Cheetos new Sweet Phantom Heat Puffs will numb your tongue
Aug 12, 2026, 5:33 PM
Cheetos Sweet Phantom Heat Puffs are new for Halloween and they numb your tongue. A food that literally numbs your mouth is a pretty solid party trick for October.
Cheetos and Blumhouse Films — the horror studio behind movies like, “Get Out” and “The Purge” — have teamed up for a snack that’s designed to mess with your mouth.
Cheetos Sweet Phantom Heat Flavored Puffs start with a cinnamon sugar sweetness and then take a hard turn. A slow-building heat kicks in followed by tingling, fizzing, and an actual numbing sensation while you chew. The effect is inspired by Sichuan peppercorns, which are known for creating that buzzy, tingly feeling on your tongue.
It’s not just spicy. It’s an experience.
And honestly, it sounds like exactly the kind of thing you either love immediately or spit into a napkin.
The whole thing is part of Cheetos’ “Flavor of Fear” campaign leading into Halloween, and the branding leans all the way into the horror theme.
Cheetos Sweet Phantom Heat Puffs hit stores nationwide on August 31 in both a 2½-ounce bag ($2.79) and an 8-ounce bag.
They’re limited edition, so expect them to stick around through Halloween and potentially disappear after that.
The real question: are you brave enough to try them?
See the new Cheetos here
