Are Takis vegan? Takis are intensely flavored, often spicy, rolled up tortilla chips. They come in a variety of bold flavors and colors. They debuted in the United States in 2006 and have become very popular.
But are spicy and crunch rolled chips vegan? The answer is that some flavors of Takis are vegan, and some are not. Let's take a look at the ingredients and the varieties.
Most of the ingredients and nutritional information can be found on the Takis Website.
Takis Ingredients
There are many different flavors of Takis but let's start with the classic Fuego as it's the most popular flavor. Any non-vegan ingredients will be in bold.
Takis Fuego Ingredients List: Corn Flour (processed With Lime), Vegetable Oil (palm And/or Soybean And/or Canola Oil), Seasoning [salt, Maltodextrin, Citric Acid, Sugar, Monosodium Glutamate, Hydrolyzed Soy Protein, Onion Powder, Yeast Extract, Red 40 Lake, Yellow 6 Lake, Natural And Artificial Flavors, Sodium Bicarbonate, Soybean Oil, Chili Pepper (chile), Disodium Inosinate, Disodium Guanylate, Tbhq (antioxidant)].
While there are some questionable ingredients including artificial colors and MSG, there also don't seem to be any ingredients made from animal products. So Takis Fuego can fit in with a vegan diet.
Regular Takis Flavors
Regular Takis come in 5 spicy flavors: Fuego, Blue Heat, Crunchy Fajitas, Guacamole and Nitro. Check out the ingredients lists below. I've noted which ones are "may contain" as well as which flavors contain animal ingredients.
- Takis Fuego - vegan
- Takis Blue Heat Ingredients: Corn Flour (processed With Lime), Vegetable Oil (palm And/or Soybean And/or Canola Oils), Seasoning [maltodextrin, Citric Acid, Sugar, Potassium Chloride, Salt, Monosodium Glutamate, Hydrolyzed Soybean Protein, Natural And Artificial Flavors, Hydrolyzed Yeast, Soybean Oil, Onion Powder, Blue 1 Lake, Sodium Bicarbonate, Chili Pepper (chile), Disodium Inosinate, Disodium Guanylate, Tbhq (antioxidant)]
- Takis Crunchy Fajitas Ingredients - Corn Masa Flour (processed With Lime), Soybean And/or Palm And/or Canola Oil, Seasoning [maltodextrin, Iodized Salt, Monosodium Glutamate, Corn Starch, Chili Pepper (chile), Citric Acid, Artificial And Natural Flavor (soy, Milk, Egg), Onion Powder, Canola Oil, Garlic Powder, Spices, Artificial Colors (yellow 6 Lake, Red 40 Lake And Blue 1 Lake), Dextrose, Tricalcium Phosphate, Yeast, Sugar, Gum Arabic, Xylose] CONTAINS MILK AND EGG, NOT VEGAN
- Takis Guacamole Ingredients - Corn Flour (processed With Lime), Vegetable Oil (canola And/or Palm And/or Soybean Oil), Seasoning [maltodextrin, Salt, Canola Oil, Monosodium Glutamate, Onion Powder, Tomato Powder, Citric Acid, Garlic Powder, Food Starch-modified, Whey Powder (milk), Acetic Acid, Artificial And Natural Flavors, Spices, Silicon Dioxide, Disodium Guanylate, Disodium Inosinate, Yellow 5 Lake, Mono And Diglycerides, Blue 1 Lake, Red 40 Lake] CONTAINS MILK, NOT VEGAN
- Takis Nitro Ingredients - Corn Masa Flour (processed With Lime), Soybean And/or Palm And/or Canola Oil, Maltodextrin, Iodized Salt, Citric Acid, Dextrose, Monosodium Glutamate, Sugar, Onion Powder, Natural And Artificial Flavors, Artificial Colors (red 40 Lake, Yellow 6 Lake, Yellow 5, And Blue 1 Lake), Garlic Powder, Acacia Gum, Tocopherol, Mannitol (MAY CONTAIN MILK AND EGG)
Unfortunately Crunchy Fajitas Takis contain milk and egg and Takis Guacamole contain milk and are definitely not vegan. Nitro Takis may contain animal products so that's up to you whether or not they're safe to eat.
Takis Stix
Takis Stix have the same intense taste as regular Takis but they are in the shape of a stick. But are Takis Stix vegan?
- Takis Stix Flare Ingredients: Corn Flour (Processed With Lime), Vegetable Oil (Palm And/Or Soybean And/Or Canola Oils), Seasoning [Salt, Chili Pepper (Chile), Natural Flavor, Citric Acid, Soybean Oil, Red 40 Lake, Chili Pepper Extract].
- Takis Stix Fuego Ingredients: Corn Flour (Processed With Lime), Vegetable Oil (Palm And/Or Soybean And/Or Canola Oils), Seasoning [Salt, Maltodextrin, Citric Acid, Sugar, Monosodium Glutamate, Hydrolyzed Soy Protein, Onion Powder, Yeast Extract, Red 40 Lake, Yellow 6 Lake, Natural And Artificial Flavors, Sodium Bicarbonate, Soybean Oil, Chili Pepper (Chile), Disodium Inosinate, Disodium Guanylate, Tbhq (Antioxidant)].
Both flavors of Takis Stix are vegan.
Takis Waves
Takis Waves are shaped like rippled potato chips. They come in Fuego flavor.
- Takis Waves Fuego Ingredients: Potato, Vegetable Oil (Canola And Palm Oil), Seasoning [Maltodextrin, Salt, Citric Acid, Hydrolyzed Corn Protein, Sugar, Monosodium Glutamate, Modified Corn Starch, Acetic Acid, Natural Flavors, Onion Powder, Silicon Dioxide, Carmine Lake, Red 40 Lake, Garlic Powder, Disodium Inosinate, Disodium Guanylate, Paprika Extract, Yellow 6 Lake, Mono And Diglycerides, Artificial Flavors].
Takes Waves can be considered vegan.
Takis Crisps
Takis Crisps are similar to spicy Pringles and also only come in Fuego flavor.
- Takis Crisps Fuego Ingredients: Dried Potatoes, Vegetable Oil (Palm And/Or Sunflower And/Or Corn And/Or Canola Oil), Seasoning [Maltodextrin, Salt, Citric Acid, Hydrolyzed Corn Protein, Sugar, Monosodium Glutamate, Modified Corn Starch, Acetic Acid, Natural And Artificial Flavors, Onion Powder, Silicon Dioxide, Carmine Lake, Red 40 Lake, Garlic Powder, Disodium Inosinate, Disodium Guanylate, Paprika Extract, Yellow 6 Lake, Mono And Diglycerides], Corn Flour And/Or Corn Meal, Rice Flour And/Or Rice Meal, Maltodextrin, Mono And Diglycerides, Corn Starch.
Takis Crisps do not contain any animal ingredients.
Takis Pop
Takis Pop! is the spicy combination of Takis flavor and popcorn.
- Takis Pop Fuego Ingredients: Popcorn, Vegetable Oil (Canola And Palm Oil), Seasoning [Salt, Maltodextrin, Citric Acid, Sugar, Monosodium Glutamate, Hydrolyzed Soybean Protein, Onion Powder, Yeast Extract, Natural And Artificial Flavors, Red 40 Lake, Sodium Bicarbonate, Soybean Oil, Chili Pepper (Chile), Disodium Inosinate, Disodium Guanylate, Tbhq (Antioxidant)]. MAY CONTAIN MILK AND EGG
No animal ingredients but may contain milk and egg.
Takis Kettlez
These spicy chips are similar to kettle potato chips and come in three spicy flavors.
- Takis Kettlez Fuego Ingredients - Potatoes, Vegetable Oil (Palm And/Or Soybean And/Or Canola Oil), Salt, Citric Acid, Maltodextrin, Sugar, Monosodium Glutamate, Natural And Artificial Flavors, Hydrolyzed Soy Protein, Artificial Colors (Red 40 Lake, Yellow 6 Lake), Onion Powder, Sodium Bicarbonate, Chili Pepper (Chile), Disodium Inosinate, Disodium Guanylate, Tbhq (Antioxidant). No non-vegan ingredients but MAY CONTAIN MILK AND EGG
- Takis Kettlez Jalapeno Typhoon Ingredients - Potatoes, Vegetable Oil (Palm And/Or Canola And/Or Soybean Oil), Maltodextrin, Salt Monosodium Glutamate, Garlic & Onion Powder, Food Starch-Modified, Whey (Milk), Sugar, Citric Acid, Acetic Acid, Natural And Artificial Flavors, Yeast Extract (Wheat), Disodium Inosinate, Disodium Guanylate, Artificial Colors (Yellow 5, Yellow 6), Sodium Caseinate (Milk), Dipotassium Phosphate, Mono-And Diglycerides, Bha (Antioxidant).
- Takis Kettlez Habanero Fury Ingredients- Potatoes, Vegetable Oil (Palm And/Or Canola Oil And/Or Soybean), Maltodextrin, Salt, Sugar, Natural And Artificial Flavors, Citric Acid, Monosodium Glutamate, Foos Starch-Modified, Artificial Colors (Yellow 5 Lake, Yellow 6 Lake). No non-vegan ingredients but MAY CONTAIN MILK
While Takis Kettlez Fuego and Habanero Fury do not contain any non-vegan ingredients, they are labeled as May Contain Dairy and/or Eggs. Takis Kettlez Jalapeno Typhoon contains milk and is not vegan.
Takis Chippz (NEW)
Takis Chippz are Takis' take on thin potato chips. They currently only come in Fuego flavor.
- Takis Chippz Ingredients: Potatoes, Vegetable Oil (Canola And Palm Oil), Seasoning [Salt, Maltodextrin, Citric Acid, Sugar, Monosodium Glutamate, Artificial And Natural Flavors, Onion Powder, Sodium Bicarbonate, Red 40 Lake, Hydrolyzed Soybean Protein, Chili Pepper Extract, Soybean Oil, Disodium Inosinate, Disodium Guanylate, Tbhq (Preservative)]
Takis Chippz Fuego do not contain any animal products and can be considered vegan.
Vegan Takis Flavors and Varieties
The following are the vegan flavors of Takis:
- Takis Fuego
- Takis Blue Heat
- Takis Nitro
- Takis Stix Flare
- Takis Stix Fuego
- Takis Waves Fuego
- Takis Crisps Fuego
- Takis Pop Fuego
- Takis Kettlez Fuego
- Takis Kettlez Habanero Fury
- Takis Chippz Fuego
Better Alternative
Trader Joe's Rolled Corn Tortilla Chips Chili & Lime Flavored are a similar snack to Takis Fuego flavor. Overall, this spicy chip is a bit healthier than regular Takis. This is mainly because it uses natural sources for it's coloring instead of food dyes. There has been talk of this product being discontinued but they have not been. Trader Joes has been having shipping issues which is why you may not see this product all the time at your local Trader Joe's.
Ingredients: Stone Ground Yellow Corn, Vegetable Oil (High-Oleic Sunflower Oil, High-Oleic Safflower Oil and/or Oleic Canola Oil), Hot Chili & Lime Flavored Seasoning (Salt, Yeast, Cornstarch, Cane Sugar, Citric Acid, Yeast Extract, Corn Maltodextrin, Gum Arabic, Malic Acid, Lime Juice Concentrate, Onion Powder, Vegetable Juice (Color), Paprika Extract (Color), Turmeric Extract (Color) Natural Flavor, Beta Carotene (Color), Tocopherol (To Preserve), Oleoresin Capsicum, Trace of Lime.
DIY Giant Takis
Do you love Takis but wonder why they can't be bigger? Check out this recipe for Giant Takis by Hellthy Junk Food. They only take minutes to put together and cook. You'll need the following ingredients:
- 9" corn tortillas
- limes
- red food gel
- oil for frying
- hot mexican chili powder
- onion powder
- salt
- cayenne pepper
Homemade Healthy Takis
If you like the spice of Takis but want a way healthier snack, check out Real Healthy Takis by Real Healthy Recipes. Instead of a fried snack food, it's made from jicama. (It does say real healthy!) This recipe uses the following ingredients:
- jicama
- lime coconut palm sugar
- fajita seasoning
- spices/seasonings: sea salt, chili powder, cayenne pepper, sweet paprika, white and black pepper, garlic powder, dried oregano
Recipes that Use Takis as an Ingredient
Sometimes you want kick a recipe up a notch. How about using Takis in cooking? Check out the following vegan recipes and ideas that use Takis as an ingredient.
- Vegan Takis Fried Chick'N Sandwich by Thee Burger Dude
- Crush up some Takis and sprinkle on top of your meatless hot dog or burger.
- Crazy Cucumbers by 4 Spatulas
- Use Takis as a topping for tacos or burritos.
- Pickle Stuffed with Takis by Dining and Cooking
FAQ
Are Takis healthy?
NO! Once you get past the corn masa flour, it's a lot of oil, artificial colors and MSG. Any time you see a food that's electric blue (seriously, Blue Takis!), it's probably not healthy.
Is sugar vegan?
While sugar comes from sugar cane, which is a natural plant, the production process of some brands of white sugar uses bone char. According to Peta.org, "Bone char—often referred to as natural carbon—is widely used by the sugar industry as a decolorizing filter, which allows the sugar cane to achieve its desirable white color."
So cane sugar doesn't technically contain any animal products. Some vegans choose to stay away from it because of how it's processed. But this is completely up to you.
Are Takis Guacamole vegan?
No! They changed the ingredients and now contain dairy.
Summary
It can sometimes be hard to find vegan snacks. Some flavors of Takis, which can be easily found in your local grocery store, can fill your snack void though. If you like spicy food and are missing your Hot Cheetos, Takis might be a good snack option for you.
Wondering if other snack foods are vegan? Check out:
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