Category: Reviews

REVIEW: Milk Chocolate Honey Graham M&M’s

Julie 9 Comments

Milk Chocolate Honey Grahams M M s Bag

What are Milk Chocolate Honey Graham M&M’s?

The busy bees at M&M’s have added a new seasonal flavor to their hive: honey graham, featuring milk chocolate with a crisp rice center.

How are they?

Milk Chocolate Honey Graham M&M’s could be described as “upgraded Crispy M&M’s” because they have a subtle, wonderful current of additional sweetness running through the candy. The dominant flavor is intermingling honey and milk chocolate, which reminds me of a Toblerone bar. The crispy rice center provides a perfect light texture to accompany the delicate honey flavor.

Milk Chocolate Honey Grahams M M s Closeup

Clad in honeycomb-esque yellow and brown shells, these M&M’s are tiny compared to other seasonal M&M varieties. They are close to a plain M&M in size, so it’s difficult to tell whether the flavor is coming from the chocolate itself or the crisp center. Either way, every bite provides a satisfying blend of flavor and texture.

Milk Chocolate Honey Grahams M M s Innards

However, in an “upgraded Crispy M&M,” the graham component is difficult to identify. The crisp rice slightly echoes the texture that I associate with graham crackers or rice cereal. But while the honey flavor is wonderful, it doesn’t have enough nutty or toasty shades to remind me of graham flavor.

Anything else you need to know?

Even though I liked the flavor of these M&M’s, I wondered what could have been with a graham cookie center instead of crisp rice. I had some Teddy Grahams on hand, so I cruelly dismembered one in order to sample an M&M with a Teddy Graham leg as its center. (Sorry, but I did it in the name of science.)

Milk Chocolate Honey Grahams M M s Transplant

This addition did satisfy my graham fix, but it overwhelmed the chocolate of the tiny M&M. I’m not sure it was an improvement, but a better candy engineer than I could probably readjust the ratios for better results.

Conclusion:

The honey and chocolate flavor duo of Milk Chocolate Honey Graham M&M’s is something to buzz about, but the crisp rice center may leave graham fanatics feeling stung.

Purchased Price: $3.49
Purchased at: Tops Friendly Markets
Size: 8 oz (226.8 g) bag
Rating: 7 out of 10
Nutrition Facts: (per 1 ounce/about 30 pieces) 130 calories, 5 grams of fat, 3 grams of saturated fat, 0 grams of trans fat, less than 5 milligrams of cholesterol, 40 milligrams of sodium, 21 grams of carbohydrates, less than 1 gram of fiber, 15 grams of sugar, and 1 gram of protein

REVIEW: Mtn Dew Energy Cherry Lime Lift

Sean

Mtn Dew Energy Cherry Lime Lift Can

What is Mtn Dew Energy Cherry Lime Lift?

In March of 2021, PepsiCo released Mtn Dew Rise, a series of six Dew drinks marketed to morning coffee drinkers, loaded with 180 milligrams of caffeine, fruit juice, vitamins, and zinc for immune support. After losing a court battle late last year with Rise Brewing, a ready-to-drink coffee company founded in 2014, Mtn Dew was forced to drop “Rise” from its name and return as Mtn Dew Energy, bringing with it a new flavor — Cherry Lime Lift.

How is it?

My love of cherry lime goes way back to the Shirley Temple days. There was nothing quite like that Sprite mixed with cherry syrup when going out for dinner in the 90s before my caffeine addiction and ability to consume alcohol — the pinnacle of drinkable treats. In adulthood, I’ve remained fond of the flavor combo, so I was stoked that Mtn Dew would rise from the ashes with this winning duo, and they pulled it off well.

Mtn Dew Energy Cherry Lime Lift Top

The flavor is a near perfect 50/50 split of cherry and lime, with distinct cherry candy sweetness on the front and crisp, citrusy lime on the finish. The carbonation is medium, milder and smoother than other energy drinks like Bang and Reign, and I prefer a touch more bubbles, especially when accenting sharp citrus.

The fruit juice plays a minimal role. In this case, it’s white grape, and I think it’s there more as a marketing ploy than to provide depth of flavor. If anything, the actual juice is less sweet than the artificial sweeteners that make up the rest of the ingredients and most products in this category, which pulls back a bit on the sugariness and punchiness of the cherry lime.

Anything else you need to know?

Mtn Dew Energy Cherry Lime Lift Red

In addition to the even split of cherry and lime, there’s a very distinct Dew flavor that rounds out the profile. If you’ve had any kind of Mtn Dew product, you’ll know what I’m talking about, and if you haven’t, well, then you need to try it to know! It’s in all the flavors from original to Baja Blast to this brand new Dew Energy, and it’s less of a specific flavor note than it is an underlining essence. You’ll know it when ya taste it, trust me. It’s not a bad flavor at all, I actually enjoy the familiarity of it, but it does slightly lessen the purity of the other key flavors.

Conclusion:

It may not take the throne from my two favorites of the original Rise launch — Pomegranate Blue Burst and Tropical Sunrise — but it’s a great addition to the Energy line and very true to its name.

Purchased Price: $1.79
Size: 16 oz can
Purchased at: Lucky
Rating: 7 out of 10
Nutrition Facts: (1 can) 25 calories, 0 grams of fat, 0 grams of saturated fat, 0 grams of trans fat, 0 milligrams of cholesterol, 170 milligrams of sodium, 5 grams of carbohydrates, less than 1 grams of fiber, 4 grams of sugar, and 0 grams of protein.

REVIEW: Taco Bell Flamin’ Hot Cool Ranch Doritos Locos Tacos

Marvo 19 Comments

Taco Bell Flamin Hot Cool Ranch Doritos Locos Tacos Wrapper

What are the Taco Bell Flamin’ Hot Cool Ranch Doritos Locos Tacos?

The recently released Flamin’ Hot Cool Ranch Doritos now has its own Taco Bell Doritos Locos Taco shell. It’s available with a regular Crunchy (seasoned beef, lettuce, and cheese) and Crunchy Supreme (seasoned beef, lettuce, tomato, cheese, and sour cream) taco. There’s also a Doritos Cheesy Gordita Crunch with the spicy tangy shell.

How are they?

Well, let me start with a few thoughts about Flamin’ Hot Cool Ranch Doritos, the tortilla chips. I didn’t review them on the site, but I think I loved them slightly more than our reviewer did. I know it’s only February, but they are my favorite snack of the year so far. If you haven’t had them, they’re basically Cool Ranch with a noticeable kick. The tangy seasoning helps tone down the spiciness to a Flamin’ Not-Too-Hot, but that’s what makes the chips so hard to put down. There’s no need for beverage breaks that I have to take when eating regular Flamin’ Hot snacks, and I can just keep shoving them into my mouth.

Taco Bell Flamin Hot Cool Ranch Doritos Locos Tacos Shell

This Flamin’ Hot Cool Ranch Doritos Locos Taco shell is almost as outstanding as the chips. It has the same flavor profile — spicy Cool Ranch – although the flavor and heat are slightly less potent than the chips.

Even with the seasoned beef, the tangy seasoning comes through. Actually, I think the Cool Ranch shines better on this shell than what I remember from the original Cool Ranch Doritos Locos Taco (R.I.P.). Like the chips, the ranch seasoning tones down the Flamin’ Hot’s fieriness, and the taco’s vegetables (and the sour cream in the Supreme) affect the spiciness slightly more. But overall, I love the flavor and heat of these tacos, and I could probably eat a Party Pack of them. It’s my new favorite Doritos Locos Taco variety.

Taco Bell Flamin Hot Cool Ranch Doritos Locos Tacos Filling

Anything else you need to know?

These are available for a limited time, and that makes me sad. I guess after they’re gone, I could publicly complain, get others to complain, and, if there’s enough of us, maybe Taco Bell will bring it back like the Mexican Pizza. Or perhaps it’ll return periodically like the Nacho Fries. Or maybe it’ll disappear from the face of the Taco Bell menu forever like my previous D.L.T. favorite — the Fiery Doritos Locos Taco (which, by the way, was spicier than this).

Conclusion:

Taco Bell Flamin Hot Cool Ranch Doritos Locos Tacos Side by Side

If you enjoy Flamin’ Hot Cool Ranch Doritos as much as I do, then these tacos are a no-brainer. If you love these tacos, eat a lot, because I really want them to return.

Purchased Price: $2.29 (regular) $2.99 (Supreme)*
Size: N/A
Rating: 9 out of 10 (both)
Nutrition Facts: Regular – 170 calories, 10 grams of fat, 4 grams of saturated fat, 0 grams of trans fat, 23 milligrams of cholesterol, 370 milligrams of sodium, 12 grams of carbohydrates, 3 grams of fiber, less than 1 gram of sugar, and 8 grams of protein. Supreme – 200 calories, 12 grams of fat, 5 grams of saturated fat, 0 grams of trans fat, 25 milligrams of cholesterol, 380 milligrams of sodium, 14 grams of carbohydrates, 3 grams of fiber, 2 grams of sugar, and 8 grams of protein.

*Because I live on a rock in the middle of the Pacific Ocean, things are a bit pricier here. You’ll probably pay less than I did.

REVIEW: Wendy’s Hot Honey Chicken Sandwich

Jenna 24 Comments

Wendy s Hot Honey Chicken Sandwich Top

I thought that the hardest part of eating Wendy’s Hot Honey Chicken Sandwich would be weathering the habanero hot honey (or saying its name three times fast). As it turns out, the actual hardest part was just getting to the honey.

Prying the top bun off to take a picture of the sandwich’s contents required some legitimate elbow grease, for which I was rewarded with an extremely strong aroma of pickles. I had known the sandwich would contain “pickle chips,” but honestly, I’d assumed that that was just a synonym for a couple of thinly-cut pickle slices, so I was pretty puzzled to discover a hearty heaping of what looked like straight-up potato chips, just a bit green (that’s more or less how they tasted, too). Delving into the “What’s on it” menu on Wendy’s website helpfully specified that these were actually “Crunchy Dill Chips” (as opposed to the more traditional experience of “Crinkle Cut Pickles”). Mystery solved, I sampled each of the other components in turn, a supporting cast consisting of:

“Premium bun”: Soft, airy, and inoffensive. Not immediately clear how it was different from the alternative option that the website has labeled “sandwich bun.”

Applewood smoked bacon: Thick and chewy, striking an impressive middle ground between too fatty and too burnt.

Pepper jack cheese: So creamy and mild that I mistook it for White American at first, though it finally left a whisper of peppery spice in its aftertaste.

Chicken: A typical breaded chicken breast (I opted for the “Classic” version of the sandwich, rather than “Spicy” or “Grilled”). Basically, one giant nugget.

And the titular hot honey?

Wendy s Hot Honey Chicken Sandwich Under the Bun

My impression, frankly, was that it was difficult to locate, even after performing bun surgery. I expected the honey would be coating the chicken, so it took a while to realize that it was actually applied directly to the top bun, almost entirely obscured by pickle chips. On its own, the taste made a pleasant impact, with a spiciness that was noticeable but didn’t cross the line into painful, tempered as it was by a simultaneous rich sweetness.

Unfortunately, the sandwich as a whole ended up somehow tasting like less than the sum of its parts. The plump, juicy chicken dominated the experience both in terms of texture and taste. I guess it’s a positive sign that Wendy’s doesn’t skimp when it comes to meat, but you’d hope that the promising array of other ingredients would be way more prominent, and they simply did not deliver. After a few bites, I started to pick up on a bit of tanginess from the pickle chips and some sweetness from the honey (plus after swallowing, the roof of my mouth had a telltale tingle from the heat), but if I’d been taste testing this blind, I wouldn’t have even known the cheese and bacon were there.

Wendy’s also offers a dipping cup of hot honey that you can order as a side, so adding more might help the exciting-on-paper flavor to seriously shine. I did ultimately enjoy my meal, but that might just be because I really like basic chicken sandwiches. If you’re looking for something more exciting, this offering will probably not have you calling out, “Honey (Chicken Sandwich), I’m home!”

Purchased Price: $6.19
Size: N/A
Rating: 5 out of 10
Nutrition Facts: 700 calories, 31 grams of fat, 0 grams of trans fat, 8 grams of saturated fat, 95 milligrams of cholesterol, 2040 milligrams of sodium, 70 grams of total carbohydrates, 18 grams of total sugars, 2 grams of fiber, and 37 grams of protein.

REVIEW: Hershey’s Vanilla Frosting Kisses

Alex 7 Comments

Hershey s Vanilla Frosting Kisses Bag

What are Hershey’s Vanilla Frosting Kisses?

The latest Kiss from Hershey’s is a creme-filled variety that seeks to make up for all the times you’ve rushed to a tray of assorted cupcakes at a schoolmate’s birthday party in a backyard, classroom, or Discovery Zone only to find that the more agile kids beat you to your favorite flavor, chocolate cake with vanilla frosting.

How are they?

Hershey s Vanilla Frosting Kisses Split

I was the kid who would throw elbows to avoid possibly ending up with chocolate cake with vanilla frosting, but I’ve since learned the error of my ways and have to say these were yummy! Like other creme-filled Kisses, the texture was more like a truffle, with a nice snap from the chocolate. The creme had the right amount of buttery richness to make it taste like canned frosting, and the flavor kept itself separate enough from the taste of the milk chocolate shell to call to mind the experience of eating a cupcake that looks like the one on the package. Adding to that experience, Hershey’s even wrapped each Kiss in adorable plaid foil that looks like the pattern on a baking cup.

Hershey s Vanilla Frosting Kisses Foil

Anything else you need to know?

From the flowers and butterflies on the bag to the colors that were selected to crisscross on the foil, these Kisses are clearly being marketed as a spring product. But I’m confused why this flavor was chosen as something season-specific.

Hershey s Vanilla Frosting Kisses Recipe

Speaking of season-specific, the back of the bag had a recipe for “springtime KISSES surprise brownie bites.” Although, “recipe” might be too strong a word since it was more like instructions for rolling premade brownies around Vanilla Frosting Kisses. I haven’t tried it yet, but I’m sure the creme would pair nicely with a brownie, and it seems like a fun family activity to do with children.

Conclusion:

Arguably the most important conclusion I reached when trying these Kisses was how much more often I was presented with free cupcakes in my youth than in adulthood, and we really didn’t know how good we had it cupcake-wise as young’uns. The second most important was that these Kisses are pretty good! Don’t let your childhood cupcake preferences keep you from trying these.

Purchased Price: $4.39
Size: 7 oz. bag
Purchased at: CVS
Rating: 7 out of 10
Nutrition Facts: (7 Kisses) 160 calories, 9 grams of fat, 6 grams of saturated fat, 0 grams of trans fat, less than 5 milligrams of cholesterol, 45 milligrams of sodium, 19 grams of carbohydrates, 0 grams of dietary fiber, 19 grams of sugar, and 2 grams of protein.