As a snack food, Doritos have become a cultural symbol. Doritos are not your typical chips, whether you’re eating a bag as an appetizer, eating them as a side dish, or just relaxing with them throughout the evening. With their strong tastes, crispy texture, and many varieties, these chips have made a lasting impression on snack aficionados worldwide.
Ultimately, though, when you remove all the glitzy packaging and clever marketing, Doritos are just tortilla chips, chips that would have remained unimaginable if not for a flash of inspiration from a trash can.
The History of Doritos: From Garbage to Glory
The origins of Doritos did not occur in a high-tech facility or during a risky commercial venture. Their origin story is a bit shocking. A business that would eventually become Frito-Lay established Casa de Fritos, a Mexican-themed eatery, in Frontierland during the 1950s, when Disneyland was just starting.
Like many others, this eatery frequently tossed out stale tortillas that didn’t sell. One day, a salesperson had an extremely clever idea: why not cook the tortillas and offer them as chips instead of throwing them out? His recommendation was followed by the restaurant staff, and park visitors loved the fried tortillas.
Despite its instant appeal, it took a few years for business leaders to recognize the possibilities of this straightforward snack. In 1966, Frito-Lay gave the snack its official name, “Doritos,” which means “little golden things” in Spanish. Grocery stores nationwide started carrying Doritos because of its crunchy texture and appealing name.
Increasing the Taste Palette
Frito-Lay quickly discovered that basic tortilla chips could only be used for so long. Something else was required to set the Doritos brand apart from the myriad of different chips available. Their first flavored Doritos, Taco Flavor, were released in 1968.
Thanks to this addition, the perfect quantity of spice was added without dominating the flavor of the corn. With its Nacho Cheese flavor, Doritos achieved gold status four years later, in 1972. Eventually, this strong, cheesy flavor would represent the brand itself.
Doritos haven’t looked back since. The chip line has been developing, adding intriguing new tastes, textures, and shapes. Taco Bell Doritos Locos Tacos and the fleeting 3D puffy Doritos are just two examples of the company continuously reimagining itself. However, the fundamental purpose of Doritos has always been to experiment with flavor.
The Greatest Doritos Flavors List
Over the years, Doritos has introduced several varieties; nevertheless, certain tastes are more notable. I tasted nine different kinds of Doritos to see which “trash tortilla chip” was the best and most deserving of the top spot.
1. White Cheddar Simply Organic Doritos
Despite the term “organic” being on the label, these chips are not inherently healthier than their non-organic counterparts. The calorie, fat, and salt content of Simply Organic Doritos White Cheddar is almost identical to that of the original Cool Ranch flavor.
But they don’t have the daring you would expect from Doritos. While the flavor is good, it’s not as powerful as promised, and the crispness is a little wrong. This chip falls short if you’re hoping for an explosion of white cheddar flavor.
2. Tangy Sweet Barbecue
Imagine sinking your teeth into a chip that tastes like Lay’s traditional barbecue flavor but with a twist instead of a potato chip, it’s on a corn tortilla foundation. Although this seems good at first, the combo isn’t quite right.
The corn chip and the sweet, tangy barbecue spice don’t work well together, creating an uneven taste profile. It’s better to let Lay’s handle this one regarding chip flavors with BBQ flavors.
3. Hot Nachos
The “upgrade” to the original Nacho Cheese taste, according to Spicy Nacho Doritos. But being a purist in Doritos, I can’t help but think that the original is fine as is.
I was left wondering why the bag had been upgraded in the first place when it was only slightly hotter than the original. The chips are still delicious, but I don’t think they bring anything new to the Doritos range.
4. Blazin’ Ranch & Buffalo
When it comes to wings, buffalo and Ranch is a fantastic mix. But can it translate to chips? Some enthusiasts believe this flavor perfectly combines creamy Ranch and spicy buffalo sauce, the pinnacle of Doritos creations.
However, the flavor drowns out the cold, zesty ranch taste I enjoy, leaning too much on the buffalo sauce. If you’re an avid lover of buffalo, these chips will satisfy your cravings. However, you could yearn for a bit extra ranch if you want your flavors to be in harmony.
5. Taste of Tacos
Even now, many still enjoy the original flavor that it all began. Doritos’ Taco Flavor perfectly combines corn crunch, a kick of taco spice, and a hint of nostalgia. It isn’t overbearing and doesn’t leave your fingers coated in powdered spice. Extra points for the vintage packaging, which evokes happy memories of the original Doritos.
6. Cheese Nachos
Yes, the well-known red bag. Although Nacho Cheese solidified the brand’s position in snack history, Taco Flavor was the original Dorito.
It has just the right amount of heat, is zesty, salty, and cheesy, and will make you want more. This is the flavor that most people associate with Doritos, and for good reason. It is a timeless classic that is always in trend.
7. The Verde Salsa
This flavor is perfect for you if you enjoy salsa and chips. Salsa Verde Doritos effectively captures the tangy, somewhat sweet, medium-heat flavor of a fresh salsa verde dip.
It’s one of the rare Doritos flavors that truly tastes like the cuisine it is emulating. It’s one of the most distinctive flavors in the Doritos collection, with a blast of delicious salsa in every mouthful.
8. Hot and Sweet Chili
Though they may seem like opposed tastes, sweet and spicy go hand in hand with Doritos. The perfect amount of spice and sweetness are combined in Spicy, Sweet Chili to create a dish that will tantalize your palate while maintaining interest.
The flavor is rich and addicting, reminiscent of a perfectly prepared meal of General Tso’s chicken.
9. Cool Ranch
The popularity of Cool Ranch Doritos has a purpose. Ranch dressing was not the rage in culture when it was introduced in 1986. However, that was altered by these chips.
Cool Ranch is a food that has endured throughout time by fusing the crunch of a tortilla chip with the creamy, herbaceous flavor of Ranch. It is flavorful, acidic, and oniony. Simply give a bag of Cool Ranch Doritos to someone who inquires about what “cool” tastes like.
Conclusion
Doritos has come a long way since its humble origins as leftover tortillas at Disneyland. The company has developed into a flavor-filled snack empire with products to suit every taste throughout the years.
Whether you prefer the traditional Nacho Cheese flavor, the tart Cool Ranch, or the hot-sweet sensation of Spicy Sweet Chili, Doritos are unquestionably more than just chips; they’re a whole snack experience.
Doritos, which come in endless flavors and shapes, continue redefining the possibilities for chips, demonstrating that sometimes the finest ideas originate from looking beyond the box.
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