REVIEW: Doritos Jacked Test Flavor 404

Doritos Jacked Test Flavor 404

I’ve always been a huge fan of Doritos’ test flavor gimmicks. From the cheeseburgery reveal of Doritos X-13D to Doritos The Quest, which turned out to be Mountain Dew and was surprisingly good. I’m glad Doritos brought back this stunt, even if it’s for their stubborn sibling, the Jacked line.

I have to say the packaging really piques my excitement. I’m not sure if it’s the silver faux-futuristic bags that echo Fritz Lang’s Metropolis or maybe it is the words “TEST FLAVOR” themselves. Either way, the people that designed this get my high fives.

When they were first announced, it was 2007 all over for me again where losers were wearing blinged out pseudo ripped jeans, had fauxhawks, put on aggro printed t-shirts and topped off their ensemble with Von Dutch caps. And the damned music…Daughtry and Paramore were overplayed (why they were played at all, I am unsure), while all of us geeks swooned over Morgan Webb and discovered the Midnight Juggernauts.

Feverishly, I went to various Walmarts, Targets and Publixes to no avail. After a couple of weeks of looking, I gave up and decided to do something more productive and level up my monk in Diablo III: Reaper of Souls.

One afternoon at lunch, I needed to buy some three ring trading card nine-pocket plastic sheets for my Wacky Packages (another reason why the ladies love me). Ironically, the Target I found them in was the one I’ve avoided because it’s near a huge university and seriously…I don’t have time for that bullshit.

There they were in neatly stacked piles. The last time I gawked stupidly at foil packaging was when a past girlfriend asked me, annoyed, what’s taking me so long to get a rubber. They were all the 404 version and although I was sad that the other two test flavors were not there, I grabbed two packages and gleefully ran out.

Upon ripping open the bag, I buried my nose into it like it was the 80’s, Miami Vice-style, and inhaled. There was a deep and earthy molasses/brown sugar scent that is immediate. It then faded into cumin-like tones with a light fake-citrus smell. I can compare the earthy wafts to a fresh out of the oven baked sweet potato if you squeezed a lemon on it.

Doritos Jacked Test Flavor 404 Closeup

The chips themselves had a burnt orange “spray tan look” that were a few shades darker enough to let you know that it meant fucking business. You could see the seasoning flecks as if your eyes had microscopic vision and the chips felt heavier.

I know it sounds crazy but I like the lighter feel of normal Doritos chips and think the more rigid Jacked chips take away from the crunch experience. However, those powdery flavor dustballs have enough heft that they shake off your hands easily.

Eating one, the smoky tortilla corn chip was the most prevalent flavor at first. Then a rich sweetness with garlicky notes washed my tongue as I chewed. There was an unidentifiable complexity in the chip that almost tasted like five spice powder. Last, a citrusy tart zing that tasted of key limes and kumquats grabbed my taste buds and doggy styled it into submission. There was also a faint tinge of heat, which was nice.

I couldn’t really say what the flavor was except that it definitely had this Asian Thai sweet chili sauce thing going on. Looking at the ingredients, I saw lime juice solids and orange juice solids, which may explain the slight tartness that sort of made my cheeks tickle.

The bold flavors joined in a symphony that demanded you pay some friggin’ attention. These chips were the aces! I was impressed and surprised that Doritos was able to bring a flavor that I had not really tasted yet or could truly compare to another flavor. In fact, my only gripe is that the chips seemed too heavy and stiff (thanks Jacked) but who cares once you get to that flavor.

If Frito-Lay wants to make any one of the three a regular flavor, they will probably pick the safest route and these will go the way G4TV did (damn you Esquire channel). If you can find Doritos Jacked Test Flavor 404, I highly recommend picking these up because I doubt they will be made again.

I have to commend Frito-Lay for really pushing the envelope on its Doritos flavors, even if it’s a limited time thing. Sure I may never get a second round of Doritos Mr. Dragon’s Fire Chips but these 404, if they become a regular offering, will satiate my wants.

(Nutrition Facts – 6 chips – 140 calories, 70 calories from fat, 8 grams of fat, 1 gram of saturated fat, 0 grams of trans fat, 0 milligrams of cholesterol, 200 milligrams of sodium, 16 grams of carbohydrates, 1 gram of fiber, 1 gram of sugar, and 2 grams of protein.)

Item: Doritos Jacked Test Flavor 404
Purchased Price: $4.29
Size: 10 ounce bag
Purchased at: Target
Rating: 9 out of 10
Pros: The Asian-like complex flavors that are earthy, tart and sweet. The flavor dust easily shakes off your hand. The Doritos line has brought back the test flavors gimmick. G4’s Attack of the Show!
Cons: The heavy stiff chip is not the best. It’s hard to find these in my area. Blinged out faux ripped jeans. Esquire Network’s Lucky Bastards.

18 thoughts to “REVIEW: Doritos Jacked Test Flavor 404”

  1. Nice review! I just tried them and liked them, although I didn’t expect them to be so burn-y. And Wacky Packages are awesome!!! I still have my album from the early 80s. 🙂

  2. That’s too funny. I still buy those plastic nine card holder things for my Wacky Packages and Garbage Pail Kids cars and I’m female and 42. Ha ha. I collect the. To this day. 🙂 peace brother. I still have the old knees and also all my old Star Wars ones. And many others!

  3. “It’s hard to find these in my area.”

    Where do you think the 404 designation came from?

  4. I think 404 was my favorite of the three test flavors although I don’t love it either. The other two are just too spicy to enjoy.

  5. Wow you play Diablo III:Reaper of souls. Now I know why I love your reviews so much! 🙂

    1. Thanks. Frankly, I’ve been so addicted to this game, I am driven to grind and loot in the real world…then remind myself those are huge felonies.

  6. Monk? Awesome! What kind of build you running? Also dang… I want to try these mystery flavors, but everything I’ve seen makes it sound like they’re impossible to find so I’m worried I’m in for disappointment if I try to track them down. I never have luck tracking flavors down 😛

    1. Monk-sweeping windys, way of the million fistos, mantra of retribbles, seven sided kickass,… Works for me in the rifts. Try Target or if you must, Wal-Mart. I think those two will be your best shot. Good luck!

  7. I love love love them. 404 has a perfect blend of apices! Thanks for always making such wonderful taste bud pleasers.

  8. dont care for lime tar flavors.. just a regular bold spicy.. pop have the weirdest bud.. im not one of them… thats the life of some.. yuk… il stik to my sweet chilili.. now thats a flavor that can kik as anyime..

  9. I think it’s a curry flavor…I really liked it, too, but yes also wish it was in a thinner chip.

  10. Different Victoria than the one above…anyway, we bought the Mountain Dew ones when they came out. My 3 boys were all teenagers back then and none of us guessed Mountain Dew. My husband got 2 bags of these new mystery flavors a couple of weeks ago, this flavor and another one (red bag I think?) He’s going to be so excited to see you reviewed them! We couldn’t figure out what the heck the flavor was, but we did read all the ingredients on both bags. I think you’re right though, that it’s probably something Asian inspired…hadn’t thought of that!

  11. I am disappointed that the 404 for flavor wasn’t blank chips.

    404! FLAVOR NOT FOUND!

  12. I saw these New Bags todat for the 1st time.
    after examining the bags a little closer i relized that the Actual favor was not indentified.i went to the cashier and asked how would i know and she told me i wouldnt until i brought them. I also told her what if i was allergic to Any of ingredients in the Mystery bags product.
    would i have legal grounds to stand on due to the Flavors And ingredients are not on the outter side of the bag anywhere?
    i think this promotion and advertised means could and would lead to many lawsuits by consumers claiming to have many symptoms and compliants
    due to the unknow flavors and ingredients. **** DIFFERENT *********

    1. Actually, the ingredients ARE on the back. All that’s truly concealed is the exact flavor they’re aiming for. It’s how I could tell ahead of schedule that 2653 was a chipotle mole. (Not sure what the bacon is doing there, though. A specific mole poblano dish?)

  13. We tried these. My daughter says they have a marinara flavor. My husband says A-1. I get cumin and citrus. They are loaded with salt that stays in your mouth forever.

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