Snack #167 - Michael Season's Kettle Cooked Jalapeño Potato Chips

 

First of all, the bag was VERY full, something that I feel merits comment given how disappointing the moment immediately after opening a bag of chips and peering into the vast emptiness can be.  That said, onto the chip, which was very crunchy - perhaps even crunchier than your average kettle chip. My problem is that these chips, like so many "jalapeño" flavored chips, tasted like a sour cream and onion chip. Seriously, I know I've said this many times, but since when are those two flavors the same? A spicy sour cream and onion chip is a spicy sour cream and onion chip, not a jalapeño chip, and that's just the way it is. And these chips didn't even pack enough punch to warrant calling them sour cream and onion and jalapeño chips. The heat might have built a little as I kept eating, but not enough to make it worth it.

Rating on the Spice-O-Meter: .5/10

Bottom Line: a very full bag full of very ok chips 

Snack #166 - Sun Chips Jalapeño Jack

A new flavor from Sun Chips: Jalapeño Jack. They describe the chip as "just the right balance of tongue-tingling jalapeño with the creamy smooth taste of Monterey Jack Cheese" and get it about 50% right. Maybe it's just me, but I imagine most of you spicy chips fans will agree, a little more "tongue-tingling" would have really improved these chips. You're first hit with a rather subtle cheese flavor - subtle even though the flavor reminded me a lot of the cheese powder of white cheddar mac and cheese. Then, a few chips in you get the "tingle," but it never really gets beyond that, no matter how many chips you eat.

Rating on the Spice-O-Meter: 1/10

Bottom Line: tasty and tingly

Buy them here: Sun Chips Jalapeno Jack, 10.5 oz (Pack of 3)