On paper, it felt like a match made in heaven. I love Doritos’ Cool Ranch flavour, and I love Kettle Chips, so the new Zesty Ranch flavour from Kettle Chips made its way into my Planet Organic shopping basket with little resistance. Even the young woman ringing in my chips at the till confided that they were her personal favourite flavour.
The Pitch: Like all Kettle Chips, they stress the natural ingredients and eco credentials. No trans fat, no artificial colours or flavours, non-genetically-engineered ingredients, etc. It’s junk food, sure, but it aims to be a little less junky than the competition.
The Texture: Thick cut and extremely crunchy, there’s nothing light and wispy about them. The rippled, krinkle-cut format helps trap extra seasoning. Be warned that they’re noisy to eat, even for kettle-style chips.
The Taste: Much more sour than I was expecting. Peppery with salt and vegetable tastes. Onion and garlic, with some creamy ranch dressing notes, none of which taste artificial. The oil is there, but it’s not aggressive. Imagine a potato chip where the dip was already part of the chip; that’s sort of what these are like. The sour creamy twang is the stand-out element.
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RATINGS AND DETAILS
Cost: $3.69 for a 220-gram bag at Planet Organic.
Value for cash money: OK.
Availability: Not yet as widespread as other Kettle flavours. The package says it’s new, so maybe give it some time to filter down to more grocery stores. Until then, try Planet Organic.
Nutrition?: Per 40 grams (13 to 15 chips): 210 calories, 12 grams of fat, 240 mg of sodium, 2 grams of fibre, 3 grams of protein. Also, 15% daily value of vitamin C, and 6% daily value of iron. Could be worse.
Gluten free?: Yes!
The verdict: Good. On ranch flavour alone, I think I’d still pick Cool Ranch Doritos. But for something a bit more natural, these hit the spot.