Snack # 193 - Jalapeño Cheddar Ritz Bits

I'll be honest - I was NOT excited about trying these crackers. That fake processed cheese stuff really freaks me out, especially as in this snack where the makers included little green speckles in the cheese to let you know it was jalapeño flavor. However, I was pleasantly surprised by the true jalapeño flavor that they were able to get into the snack. Normally jalapeño just means "spicy" in chip-speak, but here, I tasted the true pepper flavor of the jalapeño, and it was kind of delicious. And it went really well with the buttery Ritz crackers it was sandwiched between. Unfortunately, while flavorful, it wasn't spicy at all.

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

Bottom Line: a tasty, truely jalapeño flavored snack

Buy them here: Nabisco Big Bag Ritz Bits Jalapeno Cheese (12 Pack)

Snack #165- Hot Mate Assorted Rice Crackers

Hot Mate Assorted Rice Crackers

These rice crackers are a spicy take on the standard mix comprising ridged and smooth rice crackers, seaweed covered rice crackers, and wasabi peas.  Surprisingly, the spiciest snack in the bunch is the seaweed coated rice cracker; either something in the seaweed or underneath is has a strong kick of horseradish.  The wasabi peas are understandably also pretty sharp in horseradish seasoning.  The rest of the rice crackers have some spicy chili seasoning which coats the tongue but isn’t particularly burny in the rest of the mouth.  Overall these snacks are crunchy, salty, and tasty though the spice quotient could be higher.  They are definitely the winner out of our haul from the Asian variety store and certainly worth snacking on.

Rating on the Spice-O-Meter: 5/10 (averaged across all snacks in the mix)

Bottom Line: Moderately spicy but very tasty rice cracker mix.

Buy them here:

Shirakiku - Hot Mate Assorted Rice Crackers 16 Oz.

Snack #142- Majans Bhuja Cracker Mix

Majans Bhuja Cracker Mix

This cracker mix has those little Asian rice snacks as well as some d

ried noodles, peas, and beans. The package calls this mix a blend of “spicy snack nibbles” but I have to say these are NOT spicy AT ALL. They definitely have spices on them that are pretty yummy but they need to have more flavor and definitely more heat. The mix is crunchy and has nice textures with the crispy rice pieces and the smoother peanuts and chickpeas. It’s a nice mix but really needs more powerful spices.

Rating on the Spice-O-Meter: 0.5/10

Bottom Line: Tasty Indian spice mix but not spicy.

Buy it here:

Majans Bhuja Cracker Mix: 7 OZ

Snack #101- Cheez-It Baked Snack Mix Extra Hot & Spicy

Cheez-It Baked Snack Mix Extra Hot & Spicy

So this snack is a mix based on the Hot & Spicy Cheez-Its that we rated back in 2008, with the claim that they are now EXTRA hot and spicy. The label says ‘new!’ but they are not too original or exciting. They definitely taste like Tabasco, but aside from the Cheez-Its none of the other snacks really picked up a strong heat. The two pretzel shapes are just a basic salty pretzel with a little dusting of flavoring from the other snacks. The rye bread slices are small, crunchy, and have a very distinct rye flavor which is kind of nice, albeit not so spicy. The ‘crunchy curls’ are by far the worst snack in this mix. They are vaguely Styrofoam-flavored, mildly stale, and really have no discernable flavor. This mix would be better overall if they were not included in it. They also have the tendency to float to the top of the bag because they are lighter than the other snacks which means they are always in the way when you try to grab an actually tasty snack. Overall, the Cheez-Its are the standout in this bag and it would probably be better for a snack craving to just go for the box of Hot & Spicy Cheez-Its and skip the mix.

Rating on the Spice-O-Meter: Cheez-Its- 3/10

Other snacks- 1/10

Bottom Line: If you want any spice, go for the Cheez-Its alone.

Snack #17- Cheetos Cracker Trax Spicy Cheddar flavored Baked Snack Crackers

Cheetos Cracker Trax Spicy Cheddar flavored Baked Snack Crackers

New! These crackers have never been seen before, and unfortunately should NEVER be seen again. They smell like butthole. Sorry to be gross and imprecise, but honestly we didn't even want to put them in our mouths. Finally we managed to try one. Unfortunately the taste is no better than the smell. They have a nasty fake cheese flavor. There is a slight spice/pepper flavor but really there is no heat. No kick, no burn, nothing. The texture is like a buttery cracker, similar to the triangle and squiggly crackers that come in Chex Mix. Gross.

Rating on the Spice-O-Meter: 0/10 (the first 0 we've given!)

Bottom Line: Nasty.

Snack #10- Cheez-It Hot & Spicy Baked Snack Crackers

Cheez-It Hot & Spicy Baked Snack Crackers




Nice essence of green pepper Tabasco sauce, but overall not hot. The smell of these Cheez-Its is actually hotter than the flavor of the cracker. They have the classic Cheez-It taste and the Tabasco flavor is a great compliment, but there is nothing that could be called hot in these. They are definitely delicious as green peppery Cheez-Its though.


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

Bottom Line: Delicious Cheez-It, but not hot.