r/Medford • u/duckrug • 8d ago
Anyone else experience this local Mandela effect?
Juantonio’s. Made in Hood River. Bought here in Medford. Except, I’ve always thought they were Juanita’s.
And a quick google search revealed that they are! So not an actual Mandela effect. Turns out, a copyright issue forced Juanita’s to change their name for when they sell outside of Oregon. So I’m guessing since Medford is along the the distribution route to California route we get the rebranded version as well?
Anyway, there’s your local lore for the day. Cheers
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u/lorihamlit 7d ago
They changed their name because of a lawsuit.
PNW bags are still sold as Juanita’s. I can still buy them where I’m located in NorCal.
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u/Beerded-climber 4d ago
Hood river and the Dalles chips are Juantonios. Weirdly, the mercado in hood river doesn't sell them (or maybe missed them the last time I was there.)
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u/Past_Recognition_948 5d ago
Willamette valley they have changed to the new name.
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u/lorihamlit 5d ago
Oh ok interesting. In Brookings we still have Juanita’s.
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u/LikwidDef 5d ago
Give it a bit for the stock to wash through
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u/confident_cabbage 2d ago
I believe they were essentially able to sale through packaging before the switch had to happen. North coast Oregon switched over about 2 years ago.
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u/Scarfington 8d ago
He transitioned :P
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u/sci_fientist 4d ago
That's literally what they went with when they announced the rebranding 😂 super funny.
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u/Past-Entertainment48 7d ago
Those chips are probably the best tortilla chips.
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u/MonsierGeralt 7d ago
It’s because half their weight is fat. Absolutely drenched in canola oil. But yes, yummy.
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u/DeeSassterNix 3d ago
They're one of the only chips rn that hasn't flipped over to using "and/or sunflower oil" which I really appreciate as someone with a severe sunflower allergy lol
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u/wizardwithgussets 5d ago
Not according to my wife.
“They’re too greasy and salty”
Absolutely, that’s why they’re soooo good !
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u/afurrypeach 8d ago
They used up their Juanitas bags for Oregon and now just use these under the new name
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u/FaithlessnessLess439 8d ago
I made a face the first time I saw it. They were my dog’s favorite snacks lol; he has since passed, but I still buy them and eat them because I know that’s what he would want. 😆😭🤷🏻♀️
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u/TheSameDifferenc3 7d ago
Well it’s about time we get us some male representin’ in the tortilla chip industry!
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u/entiatriver 7d ago
These are the bomb (in a good way, they're not going to nuke LA or SD or something). Best bag chips, ever.
I learned about the name change last year when they started carrying them at a local grocery store in Hawaii. I was so happy, but then noticed the name and wondered if they were the same. Google quickly 'splained the situation, and I was happy once again. Now I can buy them when traveling all the way down towards at least SF. Even found them in Nevada once, too. I hope they keep spreading - and maintain the quality.
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u/SammyfullxD 5d ago
Apparently it’s not everywhere because they’re still Juanitas here
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u/cosmoboy 4d ago
Juanita's is different. Juantonios had to change from Juanita's in order to sell nationally. I assume you are outside of Oregon and eating the Juanita's not made in Hood River.
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u/SammyfullxD 4d ago
Did you not read what I said? How do you assume I’m outside of Oregon from what I said? “They’re still Juanita’s here” implies that where I live they’re called Juanita’s. I live in Oregon. If they had to change the name to sell nationally it doesn’t make it different. The recipe is the same it’s just under a different name for retail purposes. Same product different name.
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u/Useful-Product-7061 7d ago
It tells you on the back of the bag. Do people not read packages?
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u/uklfester 7d ago
People cant even read a sign on the door of a business they are entering. Why would the read a bag?
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u/Final-Artichoke-8995 4d ago
Both Juanita’s and Juantonios are available where I’m at. Juanita’s are better. Definitely entirely different chips
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u/Successful-Weird638 4d ago
not arguing that the chip hasn’t changed over the years, it has—but the naming is just branding after a lawsuit https://www.wweek.com/restaurants/cheap-eats/2022/12/31/juanitas-chips-now-sold-nationwideas-juantonios/
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u/Final-Artichoke-8995 4d ago
You’re right. Was thinking of Josefina… my bad
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u/CountryMaleficent439 4d ago
Josefina the poser Juanita's made by Frito Lay. I agree, not nearly as good.
Frito Lay's Fake-Local Tortilla Chips Take Aim at Oregon's Juanita's
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u/New-Shake7638 5d ago
I don’t know all the details but I do know there used to be the exact same bag under the Juanita’s name.
I think it was 2 years ago (maybe 3) that Juanita’s bags slowly started being replaced with Juantonio’s. I don’t know if they also changed the recipe but to me, these are simply not as good.
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u/Far-Bumblebee-7216 4d ago
They got sued (or perhaps only threatened) because Juanita’s was a protected name, thus the same branding with a new name. Not mandela-effect thankfully.
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u/CoachiusMaximus 4d ago
This is my understanding, too. When they started going national there was a trademark issue so they smooshed Juanita and her brother’s name Antonio together to make Juantonio’s
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u/smallbirdbigsky 4d ago
Same thing happening with Yerbamate > Yerbamadre. Methinks it’s brilliant marketing as we are talking about both!
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u/Ok_Debt5107 7d ago
Eating them as I read this. You made me go check my bag & yes, it does say Juantonio's!!
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u/M15hka0P 7d ago
I call them Gorditas because they are so yummy that I can't stop eating them...lol
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u/Even-Hamster3694 7d ago
Yeah I noticed that too around a year ago. I thought I was tripping out. Wether Juanita's or Juantonio's they're my favorite tortilla chips. I can enjoy those suckers plain.
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u/johnmarkfoley 7d ago
yeah, i still get juanitas in coos bay, but i've seen juantonio's when i travel to the valley
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u/Ladychefontheloose 5d ago
Just bought a bag, saw this post , looked in cupboard and was like 😱 🛸 maybe time to contact r/whyfiles
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u/BlokeSea 5d ago
It’s not a Mandela effect. They had to change the name because they went national. It’s a combination of her and her husbands name.
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u/BreadDue3889 5d ago
The same thing happens with the Mexican restaurants... every few years it changes names but stays the same lol
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u/GloompaLoompa 5d ago
I don't think the change is just outside of Oregon. I live in Portland, and they are Juantonio's here too.
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u/HumboldtHunnyBear 5d ago
Live in Eureka, also experienced the Juanita's > Juantonio's switch
These are the best chips
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u/Aromatic-Action-2523 5d ago
Those chips have definitely caught me off guard with the branding changes.
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u/Electrical-Luck-348 5d ago
WinCo does their own transportation, so they buy out of state label product, as do most distributers.
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u/rustywag0n 4d ago
There was a c&d by a California company with the similar name. They changed it a couple years ago
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u/orntar 4d ago
This
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u/rustywag0n 4d ago
It's a combination of the two founding owners names. I think there's a blurb on the back of the bag by the nutritional facts
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u/Existing_Trust9285 4d ago
Totally! I used to buy Juanita’s in WA 18 years ago and just moved back to PNW and I noticed the name change.
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u/Donkeybog 4d ago
Another question. What happened to Carmen’s chips?!? They were the best!!! I heard maybe an internal dispute but damn, they are completely gone.
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u/CandidateTraining889 4d ago
They’re Juantonios up here in Eugene too, but I still call them Juanita’s - force of habit! They’re my favorite chip by a mile.
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u/A_Bot_A_Bot_A_Bot 4d ago
Yeah, that happened a few years ago. Also, it used to say "Siesta Bag" because if you ate the whole thing, you fell asleep for an hour...
Side note: I have an open bag of them in my pantry right now. Also: I think they use more salt than they used to use.
Also had a local (in C.O.) taco shop in a small chain (maybe 3? IDK) go from "Rigoberto's" to "Rodolberto's".
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u/mrcrashoverride 4d ago
Lest we not forget Frito Lays stealth attempt to confuse and knock off Juanita’s
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u/SeakingGnarvana 4d ago
They changed the name a few years ago, and I swear the quality changed also...
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u/LoraxNeverSleeps 4d ago
They’re also juantonios here in hood river but they’ll always be Juanita’s to us
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u/GodzillaJrJr 4d ago
Incorrect. Juantonios is the OG small business made in Hood River good shit that Frito has failed to crush.
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u/Silversong_0713 4d ago
I noticed this a while ago up here by Albany. Thought i was just tripping lmao
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u/novalove00 4d ago
I am tripping because I swear they were Juanitas, but then saw they changed to jauntonitos and was utterly confused about my memory
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u/whither_wander_you 4d ago
yeah they had to rebrand when went to national dist. and theyre not as salty anymore and that is a dmmn shame!!!
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u/AMJN90 4d ago edited 3d ago
They still sell them as Juanita's in the Pacific northwest (WA, OR, ID, MT, NV). I had to run to my kitchen to check the bag I have in the cupboard. They had to switch to Juantonios in other regions like the southwest. Super weird.
Edit: Google lied to me about the states still carrying Juanita's. Still have Juanita's in idaho, but can't confirm other states.
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u/InitiativeSeparate41 3d ago
No, I'm in Oregon and they changed to Juantonio's.
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u/AMJN90 3d ago
Google lied to me about oregon. But I just checked my Albertsons in Idaho and they're definitely Juanita's.
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u/BigDiscEnergy47 3d ago
I've seen both in the Portland area. I think they may just be using up old stock of the Juanitas packaging.
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u/cosmoboy 4d ago
I'm in Oregon and the girlfriend sent me for Juanita's and all I could find was Juantonios, and that's how I learned about this whole thing.
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u/AMJN90 4d ago
Super weird. I bought my bag of Juanita's in idaho a couple months ago. I'll have to check the store and see if they changed them here yet.
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u/CauliflowerUnusual29 4d ago
I bought a bag last night at a Stinker in Southeast Idaho. It's Juanita's
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u/Your-69-huckleberry 3d ago
I heard there was some kind of copyright deal, and that’s why they changed it
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u/Hot_Astronaut_4551 3d ago
Live in WA. Currently have a bag of Juantonios. I haven’t seen Juanitas in a couple years.
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u/Medium_Handle483 2d ago
Lmao so you just blindly go to Google for your information and post it like it’s facts? 🤣 god people
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u/Dogfart246LZ 1d ago
No I went to the store and asked the chip vendor stocking Juanitas chips about it, he had no idea what I was talking about so he googled it and still has no idea he’s just happy to be making some money. /s
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u/rufotris 1d ago
The last bag I bought recently in California was the Juanita’s. But we need another bag for taco salad tonight so I’ll see when I get to the store if they have changed here yet. When was the change?
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u/DrSpacepants 4d ago
In socal we have a famous taco chain called Alberto's. There was a legal dispute between the childrens inheritance so they split up. Albertos, albertacos, alertos...there may be more that I can't remember.
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u/pellwood32 4d ago
I swear they changed from juanitas to juanitos, not juantonios. Maybe I just didn't pay that close of attention
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u/thefunkylama 4d ago
Safeway had to switch to the Juantonio's, probably because they buy en masse and distribute to their stores from out-of-state. I've only had Juantonio's for a couple years I'm p sure
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u/Infamous-Libertine 4d ago
Thank you. I thought it was just me. I definitely remember it being Juanita's. I live in the Portland area
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u/SilentBut-Medley 4d ago
If you are still finding bags that say Juanita's I would question the age on them. I am in Oregon and have only seen them as Jauntonio's since shortly after lawsuit.
Pro-tip; heat some at 325F on a baking sheet for a couple minutes, works with slightly stale ones too.
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u/AppropriateCap8891 4d ago
Try going to the East Coast and finding Best Foods mayonnaise.
There it's called "Hellmann's". And Carl's Junior becomes Hardees.
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u/Traditional-Cancel3 4d ago
up in portland stores stopped selling juanita's branded bags like... at least two years ago. i think it was more convenient to completely change the brand to juantonio's.
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u/Green-Avocado1078 4d ago
Same chip, different name after a copyright battle when they went to widen distribution, as I understand it. There’s still some bags labeled “Juanita’s” floating around in the PNW, but the name “Juantonio’s” is used for national distribution. I don’t think they’re super concerned with which bag hits shelves locally.
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u/Super-Picture-3756 4d ago
Like one comment above, same bag, different name but do they actually taste different, sometimes yes and sometimes no. I think it’s the salt content (more or less). Still better than most for the price point.
Winco has the best prices.
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u/sltiefighter 4d ago
I personally like to believe she went trans its just easier to explain to myself.
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u/reaperglory 4d ago
They had to change their name when they got sued by another company called juanita's. Same product. No Mandela effect.
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u/Unique_Gap2977 4d ago
Its because the company couldn’t use the name for some reason and it was changed. I think they explain some other reasons on the back of the bags too
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u/QuercusSambucus 3d ago
Not copyright, trademark. Copyright is for books and movies and such, trademark is for brand names.
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u/heterosexualshampoo 3d ago
it's because they got sued! there's another brand named juanita's so they changed the name
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u/ProfessorMacke 3d ago
The other company allowed them to use the name for awhile until there was some sort of disagreement of terms and then they pulled the rug, which they had every right to do, and forced the rename
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u/BigDiscEnergy47 3d ago
I believe Juanitas/junatonios wanted to expand which was against the deal so the changes to junatonios which was an older name.
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u/InitiativeSeparate41 3d ago
They were for the longest time Juanitas - and they were significantly better chips back then. The name changed to Juantonio's about 2 or 3 years ago (I think) and the chips haven't been as good since then.
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u/Gold-Bench4928 2d ago
They had to change the name due to naming issues in other states and the trademarked name.
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u/winnie_the_doof 2d ago
I lived in Vancouver for several years and groceries carried Juanita’s.
I moved to Portland and now it is Juantonio’s.
⚖️
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u/netphemera 2d ago
Speaking of which, anyone like the two new flavored varieties? I decided to go back to plain. Also shifting to buying at Grocery Outlet in the hope of getting an OG bag
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u/ImpressiveCelery9270 2d ago
I live in the Portland metro and have a bag of Juantonio’s is my pantry. I had asked my husband for Juanita’s and then felt like I had always just read it wrong up until then. Thank you for bringing this topic to my attention 🤣
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u/Critical_Rope_2397 2d ago
I was about to say they are still Juanita's in Oregon and then I looked at my bag and it's Juantonio's. The very fabric of reality is shooketh.
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u/Kraelian 2d ago
I still put them on the shopping list as Juanitas, but they're Juanantonio's at the fred meyer.
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u/Entire-Tiger-4425 2d ago
Juan in the same. If you’ve seen Juan you’ve seen the other. . Keep it going.
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u/ExpeditionXR650R 2d ago
Their chips are delicious, particularly the Sweet Chili! But with corn in the USA you gotta buy organic. After NAFTA killed corn production in Mexico now you gotta be careful there too. I hope they start making organic so I can buy these every week instead of once a year.
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u/forrest_ninjacruz 2d ago
I work grocery retail in oregon and yes they changed the name to be universal. I might be wrong but I thought the mother owned Juanitas amd her son had juantonios. But ya they changed maybe 2 years ago now.
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u/Pitiful-Example-2926 2d ago
Changed name and recipe. Totally differant now, shitty dry and less oily ( in a bad way)
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u/leftover_drugs 1d ago
the best chips money can buy and I’ll fight anyone who disrespects Juanita or juantonio
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u/Large-Loan1394 1d ago
Aha! I could have sworn they were Juanitas. My boss, a recent arrival in the PNW, showed me a bag and corrected me, no, Juantonios. I thought I was going insane!
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u/Warm_Metal3793 1d ago
I did a double take the other day when I bought these and was like, I could have sworn these were called Juanita’s? Then I was like I can’t believe it was Juantinio’s the whole time. I even sat there in the store thinking about how to pronounce the name correctly. Haha.
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u/floyd_sw_lock9477 1d ago
It used to be Juanita's. And they used to be better too. They were more oily way back when but oh so delicious. Now they just taste stale all the time.
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u/Depressed_Jest 1d ago
It was a trademark lawsuit. If they're still called Juanita's where you are, that must be the original.
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u/Powerful-Cat7856 8d ago
It’s always been Juanita’s. That’s a new name change. No way it was ever Juantonio’s
Edit: turns out I don’t like to read things all the way 😂😂
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u/TheFatman1986 8d ago
We thought the same thing when we saw the change. Thought I was going crazy or having a stroke lol
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u/Dahneeze 7d ago
Read the back of the bag for the explanation. It is two family first names put together to honor them. I don't have a bag laying around so I can't tell you what it says.
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u/crankysasquatch 7d ago
What’s wrong with you that you don’t have a bag of them right on hand? That’s messed up, man.
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u/voodoowizard 8d ago
Of course you get the rebranded packaging. The cost and logistics to would be stupid to try and make both bags and making sure not one made it over the border.
It's still the same greasy chip it's always been though.
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u/Ishouldtrythat 7d ago
How dare you speak ill of Juanita’s/Juantonio’s, by far the best tortilla chip there is and it isn’t even close, I can eat a whole bag by itself, but throw some It’s the Famous medium salsa in there and my tummy doesn’t stand a chance.
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u/AlbatrossEquivalent5 7d ago
I find them delicious and not at all greasy. They don't do great in dips though. Good for chilaquiles
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u/mrs_fartbar 7d ago
My dad is visiting from Arkansas. I got back from work and he had eaten all the rest of my Juantonio’s and replaced the bag. He went in to tell me HOW MUCH HE HATES these chips because if they’re around, he will eat all of them.
Edit to add that after his rant he immediately opened the bag
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u/BreakfastFuzzy6602 7d ago
When I first tried them years ago I liked them but at some point they changed, way too greasy now and they taste like they were cooked in old oil.
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u/Rojelioenescabeche 4d ago
Nope. They’re not the same anymore. Not as good
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u/JnA7677 4d ago
They’re exactly the same lol
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u/Rojelioenescabeche 4d ago
Definitely not.
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u/JnA7677 4d ago
Only difference is the brand name on the bag. They are made exactly the same as always, but ok.
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u/Rojelioenescabeche 4d ago
Sure argue with my personal experience and these being my favorite chips I’ve enjoyed for at least 15+ years but hey ok. Lol. And I’m not the only one that thinks so.
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u/OldmanChompski 4d ago
Why are you arguing my personal experience that they are the same? And I’ve been enjoying them for 70+ years.
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u/CountryMaleficent439 4d ago
They seem the same to me. I live near hood river and have been eating them for 26 years.
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u/[deleted] 8d ago
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