What are they?
In a seemingly perfect brand partnership, Pringles has teamed up with the folks over at First We Feast’s Hot Ones to create two new Pringles Scorchin’ flavors — Los Calientes Rojo and Los Calientes Verde.
If you didn’t already know, Hot Ones is a YouTube talk show where Sean Evans, the most mild-mannered host to ever exist, interviews celebrities while simultaneously taking them through 10 rounds of hot wings coated in increasingly hot hot sauce. The output is a fantastic display of human panic as everyone from Brian Cranston to Gordon Ramsay attempt to keep a fraction of calm while ingesting what is essentially liquified fire on presumably cold chicken wings. I’m a fan. The show has been running for 18 seasons and has its own hot sauce line, and the seasonings on these crisps are based on two of those sauces.
How are they?
Hot. Thank God.
All kidding aside, it’s a huge pet peeve when brands tout words like “scorchin'” and partner with known legitimate hot sauces only to launch crowd-friendly products. That’s not the case here. These bad boys are kickin’.
I started with the Rojo and immediately smelled sweet roasted paprika and spice notes upon opening. The appearance of these was sort of terrifying as they’re coated on one side in a bright red seasoning powder. I dove in and immediately could taste the red sort of smoky, bright heat. These chips are HOT. They build heat across the front of your mouth and tongue and have a roasted taste. They’re fantastic. I don’t think I could eat more than five or so in one sitting, but they deliver expectations in a big way.
I opened the Verde next and was hit with a spicy green pepper aroma. These chips look like they’re going to kill me, but I could think of worse ways to go. Munching on the spooky green seasoned chips, I immediately sensed a brighter heat. These chips don’t waste any time; the heat immediately pops you in the face, and there is a strong and fantastic green pepper flavor to balance everything. They’re definitely more acidic than the Rojo, and the heat seems more back of the mouth. I think these might be the less spicy of the two, barely, and because of the great balance in pepper flavor, I think I could snack on far more of these than the Rojo version.
Anything else you need to know?
My pup caught a whiff of these and sneezed three times in a row! Obviously, I didn’t let her eat any because I’m not cruel.
Conclusion:
These chips made my lips tingle, my eyes water, and if I had eaten more of them, I’m sure I would have broken out into a full sweat. They totally represented the Hot Ones brand and lived up to the flavor hype of the hot sauces they are based upon. It’s a huge plus when a product promises heat and brings it to the table, and I’m glad Hot Ones protects its brand image so well by executing partnerships like this one with Scorchin’ Pringles in a legitimate way. If you don’t like spice, stay far, far away from these.
Purchased Price: $1.79 each
Size: 5.5 oz cans
Purchased at: Walmart
Rating: 8 out of 10 (Rojo), 9 out of 10 (Verde)
Nutrition Facts: (14 crisps) Rojo – 150 calories, 9 grams of fat, 2.5 grams of saturated fat, 0 milligrams of cholesterol, 230 milligrams of sodium, 16 grams of carbohydrates, less than 1 gram of fiber, 0 grams of sugar, and 1 gram of protein. Verde – 150 calories, 9 grams of fat, 2.5 grams of saturated fat, 0 milligrams of cholesterol, 230 milligrams of sodium, 16 grams of carbohydrates, less than 1 gram of fiber, less than 1 gram of sugar, and 1 gram of protein.