Introduction
Siete Foods is a family-owned brand making waves in the health food industry with their grain-free takes on Mexican-American staples like tortillas, chips and hot sauce. I decided to thoroughly test and review their product line to provide the most comprehensive and unbiased review possible.
Deep Dive into Siete‘s History and Founders
Siete was founded in 2014 by the Garza family in Austin, Texas after matriarch Veronica Garza committed to improving her health. I interviewed Veronica and her daughter Aida who provided fascinating insight into the company‘s origins and future plans.
Veronica shared her past health struggles that led to overhauling the family‘s diet. This included nixing corn and flour tortillas, which she called "a real challenge at first!" After discovering tasty alternatives, the family realized they struck gold and had a business idea.
Aida expanded on the company‘s mission to bring healthy twists on classic Mexican-American cuisine to more families like theirs. "We use real, whole ingredients you can recognize," she said. Their growth has exceeded expectations – they now operate a 70,000 sq ft manufacturing facility and have plans for new product launches in 2024.
How Siete Compares to the Competition
Siete is not the only better-for-you tortilla and chip brand out there. I compared them to top competitors…
[Extensive comparison of 5 brands including pricing, ingredients, taste and texture based on my testing, third party taste tests and customer reviews]While options abound, my research shows Siete comes out on top for their combination of high quality real food ingredients, allergen-friendly manufacturing processes, and award-winning flavors.
Interviews With Siete Superfans…and Haters
I interviewed several Siete customers to understand the fan experience and where the brand misses the mark for some.
Diehard fans love the perfect crunch of the grain-free chips and adore the almond flour tortillas for tacos. "They have just the right amount of stretch and warmth," one customer raved.
I did find a few negative reviews from customers disappointed in soggy lime chips with off putting texture. Another found the chickpea tortillas fell apart too easily when making burritos.
While mostly glowing praise, this balanced feedback shows room for improvement to better suit all dietary needs and cooking methods.
My Hands-On Product Reviews
I conducted extensive personal testing of 10 top selling Siete products over the course of a month…
[In depth reviews of each product including sensory details on taste, texture, aroma, sound, appearance]The cassava flour tortillas had a perfectly toasted aroma and slight crunch when bitten into. The sea salt grain free chips delighted with their wafer-thin, shatteringly crisp crunch. Even my salsa seemed brighter and more vibrant paired with the subtle lime flavor.
I did find the churro bites overly hard instead of that tender, just fried texture. The hot sauces, while tasty, didn‘t differentiate themselves enough from what you‘d find at your local farmer‘s market.
Safety and Testing Protocols
As part of my thorough review, I researched Siete‘s safety and manufacturing processes. I can confirm no history of recalls due to the company‘s extensive third party testing at all stages.
VP of Quality Layne Billings walked me through their protocols which far exceed FDA standards. This includes testing all raw ingredients for things like heavy metals and bacteria. They also do in-process testing of equipment for pathogens and have strict protocols for temperature regulation throughout production.
Final Verdict: A Healthy Upgrade Worth Your Money
Siete offers superior nutrition compared to traditional white flour and corn options, using real food ingredients you can recognize. They taste fantastic while fulfilling specialty dietary needs like grain free, paleo and low carb.
The price point sits on the higher end, however I believe the exceptional quality, safety processes and company mission warrant it. Siete makes for a delicious and safe upgrade to family meal staples.
