Bottom Line: The H-E-B Habanero Salsa Tortilla Chips deliver a full-flavored snack with a punch of heat, if you get a good bag.
H-E-B is a grocery store chain commonly seen throughout Texas and they practically own the market here in San Antonio. They have their exclusive brand of products which include quite a number of flavored chips that tend to come out with seasonal, limited-edition varieties throughout the year. Just recently they released three new flavors which include the Habanero Salsa Tortilla Chips, Holiday Stuffing Ridged Potato Chips, and . . . Apple Pie Ridged Potato Chips?
I am reviewing the Habanero Salsa chips here, I tried the Holiday Stuffing chips (basically potato chips with poultry seasoning), and I’ll let you report back on those Apple Pie chips . . .
The Habanero Salsa Tortilla Chips start out with a chip that is very similar to Doritos, though maybe just a bit lighter and flakier. The seasoning on these has a sweetness and tomatoey richness that comes through right away. It is well-balanced so that it does not overpower nor taste too salty and it is full-flavored. They also have a bit of a vinegar tang that seems to put the taste somewhere between salsa and hot sauce.
For the first bite or two, these do not seem hot at all. But the more you munch the more that heat builds, and by the time you are done with one serving, your mouth is certainly feeling some burn. These are definitely beyond Medium level and approaching Hot. These are also quite addictive because of both the flavor and the endorphin rush you get from the heat.
Note that the second bag of these that I bought was not quite as well seasoned, so it was a bit of a letdown on taste and heat. But if you get a good bag, they definitely provide some good and spicy munching.
The Habanero Salsa Tortilla Chips will be headed back to Limited-Time-Only-Ville at some point, so go out and grab a bag now before they disappear. I’m hoping these prove popular enough that they get elevated to the rotation, but it seems like the seasonal flavors rarely stick around long. I don’t necessarily need more of the Holiday Stuffing chips except as maybe a gag gift. And you can tell me what you think of the Apple Pie chips in the comments below.
Tale of the Tape
Ingredients: Corn, Vegetable Oil (Contains One Or More Of The Following: Corn, Cottonseed, And/Or Sunflower Oil), Salt, Maltodextrin, Sugar, Onion Powder, Garlic Powder, Spices, Tomato Powder, Natural Flavors, Citric Acid, Paprika, Habanero Chile Powder, Malic Acid, Paprika Extract (Color).
Serving Size: 28g (About 14 Chips)
Calories: 170
Fat: 8g (1g Sat/0g Trans)
Protein: 2g
Carbs: 17g
Sodium: 210mg