15 October 2011

Mackie’s of Scotland – Scotch Bonnet Chili Pepper crisps (Scotland) [By @SpectreUK]


I decided one crazy Sunday to chance these “Naturally grown and fiery hot” Scotch Bonnet Chili Pepper crisps from Mackie’s of Scotland. Mackie’s first launched their brand of crisps in 2009. A farm in Taypack grows the potatoes and Mackie’s add the flavour. I say “crazy Sunday”, as Cinabar had been to Scotland with her mum some time before and brought back this flame red bag of crisps. Scotch Bonnet Chili Peppers are the hottest on the market. Seriously, I’m certain people have died eating these things hole. These chilies are not for the faint hearted. Only the toughest of extreme food eaters around can take these. People who believe in eating on the edge, like eating a Pot Noodle on a roller coaster or consuming a rare beef sandwich in a shark infested swimming pool. To be honest, I took one look at this raw flesh coloured bag of crisps and hid them for fear of death by eating. The “crazy Sunday” came from there being no other crisps in the house one Sunday lunchtime combined with the greater fear of wasting food when I read the fast approaching “best before date” on the blood red packet. So I sat down with a beef salad sandwich (no sharks around), and an assortment of various pickles and olives on the plate and opened the fire engine red bag of crisps.

The ingredients that immediately stood out on first taste were red pepper, paprika, garlic, parsley, tomato, coriander, and sugar. I say “immediately stood out”, as I was expecting a burning uncomfortable heat bordering on agony. Instead I found they were pleasant sweet spicy crisps that didn’t burn the inside of my mouth out. These crisps were not that hot. Not as burning hot as Nandos Hot crisps or Cofresh Balti Mix. They were moreish and left an underlying heat in my mouth, but weren’t as hot as the Barry Norman’s Hot and Spicy Pickled Onions on the same plate. These crisps are another example of spicy snack manufacturers going easy on consumers. Although they were very tasty, I couldn’t help being a little underwhelmed. These crisps are more for the faint hearted rather than crazy salivating extreme chili eaters. Having said that, I’d buy these again and the next time I wouldn’t hide them at the back of the cupboard for fear of death by eating. I’m off to find a shark infested swimming pool to finish my beef sandwich in piece(s)…
By Spectre

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