Everybody remembers their first time ... eating Doritos. The nearly 50-year-old brand is memorable for more reasons than the florescent-orange fingerprints it leaves behind. While they're a household name at this point, there might be a few things you don't know about these fully loaded flavor bombs.
1. It's A Super Bowl Party Must-Have.
Doritos isn't running any ads in the 2017 Super Bowl, and for good reason — it doesn't need to advertise. The nacho cheese flavor is the top-selling chip during Super Bowl season, according to Jet.com. (Psst ... If you want to take your chips to the next level, surprise your guests by using them as breading for chicken tenders.)
2. They're Behind One of Taco Bell's Greatest Hits.
T-Bell has deemed the launch of Doritos Locos Tacos — a taco with a Doritos-flavor-dusted crunchy shell — one of its biggest product launches in history, bringing in $1 billion (BILLION!) one year after its debut. The brand hired an extra 15,000 employees just to keep up with demand.
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3. Doritos is a word of Mexican-Spanish origin.
OK, so just because you're well phrased in Doritos doesn't mean you're technically bilingual, but the name of the famous chip is derived from the word "Doradito," meaning "little bits of gold." Does the color make more sense now?
4. Disneyland: "Where (Doritos) Dreams Come True."
Frito-Lay, the company that makes Doritos, had a Disneyland restaurant named Casa de Fritos. In 1964, workers at Casa de Fritos decided to experiment with leftover tortillas, so they fried and seasoned them. Little did they know, but their revised recipe would become the famous orange chips in 1966, when Frito-Lay's VP of Marketing, Arch West, realized their potential.
5. NEW ZEALAND IS RELATIVELY NEW TO THE DORITOS GAME.
Although it's been almost 50 years since Doritos first launched, New Zealand was missing out on the party, until the chips were introduced to their country in 2010.
6. THEY ARE THE PIONEERS OF TORTILLA CHIPS.
Doritos were the first tortilla chips to be nationally released, which makes them an even harder act to follow behind they're explosive flavor.
7. THE ORIGINAL DORITOS WERE GIVEN A MAKEOVER.
Aside from the revision of the Casa de Frito's employees' initial recipe, Doritos were also revamped in 1995. The chips were made 20% larger, 15% thinner, blasted with even more seasoning, and the edges were rounded to fend against breakage in the bags.
8. DORITOS HAVE A VARIETY OF WACKY FLAVORS ACROSS THE GLOBE.
While U.S. fans of the famous chip might be used to the Nacho Cheese and Cool Ranch flavors, South Koreans munch on a yogurt variety and Japanese fans snack on clam chowder, Italian seafood, and crispy salmon versions. We've also had to say a fond farewell to flavors like Sour Cream and Onion, Sesame, Nacho Chipotle Ranch Ripple, Texas Tang, Jumpin' Jack Monterey Cheese, Chester's Cheese, and Buffalo Wing n' Ranch.
9. THE CORN THAT MAKES DORITOS POSSIBLE IS GROWN ON EVERY CONTINENT, SAVE FOR ANTARCTICA.
Doritos have to be made somewhere, but why not everywhere?
10. STUDIES SHOW THAT THERE IS AN AVERAGE TIME OF DAY WHEN DORITOS ARE CONSUMED.
Researchers have concluded that, on average, Doritos are eaten between 8 PM and 11 PM at night. Sounds about right.
11. DORITOS MAY BE ORANGE, BUT THEY BRING IN THE GREEN.
National Geographic aired a TV special, which revealed that the corn chip company is the leader in their food category, bringing in an annual revenue of $4 billion.
12. TO POWDER, OR NOT TO POWDER: THAT IS THE QUESTION.
Doritos taste delicious either way, but let's be honest: they're famous because of their color. Licking the shocking orange powder off of your fingers is all part of the Doritos experience. Although it's said that Doritos would taste the same without the powder, they just wouldn't be the same.
13. A LOT OF STUFF, FOR A LITTLE CHIP.
Doritos have more than 30 ingredients, including corn, romano cheese, cheddar cheese, buttermilk, red and green bell pepper powder, and a whole lot of other things we can't pronounce. All of that, just for us to scarf them down in one bite.
14. DORITOS AREN'T JUST A CHIP, THEY'RE A SCIENCE.
The creation of Doritos might have been a happy accident, but the chip's magic is no mistake. For instance, you might be wondering why you can't finish your pork chop dinner, but can easily inhale a whole bag of Doritos. Thank "vanishing caloric density," the phenomenon that occurs when fatty snacks melt in your mouth and trick you into thinking the fat has melted away, too. Lactic and citric acids aren't necessary ingredients, but they awaken salivary glands and get you to eat more. So blame your glands when you can't seem to resist one more bag ... er ... chip.
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Deputy Editor
Candace Braun Davison writes, edits, and produces lifestyle content that ranges from celebrity features to roll-up-your-sleeves DIYs, all while relentlessly pursuing the noblest of causes: the quest for the world's best chocolate chip cookie.
