Snack #198- Globite Authentic Gourmet Asian Potato Chips Oriental Hot & Spicy

Globite Authentic Gourmet Asian Potato Chips Oriental Hot & Spicy

Finally!  A snack that is actually Mongolian in production.  These taste like a poor knockoff of Pringles and suffer because they are cut thicker than Pringles.  Pringles are mashed, dried potatoes smushed back into potato chip shape so you can imagine what happens when they are too thick to fry well.  Some reviewers thought they tasted like paper or fish sauce and the texture definitely hindered positive taste reviews.  They are spicier than the previous two that were rated in Mongolia and the heat hits you more in the lips and mouth than tongue.  They still weren’t very spicy though and the flavor was also pretty sweet without much other distinguishing flavor.  They tasted somewhat like a spicy oyster sauce or fish sauce which must be what makes them ‘oriental’ hot and spicy. 

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

Bottom Line: Too thick, fish sauce Pringles.

Snack #144- Pringles Extreme Torchin’ Tamale Artificially Flavored Potato Crisps

Pringles Extreme Torchin’ Tamale Artificially Flavored Potato Crisps

So this is a snack-sized bag of MINI Pringles. I don’t know why Pringles need to be any smaller than they were before but I suppose the traditional can isn’t always the most convenient form of packaging so now Pringles enthusiasts can have the option of pocket Pringles storage. Anyway, they are smaller but still the same shape (reconstituted dried potatoes are really very malleable, shockingly) but they are thicker than the original can-style, presumably because the can crisps are very fragile and wouldn’t stand up to being packaged in a bag. I will say that a thicker Pringle is not an advantage…the unpleasant flavor and texture of a potato snack that started as a powder is accentuated and they really don’t taste like any kind of freshly fried potato. The front says artificially flavored which is weird because there are actually a number of natural flavor ingredients listed. They do taste like hot peppers and salt but they are not particularly spicy. Really I just hate the taste of the thicker Pringles and I can’t really accurately review the spices. I think the flavor profile is pretty fitting for a tamale-flavored snack but the texture is gross.

Rating on the Spice-O-Meter: 2.5/10

Bottom Line: Extra gross Pringles with some cayenne added.

Buy them here:

Pringles Extreme Torchin' Tamale Grab AND Go, 1.41-Ounce Packages (Pack of 8)

Snack #132- T.G.I. Friday’s Jalapeño Cheddar Potato Skins Snack Chips

T.G.I. Friday’s Jalapeño Cheddar Potato Skins Snack Chips

Ew. So these are actually supposed to look like dehydrated potato skins- meaning somehow the backside is a darker shade of brown to mimic the potato skin and the other side is the lighter potato mush. The packaging says it is made from real potatoes and real potato skins and the best way I can interpret that is that two bubbling pots of potato and potato skin mush were spread out Pringle-style and slapped together. These snacks taste like the worst Pringles ever and the flavoring doesn’t really help. The powdery cheddar flavor and weak jalapeño flavor aren’t appealing enough to make me want to eat these.

Rating on the Spice-O-Meter: 2/10

Bottom Line: Worst texture ever with artificial flavors.

Buy them here:

TGI Fridays Jalapeno Ched Skin 3 oz. (Pack of 6)

Snack #51- Pringles Jalapeño

Pringles Jalapeño

These are definitely the spiciest snack we’ve had in Costa Rica, but that is not saying much at all. They are typical Pringles, crispy in that dried, mashed potato chips way. The flavor is definitely jalapeño and although it is somewhat artificial, it tastes pretty authentic. The spice hits you right away, but fades away quickly and doesn’t build up over time. The flavor is a little bit sweet underneath the jalapeño flavor, like tomatoes and onions, a little bit of a salsa flavor.

Rating on the Spice-O-Meter: 2.5/10

Bottom Line: Spicy snacks in Costa Rica all come from the U.S.

Snack #49: Pringles Select Jalapeño Ranch

From the new line of "luxury" Pringles potato chips comes the jalapeño ranch flavor, and over all, these were pretty tasty chips....top of the line luxury chips as they advertise them, perhaps not, but enjoyable nonetheless. Despite their unassuming white color, these bad boys packed a little punch. After a few there was a definite heat building in the back of my throat. Additionally, the ranch half of the flavor description nicely balanced the jalapeño heat with a creamy flavor with good garlic and onion flavor.

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

Bottom Line: No need for milk, but nice jalapeno ranch flavor.

Snack #34 - Pringles Spicy Guacamole

Dear sweet lord! These chips are GREEN! Once I got over the horrendous pea soup color of these chips I delved in, and was pretty unsurprised to find lots of guac flavor, not so much spice. Guacamole isn't supposed to be spicy and neither are these chips. That being said, they're pretty tasty. They really capture the onion and garlic flavor of guacamole nicely and I would actually kind of like them if it wasn't for that horrific color. If I wanted to eat something green, I would have a salad - chips should avoid vegetable-like colors at all costs.

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

Bottom Line: Tasty, but green?

Snack #33 - Pringles Extreme Blazin' Buffalo Wing

So "blazin'" must be the new adjective of choice for spicy snacks because while perusing the snack isle at the grocery store the other day I caught at least four new snacks all described as blazin'. These Pringles were definitely not blazin'. In fact, after forcing myself to eat more chips than anyone should have to, I had little more than a spicy tingle. They do however capture the taste of a buffalo wing, pretty vinegary right of the bat with a nice hot sauce aftertaste....none of the burn though.

Rating on the Spice-O-Meter: 2.5/10

Bottom Line: If you want the taste of buffalo wings, eat some buffalo wings

Snack #14- Pringles Extreme Kickin' Cheddar Potato Crisps

Pringles Extreme Kickin' Cheddar Flavored Potato Crisps

Ew. These "crisps" (as they are smushed and reformed potatoes, not sliced ones as normal chips are) smell like poison and taste like bad fake cheese. The have the normal texture of Pringles, but the bright orange "cheese" color is a little off-putting. The jalapeno flavor is a little metallic, almost like the lining of the tube rubbed off onto the chips. They are actually somewhat spicy, and give a little kick. There is definitely a distinct jalapeno flavor, but overall the flavor is pretty gross.

Rating on the Spice-O-Meter: 4/10
Bottom Line: Artificial cheese flavor with a definite jalapeno kick.