Snack #135 - Smart Fries Jalapeño Trio

These are gross! These packing peanut-like straws are crunchy, but for lack of a better description, taste like poison. Really, everything from the smell when I opened the bag, to the taste when they first hit my tongue - poison-y. Sorry I can't be more precise. The flavor is theoretically Jalapeño Trio - not really sure how you get more than one flavor of jalapeño in a single snack, but that's ok. Looking at the ingredients there is jalapeño flavor in addition to red and green pepper, so I suppose it's really more of a "pepper" trio. If you can stand to get through a few of these - which I did because I'm a responsible reviewer - a pretty nice heat builds up. My lips and tongue are definitely feeling it as I write this.

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

Bottom Line: Ew.

Maybe you'll want to try another flavor, or are feeling masochistic. If so, check out the full smart fries offerings at the Hot Chicks' Store:

Gourmet Basics Smart Fries 6-Flavor Variety Pak, 1-Ounce Bags (Pack of 24)

Snack #134- Planters Trail Mix Spicy Nuts & Cajun Sticks

Planters Trail Mix Spicy Nuts & Cajun Sticks

Ok so I tasted all the components of this mix (which includes seasoned peanuts, cornnuts, Cajun sesame sticks and corn sticks, and red chile crescents) and here are my comments on these crunchy morsels:

Seasoned peanuts: The peanuts are roasted and actually pretty sweet in flavor but are covered with spicy seasoning which just gives them a little kick. They are a pretty nice addition to this mix because everything else is just salty with more salt added.

CORNNUTS: First off- I’m not sure when ‘CORNNUTS’ became a word but according to this packaging they are a special variety of nut and one that should written in all caps at all times. These cornnuts are pretty standard and not super flavorful. Highly crunchy with good corn flavor but only with a hint of the salty spice that covers the rest of the mix.

Cajun sesame sticks: SO SALTY. Wow these taste like eating a little stick of SALT. I can’t really taste any sesame and the Cajun seasonings are definitely lost in the salt. It’s almost hard to tell whether they have any spice on them or if the reaction in my mouth is from the salt.

Cajun corn sticks: These are crunchier and the flavors are more balanced- they have some heat but also taste like a classic corn snack (think denser Frito).

Red Chile Crescents: These are by far the yummiest snack in this mix. I happen to be a huge fan of Japanese rice crackers and these are definitely modeled off the little orange crescents in basic rice cracker mixes. They are really smooth on the outside so the spice on them sticks right to your tongue when you eat them and they are super crunchy.

Overall effect: A full mouthful of these snacks is pretty fiery, but the crunchier snacks are overwhelmed by the mushier ones (peanuts and sesame sticks) so the texture is not very appealing. It’s hard to pick out specific flavors and I don’t think this snack really comes across as Cajun flavored. They are totally overseasoned and although salt is good in trail mix if you’re out in the wild I think these are too much.

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

Bottom Line: Some good, some mushy, all salty

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