Doritos Cool Original Tortilla Chips, 180g

Cool Original is the Doritos flavour for people who want tang rather than heat: a seasoning that tastes of soured cream, herbs and onion on a corn tortilla chip. This is the 180g sharing bag, which the label divides into six 30g servings. The full product name on the pack is Cool Original Flavour Corn Chips.

What is in the seasoning

According to the published pack listing, the chips are made from corn (maize), rapeseed oil, a Cool Original flavour seasoning and antioxidants (rosemary extract, ascorbic acid, a tocopherol rich extract and citric acid).

The seasoning lists salt, flavouring (containing milk), acidity regulators (malic acid, sodium acetates and citric acid), flavour enhancers (monosodium glutamate and disodium 5'-ribonucleotide), sugar, glucose syrup, onion powder, cheese powder, garlic powder, tomato powder, potassium chloride, spices, milk protein and annatto bixin for colour.

Where the cool comes from

Cool here means tangy and creamy rather than cold. Three acids are listed. Sodium acetates are salts of acetic acid, the acid in vinegar, and they give a soft, soured tang. Malic acid, the sharp acid of green apples, and citric acid add brightness. Put those with a dairy flavouring, cheese powder and milk protein, and the result tastes like a soured cream and herb dip. Onion and garlic give it the savoury body of that dip, the spices add the herby note, and a little sugar and glucose syrup keep the acids from tasting harsh.

The flavour enhancers

Monosodium glutamate and disodium 5'-ribonucleotide are listed. Glutamate gives savoury depth, and the ribonucleotide mix strengthens it, which is why the seasoning tastes full with only a light dusting on each chip.

A sharing bag in numbers

Per 30g serving the label gives 144 kcal, 6.6g of fat, 0.6g of saturates, 18g of carbohydrate, 0.6g of sugars, 1.7g of fibre, 1.8g of protein and 0.33g of salt. That serving is about 7% of an average adult's daily energy reference intake and 6% of the salt. Per 100g it is 479 kcal, 22g of fat, 2g of saturates, 62g of carbohydrate, 1.9g of sugars, 5.6g of fibre and 1.1g of salt.

Reading the colours on the front

On the UK front of pack scale, per 100g, fat at 22g is red, above 17.5g. Saturates at 2g are amber. Sugars at 1.9g are green. Salt at 1.1g is amber, in the upper half of the band.

Allergens and diet

The published ingredients highlight milk, in the flavouring, the cheese powder and the milk protein. The allergy advice says the chips may contain cereals containing gluten and soya. The pack says they are suitable for vegetarians and made with no artificial colours or flavours. They are not vegan, because of the milk, and no gluten free claim is made. Recipes and factory arrangements change, so check the allergy advice on the pack you receive.

How the chips are made

Corn dough is rolled thin, cut into triangles and cooked in rapeseed oil until crisp through. The seasoning is tumbled on while the chips are warm so the oil holds it. The pack names Walkers Snack Foods Ltd as the maker.

Sugar and glucose syrup

Two sweet ingredients sit in the middle of the list: sugar and glucose syrup. Neither makes the chips taste sweet. Their job is to take the sharp edge off three acids, so the tang comes across as cool and creamy rather than sour. The label's 1.9g of sugars per 100g shows how little is needed.

In the kitchen

Crushed Cool Original chips make a tangy crumb for a chicken and cheese bake or a crunchy layer on a taco salad. They also suit a fish finger wrap with a squeeze of lemon, where the tang echoes the citrus.

A children's party bowl

With no chilli listed, Cool Original is an easy Doritos to put in front of children. Serve it with a mild tomato salsa or a cheese dip, and keep hotter flavours in a separate, labelled bowl for the adults.

Serving the bag

Cool Original is the easiest Doritos to pair, because it has no heat and a tang that suits fresh, bright dips: tomato salsa, guacamole, a tzatziki style yoghurt dip or a spicy bean dip if someone wants heat on their own terms. It is also a good chip for children who find chilli too much, and a neutral base for nachos topped with cheese and chopped tomato.

Cool Original and Chilli Heatwave together

A bowl of each makes a simple two flavour party table: the tangy, creamy one and the sweet, hot one. The Doritos Variety box pairs them in the same way in lunchbox bags, with Tangy Cheese as the third flavour.

After opening, and other sizes

The pack advises a cool, dry place and eating an opened bag within three days. The same flavour comes in a five bag multipack of 30g bags. In the same 180g size we stock Doritos Tangy Cheese, Chilli Heatwave and Sizzling Beef Taco.

Sizes of Doritos Cool Original Tortilla Chips we stock

Figures as published on each pack's label.

The published listing gives the United Kingdom as the country of origin. The tasting notes on this page are our own editorial assessment against the current pack format and the brand's published description.