It so happens that the history of Pringles is about as colorful as the brand’s containers of assorted flavors. What began as a mission to solve the problem of broken potato chips at the bottom of the bag soon evolved into a story of technological innovation, international intrigue, existential debate, and silly cartoons. While the jury is still out on how Pringles got their name according to The Atlantic, their status as an American snack icon pringles chicken tikka masala unquestionable. Even though the ingenious cylindrical Pringles can design solved the riddle of broken potato chips, they weren’t guaranteed immediate success.

According to Pringles, inventor Frederic Baur set out to perfect potato chip packaging in the 1950s. His goal was to find a way to store chips to keep them as fresh and intact as possible. What he came up with was a vacuum-sealed tube that snuggly fit stackable, saddle-shaped chips. Pringles were first released in the late 60s, but while the shape and packaging were novel and intriguing, the taste left a lot to be desired.

The company went to work improving their recipe, eventually patenting it with the help of Alexander Liepa. It’s not unusual for people to want to take their prized possessions with them to the grave. Ancient Egyptian pharaohs were buried with hordes of treasure to take with them to the afterlife, after all. But what about being buried inside your favorite possession? Organic chemist, Navy aviation physiologist, and Pringles can inventor Frederic Baur considered the potato chip tube his crowning achievement in life. He was so proud of it that before he died, he told his family he wished to be cremated so that his ashes could be buried in the can. Astute consumers will notice that Pringles call their potato chips crisps.