DAAL Snacks – Extreme Heat Wild Habanero

Bitter: ⭐✰✰✰✰

Salty: ⭐⭐✰✰✰

Sour/Tangy: ⭐⭐⭐✰✰

Sweet: ⭐⭐✰✰✰

Umami: ⭐⭐⭐⭐✰

Heat: ⭐⭐⭐✰✰✰✰✰✰✰

Quick Flavor Notes: Earthy, savory, umami, sweet

Recommended: Yes

Texture: Crispy and crunchy

Ingredients: Mung beans, palm oil (RSPO), seasoning blend (sugar, salt, onion powder, habanero chili powder, garlic powder, natural flavor, silicon dioxide (anticaking agent), citric acid (acidity regulator), yeast extract)).

This is my third (and final unless they release new flavors) review of the DAAL Snacks line. I fell in love with the brand’s flavors with their Extreme Heat Savage Ghost Pepper variety which I thought had both great flavor and some real heat. I then went on to try their variety pack of milder flavors including Tandoori Ranch, Buffalo Chutney, and Sweet Chili Masala which while much lower in heat still offered amazing and unique taste combinations that live up to the brand’s promise to meld Indian and western flavors. The Wild Habanero is the only flavor that I had yet to try and is second only to the Savage Ghost Pepper in terms of heat so I was excited to see what it brought to the table.

As with other DAAL products the ingredients start with the ancient super-food mung beans and sustainably sourced RSPO palm oil. The seasoning blend of these, as the name suggests, relies on habanero peppers for the heat. In addition there are the traditional aromatics of onion and garlic powder plus yeast extract for added umami and sugar to balance the heat and saltiness. In fact other than the habanero pepper the ingredients of these are the same as the Savage Ghost Pepper variety, so if you like the flavor of one and wish for more or less heat you can easily switch between them. The aroma of these is savory with the earthy smell of the mung beans combined with the onion and garlic coming through as well. Like the other DAAL snacks they’re very crunchy and give that satisfying chip sensation.

Tangy and earthy very similar to the Savage Ghost Pepper initially but with quite a bit less heat was my initial impression. That umami flavor is still there from the yeast, onion, and garlic. The biggest difference comes down, obviously enough, to the pepper choice. Not only are these lower in heat than the ghost pepper version but there is a bit more fruit in the flavor from the habaneros and they lack that subtle smoky flavor that the ghost peppers bring. In terms of heat these are a very nice middle ground between the variety pack trio which are all on the milder side and the Savage Ghost Pepper which are very hot. There’s some initial burn and a lingering heat that’s more than a tingle but not so much that you’ll be reaching for your nearest glass of water. These hit the sweet spot for heat for most people that want to feel some burn without it potentially ruining their day.

I’m happy to recommend these just like all of the other DAAL Snacks flavors. As healthy and spicy snacks they’re hard to beat and something I’d absolutely suggest trying if you’re looking for something satisfying that doesn’t come with the downsides of most junk food.