SPOT.ph Roadtest: Does the New White Cheddar Cheetos Puffs Live Up to the OG?

(SPOT.ph) It's almost 10.10, which for us means casually browsing the different shopping apps for potential buys—you know, the "add to cart" we do in preparation for the incoming waves of flash sales. If you’re like us and are always on the lookout for deals on our fave munchies, you might have spotted something new with Frito Lay: a different type of Cheetos flavor we haven’t even seen at supermarkets. Raise your hands if, like us, you accidentally stumbled upon the new White Cheddar Cheetos Puff. As fans of Cheetos (both Crunchy and Puff versions), we decided to get our hands on this new variant ASAP, which leads us to the question you’re probably thinking now, too: Will this new White Cheddar variant live up to the original, or is it just another brand experiment worth skipping?

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Here's what we think about the Simply White Cheddar Cheetos Puffs:

The Price

There really isn't much of a price difference between the Simply White Cheddar Cheetos Puff and the other Cheetos products. Priced at P153 for an eight-ounce pack, its price point is similar to the other eight-ounce Cheetos snacks and is even cheaper by P4 than the original Cheetos Puffs—granted the OG puffs are sold in nine-ounce packs.

The Look

Much like other more premium products under Frito Lay, the packaging for the Simply White Cheddar Cheetos Puff is matte and not glossy. This, we believe, has become Frito Lay's cue to its customers that this product is a special or limited-edition flavor. And that’s okay, except the resulting look is so different from the original packaging that by simply glancing at it, you wouldn't be able to connect it with Cheetos Puffs immediately. Sure, the brand's mascot, Chester the Cheetah, is on the label, but he doesn't really stand out as much. Combine that with the fact that the packaging's design layout has also changed from a horizontal-slanted color shift to a vertical sandwich. Then you've got a product that's not easily recognizable at first glance.

Aside from changes in the packaging design, the insides are also different. The White Cheddar Cheeto looks more similar to an Oishi Prawn Cracker than an OG Cheeto Puff. The OG Cheeto looks very similar to those styrofoam packing peanuts with a very light and airy bite; Meanwhile, the White Cheddar Cheeto is narrower, straighter, and denser.

Another massive shift is in color. OG Cheetos have that signature orange hue. Heck, if you eat too much of it, it'll definitely stain your fingers. But, unlike its predecessor, the White Cheddar Cheeto is, you guessed it, white. No finger staining here.

The Taste

Let's get this out of the way: the White Cheddar Cheetos are significantly less salty than the Original Cheetos Puffs. Don't get us wrong. It's not bland or anything. It still has a cheesy flavor, but this time, it's milder. These puffs have a more mature cheese flavor with subtler hints of salt and dairy compared to the original's creamy and in-your-face flavor. It's still addictive. You could still easily go through a bag while binge-watching on Netflix.

The Final Verdict

The Simply White Cheddar Cheetos Puff is different. For many reasons, we feel that if this snack were not called Cheetos, we wouldn't even think it's a Cheeto. It lacks the original orange hue, the signature cheesy, salty flavor, and most importantly, it doesn't have that airy styrofoam peanut-like texture we usually get from the classic Cheetos Puffs.

Overall, this product is very different from the original. Don't expect the familiar Cheetos Puffs you know and love. That being said, that doesn't mean it's necessarily bad. On the contrary, we think this Cheetos Puff variant has merit, especially for those who find the original too salty for their liking. Plus points for how it leaves you with cleaner fingers!

Available from the official Frito Lay store on Lazada.

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