Just the other week, it was announced that M&M’s was experimenting with a brand new flavor called Mexican Jalapeño Peanut. And, not going to lie — that sounds gross. But is it the grossest? The fun thing about taste is that everyone’s is slightly different. I happened to remember that this actually isn’t the first time the company has released something that sounded like a chocolate nightmare.
The year was 2016. A lot of bad things happened, and a lot of notable cultural figures passed away — it was, for many, quite a bummer group of months. But M&M’s found a way to make it even worse. They released Chili Nut M&M’s.
Chili Nut M&M’s were part of a contest to find a new peanut M&M, and they were introduced at the same time as their Honey Nut and Coffee Nut varieties. The difference is, Honey and Coffee actually sounds like a delicious combination. Chili? Not so much.
Even though the combo is no longer available on Amazon, M&M fans were quite mixed on the Chili Nut flavor. While 58% gave them five stars, 16% had to go with only one star. To compare, Peanut Butter M&M’s — which are always a big hit — have an 82% five-star rate. It’s odd for candy to have a low rating, because at the end of the day, it’s still candy.
John Weeks, a blogger who highlights rare M&M’s on his website, stated that the Chili Nut M&M’s were a big disappointment. “This is the first M&M flavor that I absolutely hated. I didn’t just dislike or fail to enjoy them, but rather, had a hard time eating them once I opened the package,” Weeks wrote. “The chili flavor just didn’t agree with me, and the hot aftertaste was not at all enjoyable.”
Still, Chili Nut had a fanbase. And it was mostly people who enjoyed the extra heat they got from this variety. But when you think of M&M’s, “spicy” isn’t usually a great adjective.
Coffee Nut won the competition, meaning that Chili Nut stopped being produced. And while a few people might miss it, it’s probably better this way. Mexican Jalapeño Peanut will likely gain a similar following, but hopefully, it won’t turn into the first thing people think of when they envision M&M’s.
