Spicy Snacks: HEB Citrus & Cayenne Ridged Potato Chips

Bottom Line: The Citrus & Cayenne Chips from HEB offer an odd combination, but they prove rather addicting and deliver a bit of a bite.

Grocery stores generally have their own brands, which cover quite a number of products, and the Texas-wide chain HEB has plenty to choose from with its name attached. Among those selections are its chips, which it offers in many varieties, often pushing the name brands off the shelves. I recently noticed the addition of its Citrus & Cayenne Ridged Potato Chips, which sounded like an odd combination, but certainly an intriguing one, so I picked up a bag. Following is the official description of the chips from their website:

Ridged and super crunchy, these H-E-B potato chips are naturally flavored with citrus and cayenne. Dig in and discover how each chip’s hint of heat complements the tanginess.

These deliver an immediate tang from the citrus that is heavy on the lemon flavor. It’s not too sour, though it could use just a little more sweetness to balance out the pucker. They also have an intense peppery taste from the cayenne, which brings a nice little kick but does not overpower. The citrus and the chili come together quite well, and these prove rather addicting. And for me, ridged chips are second only to kettle-cooked because they deliver a good crispiness and don’t break as easily as the thinner style.

They are not too high on the heat, coming in right at Mild on my scale. But they have a tartness and a sting that work well together, and that slight burn actually lingers for a bit. Even people who do not enjoy spicy food (we weep for them) could tolerate these, but those looking for more heat will at least appreciate the unusual flavor combination that definitely wakes up the tongue.

Calorie-wise, they are basically the same as most chips at 150 calories per serving. They retail for $2.88, but HEB often has them on special, making them more affordable than most name brands (which became quite pricey when they reached full retail of five to six bucks per bag around COVID time). They are a limited edition, so they will probably disappear in a couple of months, and I recommend picking up a bag while they are still available.

Nutrition Info:

Serving Size: 28g (About 12 Chips)
Calories: 150
Fat: 9g (2.5g Sat/0 Trans)
Protein: 1g
Carbs: 16g
Sodium: 170mg