kettle donated more than $15,000 and are looking forward to reaching a similar goal this year.
Like most Eastern Market vendors, Mystic Kettle has pivoted and adapted their business because of the global pandemic. They have added contactless porch delivery service and are focusing on online sales.
“The biggest goal for us is our community,” says Randy. “We want to raise awareness and contribute to those worthy organizations by sharing their mission and providing tasty popcorn for folks to enjoy.”
Mystic Kettle
MysticKettle.com
