Cava introduced Hot Harissa Pita Chips Tuesday, offering a spicy new take on the fan-favorite snack. This is the chips’ second flavor extension after last fall’s successful debut of Garlic Ranch Pita Chips.
The new limited-time flavor comes to the fast casual by way of North Africa, which also borders the Mediterranean—the region that inspires Cava’s menu. Harissa is typically a blend of chilies, garlic, cumin, coriander, caraway and olive oil and is used as both a condiment and cooking ingredient in that region.
The Hot Harissa Chips are flavored with a dry spice mix that has a similar flavor profile.
Cava has used harissa before, introducing the ingredient in its Harissa Avocado Bowl and Steak + Harissa Bowl. To double down on the spice, the fast casual suggests pairing the Hot Harissa Pita Chips with one of those bowls or dipping them into hummus or another spread.
“Our new Hot Harissa Pita Chips are a bold twist on our beloved snack, showcasing our unique harissa spice for a new and exciting taste experience,” said Ted Xenohristos, co-founder and chief concept officer for Cava, in a statement. “We can’t wait to bring even more flavor to our guests through this new snacking option.”
Cava's new Hot Harissa Pita Chips. | Photo courtesy of Cava.
Harissa has moved into the mainstream stage of Technomic’s Flavor Lifecycle, according to the company’s Ignite menu database. It’s now on 4.9% of menus and is predicted to grow to 5.5% in 2026. Most often it shows up on Mediterranean-style menus in dips, chicken dishes and vegetables.
But younger consumers are into chips. Over 80% choose chips as their snack of choice, according to the Gen Z vs. Millennials Youth Snacking Trends Report by Knit, a research company based in Austin, Texas.
Cava scored a big hit when limited-time Garlic Ranch Pita Chips rolled out last fall; the chips drove incremental attachments, the Washington, D.C. fast casual reported. At the time, executives indicated more flavor variations were in the works. Hot Harissa is now here and will be on Cava’s menu through the summer.
As part of the launch, Cava is also releasing its first music video, set to the early 2000’s song “Can’t Get You Out of My Head.” The video visually and audibly showcases how Cava’s food makes guests feel—"evoking unbridled joy.”
Cava launched its new loyalty program around the same time as Garlic Ranch Pita Chips last fall, and together they contributed to a 13% bump in traffic in the third quarter of 2024. The new program made redemption easier on some items, including the chips, and Cava reported that it was the most redeemed item ever.
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