QUICK REVIEW: Starbucks Mango Dragonfruit Refreshers Beverage

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Starbucks Mango Dragonfruit Refreshers Beverage

What is it?

Get excited, Starbucks Refreshers fans! There’s a new kid in town, and it’s Mango Dragonfruit. With its pretty purple-pink hue and real dragonfruit pieces, it’s a fun drink that certainly refreshes and lives up to its name.

How is it?

I wouldn’t have thought to put mango and dragonfruit (dragonfruit, for those unfamiliar, is a tropical fruit with a kiwi-like inside) together, but the results are a super smooth, easy-to-drink beverage.

Starbucks Mango Dragonfruit Refreshers Beverage 2

I loved how the sweetness was subtle – more on that below – and it has a nice aftertaste that doesn’t leave your mouth sour (which some of the other Refreshers have been known to do, at least for me).

Is there anything else I need to know?

The biggest thing that struck me about the Mango Dragonfruit Refresher is that it isn’s as sweet as the others I’ve tried – in a good way. I’m also a big fan of the Strawberry Acai Refresher, but I sometimes feel as though it’s a little too sweet for an afternoon pick-me-up.

Even though there’s only one gram of sugar difference between the two (Mango Dragonfruit has 19 grams for a grande, Strawberry Acai has 20 grams for the same size), I would have put my money on Mango Dragonfruit having much less. I loved not feeling like I was drinking a sugar bomb.

Conclusion:

Highly recommend. I now deem this my new favorite Refresher! Just don’t tell Strawberry Acai. We’ll keep it our little secret.

Purchased Price: $3.75
Size: Grande
Rating: 9 out of 10
Nutrition Facts: (Grande 16 fl. oz.) 90 calories, 0 grams of fat, 0 grams of saturated fat, 0 grams of trans fat, 0 milligrams of cholesterol, 15 milligrams of sodium, 21 grams of carbohydrates, 19 grams of sugars, 0 grams of protein and 44-55 milligrams of caffeine.

REVIEW: Limited Time Only Sloppy Joe Pringles

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Limited Time Only Sloppy Joe Pringles

What is and is not truly American food is a great debate, but there are some things you just can’t argue.

One such United States staple is the Sloppy Joe, aka Toasted Deviled Sandwiches aka Chopped Meat Sandwiches aka A Loose Meat Sandwich aka my mom was feeling kinda lazy tonight. The Sloppy Joe is a staple of any good American household, marrying ground beef, onions, and classic condiments like ketchup into one sauteed pan of sloppy goodness that gets slop-plopped right on top of a hamburger bun.

On the cusp of celebrating America’s annual Independence Day, Pringles has taken its often experimental seasonal offerings to new patriotic heights with the Walgreens-exclusive Sloppy Joe-flavored crisps.

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In short, they taste like meat and potatoes. The first flavor is the distinct taste of ground beef followed by tomato and then the usual Pringles potato. Sloppy Joe’s are like a burger with all of the fixins’ mixed in where the individual notes get a bit blurred, and these chips reflect that. They’re kind of meaty and herbaceous with hints of onion but never really jump out with anything special or memorable.

These remind me of Pringles’ Cheeseburger flavor without the acidic pickle pop. As I continue to eat them I keep anticipating that extra dill zing and it never comes, which disappointing. It actually tastes like it took that seasoning and removed all of the great McDonald’s-y kick. When I think of a Sloppy Joe, I think of a more pronounced sweetness. While the tomato sweetness is there, I’m missing the layer of brown sugar or vinegar I want.

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Another key component that seems to be missing is Worcestershire sauce, which is fundamental to any great Sloppy Joe. The sweet and salty sauce made with anchovies brings a layer of depth that’s missing here. They aren’t sweet like BBQ or spicy like Jalapeno or complex like Salt and Vinegar, and ultimately aren’t that exciting for a brand that puts out some wild flavors.

While Pringles tend to deliver on the flavors it promises, like the magic in its Ketchup chips, or the oddly accurate Kickin’ Chicken Taco, the Sloppy Joe lacks the American spirit that makes the sandwich such a great and simple pleasure.

(Nutrition Facts – 15 crisps – 150 calories, 9 grams of fat, 2.5 grams of saturated fat, 0 grams of trans fat, 0 milligrams of cholesterol, 220 milligrams of sodium, 16 grams of carbohydrates, 0 grams of fiber, 0 grams of sugar, and 1 gram of protein.)

Purchased Price: $1.99
Size: 5.5 oz. can
Purchased at: Walgreens
Rating: 6 out of 10
Pros: It’s a Pringle so it’s stackable and crunchy and good but…
Cons: Not enough distinct Sloppy Joe flavor. Lack of depth, tastes like Cheeseburger Pringle without the pickle and fun.

QUICK REVIEW: Taco Bell Watermelon Freeze

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Taco Bell Watermelon Freeze

What is it?

The latest flavor creation in Taco Bell’s Freeze line of slush drinks, this variation adds some candy “seeds” to the mix to give it a unique look.

How is it?

Gimmicky but good. The watermelon flavor is about as expected. It’s a bit milder than some previous Freeze offerings, like the Strawberry Skittles flavor, and it’s not too sweet nor too tart.

But what about the candy seeds? Well, they really don’t bring much to the table, other than slowing down the slush-making process. Your friendly Taco Bell barista must first open a little package of seeds, fill the cup about a third of the way with slush, sprinkle in some seeds, fill more of the cup, sprinkle in more seeds, and so on.

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Eerily, the result for my drink looked like some sort of weird candy seed face starting me down, just daring me to drink it. I took the dare, and while the watermelon flavor was nice, the seeds didn’t add much flavor at all. The black coating was almost flavorless, and the inside only had a faint sugary taste, like an unflavored Smartie.

Is there anything else I need to know?

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Nothing frustrates me more than a clogged straw caused by candy pieces mixed into an ice cream or slush drink, but there’s no need to worry about that here. The straw provided (in watermelon rind green) is of ample circumference to allow multiple seeds to easily travel from the cup to your piehole without fear of obstruction. Be forewarned though, the larger volume straw also increases the probability of brain freeze.

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And weirdly, the seeds seem to lose their coating after a few minutes of swimming in the slush, so by the time I got to the bottom many of them had a bit of a speckled egg look.

Conclusion:

Even though the candy seeds seem like a missed opportunity —imagine if they were kiwi flavored or something else to complement the watermelon slush — overall the Watermelon Freeze still a refreshing summer drink and quite a bargain if you score one during Happy Hour.

Purchased Price: $2.29 (or $1 during Happy Hour from 2 p.m. to 5 p.m.)
Size: 16 oz.
Rating: 7 out of 10
Nutrition Facts: 220 calories, 0 grams of fat, 60 milligrams of sodium, 59 grams of carbohydrates, 0 grams of fiber, 58 grams of sugar, and 0 grams of protein.

QUICK REVIEW: Krispy Kreme Strawberries & Kreme and Banana Pudding Doughnuts

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Krispy Kreme Strawberries Kreme and Banana Pudding Doughnuts

What are they?

Summer has arrived at the doughnut shop! The all-new Strawberries and Kreme Doughnut is a strawberry frosted yeast shell filled with both strawberry and KK’s signature Kreme. The returning Banana Pudding doughnut is a yeast shell filled with a mixture of banana custard and Kreme, topped with yellow icing and Nilla Wafer pieces.

How are they?

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Well, it looks like someone at Krispy Kreme didn’t get the memo because my Strawberries and Kreme Doughnut is completely devoid of any strawberry filling. I was really excited at the idea of a dual-filling and the way a jelly texture would work with a creamier one. That being said, it is BURSTING with Kreme and as a huge fan of the thick sweet stuff, I am still enjoying this immensely.

Krispy Kreme Strawberries Kreme Doughnut

The strawberry icing has a surprisingly authentic and slightly tart berry flavor that’s much more real and much less Nesquik than I was expecting. The yeast shell is soft and fresh and even though I’m a bit letdown, I’ll take Kreme over jelly any day, and even as is it’s pretty delicious.

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The Banana Pudding Doughnut came as advertised and the banana custard is AMAZING. It has the runny-ness of custard with the slight sugary grit of the classic Kreme and a big super delicious banana flavor that exceeded my expectations. It’s sweet, but rich and eggy and I can’t imagine any way it could be better.

Krispy Kreme Banana Pudding Doughnut

What could be better are the Nilla wafers, which are stale and don’t do much to elevate the experience, and kind of bring it down – making it taste and feel less fresh. Although it isn’t great, it’s easy to overlook, because once again the ratio of filling inside is damn fine.

Is there anything else I need to know?

What I got was essentially a Chocolate Iced Kreme Filled with strawberry on top and a fancy little Hostess-y squiggle. Since the Kreme filled is my number two favorite right after KK’s Original Glazed, I really dug it, but the potential for it to be even better is there.

Conclusion:

The Banana Pudding doughnut is a worthy returning flavor with an immaculate filling that’s up there with KK’s best. It may have been better with some sparingly placed white chocolate chips, but I can’t deny the necessity of wafers for the pudding profile.

Purchased Price: $1.89
Size: N/A
Rating: 8 out of 10 (Strawberries and Kreme, but could be 9 or better if made properly)
Rating: 8 out of 10 (Banana Pudding)
Nutrition Facts: Strawberries & Kreme – 330 calories, 17 grams of fat, 7 grams of saturated fat, 0 grams of trans fat, 0 milligrams of cholesterol, 135 milligrams of sodium, 41 grams of carbohydrates, 0 grams of fiber, 23 grams of sugar, and 4 grams of protein. Banana Pudding – 360 calories, 19 grams of fat, 8 grams of saturated fat, 0 grams of trans fat, 0 milligrams of cholesterol, 160 milligrams of sodium, 45 grams of carbohydrates, 0 grams of fiber, 24 grams of sugar, and 4 grams of protein..

QUICK REVIEW: Kellogg’s Frosted Mini Wheats Vanilla Latte Cereal

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Kellogg s Frosted Mini Wheats Vanilla Latte Cereal

What is it?

It’s your basic bowl of shredded wheat cereal with a vanilla latte-flavored icing.

In essence, this is Kelloggs’s way of saying, “You’re welcome” to everyone out there that wants to double up on their morning cup o’ joe by eating and drinking it at the same time.

How is it?

Put simply, you’re going to want a cup of coffee on the side, because this iteration of Frosted Mini Wheats leaves all of its flavor in the box. Even though this cereal smells like the inside of a Starbucks, I couldn’t pick up on even the slightest hint of coffee or vanilla when I ate a bowl of it.

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Oddly enough, even though this flavor supposedly has as much sugar as Original Frosted Mini Wheats, it seemed way less sweet in my opinion. It basically tasted like a bowl of regular Shredded Wheat with a sparse sprinkling of sugar on top, which is really just a bowl of mushy sadness once it gets mixed with milk.

Is there anything else I need to know?

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Since the Vanilla Latte version of Mini Wheats don’t actually have coffee listed in their ingredients, I decided to try and make them taste more like sweet caffeine by replacing the milk in my cereal bowl with a Vanilla Starbucks Frappuccino drink. Even then, the Mini Wheats just seemed to cancel out all of the coffee flavor from the Frappuccino, and, in the end, I just had a bowl tasteless wheat gruel suspended in milky coffee.

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You know, I think that it’s the rough blandness of the shredded wheat in the cereal squares themselves that’s not allowing the icing to convey any kind of defined taste. Especially given how good the icing component smells, I feel that this flavor would do so much better in a medium where the texture isn’t distracting me so much, like in a puffed or flaked cereal.

Conclusion:

Despite the delicious-sounding premise, I’d pass on these in favor of Maple Brown Sugar Frosted Mini Wheats with a real vanilla latte on the side.

Purchased Price: $3.69
Size: 20.4 oz. box
Purchased at: Walmart
Rating: 3 out of 10
Nutrition Facts: (21 biscuits) 190 calories, 10 calories from fat, 1 gram of fat, 0 grams of saturated fat, 0 grams of trans fat, 0 milligrams of cholesterol, 0 milligrams of sodium, 200 milligrams of potassium, 45 grams total carbohydrates, 6 grams of dietary fiber, 11 grams of total sugars, and 5 grams of protein.

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