Trader Joe's Grainless Cassava & Coconut Tortilla Chips

I have lost count of how many times I have repurchased this item. That should speak for itself. Dollars speak louder than words. Sooooo that means we should put our money where our mouths are? =X

I've never tried grainless tortilla chips. I haven't had the need nor the heart to pay the price for Siete brand grainless tortilla chips. They are about $5 for a modest-sized bag, which is kind of expensive. But this is the Trader Joe's version, which is about $2 cheaper. Still more than what my immigrant mother would pay (because why would you ever buy something that's not on sale??) but more affordable than the alternative. 

What's the deal with grainless chips? Well they fit into the grain-free and paleo diets, which is a target demographic of the Trader Joe's (and Whole Foods) clientele. It's also gluten-free, which is good for those with certain dietary needs. As for the grain-free diet, there are some apparent benefits, which have something to do with decreasing inflammation and other things that are not proven* but empirically make people feel better...SOOOOO here we are. What is nice is that the ingredients are quite wholesome and pronounceable - which makes this a healthy chip right? Yes and no.

Healthy - relative to the conventional, restaurant tortilla chips I just had yesterday from the local cantina. 

Not healthy - because how does processed healthy junk food fit into a paleo diet again? Isn't the paleo diet about eating food that cavemen? Pretty sure cavemen did not have the technology to extract avocado oil or blitz cassava and coconut into flour and do all the other necessary things to make this into a crunchy triangle. 

Healthy - better ingredients. Cuz there ain't trans fat here. 

Not healthy - It's not really nutrient-dense at all. Also not healthy if you eat the entire bag in like a day, like we've been doing. :P 

1) It took a while to get used to the texture - it's definitely close to the corn texture of a tortilla chip but not quite the same. A described it as "fried staleness." They're crisp but the first impression gives off a vibe that this started as cardboard that has gone through several phases of glow-up treatment. But it's actually pleasant because it's fried. 

2) They do feel lighter and less hefty compared to other tortilla chips, but they still stand up to dips. 

3) I actually haven't been eating them with salsa or dip because the standalone flavor is quite good. It's lightly salted and has a nice blend of mild but noticeable garlic and onion. There is no flavor of coconut, which I thought might have been an issue. 

4) These do not last long in my house. We have gone through several bags. 

5) $2.99 per 6 oz bag. It feels a bit expensive for chips, considering you can get like 10x the amount at Costco for just two dollars more. But if it psychologically makes us all feel better and justifies are continued snacking to get through this season....well, perhaps for the sake of my coping it might be worth it. 

TL;DR: Trader Joe's Grainless Cassava & Coconut Tortilla Chips. Really tasty and snackable. Yay for healthy processed food. 9 out of 10. Mantou Joe repurchase? Yep.