by The snack makers keep putting new spicy options on the shelves, and of course I have to try them to report back to my loyal readers. Here is the rundown on the latest munchies I have sampled:
Ritz Sweet Habanero Toasted Chips: They call these chips, but they really are crackers, just thinner and crispier than the standard Ritz (likely because of the potato starch that is added). They have a nice crunch to them, and the cracker has a notable sweetness. You definitely notice a garlicky taste to them, even though the only garlic in the ingredients is from the cayenne pepper sauce. They also have a salsa-like flavor which makes sense, seeing as tomato powder is used. Interestingly, even though habanero is in the name, I don’t see that chili in the ingredients, only cayenne. That’s okay, though, because I still rather enjoyed them.
These chips don’t seem to have much heat at first, but it creeps up on you as you eat more. It gets somewhere between Mild and Medium on my scale, and you have a nice tingle in your mouth after eating a serving. I’m not certain if this is a limited-time selection, but I will definitely pick up a bag if I see them again.
Velveeta Jalapeno Cheese Dip: There are plenty of cheese dips and nacho cheese sauces on the shelves these days, so you have to wonder if we have a need for one more. But when it comes to Velveeta’s new dips, I’m going to have to say yes. This is the company that, along with Ro*Tel, set the standard for homemade queso (here’s a quick recipe), and now they are putting out their own cheese dip in a jar. But Velveeta is not following the Ro*Tel template, as this is basically a chip-friendly version of their processed cheese with some jalapenos and spices added. And it is pretty darn good for a jarred cheese dip. It lacks the plasticky cheesiness of nacho sauce (or standard Velveeta for that matter) as it delivers a nice creaminess with a touch of sweetness. (I learned a long time ago that a touch of honey transforms the flavor of Velveeta, more on that here, and they must have stolen that idea from me!) There is also a little bit of jalapeno taste in there, and the various spices kick up the flavor as well.
Heat-wise, this barely gets to Mild on my scale, but that’s okay. The taste of the dip is quite good, and it is easy to bring in more burn (I suggest adding some habanero hot sauce). You can eat it cold or heated, and it goes equally well with chips and veggies. Since trying it, the dip has become a fixture in my fridge, and at some point, I will try the two other flavors as well (Queso Blanco and Queso con Salsa).
Lay’s Sweet & Spicy Honey Chips: These are standard Lay’s chips that are spiced up, and the first bite delivers a sickly sweet honey blast that is almost an assault to your senses and may send some running away before reaching for a second chip. But if you stick around, they get much better, and there is a nice prick of heat that rolls over your tongue. It is hard to peg down the flavor of these, as they deliver almost a floral funkiness, though they do seem vaguely reminiscent of some Asian dishes (I can’t put my finger on which ones, though). There is nothing in the ingredients that suggest Asian cuisine, though, and there are actually several types of cheese even though I don’t get that from the flavor at all. Basically, it is hard to nail this one down beyond the cloying honey sweetness, but I did keep munching on them.
The heat gets up to about Medium on my scale, and it lingers for a bit. That makes them actually somewhat addicting despite the slightly off-putting flavors. I can’t say that I would buy these a second time, but if someone offered them to me, I wouldn’t refuse. These are a limited-time-only offering, and they may be hard to find already (when I bought them, Walmart had already dropped the prices to $2 for a 7.75 oz bag).
Nutrition Info:
Ritz Sweet Habanero Toasted Chips
Ingredients: Unbleached Enriched Flour (Wheat Flour, Niacin, Reduced Iron, Thiamine Mononitrate [Vitamin B1], Riboflavin [Vitamin B2], Folic Acid), Soybean And/Or Canola Oil, Sugar, Cornstarch, High Fructose Corn Syrup, Potato Starch, Salt, Calcium Phosphate, Baking Soda, Cayenne Pepper Sauce (Cayenne Pepper, Vinegar, Salt, Garlic), Tomato Powder, Citric Acid, Onion Powder, Yeast Extract, Dried Distilled Vinegar, Paprika Extract (For Color), Natural Flavor. Contains: Wheat.
Serving Size: 31g (13 Chips)
Calories: 150
Fat: 6g (1g Sat/0g Trans)
Protein: 2g
Carbs: 22g
Sodium: 240mg
Velveeta Jalapeno Cheese Dip
Ingredients: Whey (From Milk), Cheddar Cheese (Cultured Milk, Salt, Enzymes), Canola Oil, Milk Protein Concentrate, Jalapeno Peppers, Maltodextrin, Contains Less Than 2% Of Sodium Phosphate, Salt, Vinegar, Dipotassium Phosphate, Lactic Acid, Sodium Alginate, Sorbic Acid As A Preservative, Oleoresin Paprika (Color), Natural Flavor, Annatto (Color).
Serving Size: 2 Tbsp
Calories: 80
Fat: 6g (1.5g Sat/0g Trans)
Protein: 3g
Carbs: 4g
Sodium: 410mg
Lay’s Sweet & Spicy Honey Chips
Ingredients: Potatoes, Vegetable Oil (Canola, Corn, Soybean, And/Or Sunflower Oil), And Less Than 2% Of Sugar, Salt, Natural Flavors, Maltodextrin (Made From Corn), Brown Sugar, Potassium Salt, Whey, Tomato Powder, Dextrose, Cheddar Cheese (Milk, Cheese Cultures, Salt, Enzymes), Onion Powder, Spices, Yeast Extract, Carob Powder, Cream, Sour Cream (Cultured Cream, Skim Milk), Honey, Garlic Powder, Turmeric Extracts, Butter (Cream, Salt), Stevia Leaf Extract, Monterey Jack Cheese (Milk, Cheese Cultures, Salt, Enzymes), Swiss Cheese (Milk, Cheese Cultures, Salt, Enzymes), And Paprika Extracts. CONTAINS MILK INGREDIENTS.
Serving Size: 28g (About 15 Chips)
Calories: 150
Fat: 10g (1.5g Sat/0g Trans)
Protein: 2g
Carbs: 16g
Sodium: 140mg
