The Impulsive Buy

REVIEW: Doritos Flamin’ Hot Mystery Flavor

May 30, 2024May 29, 2024 Marvo 1 Comment

Doritos Flamin’ Hot has a mystery flavor, but the original Flamin’ Hot seasoning has always been a mystery to me. Is it peppers, garlic powder, and Lucifer’s nail filings? Or is it Lucifer’s dry ear wax? I could read the ingredients list, but like IKEA instructions and stories with clickbait headlines that end with “…may kill you,” I’m not going to look at it. While I’ll never solve the mystery behind Flamin’ Hot, I think I’ve figured out this Walmart-exclusive mystery flavor.

While they look like they’ve been sprinkled with Lucifer’s dandruff and are more ominous than regular Flamin’ Hot, these chips don’t seem as spicy as regular Flamin’ Hot snacks. Oh, don’t get me wrong, these have a torrid temp that timid tongues will want to turn away from, but these are easier to eat, even though my head is sweating a little as I type this. I was concerned that the spicy seasoning would overwhelm whatever the mystery flavor was, but that’s not the case. When I opened the bag and sniffed, I had an idea of what it could be.

SPOILER ALERT: Turn away now if you want to avoid knowing my correct (or most likely incorrect) guess.

Along with the famous Flamin’ Hot spiciness, there’s a savoriness that instantly reminds me of chicken-flavored instant ramen, so I believe the mystery flavor is Spicy Chicken Instant Ramen or Spicy Chicken Cup Noodles.

Mystery solved.

(Dusting off Flamin’ Hot seasoning from my hands)

There’s also a noticeable sweetness that cuts through the spicy seasoning, which is perhaps why these don’t burn my mouth like regular Flamin’ Hot products do. But that sweet flavor sometimes causes my taste buds to wonder if they’re eating a spicy Thai curry, which I noticed more in the aftertaste. But I’m sticking with my original take as my final answer, Regis.

Because these Doritos Flamin’ Hot Mystery Flavor chips remind me of a spicy version of my favorite instant ramen variety and don’t punish my mouth with too much heat, I love them very much. I’m not sure if Doritos already revealed the mystery, but whatever it is, it’s surprisingly great, and I wouldn’t mind experiencing it again. In fact, I’d love to see Doritos introduce a new mystery flavor annually.

Purchased Price: More than one should pay on eBay
Size: 9 oz bag
Purchased at: eBay
Rating: 9 out of 10
Nutrition Facts: (about 11 chips) 140 calories, 7 grams of fat, 1 gram of saturated fat, 0 milligrams of cholesterol, 150 milligrams of sodium, 18 grams of carbohydrates, 1 gram of fiber, 1 gram of sugar, and 2 grams of protein.

SPOTTED: Strawberry Vanilla Chex Cereal

May 30, 2024May 27, 2024 Marvo 2 Comments

Strawberry Vanilla Chex Cereal.

Strawberry Chex Cereal is back, but you have to eat it with Vanilla Chex Cereal. (Spotted by Robbie at Sam’s Club.)

If you’re out shopping and see new products, snap a picture of them, and send them in via an email (theimpulsivebuy@gmail.com) with where you found them and “Spotted” in the subject line. Also, if you want to send in photos and are wondering if we’ve already covered something or if they’re new, don’t worry about it. Let us worry about it.

REVIEW: Powerade Sour Sports Drinks

May 30, 2024May 27, 2024 Mark 2 Comments

Just in time for summer sweat season, Powerade has introduced three flavors in its new Sour line: Blue Razz, Watermelon Lime, and Green Apple.

Let’s get this out of the way first: we all know they should have called it Sourade.

Blue Razz is my favorite of the three. It reminds me of a blue Sour Patch Kid, but not as sour. At first, I was underwhelmed by the sourness. But after going on a six-mile evening run, I found that I couldn’t chug this drink because my mouth wanted to pucker just a little bit and savor the tartness. It’s not like a Warhead or Cry Baby bubble gum; rather, it has just enough of a punch to notice the sourness.

Watermelon Lime is the most confusing of the three. I have never heard of those fruits paired together before, yet it manages not to taste like either. Yes, I know that watermelon flavor doesn’t actually taste like watermelon, but I do know what watermelon candy tastes like. If I concentrate really hard, I can kind of taste watermelon candy, but not the lime. In a blind taste test, there is no way I would guess either of the flavors. It is also less sour than the others.

Green Apple has the same sour level as Blue Razz. It has a nice fake apple flavor. However, I love Gatorade Fierce Green Apple, and the Powerade just seems less, well, fierce. It’s not as flavorful, and I don’t think it’s any more sour.

I usually drink powdered Gatorade to replenish my electrolytes after a long, sweaty workout. Powerade Sour is not going to do anything to change that. But if you are even casually interested in Powerade, these flavors are worth a try.

Purchased Price: $0.88 each
Size: 28 fl oz bottles
Purchased at: Smith’s Marketplace
Rating: 7 out of 10 (Blue Razz), 5 out of 10 (Watermelon Lime), 6 out of 10 (Green Apple)
Nutrition Facts: (12 fl oz) 80 calories, 0 grams of fat, 250 milligrams of sodium, 21 grams of carbohydrates, 21 grams of sugar including 21 grams of added sugar, and 0 grams of protein.

SPOTTED: 5/30/2024

May 30, 2024May 27, 2024 Marvo Leave a comment

Here are some interesting new products found on store shelves by your fellow readers. If you’ve tried any of them, share your thoughts in the comments.