Takis are a popular brand of tortilla chips that are known for their intense spicy flavor. They come in several varieties, with some flavors being hotter than others. While many people enjoy the spicy kick of Takis, they can sometimes be too much to handle for people who don’t regularly eat spicy foods.
Why are Takis so spicy?
The extreme spiciness of Takis comes from the use of chili peppers and chili powder in their seasoning. Most Takis varieties contain a blend of hot chili peppers like jalapeño, habanero, and arbol peppers. These peppers contain capsaicinoids, which are compounds that interact with pain receptors in the mouth and trigger a burning sensation.
In addition to real chili peppers, Takis chips are coated with a fine chili powder blend that further enhances their heat. Some Takis flavors feature extra hot chili powders made from pepper extracts that amplify the spiciness even more.
How spicy are different Takis flavors?
While all Takis have a spicy kick, some varieties are hotter than others. Here’s a breakdown of how the spiciness compares between popular Takis flavors:
Original Takis Fuego
The classic Takis Fuego flavor features a mix of chili pepper seasonings and ranks around 5,000-6,000 on the Scoville scale, which measures a chili pepper’s pungency. They have a manageable spicy taste for many people who enjoy spicy snacks.
Takis Nitro
Takis Nitro are coated in an extra hot chili lime seasoning and rate at about 10,000 Scoville units. They have a fiery blast of heat that hardcore spicy food lovers crave.
Takis Zombie
As one of the hottest varieties, Takis Zombie register at around 15,000 on the Scoville scale thanks to their blend of extremely hot pepper extracts. They are punishingly spicy and not for the faint of heart.
Takis Xplosion
Takis Xplosion contain a custom blend of the hottest chili peppers that makes them Takis’ most intense flavor yet. At over 25,000 Scoville units, they are insanely hot and really push the limits of spiciness.
| Takis Flavor | Scoville Units |
|---|---|
| Original Takis Fuego | 5,000-6,000 |
| Takis Nitro | 10,000 |
| Takis Zombie | 15,000 |
| Takis Xplosion | Over 25,000 |
What happens if you eat Takis that are too spicy?
Eating Takis or any other spicy chips that are beyond your comfort level can lead to some painful and unpleasant consequences. Here are some of the effects you may experience if Takis are too hot for you to handle:
Mouth on fire
The capsaicinoids in chili peppers can literally make your mouth feel like it’s on fire when you eat chips that are too spicy. You’ll likely experience an intense burning sensation on your tongue, lips, and throat.
Extreme discomfort
Spicy foods that overstimulate your pain receptors don’t just cause burning but acute discomfort. Eating overly hot Takis can make you feel like your mouth is being pricked by hundreds of needles.
Profuse sweating
The intense irritation caused by extra spicy Takis can trigger sweating as your body reacts to the capsaicin heat. You may start profusely sweating around your face, head, and neck areas.
Stomach cramps
Highly spicy chips can irritate your stomach lining and cause abdominal cramping after eating them. The cramping results from inflammation in your gastrointestinal tract.
Nausea
If Takis are too much for your system to handle, they may provoke nausea and vomiting. Your body sees the extreme spiciness as a toxin and tries to expel it by making you throw up.
Other gastrointestinal distress
Along with stomach cramps and nausea, spicy chips that exceed your tolerance level can lead to other GI issues like heartburn, indigestion, gas, bloating, and diarrhea.
How to recover if Takis are too hot
If you eat some Takis that end up being too much for you to take, there are some ways you can help cool down and recover:
Drink milk
Drinking milk can help wash away capsaicin oils and ease the burning sensation in your mouth. Milk contains casein protein that binds to the oils.
Eat bread
Bread can help absorb some of the hot oils to reduce the heat level. Starchy bread also helps coat your throat.
Suck on ice cubes
Sucking on ice provides cold relief as the chill soothes your inflamed pain receptors.
Eat acidic foods
Bite into something acidic like lemon, lime, or pineapple to break down the capsaicin. Acid helps neutralize the heat.
Avoid drinking water
Believe it or not, drinking water can sometimes make spiciness feel worse since it spreads the oils around. It’s better to opt for milk, bread, yoghurt, ice cream or other foods.
Take antacids
Over-the-counter antacids like Tums or Pepto-Bismol can help relieve stomach distress caused by extra spicy chips.
Wait it out
Time is the ultimate healer when you’ve overdone it with hot chips. The spiciness will gradually fade over 15-30 minutes as your pain receptors become less stimulated.
How to avoid Takis being too spicy
Here are some precautions you can take to make sure Takis don’t end up being intolerably hot when you eat them:
Start with milder flavors
If you’re new to spicy chips, opt for original Takis Fuego or Takis Lime and Chili Pepper at first before trying zestier varieties.
Read spiciness labels
Pay attention to flavor descriptions and Scoville ratings to choose Takis with a heat level you can handle. Avoid the extra hot Xplosion and Zombie flavors if you’re spice-sensitive.
Do a small taste test
Try just one Takis chip first to gauge the spiciness before diving into a whole bag. This will prevent you from being caught off guard.
Take small bites
Don’t pop a whole Takis chip in your mouth. Take small nibbles to allow your tastebuds to acclimate to the spicy flavor.
Have milk ready
Pour a glass of milk to drink handy in case the heat becomes too much. Milk can instantly tame overpowering spiciness.
Conclusion
Takis are beloved by spice fans for their intense chili flavors, but can overwhelm people unused to hot foods. While Takis varieties run the gamut from moderately spicy to mouth-scorching, there are ways to safely enjoy their heat. Approach new Takis flavors cautiously, have cooling foods or drinks ready, and work your way up the spiciness scale gradually. With the right precautions, you can handle even the hottest Takis without singeing your tastebuds!