Archive for January, 2009

Trader Joe’s Dark Chocolate Covered Chile Spiced Dried Mango

Sunday, January 18th, 2009

happyThe box describes this treat as “sweetened, unsulfered chile mango pieces drenched in rich, dark chocolate and sprinkled with a spritely blend of aromatic spices.”  That about says it all.  This is one of the most interesting flavor profiles I’ve had in a long time.  It reminds me of Xocolatl, but fruitier and spicier.  There’s a saltiness at first, followed quickly by the sweetness of the mango, the bitterness of the chocolate, and then the spices.  The chocolate on the outside is crisp and the mango is pleasantly chewy.  The spice stays with you for awhile which is nice.  In all, there’s a pretty great burst that erupts in your mouth immediately: salty, fruity, sweet, bitter, and spicy.  I don’t think I’ve ever had anything quite like it, but I want more.  Unfortunately, Trader Joe’s is very far from me.  Hint hint, Trader Joe’s!

Trader Joe’s Sweet & Spicy Pecans

Sunday, January 18th, 2009

The only whappyord to describe these little treasures is sinful.  They’re unevenly spiced, with some containing barely any spice and others packing a real whallop.  On average, however, these suprising little treats are a religious experience.  Trader Joe’s protects its secret recipe by only listing the spices as “spices” but there’s a presence of cayenne and paprika, I’m sure.  The overall effect is delicious sweet buttery toffee with a kick on top of a lightly roasted nut.  You must try these.

King Soopers Jalapeno Kettle Chips

Sunday, January 18th, 2009

hmmThis spicy little chip comes with a lot of kick.  If you like flavorful spice, its quite good!  There’s something that distinctly tastes of Chinese food, and I’m not sure that’s a bad thing.  The first bite has a very fresh taste: tangy and sweet.  Once you’ve finished chewing the chip you’re left with a good heat and some vinegar flavor.  Perhaps too much vinegar, but the heat is really dead on.  Not so much that its an exercise in masochism, but enough to warrant its appearance on this site.  Definitely worth a try.

Boulder Hickory Barbeque Chips

Sunday, January 18th, 2009

happyFor many years I’ve lusted after BBQ chips; I once went through about a 5 year snap of bingeing on KC Masterpiece BBQ chips.  These chips are a barbecue-lovers dream!  Even though I have a stuffed nose, the sweetness and hickory notes come through in exactly the right proportions.  The texture of the chip is crisp and crunchy without being too greasy.  There’s the right amount of tangy flavor and the chips themselves only range from bite-size to pleasantly large–no bottom-of-the-bag crumbles here.  The only thing that could improve on this chip is if there were more heat, because as it is there isn’t much to speak of.  This is the perfect chip for a person who loves flavor but isn’t into spicy.  Two thumbs up!

Kettle Spicy Thai Chips

Saturday, January 17th, 2009

sad2Usually, I find Kettle produces delicious quality chips.  These chips are one of the exceptions.  The slogan on the front of the bag proclaims “ginger with ATTITUDE“.  Ginger?  Kinda.  Attitude?  Only if that attitude is that of a surly old man who complains everything is too spicy.  The chips are slightly sweet with a bitter aftertaste. The spice lets itself be known as well, by adding to the odd flavor of these chips.  Overall, I was very unhappy with these chips.  Not only did I not like the flavor, but they were terrible enough to toss the entire bag in the trash. The only positive things about these chips?  No trans fats, MSG or artificial flavors.  Avoid at all costs!

Kettle Organic Chipotle Chili Barbeque

Saturday, January 17th, 2009

happyTwo words for these chips:  FREAKING AMAZING! These USDA certified organic chips are by far one of the best chips I have ever tasted.  When I first opened the chips, I was a bit confused.  The inside of the bag is slightly damp with grease and spices.  My first thought was “uh oh… a mistake?”  That could not be any further from the truth.  My initial taste was smoky and sweet, with a hint of spice.  The texture was actually quite crisp with a nice spread of spices and flavorings.  After you eat a few, the heat starts to crank up a notch… but in a pleasant way.  These chips successfully combine smoky, sweet, spicy and peppery on a crisp spud.  A few extra bonuses:  No trans fat, no MSG, and no artificial flavors! A perfect chip?  Darn close.

Cheez-It Hot & Spicy Tabasco

Saturday, January 17th, 2009

sad1I have been a Cheez-It lover for many years.  When I saw this “Hot & Spicy Tabasco” variation, I automatically assumed we had a winner.  Unfortunately, that was not the case.  The initial taste was familiar, but the spice that hits you is rather dull and woody.  Yes… woody.  It tastes like spicy bark of a tree.  I think that says enough.  Stay away at all costs!  Unless you like wood… spicy wood.