Terrific Tescos Tortillas (Tesco Value Tortilla Chips)

Member Name: yackers1

Product:	Tesco Value Tortilla Chips
Date:	08/10/09 (128 review reads)
Rating:

Advantages: The same quality as premium brands but much cheaper

Disadvantages: They are very bad for you (but then so are all tortilla chips)

Tesco are fully promoting their "every little helps" campaign and it seems that there is a budget version of almost every single product. In my experience there are some things you can scrimp on, and some things you can't. The standard tortilla chips is, in my opinion, a pretty standard product and it is generally these products where the Tesco budget version is more than adequate and on par with the more premium brands.

The value tortillas are available in 100g bags, and unlike many other Tesco value items, the packaging is quite tasteful and you can almost be forgiven for not realising it is a value product at first glance. The standard 'blue' colour in the value packaging range has been replaced by a more "stylish" purple and there is very little red colouring. The "value" wording is moved from the centre of the product to the top left hand corner, and it is very understated and in a small font.

The ingredients are minimal and include maize, sunflower oil and salt. This is not surprising given all tortilla chips are made out of the same things. The packet claims it is suitable for vegetarians and the allergy advice on the packet states the recipe contains no nuts, the factory contains no nuts but there is no guarantee the ingredients are nut free! Talk about covering your back, but then this seems to be a standard disclaimer on all packaging nowadays.

Nutritionally, these tortilla chips are very bad for you, but then so are all tortilla chips so this product can't really be marked down for this. A quarter of a pack contains 120 kcal, 6.1g of fat and 0.2g of salt. At first glance these amounts don't appear that bad, but who actually eats 25g? I find that I can devour chips and dips without even realising it, and I know of many people who are the same, so the quantities and the bad stuff soon adds up to an amount you don't really want to admit to, but then you've got to have some vices in life.

****Opinon****

These tortilla chips are no different to any other plain tortilla chip I have had. They look the same, are the same colour, the same shape, the same size, contain the same ingredients and nutritional values etc. etc. I guess this is to be expected, especially given tortilla chips are a fast moving consumer good and there is only so much a manufacturer can do with the product. There are few opportunities to create a unique selling point or personalize the product, unless it is possible to "pimp my tortilla chip" so the only way manufacturers can convince consumers to buy their product over rivals is through the branding and packaging, like Old El Paso has done, or by the price, which is the route Tesco has taken.

Of the many reviews I have read about these tortilla chips the main criticism was the exceptionally high salt content that dries the mouth out. If I were looking purely at the salt content in isolation then I would agree that this is a bit of a problem, but aren't all tortilla chips like this? I can't think of any tortilla chips I have had that hasn't been laden with salt or make the inside of my mouth as dry as the Sahara so I think such comments are a bit misguiding and a more valid comparison would be to that of similar products from other manufacturers. Personally, I don't think the Tesco variety are any more, or less salty than any other brand (and I include both budget and premium brands).

In my opinion tortilla chips are not a tasty product on their own, unless I have the drunken munchies, and even then they only satisfy a "I need to get something in my stomach" craving, and it is the accompaniment that really matters. Depending on my mood I like tortilla chips with a spicy salsa, used as a replacement with chilli con carne or cooked in the oven nacho style, so the taste of the tortilla chip is irrelevant as it is eradicated with the strong flavours of the other items. The only thing that really matters is that the tortilla chip is thick and strong enough to withstand a lot of dip/chilli/melted cheese and doesn't break in to lots of pieces.

In my opinion, the Tesco variety tortilla chips are great and I can't recommend them highly enough. They really are no different to the premium brands and if you use them purely to bulk a meal out, like I do, then does it really matter who manufacturers them? I agree that the packaging isn't very attractive or appealing, and it doesn't really entice you to reach out for the product like the Old El Paso ones do but this doesn't bother me. Besides, since the Tesco variety comes in a bag instead of a box/bag combination there is less packaging and less waste to deal with, which is good for the environment. I know of many 'brand' snobs who would never dream of buying Tesco own, all of whom claim that they can tell when they are eating 'cheap rubbish'. I have managed to serve a couple of them the Tesco tortillas and neither of them said anything, but there is no way they could tell once the tortilla chip was covered in dip.

£0.25 doesn't buy much these days so to get a 100g bag of tortilla chips, that are exactly the same as the premium brands, represents fantastic value for money especially in such difficult times. So, get over the branding issue and put some in your basket.

Summary: There really is no need to spend more on the premium brands as these are just as good