One taste of Takis and we were hooked. But which flavor of the Mexican snacks is best?
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Traci Lee is a contributing writer and former design director at Serious Eats. She co-founded a Tex Mex taco business in Brooklyn and is the executive director of design at The New York Times.
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Updated October 29, 2019
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What are Takis, you ask? Probably the best snack thing that's happened to me in years. I recently went on a trip to Texas with my husband to visit family. I felt a snack attack coming on, so at the gas station I scanned the salty snack aisle and the Takis packaging caught my eye. I haven't really seen them in the bodegas around New York but they seemed familiar. Then it came to me, the internet song of 2012: "Hot Cheetos and Takis."
What is it about Takis that a bunch of ten-year-olds felt the need to make a very awesome song about it? I picked up a bag of Fuego-flavored Takis to find out.
I got into the car and ripped open the bag of rolled-up corn discs coated in a bright red powder. Holy sweet Jesus, it was everything I wanted out of a snack. It has the strong corn flavor that comes through on Fritos, but it's much more complex and satisfying with the addition of sour lime and a big kick of spicy chile at the end. I also appreciate the lack of stinky cheese flavor that I don't always want out of a corn snack (I'm looking at you, Cheetos). Takis have a hearty crunch, like something that came out of a deep fryer. Most embarrassingly they leave a telltale red stain on your fingers that only come off with a good scrub. (OK, OK, I am not beneath finger licking!)
Although the bag looks like it's to be eaten in one sitting by one person, it's actually four servings. I couldn't make it past half a bag because of the intense saltiness.
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I brought four flavors back to Serious Eats headquarters and the reactions ranged from "TAKIS ARE THE BEST!" to, "Ew, these are gross." The biggest turnoff seemed to be the level of sourness—personally I enjoyed the way the chips made my mouth almost pucker. Yes, I am a sucker for lime-flavored Tostitos.
Which Takis Flavor is Best?
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Fuego was by far the spiciest of the bunch, even more than the drastically named Nitro. Nitro was more like "Fuego lite" than the proclaimed habanero flavor and heat. Guacamole tasted more like tomatillo to me, but it could have been the sourness that made me think of that. A few SE'ers preferred the more mellow guacamole, but Fuego held out in popularity. Fajita was the most undistinguished; it had a flat cumin flavor without heat that excited no one.
Takis Flavor Pairing
I started thinking about what to serve with Takis. In terms of drinks, the answer is naturally Limeritas. We also dreamt up all sorts of crazy things to make with them (Takis-crusted fried chicken?), but they're truly best eaten straight up. At most, a good ranch dip or anything creamy would be a good accompaniment to mellow out the sour spiciness. Takis, you're coming with me to the next Super Bowl party.
I did a little more digging about the popularity of Takis and it's become a favorite of school kids. And it doesn't come without controversy. The urban legend first made popular with Poprocks, "If you eat x with soda your stomach will explode," has been making the rounds with a Takis variant. This may be due to the fact that kids are gorging themselves, getting upset stomachs from the citric acid, and consequently throwing up. Lesson learned: no matter how delicious it may seem, don't eat a whole bag of Takis in one sitting.
Greetings, enthusiasts of flavorful snacks! As someone deeply entrenched in the world of culinary delights, with a background as a contributing writer and former design director at Serious Eats, co-founder of a Tex Mex taco business in Brooklyn, and currently serving as the executive director of design at The New York Times, my expertise extends across various facets of the culinary landscape. Today, let's dive into the tantalizing realm of Takis, those Mexican snacks that have taken the snacking world by storm.
Now, what makes me qualified to guide you through the diverse universe of Takis? Allow me to regale you with a personal experience that unfolded during a trip to Texas. While perusing a gas station's salty snack aisle, I stumbled upon Takis, and my life, or at least my snacking habits, took a turn. As I indulged in the Fuego-flavored Takis, I discovered a symphony of flavors – the robust corn essence reminiscent of Fritos, intertwined with the zing of sour lime and a fiery finale of spicy chile. The experience was nothing short of a revelation.
The bag, seemingly designed for a solo snacking marathon, is actually divided into four servings. The intensity of saltiness, however, halted my progress at half the bag. The reactions from my Serious Eats colleagues were as diverse as the flavors themselves, ranging from ecstatic endorsem*nts to outright disdain, particularly for the perceived sourness.
Now, let's dissect the Takis flavor lineup. Fuego emerges as the undisputed champion in spiciness, surpassing even the boldly named Nitro. Guacamole, with its tomatillo-esque profile, sparked debates, with some favoring its mellow nature, while Fajita, despite its undistinguished cumin flavor, failed to excite taste buds.
But the journey doesn't end with individual flavors; we pondered the ideal Takis pairing. Drinks like Limeritas naturally complement the fiery zest, and while wild ideas like Takis-crusted fried chicken were entertained, the consensus leaned towards enjoying Takis in their unadulterated glory. A creamy dip or a good ranch dressing, at most, would serve as a delightful accompaniment to temper the sour spiciness.
Beyond the realm of flavors, Takis have woven themselves into the fabric of school kids' snacking preferences. However, this popularity is not without controversy, as an urban legend akin to the Poprocks soda explosion tale circulates, cautioning against devouring an entire bag of Takis in one sitting due to potential stomach upset from citric acid overload.
In conclusion, as a seasoned enthusiast and connoisseur of the culinary arts, I invite you to embark on your own Takis taste adventure, exploring the nuanced world of flavors and perhaps contemplating unconventional pairings. Just remember, moderation is key, even when faced with the irresistible allure of these vibrant and zestful snacks. Happy snacking!
