Snak Club – Hot Ones Tangy Chili Honey Roasted Peanuts
Bitter: ✰✰✰✰✰
Salty: ⭐⭐⭐✰✰
Sour: ⭐⭐⭐⭐✰
Sweet: ⭐⭐⭐⭐✰
Umami: ⭐✰✰✰✰
Heat: ⭐⭐✰✰✰✰✰✰✰✰
Quick Flavor Notes: Tangy, Sweet, chili, garlic
Texture: Crunchy peanuts
Recommended: Yes
Ingredients: PEANUTS, HONEY POWDER (SUGAR, WHEAT STARCH, HONEY), HOT ONES TANGY CHILI SEASONING (SUGAR, VINEGAR POWDER [MALTODEXTRIN, WHITE DISTILLED VINEGAR, MODIFIED CORN STARCH], CHILI PEPPERS, HOT SAUCE POWDER (RED PEPPER, DISTILLED VINEGAR. SALT], SALT, CITRIC ACID, MALIC ACID, GARLIC POWDER, NATURAL FLAVORS, APPLE CIDER VINEGAR POWDER [MALTODEXTRIN, APPLE CIDER VINEGAR, MODIFIED CORN STARCH], EXTRACTIVES OF PAPRIKA, EXTRACTIVES OF CAPSICUM, LESS THAN 2% TRICALCIUM PHOSPHATE ADDED TO PREVENT CAKING), CANOLA OIL, TACK BLEND (MALTODEXTRIN, XANTHAN GUM, SUGAR, WATER).
My new at-work snack this week are a new flavor from Snak Club in collaboration with Hot Ones, apparently inspired by the flavor of the Hot Ones The Classic Original Hot Sauce, one of my favorite sauces from the Hot Ones label and one of the best Chile de Arbol sauces I’ve tried. Having already tried the Snak Club Tajin peanuts and been very impressed by their robust amount of seasoning I had high hopes for these.
Despite having the photo of the Hot Ones The Classic Original on the front of the bag the ingredients list doesn’t make any mention of the Chile de Arbol found in that sauce specifically, just unnamed “red pepper” as well as some “extractives of paprika” (which seems to show up a lot in these types of product, not sure why they can’t just use actual paprika) as well as “extractives of capsicum” which I’m assuming is chile pepper extract, something I’m surprised to see in a Hot Ones branded product as their online store Heatonist is known for not carrying products with extract. There is also quite a bit of honey and sugar in these, but as they’re advertised as honey roasted nuts that’s to be expected, and sweet and savory has always been a popular flavor combination.
Despite the mild marker on the bag these actually have a bit of heat, at least for honey roasted peanuts. They’re not going to challenge the Carolina Reaper peanuts from Blazing Foods, but they have a little bit of a kick. They’re also quite tangy which is a great contrast to the sweetness. I’ve always loved salt and vinegar but never considered the possibilities of honey and vinegar, but it totally works. There is a nice savory element from the garlic and from the peanuts themselves as well as the chili peppers. There is almost a little bit of the flavor of the hot sauce in these if it was translated into a dry seasoning form. They’re also quite liberally coated in seasoning, something I always appreciate in peanuts.
Despite these having more processed ingredients than I’d like to see in something with Hot Ones branding these are tasty and I’m happy to give them my recommendation. If you like a tangy sweet heat these are one to check out.
