# Doritos' Mystery Flavor (boxed spoilers) **URL:** \ **Category:** Cafe Society\ **Created:** [May 28, 2007, 10:36pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/doritos-mystery-flavor-boxed-spoilers/405831 "2007-05-28T22:36:12Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 20\ **Page:** 3
**Author:** ![gardentraveler](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/gardentraveler/32/3576_2.png) [@gardentraveler](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/gardentraveler)\ **Post date:** [May 29, 2007, 10:21pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/doritos-mystery-flavor-boxed-spoilers/405831/41 "2007-05-29T22:21:38Z")
[QUOTE=pbbth] I used to work for Frito Lay and I can tell you that the toasted corn was the original dorito and the other flavors came later. The reason they had 2 chips (doritos and fritos) with the same ingredients is that the cooking process is different so they dont taste the same and also the dorito was designed as a dipping chip whereas fritos were more of a stand alone product. All of the flavored products came afterwards, and taco was the first flavored dorito. [/QUOTE] I was going to jump in with this as my memory, too (except for the working at Frito Lay part). I always liked Fritos, but they’ve never been a “tortilla chip” like Doritos. I’ve never cared for their flavored versions and always liked the plain/original/unflavored/whatever you want to call them (I can tolerate Cool Ranch, if necessary, but the rest are just icky). I don’t remember flavored versions existing before the '70s or so. GT ---
**Author:** ![cbawlmer](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/c/71e660/32.png) [@cbawlmer](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/cbawlmer)\ **Post date:** [May 30, 2007, 2:53pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/doritos-mystery-flavor-boxed-spoilers/405831/42 "2007-05-30T14:53:49Z")
Fritos are necessary because Doritos become mush when covered with chili. I cannot remember a time without Nacho Cheese Doritos. The first time I remember there being a “new” flavor, it was Cool Ranch. I never knew there was a plain version before the cheese kind. Did they have hard drugs in them like the original Coca-Cola? 😉 ---
**Author:** ![The\_Hamster\_King](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/t/8edcca/32.png) [@The\_Hamster\_King](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/The_Hamster_King)\ **Post date:** [May 30, 2007, 4:43pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/doritos-mystery-flavor-boxed-spoilers/405831/43 "2007-05-30T16:43:30Z")
[QUOTE=pbbth] All of the flavored products came afterwards, and taco was the first flavored dorito. [/QUOTE] This is how I remember it as well. Plain Doritos came first, then taco-flavored, then nacho. I remember it because a taco-flavored dorito was the flavored chip I ever had. ---
**Author:** ![Harmonious\_Discord](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/h/74df32/32.png) [@Harmonious\_Discord](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Harmonious_Discord)\ **Post date:** [May 30, 2007, 5:02pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/doritos-mystery-flavor-boxed-spoilers/405831/44 "2007-05-30T17:02:57Z")
pbbth has it right. ---
**Author:** ![WOOKINPANUB](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/wookinpanub/32/132_2.png) [@WOOKINPANUB](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/WOOKINPANUB)\ **Post date:** [May 30, 2007, 5:52pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/doritos-mystery-flavor-boxed-spoilers/405831/45 "2007-05-30T17:52:54Z")
I keep wondering why, when they come out with every flavor under the sun, can they not bring back the taco flavored ones. It seems everyone I’ve heard from that remembers them liked them the best. Then again, they’d probably just ruin the recipe like they did with the nacho cheese flavor. They were sooooooo much better before they became nacho cheesier ☹ ---
**Author:** ![RogueRacer](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/r/7ab992/32.png) [@RogueRacer](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/RogueRacer)\ **Post date:** [May 30, 2007, 6:24pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/doritos-mystery-flavor-boxed-spoilers/405831/46 "2007-05-30T18:24:18Z")
I tried the X-D13’s about a week ago. One word. Nasty. They seem to release the taco flavored Doritos every few years. I’m pretty sure that they aren’t the recipe that I remember from my childhood though. ---
**Author:** ![kidchameleon](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/k/898d66/32.png) [@kidchameleon](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/kidchameleon)\ **Post date:** [May 30, 2007, 6:32pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/doritos-mystery-flavor-boxed-spoilers/405831/47 "2007-05-30T18:32:59Z")
Not a fan of the mustard/pickle ones but the Smoking Red BBQ have become my new favorite chip. I hope they keep that one and not the other boring white chips they are competing against. ---
**Author:** ![SmackFu](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/53a042/32.png) [@SmackFu](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/SmackFu)\ **Post date:** [May 30, 2007, 6:42pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/doritos-mystery-flavor-boxed-spoilers/405831/48 "2007-05-30T18:42:28Z")
Ooo, I had Doritos Incognita in Mexico. I wonder if it’s the same thing? (I thought they tasted like someone dumped a spice jar on them.) ---
**Author:** ![RogueRacer](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/r/7ab992/32.png) [@RogueRacer](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/RogueRacer)\ **Post date:** [May 30, 2007, 6:48pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/doritos-mystery-flavor-boxed-spoilers/405831/49 "2007-05-30T18:48:53Z")
Btw, the Doritos I miss were called something like “Fiery Ranch”. They were out a few years ago. They were very tasty, but they were hot. ---
**Author:** ![pulykamell](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/pulykamell/32/3166_2.png) [@pulykamell](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/pulykamell)\ **Post date:** [May 30, 2007, 9:28pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/doritos-mystery-flavor-boxed-spoilers/405831/50 "2007-05-30T21:28:04Z")
[QUOTE=WOOKINPANUB] I keep wondering why, when they come out with every flavor under the sun, can they not bring back the taco flavored ones. It seems everyone I’ve heard from that remembers them liked them the best. Then again, they’d probably just ruin the recipe like they did with the nacho cheese flavor. They were sooooooo much better before they became nacho cheesier ☹ [/QUOTE] I’ve seen the taco ones in the Chicago market within the last two or three years. They may still have them, but I don’t particularly like Doritos. Growing up in the 80s and 90s, Doritos mean two flavors to me: Nacho and Cool Ranch. I thought Taco was a newer flavor when I saw it here for the first time a few years ago. I had no idea it preceded Nacho. ---
**Author:** ![Common\_Tater](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/common_tater/32/13846_2.png) [@Common\_Tater](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Common_Tater)\ **Post date:** [May 30, 2007, 10:12pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/doritos-mystery-flavor-boxed-spoilers/405831/51 "2007-05-30T22:12:03Z")
[QUOTE=Harmonious Discord] Toasted corn flavor is just the plain unseasoned ones. We used to have 4 flavors available. Toasted Corn, Taco, Nacho Cheese, and Sour Cream & Onion. I liked Sour Cream & Onion better than the Cool Ranch. I still would like it to come back. [/QUOTE] I’d forgotten that. Are Fritos still around? I think they predate Doritos? Cool Ranch - they just didn’t satisfy my Dorito jonesing. I know marketing types always are looking for growth and new product lines, but sheesh. The Dorito is perfect, it cannot be improved upon. ---
**Author:** ![mobo85](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/b19c9b/32.png) [@mobo85](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/mobo85)\ **Post date:** [May 30, 2007, 10:23pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/doritos-mystery-flavor-boxed-spoilers/405831/52 "2007-05-30T22:23:16Z")
[QUOTE=Common Tater] Are Fritos still around? I think they predate Doritos? [/QUOTE] Of course [Frito’s](http://www.fritos.com/) still exist. They do predate Doritos- they’re celebrating 75 years this year. Official Doritos flavors, according to Frito-Lay’s website: Blazin’ Buffalo Ranch Cool Ranch® Fiery Habanero Nacho Cheese® Ranchero Salsa Verde Smokin’ Cheddar BBQ Spicy Nacho Taco Toasted Corn White Nacho (natural) Wild White Nacho X-13D ---
**Author:** ![Rilchiam](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/r/2bfe46/32.png) [@Rilchiam](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Rilchiam)\ **Post date:** [May 30, 2007, 10:47pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/doritos-mystery-flavor-boxed-spoilers/405831/53 "2007-05-30T22:47:16Z")
[QUOTE=kidchameleon] the Smoking Red BBQ have become my new favorite chip. [/QUOTE] Whaaaat?! Where are you, that you can get Smoky Red BBQ?! I haven’t seen it in years! ---
**Author:** ![Just\_Ed](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/j/e19b73/32.png) [@Just\_Ed](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Just_Ed)\ **Post date:** [May 31, 2007, 2:28am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/doritos-mystery-flavor-boxed-spoilers/405831/54 "2007-05-31T02:28:51Z")
OK, so, after investigating at [Doritos.com](http://www.doritos.com) (which is a tiresomely annoying Flash site), I visited the “Flavor Lab” for the straight dope from the horse’s mouth (as it were). Here is their chronological list of flavors:[ul] [li]Toasted Corn 1964[/li][li]Nacho Cheese 1972[/li][li]Taco 1985[/li][li]Cool Ranch 1986[/li][li]Spicy Nacho 1997[/li][li]Light Nacho Cheese 1998[/li][li]Salsa Verde 1998[/li][li]Ranchero 2002[/li][li]Salsa 2002[/li][li]Baked! Nacho Cheese 2002[/li][li]Natural White Nacho Cheese 2003[/li][li]Reduced Fat Nacho Cheese 2003[/li][li]Black Pepper Jack 2004[/li][li]Fiery Habanero 2005[/li][li]Reduced Fat Cool Ranch 2006[/li][\*]Blazin’ Buffalo & Ranch 2006[/ul] ---
**Author:** ![Harmonious\_Discord](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/h/74df32/32.png) [@Harmonious\_Discord](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Harmonious_Discord)\ **Post date:** [May 31, 2007, 2:54am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/doritos-mystery-flavor-boxed-spoilers/405831/55 "2007-05-31T02:54:13Z")
[QUOTE=Quixotic] OK, so, after investigating at [Doritos.com](http://www.doritos.com) (which is a tiresomely annoying Flash site), I visited the “Flavor Lab” for the straight dope from the horse’s mouth (as it were). Here is their chronological list of flavors:[ul] [li]Toasted Corn 1964[/li][li]Nacho Cheese 1972[/li][li]Taco 1985[/li][li]Cool Ranch 1986[/li][li]Spicy Nacho 1997[/li][li]Light Nacho Cheese 1998[/li][li]Salsa Verde 1998[/li][li]Ranchero 2002[/li][li]Salsa 2002[/li][li]Baked! Nacho Cheese 2002[/li][li]Natural White Nacho Cheese 2003[/li][li]Reduced Fat Nacho Cheese 2003[/li][li]Black Pepper Jack 2004[/li][li]Fiery Habanero 2005[/li][li]Reduced Fat Cool Ranch 2006[/li][li]Blazin’ Buffalo & Ranch 2006[/ul][/li][/QUOTE] Where is the Sour Cream and Onion that was out for years, got pulled for years and then was replaced by Cool Ranch? Link for the fritos bandito wiki and the w.c. fritos charator is mentioned. > **[Frito Bandito](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Frito_Bandito)** > > The Frito Bandito was the cartoon mascot for Fritos corn chips from 1967 to 1971. The Bandito was created by the Foote, Cone & Belding Agency and animated by Tex Avery. The character was voiced by Mel Blanc, who used an exaggerated Mexican accent not unlike another character of his, Speedy Gonzales. The Frito Bandito spoke broken English and robbed people of their Fritos corn chips, a reference to the "Mexican bandit" stereotype in Western movies. > Pressure from the National Mexican-American A... ---
**Author:** ![pulykamell](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/pulykamell/32/3166_2.png) [@pulykamell](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/pulykamell)\ **Post date:** [May 31, 2007, 2:59am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/doritos-mystery-flavor-boxed-spoilers/405831/56 "2007-05-31T02:59:10Z")
[QUOTE=Harmonious Discord] Where is the Sour Cream and Onion that was out for years, got pulled for years and then was replaced by Cool Ranch? Link for the fritos bandito wiki and the w.c. fritos charator is mentioned. > **[Frito Bandito](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Frito_Bandito)** > > The Frito Bandito was the cartoon mascot for Fritos corn chips from 1967 to 1971. The Bandito was created by the Foote, Cone & Belding Agency and animated by Tex Avery. The character was voiced by Mel Blanc, who used an exaggerated Mexican accent resembling that of Speedy Gonzales, another of his characters. The Frito Bandito spoke broken English and robbed people of their Fritos corn chips, a reference to the "Mexican bandit" stereotype in Western movies. Pressure from the National Mexican-Ameri... [/QUOTE] [There’s a bunch about the question here.](http://www.sdreader.com/php/ma_show.php?id=853) There doesn’t seem to be a definitive answer, but plenty of people vouching for seeing them in the 70s and 80s. I personally have never heard of them. ---
**Author:** ![Harmonious\_Discord](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/h/74df32/32.png) [@Harmonious\_Discord](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Harmonious_Discord)\ **Post date:** [May 31, 2007, 3:02am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/doritos-mystery-flavor-boxed-spoilers/405831/57 "2007-05-31T03:02:21Z")
Wiki : Taco (Original Taco Flavor was introduced some time in the mid 70’s and was around for several years before being discontinued. This was a chip with a bold blend of taco seasoning spices. Not to be confused with the Taco Supreme, or Taco Bell flavor introduced in the 80’s and recently re-released > **[Doritos](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Doritos)** > > Doritos (/dəˈriːtoʊz/) is an American brand of flavored tortilla chips produced by Frito-Lay, a wholly owned subsidiary of PepsiCo. The concept for Doritos originated at Disneyland at a restaurant managed by Frito-Lay. > In 1966, Doritos became the first tortilla chip available nationally in the United States. The initial flavor was simply toasted corn, followed by taco in 1967, and the now-ubiquitous nacho cheese in 1972. Now, the chips are available in a wide variety of flavors, differing r... Please note that Sour Cream and Onion is listed in discontinued flavors. Wiki says a Sesame was introduced in the 70’s, but I bet it was discontinued almost the day after it was released. ---
**Author:** ![kidchameleon](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/k/898d66/32.png) [@kidchameleon](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/kidchameleon)\ **Post date:** [May 31, 2007, 3:29am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/doritos-mystery-flavor-boxed-spoilers/405831/58 "2007-05-31T03:29:37Z")
[QUOTE=Rilchiam] Whaaaat?! Where are you, that you can get Smoky Red BBQ?! I haven’t seen it in years! [/QUOTE] Chicagoland, they had some contest where you vote for the new flavor, though I was in error. Smoking _Cheddar_ BBQ beat the rather bland Wild White Nacho flavor as the ‘people’s champion’. ---
**Author:** ![Rilchiam](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/r/2bfe46/32.png) [@Rilchiam](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Rilchiam)\ **Post date:** [May 31, 2007, 3:53am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/doritos-mystery-flavor-boxed-spoilers/405831/59 "2007-05-31T03:53:33Z")
Ah, okay. ---
**Author:** ![gigi](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/g/a587f6/32.png) [@gigi](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/gigi)\ **Post date:** [May 31, 2007, 12:31pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/doritos-mystery-flavor-boxed-spoilers/405831/60 "2007-05-31T12:31:40Z")
[QUOTE=Common Tater] I’d forgotten that. Are Fritos still around? [/QUOTE] Yes, and didn’t they come out with a flavored (Barbeque? ::shudder) version? [Previous page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/doritos-mystery-flavor-boxed-spoilers/405831.md?page=2) [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/doritos-mystery-flavor-boxed-spoilers/405831.md?page=4)