Ass Kickin’ – Ass Kickin’ Peanuts with Habanero Pepper

Bitter: ✰✰✰✰✰

Salty: ⭐⭐⭐⭐✰

Sour: ✰✰✰✰✰

Sweet: ⭐⭐✰✰✰

Umami: ⭐⭐⭐✰✰

Heat: ⭐⭐✰✰✰✰✰✰✰✰

Quick Flavor Notes: Onion, Garlic, Smoky, Umami

Texture: Peanuts

Website: https://asskickin.com/

Ingredients: Peanuts roasted in peanut oil with extra salt, Seasoning (Salt, Corn Syrup Solids, Spices, Parpika, Habanero Powder, Dextrose, Corn Flour, Onion Powder, Garlic Powder, Tomato Powder, Natural Flavors with no more than 2% Calcium Stearate and Silicon Dioxide to prevent caking), Corn Syrup

Recommended: Yes

The Ass Kickin’ brand, apparently a sub-brand of Southwest Specialty Foods, has been around for a long time (since 1986 according to their website) and has always struck me a bit of a novelty product line, though I’d never actually sampled any of their products until now. I was happy to see on their site that they grow their own peppers right next to their manufacturing facility and make their products in-house. They have a wide variety of goods from hot sauces, bbq sauces, and marinades to peanuts, popcorn, and more. I like to have some peanuts to snack on at work when I’m too busy to grab lunch, so that’s the subject of today’s review.

Despite a promise to be “Kick Yo’ Ass Hot” the ingredients reveal the only heat comes from habanero powder, and that comes after salt, corn syrup solids, spices, and paprika in the seasoning mix. With that paprika joined by garlic powder and tomato powder in the seasoning mix at least it does look to be a flavorful combination.

While heat isn’t at the forefront of the flavor salt certainly is, these are some salty nuts. However there’s also a great southwestern flavor from the other spices. Some smokiness from the paprika, a great umami richness from the tomato powder, some savory pungency from the garlic powder, and yes, a bit of smoldering heat from the habanero powder. Since everything is powdered the habaneros don’t bring any fruitiness or some of their fresher notes to the party, but they do add to the flavor and heat level. These aren’t the freshest tasting canned nuts I’ve ever had, but the flavor is good and the smoky, umami, garlicky, heat combination can be addicting. They also include a ton of seasoning powder in the tin.

I’ll give Ass Kickin’ Peanuts my recommendation. They do include some ingredients I’d rather they didn’t (like corn syrup solids, dextrose, and corn flour) but the flavor is good and I’m happy to see there’s some attention to quality and that it’s not a pure novelty brand.