Hot chips are chips whose main selling point is spicy heat. The heat comes from chilli peppers, usually as chilli powder, cayenne or a dried hot-sauce seasoning, often balanced with vinegar, garlic and salt. This category sits close to chili chips, but here the focus is on hot-sauce style heat rather than a general chili spice blend.
The example is Kettle Classics Cholula Potato Chips, potato chips seasoned with the flavour of Cholula, a Mexican hot sauce made with chilli peppers and spices. Hot-sauce seasonings usually include vinegar, so the heat comes with a sharp, tangy edge.
Spicy seasonings can still contain milk or wheat-based carriers, so the ingredient list is the best guide.
