Snack #58: Exotic Chips Manioc Chili

The hot chicks quest for new spicy chips once again leads us out of the country.... this time to Italy, for a truly international chip experience. I happened across a free trade-type store in Rome where I found these German imported chips from Jakarta. I'm not really sure what that makes them exactly.

On first appearance, or rather smell, I was pretty worried. They smelled gross, like feet. Nevertheless, I powered through and actually, they taste pretty good. There was a definite chili powder flavor that packed some nice heat as I worked my way through the bag.

Rating on the Spice-O-Meter: 6/10

Bottom Line: A tasty international treat if you can get over the smell.

Snack #57: San Carlo Piu Gusto Vivace

The little chili pepper seemed to be a dead give away that these chips would be spicy. The Italians, apparently, do not have false advertising laws. These chips were not remotely spicy. Instead, they had a bit of a BBQ flavor, and a light one at that. All that aside, they were yummy for what they were.

Bottom Line: a light BBQ snack

Rating on the Spice-O-Meter: 0/10


In other news, I also found this questionably spicy Pringles flavor in the Amsterdam airport. I'm not sure if the chips or only the soccer team is spicy, but either way, entertaining packaging to be sure. Hot Holland Hot!

Snack #56: Plantain Chips, Jungle Chili

While I didn't have to go to Puerto Rico for these chips, the Hot Chick fan base runs deep and fellow spicy chip lover and reader of this blog passed these Puerto Rican plantain chips along for our analysis. Unfortunately, they're not good. Because of the thick cut plantain, the chips are not crunchy at all. Instead they tend to be borderline stale-feeling and taste like oil. As far as spiciness goes however, they do a nice job. At first they just tasted like salty, oily, banana chips, but after a few more they definitely started to accumulate some heat.

Bottom Line: Gross, with a little kick.

Rating on the Spice-O-Meter: 4/10