Product Review Aubrey D. Rebel Hot Chips & Sauce

When I got an email from Aubrey from Hot Chips telling me about the Rebel brand, I knew I wanted in. I loved everything about the branding, what it was about except that… I have very little tolerance for heat. I said that I was a spice wimp and was warned that “Everything I do is hot either xtreme or medium” and I still said yes.

The Product

“Aubrey D. Rebel Potato Chips are the ultimate hot, spicy and tasty snack. These delicious kettle cooked potato chips are each based on a type of pepper and are inspored by Aubrey D. Rebel Hot Sauces.”

The Unboxing

• All Natural
• ZERO TRANS FAT and ZERO CHOLESTEROL
• Gluten Free and Peanut Free
• Kosher Certified
• Always kettle cooked in sunflower oil for the healthiest, crispiest and crunchiest chips ever.
  Handcrafted with choice habañero, chipotle and jalapeño peppers and Grade A choice potatoes.

I received the three flavours:  Jalapeño White Cheddar, Chipotle Hot Wings and Habanero Bar-B-Q.

“Launched in 2004, Gourmet Chips and Sauces has quickly become one of Canada’s largest Hot and Spicy food companies. Today our Hot and Spicy Products are sold across Canada, in the United States of America as well as in various countries in Europe and Asia…”

I also got a bottle of the Aubrey D. Rebel Jalapeño Hot Sauce but let’s start with the chips.

Jalapeño White Cheddar

I started with the Jalapeño White Cheddar, realizing that they would probably be the mildest of the three and looked forward to the aged white cheddar flavour mixed with the jalapeño.

First, the chips are excellent kettle chips. They have that fantastic crunch and for a second I could taste that amazing cheese flavour. Then, it was all over. My mouth completely freaked out and I had tears in my eyes.

I was in agony! Absolute agony! OMG, I still had two spicier chips to try. I was screwed.

“They are very hot, enough for you to break out into a pepper induced sweat, but not so much that it stops you from reaching for the next chip to enjoy with a cool beverage and some salsa or Guacamole.”

Turns out this is entirely TRUE! I had several people try them to see if I was just being “sensitive” and it was confirmed that they were hot but flavourful, not out of control hot.

As I said, I was screwed.

Habanero Bar-B-Q

For me, at this point, I just wanted the most painful of the taste testing to be over and done with: Bring on the agony of the Habanero.

Kill me. Kill me now I thought as I ate just ONE chip. I keeled over in pain and sweat. My mouth was filled with fire.

“When we say these are XXXTRA HOT, we mean it! From the first bite, there is a nice bar-b-q taste with heat that slowly builds until your mouth is on fire!”

No shit! Holy fuck!

Chipotle Hot Wings

At this point there just was no reason to even bother with the Chipotle Hot Wings but I am a professional and tried them anyway.

Nope. I tasted nothing. Just more pain. Tons and tons of pain. I got out a glass of milk and tried to quench the inferno.

I was pissed off at myself. I should have known better. I wanted to be part of the cool foodie club and I suck.

Now it turns out that I am not the only one who found both of these way too hot and not as flavourful as the jalapeño. For those with the super power to handle the heat, perhaps you will be able to taste the flavour of them but my brother-in-law put it best, “It made my tongue sweat.” Ouch! Bloody, bloody hot.

Jalapeño Hot Sauce

After that I did not personally taste test the Jalapeño Hot Sauce. I was done. I just could not put my body through any more so I gave it to my friend Dawn The Foodie Realtor since she loved the Jalapeño White Cheddar ones so much. She was smart, she put it into a dipping sauce to taste test:

“… hot sauce was flavourful and hot. I found it hotter than a typical jalapeño hot sauce but it wasn’t all about the heat – the flavour was there. I cut it with some mayo and it made a great dip!!”

This is the first time in a long time I had to pass the buck when it comes to product testing but I did it out of self-preservation. As much as I am a rebel and a badass in spirit, my body has the tolerance of child when it comes to heat. This was my fault as I should have known better and said no. But I wanted to be part of this Rebel foodie gang so much. Instead, I was a bonehead.

What I can say is that if you love heat (and I know you heat fanatics are out there) you have to try these Hot Chips. Even if it is just to test your internal mettle or do it on a dare, these are high quality chips with fantastic crunch. I so wanted to be able to enjoy them too but you can enjoy them for me. And the sauce? You know I love sauce but I am done with heat for a while. I have been brought to my knees too many times in the last month due to spicy food.

This product is not for me but if you love spice and chips, these are for you. You can find them at Whole Foods, Bulk Barn and independent groceries stores! I dare you, LOL. Hey, I did it!