Alani Nu Lime Slush Energy Drink Review

/ / Reviews / 2 Comments

Alani Nu Lime Slush Energy Drink can

There have been several Alani Nu Slush flavors over the years — Pink Slush, Blue Slush, Cherry Slush, and now this new Lime Slush. Here’s how the company describes it:

Icy, citrusy, iconic — Lime Slush Energy is here to sweeten your spring break with all the adventure and none of the sugar! A river of bold lime and sunny lemon flavors, each can serves up B vitamins, 200mg of caffeine, and our signature slushie twist. One sip? And, bestie, you’re off the map and in the moment!

Um, cool, bestie.

Despite trying several Alani Nu Energy flavors over the past year, this is my first Slush variety. I’m not sure why it took me this long, but if Lime Slush is any indication of what I’ve been missing, I must seek out the other Slush flavors.

Alani Nu Lime Slush Energy Drink in glass

To be honest, Lime Slush reminds me of the Bang Lime Pop Drop I reviewed a few weeks ago — another lime creamsicle-style drink that caught me pleasantly off guard. But while the Bang leans into the creamy, candy-like sweetness, the Alani Nu version takes a slightly different approach with a more pronounced sour lime flavor and a little less creaminess. Both drinks smell and taste wonderful, but I can’t say I like the flavor of one over the other.

Whether it truly tastes like a lime slush is debatable — I’d call it more of a lime sorbet, with a creaminess that you wouldn’t expect from something billed as icy and citrusy. But that’s not a complaint. It’s just a more interesting drink than its name suggests.

At 200 milligrams of caffeine, zero sugar, and only 10 calories, it also delivers almost everything you want from an energy drink without any of the guilt — which, combined with how good it tastes, makes it very easy to recommend. Though, like all energy drinks in slim 12-ounce cans, I wish it came in a larger 16-ounce version.

Lime Slush is another winner from Alani Nu — and a reminder that I really need to work my way through the rest of the Slush lineup to find out if any of them could also be my bestie.

Purchased Price: $2.89
Size: 12 fl oz can
Purchased at: Target
Rating: 9 out of 10
Nutrition Facts: 10 calories, 0 grams of fat, 190 milligrams of sodium, 1 gram of carbohydrates, 0 grams of sugar, 0 grams of protein, and 200 milligrams of caffeine.

Red Bull Spring Edition Cherry Sakura Energy Drink Review

/ / Reviews / 1 Comment

Red Bull Spring Edition Cherry Sakura Energy Drink can

Spring has sprung.

I’m still staring at mountains of dirty snow everywhere I turn, but as far as I’m concerned, Red Bull is the official arbiter of the season. That’s right, forget the fat little terrified groundhog, because the only animal you should be getting your seasonal assurance from is the bull.

Every year in early March, my rites of spring involve being angry at the Mets’ hypothetical roster, re-exposing my blindingly white calves to the world, and tossing back a few of whatever flavor concoction Red Bull has waiting for me. It’s 2026, and this year it landed on Cherry Sakura, or Japanese Cherry Blossom.

The can says cherry AND sakura

In case you’re like me and are wondering if the flavor name is an “ATM machine-like” redundancy, no, this is Cherry AND Cherry Blossom. Flora and Fruit(a.)

I enjoyed their last foray into Japanese flavors with “Fuji Apple,” and was reasonably satisfied with last year’s Spring Edition, also a fruit/flower hybrid, “Grapefruit Blossom,” so we were off to a good start. Still, I wasn’t exactly sure what to expect.

After drinking two cans, I’m still pretty stumped on the flavor profile, but I can tell ya, it’s a winner. This is a very confusing flavor, and the internet seems to agree.

Red Bull Spring Edition Cherry Sakura Energy Drink carbonation in a glass with it's purple red color

Upon first sip, I immediately started lying to myself. Did I taste cherry? I think. It just wasn’t the typical sweet cherry you’d expect. Did I taste something mildly floral? I think. I’d say it’s more “leafy” than “flowery.”

Well, there ya go, it’s Cherry and flowers, they didn’t lie… but wait…

Was it cherry? I just kept tasting slightly sour, unripened fruits. I couldn’t distinguish which fruits. Despite reading the can and trying to convince myself it was cherry, I just refused to commit to that. Was it dragon fruit or something? I liked it a lot, I just didn’t know why.

Then it hit me – does this taste like Strawberry Banana, or am I insane? I might be insane. I’m not alone though. I’ll get to that in a bit.

I couldn’t shake it; I tasted what I would call Red Bull’s attempt at a Strawberry Banana Smoothie. It’s not super flavorful in either fruit’s direction, but something about it just tastes like a lite, unripe version of those two fruits in energy drink form. Like if you mixed 75% Sugar Free Red Bull with 25% Strawberry Banana juice.

Red Bull Spring Edition Cherry Sakura Energy Drink in a glass next to its can

Yeah. Cherry Sakura = Strawberry Banana Smoothie. “You’re insane.” So, after a little Googling I saw opinions on the flavor vary from what it’s actually supposed to be to… banana. There were a lot of people saying they tasted banana, which I’m sure sounds bananas.

Maybe this could be the Yanny/Laurel of a new generation. Perhaps my fellow blue/black dress observers are phantom bananas, while the white/gold psychos are something entirely different?

Either way, no matter what flavors you pinpoint, I think most will agree this is a strong addition to the Red Bull lineup. This might be one of my most puzzling reviews, but all I can really tell you is that I kinda loved “Cherry Sakura” by the end.

Purchased Price: $2.50
Size: 8.4 Fl. Oz.
Purchased at: Quick Chek
Rating: 8 out of 10
Nutrition Facts: 10 calories, 0 grams of fat, 140 milligrams of sodium, 2 grams of total carbohydrates, 0 grams of total sugars, 0 grams of protein.

Butterfinger French Toast Bar Review

/ / Reviews / 3 Comments

Butterfinger French Toast wrapper front design

Every time I review a novelty sweet, I issue a rating out of 10. This is a process I almost always agonize over, as though I will later need to justify my assessment in a court of candy law. When I weigh the final consideration that will knock a rating down a point or elevate it to greatness, I often ask: “Is this new flavor better than the original variety?”

The question is almost always rhetorical, because the classics—the Reese’s, Kit Kats, and Snickers—are so embedded in our hearts and taste buds that they set an almost unsurpassable standard. But Butterfinger is making me consider this question seriously, as its limited-edition offerings—most recently, Marshmallow and Salted Caramel—have been exceptional. The new, breakfast-inspired Butterfinger French Toast bar continues this pattern of success.

Butterfinger French Toast light orange confection coating

Butterfinger French Toast consists of the classic, crispy peanut butter core and a French Toast-flavored confectionary coating. I half-expected this bar to taste like a knockoff of any Cinnamon Toast Crunch candy, but its combination of flavors stands out as unique. The coating is a well-balanced combination of maple syrup and cinnamon. It tastes like what coats maple-dipped peanuts, but creamier and less sugary (although still very sweet!) with an added dash of cinnamon for good measure. There is also a subtle buttery flavor that makes the bar smell and taste like a sweet breakfast, not just maple or maple cinnamon.

Butterfinger French Toast crispity and crunchity center

I thought the flavored coating might clash with the peanut butter center, but I am happy to be wrong again. The toffee-like quality of the center complements the creamy coating, and the nutty, slightly salty flavor adds dimension to all the sweetness. No single flavor is fighting for attention at this breakfast table.

The French Toast flavor completes one year of Butterfinger’s exciting three limited-edition flavors. Consider them the Powerpuff Girls of candy bars: sugar, spice, and everything nice, a descriptor that could belong to the French Toast variety alone.

Butterfinger French Toast crispity and crunchity center part two

So, are these flavors better than the original chocolate coating? Should Butterfinger get out of the chocolate game entirely and specialize in flavored crème coatings? It’s hard to say, but I hope the brand continues to cook up more innovative offerings.

Purchased Price: $2.19
Purchased at: Giant Eagle
Size: 1.9 oz (54 g) bar
Rating: 9 out of 10
Nutrition Facts: 250 calories, 11 grams of fat, 5 grams of saturated fat, 0 grams of trans fat, 2 milligrams of cholesterol, 180 milligrams of sodium, 32 grams of carbohydrates, 1 gram of fiber, 21 grams of sugar, and 4 grams of protein

REVIEW: Taco Bell Chocolate Fudge & Caramel Empanadas

/ / Reviews / 9 Comments

Taco Bell Chocolate Fudge & Caramel Empanadas with Taco Bell bag

With the success of the Taco Bell Caramel Apple Empanada, the chain has apparently decided to find out if lightning can strike twice with the rollout of Chocolate Fudge & Caramel Empanadas. An order comes with one of each variety — two different empanadas for one price. Two empanadas enter and one empanada leaves. Okay, there’s no Mad Max competition. But if it were, I know which one should walk away.

Taco Bell Caramel Empanadas split open

Taco Bell Chocolate Fudge Empanadas split open

After opening each with a pair of kitchen shears, I noticed the caramel filling was shy, while the chocolate filling looked ready to jump out of its shell. That’s also the case with their flavors — the caramel was muted and somewhat swallowed by its shell, while the chocolate filling stood out confudgently, I mean, confidently. If the caramel filling had been more generous, I imagine the flavor would’ve been better. So if you happen to find yourself having to share one with another person, give them the caramel one and tell them I said it’s the better one. They’ll never know because they probably have no idea who I am.

Taco Bell Chocolate Fudge & Caramel Empanadas split open side by side

The two shells behave quite differently as well. The caramel one has a shell that’s slightly tough, while the chocolate one crumbles under the pressure of a bite, making it messier but easier to eat. And when the person you generously surrendered the caramel one to notices that, you can shrug and say, “See, the shell is so crumbly. You definitely got the better one.”

Taco Bell Chocolate Fudge & Caramel Empanadas shells

Because you’re stuck with one of each, the caramel empanada drags down the overall experience. It’s pretty much mid, and while the chocolate fudge is a step up, it’s not Choco Taco mind-blowing. Both could probably be improved with a scoop of ice cream — Taco Bell Chocolate Fudge & Caramel Empanadas a la Mode has a nice ring to it — but as they come, there’s no need to run to the border for these or Live Dás, I mean, EmpanaDás.

Purchased Price: $3.99
Rating: 6 out of 10
Nutrition Facts: (for both) 320 calories, 15 grams of fat, 4 grams of saturated fat, 0 grams of trans fat, less than 5 milligrams of cholesterol, 290 milligrams of sodium, 42 grams of carbohydrates, 1 gram of fiber, 16 grams of sugar, and 3 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: Panda Express Buldak Dynamite Sweet & Sour Chicken

/ / Reviews / 7 Comments

Panda Express Buldak Dynamite Sweet & Sour Chicken with Buldak packet

When I pulled up to the Panda Express drive-thru window, the woman manning it didn’t say “hello.” Instead, she said something even better: “This is the best chicken dish ever.”

The dish she was referring to — and promptly handed to me — was the chain’s new Buldak Dynamite Sweet & Sour Chicken. I wanted to reply, “Um, have you heard about your Orange Chicken?” But I was too chicken to say it, and besides, she might have had a point. I hadn’t tried it yet. This new entrée could be Panda Express’ best chicken dish. So is it?

Not quite. But it’s up there.

Buldak, a popular Korean hot sauce brand, has recently been ramming its way onto store shelves like a bull through a red cape. You’ve probably seen the potato chips, frozen food, and — of course — the ramen noodles. I’d never tried it with anything before. But I do know that when Panda Express creates something sweet and savory, there’s a very good chance it’ll be worth eating.

Buldak Dynamite Sweet & Sour Chicken continues Panda Express’ trend — established with its Firecracker Chicken and Firecracker Shrimp — of pairing bell peppers and onions with dishes named after things that explode. The crispy chicken breast chunks are tossed in a Buldak hot sauce blend, and I was also handed a Buldak Original Hot Sauce packet on the side, for, I dunno, masochistic purposes.

So, how was my first experience with anything Buldak? It was Buldaaaang — delicious, but holy hell it’s spicy.

Panda Express Buldak Dynamite Sweet & Sour Chicken glaze

Most of the heat comes from the sauce the chicken is tossed in. From what I’ve read, this is supposed to be Panda’s spiciest dish ever, and I think that claim might be correct. There’s a strong sweetness and a bit of tanginess, too, but neither does much to temper the heat. Fluids were coming out of places where fluids usually come out when I eat really spicy food, and halfway through, the back of my mouth went slightly numb. I’m fairly certain my digestive system will complain in a few hours. This is definitely a dish that demands something cold and refreshing nearby. Yet despite all the burning, its flavor still made me want to eat more.

Panda Express Buldak Dynamite Sweet & Sour Chicken adding the sauce

I thought twice about adding the extra Buldak sauce packet, not wanting to start hallucinating from the heat. But I’m glad I did because it added a savory, umami-rich chicken flavor — the kind you get from a chicken bouillon cube or chicken-flavored ramen packet — that elevated the dish to a level that made it even harder to stop eating despite the punishment. Interestingly, the extra sauce didn’t noticeably increase the heat, just the flavor.

As expected, the wok-tossed vegetables still had some snap, adding a fresh element that offered brief relief from the spice. The chicken’s coating loses most of its crispiness with all that sauce, but honestly, the heat will make you forget about that pretty quickly.

Panda Express Buldak Dynamite Sweet & Sour Chicken with Buldak sauce on

Panda Express’ Buldak Dynamite Sweet & Sour Chicken is a memorable dish — both for its unique, delicious flavor and for the very real physical consequences that follow. It hurts so good that I want to hurt again.

Purchased Price: $10.30
Size: Bowl
Rating: 8 out of 10
Nutrition Facts: (5.7 ounces) 400 calories, 3 grams of saturated fat, 44 grams of carbohydrates, and 17 grams of protein. Other nutrition numbers were not available on the Panda Express website.

Scroll to Top