There are a lot of choices on the chip market these days. While spicy chips were once a rather unusual snack, there are now more brands offering these than ever before.
Takis are a rolled up corn-style chip, while Turbos are a spiral-looking corn chip. Both are spicy in flavor, but Takis has more flavor options.
In this article, I will compare Takis vs Turbos – as both offer a similar flavor. Takis Fuego and Turbos Flamas are both red and pretty hot.
Takis
The Company Behind Takis
Takis chips have been available in Mexico since 1999, but the USA has only had Takis in stores since 2006. They are made by the company Barcel (part of Grupo Bimbo).
Grupo Bimbo is a rather big Mexican multinational company that makes and sells products in 33 countries.
What Takis Flavors Are There And Where Can I Buy Them?
Takis has an extensive range of flavors to choose from – you can find a selection in grocery stores, Walmart, and Target.
If you want to explore the full range, online shopping is the better solution, as grocery stores will often only stock a small selection.
Some of the most popular Takis are:
- Takis Fuego combines the flavor of chili and lime. It is the classic Takis flavor and also the spiciest of the range.
- Takis Blue Heat are blue chips. They are fun to look at but even more fun to eat. They are a tiny little bit milder than Fuego! These are great if you don’t understand why lime has to be in everything spicy. There’s no lime flavor here.
- Speaking of lime, Takis Nitro also includes. It is similar to Fuego, a little milder. The difference: Fuego is made with hot chili pepper, while Nitro is made with habanero chili.
- Takis Salsa Brava has a more refreshing flavor. Don’t worry; it’s still pretty spicy, but in a relaxed Salsa way.
What Are Takis Ingredients?
Takis Fuego’s ingredient list is as follows:
Corn flour (processed with lime), vegetable oil (palm and/or soybean and/or canola oil), seasoning [salt, maltodextrin, citric acid, sugar, monosodium glutamate, hydrolyzed soy protein, onion powder, yeast extract, red 40 lake, yellow 6 lake, natural and artificial flavors, sodium bicarbonate, soybean oil, chili pepper (chile), disodium inosinate, disodium guanylate, TBHQ (antioxidant)].
Turbos
The Company Behind Turbos
Turbos are manufactured by a company called Sabritas. This company was founded in 1943 in Mexico City.
In 1966, Sabritas became part of the PepsiCo family. This was when the company started to expand its retail channels and sell its products in more places.
What Turbos Flavors Are There And Where Can I Buy Them?
It can be a little hard to find Turbos in grocery stores, but you’ll usually find them in Walmart. The easiest way to get your hands on some Turbos is to do some online shopping, mainly because Sabritas doesn’t have a handy store finder like other brands do.
Turbos Flamas are the only option you have available. They are a spicy mix of chili and lime. It is a direct competitor to Takis Fuego but not quite as spicy.
What Are Turbos Ingredients?
If you want to compare the ingredients of Takis vs Turbos, here are Turbos’ ingredients:
Corn, corn oil, turbos flamas seasoning (maltodextrin [made from corn], salt, citric acid, sugar, monosodium glutamate, artificial color [red 40 lake, yellow 6 lake], sunflower oil, hydrolyzed corn protein, yeast extract, sodium diacetate, cheddar cheese [milk, cheese cultures, salt, enzymes], natural flavors, modified corn starch, onion powder, whey, corn syrup solids, garlic powder, romano cheese [part-skim cow’s milk, cheese cultures, salt, enzymes], buttermilk, whey protein concentrate, disodium inosinate, and disodium guanylate).
Yes, that list is a bit longer than Takis’ ingredient list!
Takis vs Turbos Comparison Questions:
Which Is More Affordable?
While Takis chips come in a wide variety of flavors, Turbos come in only one variation that you can directly compare to Takis Fuego.
| Takis | Turbos | More Affordable | |
| Chili and Lime flavor | Average of $0.30 per oz | $0.55 per oz | Takis |
Which Has The Better Options For Vegetarians and Vegans?
Turbos are not vegan (dairy as an ingredient), and it is questionable whether they are vegetarian as the company needs to clarify what kind of enzymes are used in their ingredients. One of the emulsifiers is also a dubious ingredient as it could be made from animal fat.
On the other hand, Takis has vegetarian and vegan friendly flavors (Takis Fuego, Takis Zombie, Takis Nitro, and Takis Salsa Brava).
Are Turbos Hotter Than Takis?
No, they are not hotter than Takis Fuego. While the ingredients are similar, and the primary flavors are lime and chili, there’s no doubt about Takis being the hotter chip. Takis has more of a punch and you will feel it, especially if you are not used to spicy foods.
Are Takis and Turbos Bad For You?
A look at the ingredient list of Takis shows that they aren’t good for you. And if you eat a lot of them every day, they can potentially harm your health, for example:
- Weight gain (calorie-dense and high-fat content)
- Problems with blood pressure and higher risk for heart diseases (high sodium content)
- Increased risk for certain types of cancer (e.g., gastric cancer, see this study)
- Increased risk for diabetes type 2 (highly processed foods increase this risk)
You do not entirely have to avoid eating these chips, just don’t overdo it. Takis and Turbos are snack foods and should be treated as such. Ask a medical professional about the health risks as I am not a doctor or healthcare professional, just a foodie!
Related Questions
Are Takis And Turbos The Same?
Different companies produce them, so they are not the same chip.
They are similar in color and the taste, while slightly different, is also similar. Takis and Turbos are both red, but their shape is different.
While both aren’t traditional-looking chips and are more the size of a fry, Takis achieve this by rolling corn chips. Turbos Flavas look different; they look like the spiral type of pasta, but they are also a corn chip.
Can Takis Or Turbos Make Your Poop Red?
Yes, they can – but only if you consume large amounts of these chips.
The reason for this is pretty simple: there is a lot of red food coloring on these chips (don’t be fooled into believing that all the color comes from chili!).
The more food coloring you consume from these chips, the more likely you will notice a change in your poop’s color.
Can I Eat Takis and Turbo Chips While Wearing Braces?
Yes, you can, but it will be challenging and might not be an excellent idea. After all, braces can pop off your teeth if you aren’t careful (and your dentist will have given you advice on what to do!). It’ll not be enjoyable if you have to go back and get them fitted again.
I had braces for 2 years and I avoided thicker chips like Takis and Turbos, if you want chips plain potato chips are easier on your teeth during braces.
If you can’t live without these specific chips while wearing braces, just proceed with caution. Take small bites only, and ensure not to use too much force while biting. My braces never really popped off, but I know some of my friends had their brackets popping off from everything.
The Verdict – What Chips Should I Buy?
While I prefer other Takis flavors, if I had to choose between Takis Fuego and Turbos, I’d choose Takis.
Turbos have a relatively dense texture and have a different crunch factor than Takis Fuego. Takis are more satisfying to eat; they are the texture you’d expect from chips.
Takis are also easier to find in stores and online – for a lower price. I also found the lime flavor in Turbos to be on the artificial side, while Takis flavors all come together nicely. The only reason to recommend Turbos would be if someone wanted to try a slightly milder version of Takis with a different texture. But remember it comes down to personal preference, so try them both and let me know your thoughts.
If you like these chips you should totally read my comparison of Takis and Doritos Dynamitas here.