Capsicana Lightly Salted Tortilla Chips, 170g

Capsicana make Latin American food, and these are their tortilla chips, lightly salted. This is the 170g sharing bag, and the label gives its figures per 100g and for a 34g serving. The full product name on the pack is wholegrain corn tortilla chips, and the maker on the label is AB World Foods Ltd.

Three ingredients

According to the published pack listing, the chips are made from wholegrain corn (73%), sunflower oil and salt. That is the whole list: corn, oil and salt.

Wholegrain corn

Wholegrain corn makes up 73% of the chips, and the pack says made with wholegrain corn. Wholegrain means the whole kernel is used, bran and germ included.

Nixtamalisation

The listing says the chips are made using nixtamalisation, the traditional Mexican method in which the corn is soaked and cooked before it is ground. It gives the dough the deep, toasty corn taste of a real tortilla.

Lightly salted

Salt is the only seasoning. The label gives 0.75g of salt per 100g and 0.26g in a 34g serving, amber on the front of pack scale.

Sunflower oil

Sunflower oil is the only oil on the list. The label gives 26g of fat per 100g, red on the front of pack scale, and 3.1g of saturates, amber.

Numbers per serving

The label gives 178 kcal (744 kJ), 8.8g of fat, 1.1g of saturates, 21g of carbohydrate, 0.7g of sugars, 2.4g of fibre, 2.6g of protein and 0.26g of salt for a 34g serving. That is about 9% of an average adult's daily energy reference intake, 13% of the fat and 4% of the salt.

Numbers per 100g

Per 100g the label gives 523 kcal (2188 kJ), 26g of fat, 3.1g of saturates, 61g of carbohydrate, 2.2g of sugars, 7g of fibre, 7.7g of protein and 0.75g of salt.

Reading the front of the pack

On the UK front of pack scale, per 100g, fat at 26g is red. Saturates at 3.1g are amber. Sugars at 2.2g are green. Salt at 0.75g is amber.

Fibre and protein

The label gives 7g of fibre and 7.7g of protein per 100g, from the wholegrain corn.

Five servings

At 170g, the bag holds five of the label's 34g servings. Tip a serving into a bowl rather than eating from the bag.

Corn and oil

The corn is 73% of the chip and sunflower oil most of the rest, with a little salt.

Carbohydrate

The label gives 61g of carbohydrate per 100g, of which 2.2g are sugars; the rest is starch from the corn.

Gluten free

Corn is the only grain on the list, and the pack says the chips are gluten free.

Saturates

Saturates are 3.1g per 100g, amber on the front of pack scale, and 1.1g in a 34g serving.

Allergens and diet

The pack's allergy advice says the chips may contain milk and soya, although neither is named in the ingredients themselves. The pack says the chips are gluten free and suitable for vegetarians; there is no vegan statement. Recipes and factory arrangements change, so check the allergy advice on the pack you receive.

Packaging

The listing says Capsicana is changing its packaging, so the bag you receive may look different from our photograph, with the same chips inside. Its recycling guidance says do not recycle the packaging.

Storage

The listing advises a cool, dry place. Clip the bag shut between servings to keep the chips crisp.

The pack

The green and orange bag carries the Capsicana Latin flavour logo with a bright burst of colour, the words tortilla chips and lightly salted, bowls of salsa and guacamole, a round badge and a spill of chips beside the 170g weight.

Who it suits

A plain, lightly salted wholegrain tortilla chip suits anyone who wants a proper dipping chip, and the gluten free and vegetarian statements suit many tables.

Serving ideas

Serve the chips with a guacamole, a fresh tomato salsa or a soured cream dip, or bake a tray of nachos with cheese, jalapeños and beans.

With a chilli

Tortilla chips go on the side of a chilli con carne or a bowl of black bean soup, for scooping.

In the kitchen

Crushed, the chips make a corn crumb for chicken or fish, or a crunchy topping for a Mexican style soup.

Sturdy for dips

A thick tortilla chip holds its shape in a heavy dip, a spoonful of chilli or a hot cheese sauce without breaking.

Salsa

A fresh salsa of tomato, onion, coriander and lime is the simplest partner for a plain corn chip.

Nachos

For nachos, spread the chips on a tray, scatter over grated cheese, beans and sliced jalapeños, and bake until the cheese melts.

Latin flavour

The Capsicana logo reads Latin flavour, and the brand's own images show salsas and a guacamole mix beside the chips.

With a soup

Tortilla chips are good on a bowl of tortilla soup or a smoky black bean soup.

Lime

A squeeze of lime over a bowl of plain tortilla chips, with a pinch of chilli powder, gives them a quick Mexican street style lift.

A table of five

Put two bowls out, one with salsa and one with guacamole, and the bag holds a serving each for five.

Made in the EU

The listing gives the chips as produce of the EU.

The tasting notes on this page are our own editorial assessment against the current pack format and the brand's published description.