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It is a hard taste to describe. It has a sweet-spicy BBQ flavor that is delicious while you are eating the chips, but then the sweet drops out and the spicy flavor lingers on your tongue afterward, making you come back for more. My mouth is literally watering just thinking about it. The taste I am talking about is Red Hot Riplets chips made by Old Vienna. This regional chip made in St. Louis, Missouri was a staple of my childhood. If you are not from the area or have not visited St. Louis, trust me that Red Hot Riplets are the best chip that you have never had.
The design of the chip is brilliant. Crinkle cut with enough firmness that they do not crumble in the bag. The crinkle groves hold the spice mix so that each chip delivers the flavor punch. This is great for Dad’s sitting on the couch watching the game or just to grab a handful in-between odd jobs. On Modern Dad Survival (MDS), we spend plenty of time talking about healthier options that give Dad’s energy to get through those tough parenting days. This is not one of those posts! Sometimes us Dads just need to indulge, and if chips are your thing, you have to try Red Hot Riplets.
Old Vienna is the company behind this masterpiece. They have been around the St. Louis area under various owners since 1936. In 1996 the Red Hot Riplets brand was refreshed under new ownership, and continues to thrive in the St. Louis Region.
Red Hot Riplets in Pop Culture
Red Hot Riplets have had some moments on stage. Murphy Lee featuring the St. Lunatics popularized the chip in their song aptly named “Red Hot Riplets” (Parental Advisory if interested in listening here). Red Hot Riplets have also gotten into the NCAA’s NIL game by putting some of the up-and-coming college players on the chips in limited markets. popularized the chip in their song aptly named “Red Hot Riplets” (Parental Advisory if interested in listening here).
Food & Wine recognized the greatness when they named Red Hot Riplets as the Best Snack in Missouri for their “Best Snack in Every State” Report. Food & Wine describes the chips as “Think spicy barbecue and you’re getting close, but it’s spicy barbecue at a level of intensity that some people simply can’t handle. Those people, typically, are not from around here. Like Old Bay in Baltimore, one of St. Louis’ favorite flavors works all kinds of overtime.”
Twice Baked Red Hot Riplets Ideas
Old Vienna is looking to capitalize on the local fame of their Riplets. They now sell a seasoning and several variations of the chips that you can find on their website. The seasoning is fantastic on meats (I have primarily used this on chicken and pork) and can also complement a potato salad or anything else you are looking to spice up.
Old Vienna introduced a Twice Baked version of the Red Hot Riplet in the Summer of 2022. The Twice Baked Riplet is a THC-infused version of the product. The Twice Baked Red Hot Riplets sell for roughly $14 per box from St. Louis area dispensaries and include 20 mg of THC. Make sure you don’t overeat!
Local St. Louis restaurants have jumped on the Riplet train as well. Many of these restaurants are incorporating Red Hot Riplets into their core menu items. Whether it is the flavoring for their chicken wings or as the seasoning on their fried chicken sandwich, you cannot go wrong with the Riplet flavor.
Where to Buy Red Hot Riplets
If you have made it to this part of the article, you are either a potato chip enthusiast or you are waiting to find out how you can get a taste. Well, we have several options for you.
Old Vienna will ship their products to you. I have not tried this as I live in the St. Louis area. I did see that the delivery on this will take 5-7 days, so if you go this route, cut a few calories while you wait so that you can go “all in” when they arrive. Old Vienna sells all their products on their site, but I would encourage you to start with the traditional Red Hot Riplets that are pictured below.
Amazon also will ship the products to you. They sell a 3 pack of the 5 oz chip bag for less than $20. Note that MDS is an Amazon Affiliate.
Red Hot Riplets – Best Chips You Have Never Had
I hope this post helps you correct this. I hope you get the opportunity to try St. Louis’s Red Hot Riplets and can cross them off your list. If you do, please let us know what you think. If you have your own regional chip that warrants discussion, please drop us a line. We would love to give your regional chip a try and if hits the mark, let the MDS audience know about them. Enjoy!