Welcome to another edition of The Well—a breakdown of the untold stories behind the snacks and drinks we can’t stop consuming. This time, we’re diving deep into the cheesy abyss of Doritos, the chips you swore you’d only eat “a couple” of... right before the whole bag disappeared.
It’s no accident that you can’t stop once you’ve started eating Doritos. In fact, science backs up the addiction (because of course it does). That powder you lick off your fingers? It’s loaded with sugar, salt, and even acids that make your mouth water, literally making you want to eat more. And then there's the fat—50% of Doritos’ calories come from fat, which our brains are hardwired to love. Turns out, these crunchy triangles are engineered for bliss.
But where did it all begin? Believe it or not, there’s a rumor Doritos were born in the Happiest Place on Earth—Disneyland. Back in the '60s, a quick-thinking tortilla salesman at a Disneyland Mexican restaurant suggested frying stale tortillas instead of tossing them. The result? A crispy snack that became an instant hit, eventually making its way to the Frito-Lay execs. Doritos went nationwide in 1966 and have been taunting us from grocery shelves ever since.
And while the origin story’s a bit fuzzy (there’s also a tale involving a Frito-Lay marketing exec and a roadside shack in Southern California), what’s crystal clear is the nacho cheese flavor that dropped in 1974. You know the one—the iconic orange dust that stains your fingers and leaves you powerless. Turns out, that cheesy residue on your hands is 5 to 6 times more concentrated than what’s on the chip, so yeah, licking it off isn’t optional—it’s a reflex.
But let’s not forget Doritos have been pushing the flavor envelope for years. They’ve unleashed a spectrum of wild creations, from Cool Ranch to Flamin’ Hot, with varying degrees of success (sorry, Late Night All Nighter Cheeseburger, you were weird and not in the good way). Yet, even the flavor flops can’t stop Doritos from dominating our snack cravings. Their collab with Taco Bell, Doritos Locos Tacos, sold a billion dollars’ worth of tacos in just over a year. And honestly, nothing says “American dream” like stuffing your taco with a Dorito.
Still, the craziest Doritos-related move? When Arch West, one of the snack’s alleged creators, passed away in 2011, his family honored him by tossing Doritos into his grave. I guess you could say he was literally buried with his life’s work—a fitting tribute to a man who helped create a chip that will forever stick to our fingers (and our hearts).
They’re like that bad influence friend—you know you shouldn’t, but they’re so damn fun. Whether it’s Cool Ranch or Nacho Cheese, we all have our Doritos kryptonite. Plus, even Jennifer Lawrence couldn’t resist them on the set of American Hustle. Fun fact: her costume designer had to make extra dresses because of—you guessed it—Doritos dust. That’s a snacking legacy we can get behind.
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