Fritos Flavor Twists Spicy Dill Pickle

 

Product circa: Summer 2026

I guess "spicy dill pickle" is plenty zeitgeisty enough to be an "American" flavor as part of this US semiquincentennial promotion.

They really provided "the works" of flavor profiles here for this snack.  I've tried plenty of spicy pickle snacks recently, and this is different.  This seems to have a ranch flavor base, with dill flavor added, with salt & vinegar powder added, and also the "red hot" flavor on top.  They're not unpleasant, but they are very busy in an All Dressed kind of way.  More than anything, this snack highlights that the flavor twists form factor provides an impressive crunchy texture when using new-fangled flavors, and I wish Fritos experimented with them more.

Doritos 3D Crunch Chili Cheese Nacho

Product circa: 2022

These are a "re-release" of the original Doritos 3D from 1998.  I indubitably remember the originals from 1998, and these are completely different.

The originals were indeed tortilla chips that were somehow inflated during the cooking process, and the texture was sublime.

This version is more of a corn snack than a tortilla chip - think the texture of Bugles.  With that said, these are tasty.  The texture in the mouth is very pleasant, and the cheese flavor is good.  There isn't a heavy hand with the "chili" seasoning. 

 

Lay's Cheetos (potato chips)

Product circa: 2021 and intermittently after

These indeed have the same seasoning on them as Cheetos snacks.  Unfortunately, the seasoning isn’t nearly as good on potato chips.  It’s that simple.

 

Cheetos Flamin' Hot Tangy Chili Fusion

Product circa: 2023

As suspected by the packages design, these Cheetos combine the classic Flamin’ Hot seasoning with the seasoning from Doritos Spicy Sweet Chili.

And by the way, I encourage you to try Doritos Spicy Sweet Chili while ignoring the marketing.  Smell and taste the product and discern its flavor unbiased, and I think you’ll find that it tastes like umami more than anything.  Like a soy-based potsticker dipping sauce.  I think they should have named the chips something else.  But I digress.

Like I said above, these taste exactly that the two products above combined.  Not bad.  An odd combination, but not bad.

Funyuns Spicy Queso

 

Product circa: 2023

Disappointing, overall.  There is cheese powder added to these, and they are notably spicy.  There are flecks of herbs on the "chips", but I cannot taste them.  In fact, these are pretty low on flavor.  It's almost like these are under-seasoned and could use more salt, though I'm sure the sodium of this product is already sky-high.

Funyuns Sour Cream & Funyuns

 

Note: This is a Presumptive Ephemeral Nom.

Product circa: 2025

We certainly have seen meta products like these before, haven't we?

Anyway, these seem to be like regular Funyuns with "sour cream & onion" seasoning on them instead of the traditional seasoning, which is definitely different.  The milk powder is noticeable, and the spices are bold, almost even like ranch dressing seasoning.  I would say these are better than the original.

Fritos Flavor Twists Lime & Jalapeno

Product circa: 2025

Note: This is an Presumptive Ephemeral Nom.

I love to see new flavors of the Flavor Twists.  These were a nice sight for sore eyes.

The lime is assertive, but there's a heavy sweetness that balances it very well.  You have your typical savory spices, along with buttermilk powder that gives it that fatty/cheesy flavor that it really needs with the lime.  The jalapeno isn't overly flavorful, but the heat doesn't let you ignore it.  This is probably the best lime-flavored snack I've ever had.

Cheetos Flamin' Hot Dill Pickle

Product circa: 2025

Note: This is Presumptive Ephemeral Nom

I get it.  It's dill pickle flavoring combined with Cheetos' Flamin' Hot.  They just don't work well together.  I'd rather either of them over the combination.  Otherwise, it's passable.

Cheetos Puffs Cheese Pizza

 

Note: This is a Presumptive Ephemeral Nom

I love a good pizza-flavored snack, which is always signaled with powders of cheese, tomato, and oregano.

It seems like they really half-assed this one.  The added tomato powder somehow dampens the cheese seasoning, and it all feels under-seasoned... like it needs more salt (which I'm sure it doesn't and is already high in sodium).

Cheetos Flamin' Hot Cajun Cheddar

 

This is a presumptive Ephemeral Nom.

Product circa: 2024

Like Cajun seasoning, this seasoning is tough to pinpoint:  along with the cheese powder, there is clearly black pepper, chile pepper, tomato powder, and maybe thyme?  More herbs, probably.  The heat doesn't disappoint.  This is good stuff.  I doubt I'd buy it regularly if it were available always.

Funyuns Steakhouse Onion

 

Product circa: 2024 and most likely earlier

Oddly enough, the first impression I get of these is tomato powder.  It's in the ingredients list, and I'm not sure why.  But other, these are heavy with herbs and spices, and with the tomato, it reminds me most of pizza-flavored snacks.  There's also a heavy dose of steak sauce-like umami here.  Overall, I'm not sure it's better than the original, but it's a nice change.

Cheetos Crunchy Salsa con Queso

 

Product circa: 2012+?

It turns out that I tried these back in 2012, but I don't think I recall seeing these on store shelves since.

What's funny is that I just re-read my old post about these, and my description of them from 2012 is still accurate to how they taste now... but I like them now, and I didn't then.  I guess my tastes have changed?

Cheetos Crunchy Buffalo

 

Product circa: Spring 2024

Awful.  Whatever buffalo flavor they have added here goes horribly with the "aged" cheese flavor base of the original.

Cheetos Crunchy Flamin' Hot Chipotle Ranch

Note: This is a Presumptive Ephemeral Nom.

Product circa: 2017

I'm pleased to see that Cheetos is releasing some new products.  This one was quite unexpected.

Despite this snack having many different flavors, the first bite immediately starts with cheese, which is a nice surprise.  After that, you're immediately reminded that this is a "Flamin' Hot" Cheetos product, as the sharp acidic chile powder takes over.  However, the slight chipotle smokiness and a garlicky creamy ranch temper the chile and make it so much better.  I ate this whole bag in quick order, which doesn't happen often.

Cheetos Crunchy Flamin' Hot Chipotle Ranch:- Outstanding
Original Cheetos Crunchy (for comparison): - Great

Chex Mix Muddy Buddies Peppermint Bark

Chex Mix has rolled out a holiday flavor: Muddy Buddies Peppermint Bark.  If you haven't looked at the Chex Mix products in your local stores recently, you should do so; you'd be surprised at how many different flavors they offer... from sweet to salty to sweet & salty.  The Muddy Buddies line usually involves chocolate, but this one does not (thankfully, more on that later).  Perhaps this has white chocolate in it?

It's hard to tell.  The traditional Chex cereal base is covered in the traditional confectioner's sugar, but what's making it stick to the cereal is a mystery.  It could be white chocolate, or it could be simply a fatty mix containing hydrogenated vegetable oil.  Either way, each bite has the expected crunch which very well combines with the fatty coating.

Along with sweetness of everything described above is a moderate dusting of peppermint flavor.  Its bitterness and dryness is completely balanced with sweet.  And... it's gloriously absent of chocolate.  I feel that chocolate-mint combos are a bit too prevalent in today's processed sweets, and so this stuff is quite refreshing (no pun intended).

As someone who's really not a fan of peppermint, I find myself keep reaching for these until the bag is empty.  If it weren't for my (admitted) distaste for peppermint, this would be rated 3 NOMs.


Chex Mix Muddy Buddies Peppermint Bark: - Good

Cheetos Crunchy Salsa con Queso

Note: This is a Presumptive Ephemeral Nom.

New Cheetos really get me excited when they catch my eye, mainly because Cheetos is one of the most conservative brands when it comes to varying their products.  It's been years since Cheetos Crunchy Cheddar Jalapeno was released and, before that, I can only think of the Cheetos Crunchy Flamin' Hot which came about years and years before.

Salsa con Queso? Ay dios!  And the packaging is quite attractive, too.  I suppose Cheetos is continuing their southwestern flavor motif.  I'm not complaining, but I'm hesitant.

Unfortunately, these aren't very memorable.  The classic cheese flavoring is present in full force, but added alongside is a run-of-the-mill salsa seasoning, the kind you'd find on the popular Salsitas chips, but less flavorful.  I would describe the flavor of said seasoning as mostly tomato and a bit of onion with an acidic kick that adds a touch of sourness.  This sourness is not welcome here, and it simply doesn't pair well with Cheetos Crunchy's classic flavor.  If this "southwestern cheese" flavor idea had been more like Doritos Jacked Enchilada Supreme, I would have been warmer with my welcome.


Cheetos Crunchy Salsa con Queso: - Passable
Original Cheetos Crunchy Cheese: - Great

Acquired: vending machine