Walkers Wotsits Crunchy Sweet and Spicy Snacks, 140g

Wotsits Crunchy are the crunchier take on the classic Wotsits, and Sweet and Spicy is the Flamin' Hot one, sweet first and then fiery. This is the 140g sharing bag, which the pack says holds four to five servings. The full product name on the pack is sweet and spicy Flamin' Hot flavour corn puffs, and the listing gives Portugal as the country of origin.

The ingredients

According to the printed pack, the puffs are made from corn (maize), a vegetable oil blend (corn and sunflower, in varying proportions) and a Flamin' Hot flavour of sugar, acidity regulators (sodium acetates and malic acid), flavour enhancers (monosodium glutamate and disodium 5' ribonucleotide), flavouring (containing soya and wheat), fructose, salt, onion powder, hydrolysed vegetable protein (soya), garlic powder, soybean derivatives, wheat derivatives and colours (paprika extract and sulphite ammonia caramel).

Crunchy

Classic Wotsits melt in the mouth; Wotsits Crunchy are made to crunch. The pack describes them as a crunchy twist on the classic Wotsits.

The sweet

Sugar leads the flavour and fructose, a fruit sugar, follows, so the coating is sweet first. The label gives 3.3g of sugars per 100g, green on the front of pack scale.

The heat

No chilli is named on the list: the Flamin' Hot heat comes from the flavouring, with onion and garlic behind it. It is a warm, building kick, softened by the sugar.

Umami

Hydrolysed vegetable protein, soya and wheat derivatives and the flavour enhancers give a deep, savoury taste under the sweetness. This bag does contain MSG.

The acids

Sodium acetates, from the acid of vinegar, and malic acid, the acid of apples, give the coating a sharp, sweet and sour edge.

The colours

Paprika extract gives the deep red orange colour, and sulphite ammonia caramel, a caramel colour, darkens it.

Corn oil and sunflower oil

The oil blend is corn oil and sunflower oil. The label gives 33g of fat per 100g, red on the front of pack scale, and 4.2g of saturates, amber.

Numbers per serving

The pack gives 164 kcal (684 kJ), 9.9g of fat, 1.3g of saturates, 17g of carbohydrate, 1g of sugars, 0.3g of fibre, 1.6g of protein and 0.45g of salt for a 30g serving, which it puts at 8% of an average adult's daily energy reference intake, 14% of the fat and 8% of the salt.

Numbers per 100g

Per 100g the pack gives 546 kcal (2280 kJ), 33g of fat, 4.2g of saturates, 56g of carbohydrate, 3.3g of sugars, 1g of fibre, 5.3g of protein and 1.5g of salt.

Reading the front of the pack

On the UK front of pack scale, per 100g, fat at 33g is red. Saturates at 4.2g are amber. Sugars at 3.3g are green. Salt at 1.5g is amber, right on the line.

Salt

The label gives 1.5g of salt per 100g and 0.45g in a 30g serving; the Really Cheesy Wotsits Crunchy carry 1.3g per 100g.

Carbohydrate and fibre

The label gives 56g of carbohydrate per 100g, of which 3.3g are sugars; the rest is starch from the corn. Fibre is 1g and protein 5.3g per 100g.

Corn

Corn, or maize, is the first ingredient, puffed into the shapes before the coating goes on.

Fructose

Fructose is the sugar of fruit, sweeter than table sugar, so a little goes a long way in the coating.

Allergens and diet

The printed ingredients highlight soya and wheat, in the flavouring, the hydrolysed vegetable protein and the soybean and wheat derivatives. The allergy advice on the pack says the puffs may contain milk, gluten and barley. The pack says they are suitable for vegetarians; there is no vegan statement, and they are not suitable for anyone avoiding gluten or soya. Recipes and factory arrangements change, so check the allergy advice on the pack you receive.

Four to five servings

The pack says it holds four to five servings of 30g. Tip a serving into a bowl rather than eating from the bag.

Once opened

The listing advises a cool, dry place and says to eat the puffs within 3 days of opening, so fold the bag down and clip it shut.

Made in Portugal

The listing gives Portugal as the country of origin.

Fingers

The red coating comes off on your fingers, so keep a napkin by the bowl.

The pack

The red bag, with a pattern of cracks and flames, carries the Walkers logo, the Wotsits name in yellow, the word crunchy, the words sweet and spicy with Flamin' Hot in script, a few puffs and the 140g weight.

Who it suits

A sweet, spicy, crunchy puff suits anyone who likes Flamin' Hot snacks and a harder crunch than a classic Wotsit, and the vegetarian statement suits most tables. It is not suitable for anyone avoiding gluten, soya or MSG.

Serving ideas

Put a bowl out with a cold beer or a cola at a film night, beside a milder cheesy snack for anyone who does not like heat.

In the kitchen

Crushed, the puffs make a sweet, spicy crumb for chicken goujons, or a topping for a macaroni cheese with a kick.

A mixed bowl

Mix a bag with the Really Cheesy Wotsits Crunchy for a bowl that is half mild, half hot, with a soured cream and chive dip to cool it.

Other Wotsits Crunchy

We also stock Walkers Wotsits Crunchy Really Cheesy in the same 140g bag.

The published listing gives Portugal 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.