Do Us A Flavor is back! If you missed the previous years of this Lay’s flavor contest, it’s a crowd-sourced chip challenge where the winning idea earns its creator $1 million. I was completely locked in when it first started – tracking down every. Single. Flavor. Shoutout to the fever dream that was Lay’s Cappuccino.
Valentina & Lime by Araceli Huerta from San Jose, California, is one of 2025’s flavor finalists. The inspo was her favorite childhood snack made by her mom: a bag of Lay’s Classic potato chips tossed with Valentina hot sauce and fresh lime.
If you’ve never had Valentina, it’s a mellow, chili pepper-forward Mexican hot sauce. Compared to Tapatío, which is spicier, Valentina leans into depth. Honestly, they’re pretty interchangeable to me, but I know people who are ride-or-die. I mean, I always have a bottle of Valentina in my pantry. Tapatío? Not so much. So, do with that info what you will.
Out of the bag, the chips look like Lay’s Barbecue – reddish-brown and familiar – but the taste definitely hits differently. That tangy Valentina heat comes through first, and then the lime sneaks in for a clean slam dunk. Paired with Lay’s signature thin, salty crunch, it’s the kind of chip you keep reaching for. I didn’t even realize I’d nearly polished off the bag until my eyes started watering from the heat.
Naturally, I tried recreating the original snack at home. And honestly, I preferred the Lay’s version. The seasoning is just more consistent – every chip delivers that same punchy combo of heat and citrus.
I haven’t gotten to the other finalists yet (Lay’s Wavy Korean-Style Fried Chicken is calling my name), but this one is absolutely worth a try. Vote by June 13 if you want it to stick around too!
Purchased Price: $3.50
Size: 7.75 oz
Purchased at: Walmart
Rating: 9 out of 10
Nutrition Facts: (28g – about 16 chips) 150 calories, 10 grams of fat, 1.5 grams of saturated fat, 140 milligrams of sodium, 16 grams of carbohydrates, 1 gram of fiber, less than 1 gram of total sugar, and 2 grams of protein.
I need to find a bag of these. They sound right up my alley! I tried the Korean-Style Friend Chicken ones, but to me they just tasted like spicy hoisin sauce, so I’m more hopeful about a relatively straightforward combo.
Sorry, but the Valentina and Lime chips I found disgusting! I love heat and Mexican flavors, but these, to me were awful!
LAYS VALENTINA & LIME POTATO CHIPS
Giving it a *****. I’m not too keen on very firey or spicy chips but these had just the right kick going down with a refreshing hint of lime. They are awesome with a sandwich or even a dip. Truly fabulous. These are a keeper. Thank you Lays.