A pinch. Not a handful. Not a fistful. A pinch.
Doritos is admitting to restraint, which is wildly off-brand. This is the company that created Tangy Cheese and Chilli Heatwave, products where subtlety goes to die. Pinch of Paprika is Doritos trying sophistication.
The paprika is genuinely subtle. Sweet, slightly smoky, warm without being hot. It seasons the tortilla chip without overwhelming it, which is either mature flavour development or a failure of nerve depending on your perspective.
I find myself respecting these while not particularly wanting them. They’re well-made. The paprika is good paprika. The balance is correct. But Doritos doing “restrained” feels like watching a heavy metal band play acoustic covers. Technically proficient, but missing the point.
For people who find standard Doritos too intense, this is a gateway product. For everyone else, it’s an interesting curiosity.
