5 Other Things I Consumed This Week: 10/24/2025

7-Eleven Hawaii Pickle Juice Slurpee

7-Eleven Hawaii Pickle Juice Slurpee

This one came out at the same time as the Cinnamon Toast one I wrote about a couple of weeks ago. Oddly, I was more curious about this one because I’ve been enjoying all the pickle-flavored products that have crossed my taste buds. However, I will not be purchasing this Slurpee ever again, and I regret getting a medium size instead of a small.

Look, it tasted like sweet pickle juice. It was, as the kids I totally made up like to say, sou-weet. But I wish that sweetness was a bit stronger to tame that sourness, much like with the pickle mochi ice cream I had a few years ago. Even though I got a medium Slurpee, I did end up finishing it, but not in one sitting or two. After my initial tasting, I put it in the freezer and ate chunks over the next couple of days. But that cup was all I’ll be sticking into my mouth.

Slate Mocha Latte High Protein Iced Coffee

Slate Mocha Latte High Protein Iced Coffee

Protein plus calcium plus caffeine? That sounds like my kind of drink to give me a shortcut to reach my protein and calcium goals while still drinking my usual amount of caffeine. However, I’m not too high on this high-protein coffee’s flavor and texture.

Its consistency when I swirl it around in a glass doesn’t match what it feels like in my mouth. In a glass, it’s creamy, but in my mouth, it’s almost like water. The can states that there is no carrageenan, which explains how it feels in my mouth. As for its flavor, it doesn’t have a punch like other coffee drinks. I guess “flat” would be the best way to describe it, and I assume the stevia and monk fruit sweeteners are the reason for that.

However, it tastes okay and thankfully its texture isn’t gritty, so I could turn a blind tongue to its lacking taste and texture because of the 20 grams of protein, 550 milligrams of calcium, and 175 milligrams of caffeine.

Celsius Spritz Vibe Snowball Frost Energy Drink

Celsius Spritz Vibe Snowball Frost Energy Drink

This is the second Celsius flavor I’ve ever had. I don’t even remember the first one I had. With that said, I’m not saying Celsius Energy Drinks are unmemorable, because I do remember that first one was tasty.

I will not forget this Snowball Frost seasonal flavor because I’m writing about it here for posterity. But I also won’t forget about it because this flavor seems weird to me. With a name like “Snowball Frost,” I expected it to have a wintery flavor or a taste that matches the colors of winter, like a blue raspberry or blueberry to convey cold weather. Instead, it’s citrusy, which I do not associate with winter. I usually think of anything citrus as a summer flavor. However, I’m not quite sure what citrus fruit I’m tasting. I’m thinking possibly tangerine. It’s not OMG delicious, and I won’t cry tears of sadness when it disappears in spring. If you do see me tearing up, it’s because of my allergies.

Joyride Sour Blue Raspberry Strips

Joyride Sour Blue Raspberry Strips

I’ve been rolling my eyes at Joyride candies ever since they came out because of how little sugar they contain. How can CANDY with little sugar taste good? But after tasting these sour strips, I’m going to have to eat my words, which I’ll substitute with more Joyride candy. 

Because I didn’t give this candy the time of day, I didn’t know it had fiber. This package, which has just six sour strips, has 12 grams of fiber, which is 40 percent of your daily recommended amount. DANG! Yes, it’s much better to get fiber from actual food, but it feels like magic to get it from candy.

But the candy doesn’t taste like it has much fiber. It’s one or two levels of sourness below Sour Patch Kids, but it has a flavor that’s almost as good. And it does it with only 5 grams of sugar. As someone who’s trying to sneak more fiber in my diet, I think I’ll be taking more Joyride flavors for a joyride.

Cove Smurfberry Probiotic Soda

Cove Smurfberry Soda

Bacillus subtilis DE111 is a probiotic. It’s also now in my search engine history with “bison vs buffalo,” “Jason Statham catchphrases,” and “[REDACTED].”

I bought this soda for the probiotics and the Smurfs, but was a little smurfed at the lack of fiber since, as you’ve read above, I’m trying to find ways to sneak the nutrient into my body. I’m also extremely smurfed that this beverage is clear, with no hint of Smurf color. What the smurf is up with that?

According to the can, Smurfberry is supposed to taste like blue raspberry, and it does give me Louie-Bloo Raspberry Otter Pop vibes, but it’s subdued like it’s been watered down a little. It tastes good enough that I’m slightly curious about the other flavors in Cove’s cove. 

REVIEW: Taco Bell Frank’s RedHot Diablo Crispy Chicken Soft Taco

Taco Bell Frank's RedHot Diablo Crispy Chicken Soft Taco barfing vegetables

What is up with Taco Bell’s double dose of collaborations at the same time? Currently on the menu, there’s the Flamin’ Hot Grilled Cheese Burrito and this Frank’s RedHot Diablo Crispy Chicken Soft Taco (there’s also a burrito version). Taco Bell should’ve gone for a Flamin’ Hot Frank’s RedHot collab in one product. That would’ve been hot and one long product name.

The highlight of the limited-time menu item is the sauce, which is a combination of Frank’s RedHot Buffalo Sauce, Taco Bell’s Diablo Sauce, and tangy ranch. Looking at that lineup makes me think this could’ve been a crazy collaboration between Frank’s RedHot and Hidden Valley Ranch. Two words: sauce synergy!

But there’s a more critical issue I must focus on.

Yes, my order looks like the flour tortilla is throwing up cheese, pico de gallo, purple cabbage, and lettuce, with Frank’s RedHot Diablo Sauce drooling out of the side of it. I guess the crispy chicken strip would be the tongue? I’m not sure if the person who made my order was being loosey goosey with the ingredients because of the lunch rush, but my taco was thiccco. And, as expected, with the unusual amount of taco roughage, a lot of it lost to gravity.

Despite the Sizzler salad bar in my taco, the Buffalo flavor stands out. However, it’s hard to determine how the folks at Taco Bell Diablo-fied it because it tastes like a standard vinegary and smoky Buffalo sauce, and it’s not noticeably hotter. There’s a spicy kick to it that I’d rate a three or four on my personal heat scale, but I don’t think adding the Diablo sauce turns up the fire. Finally, I don’t taste any tanginess from the ranch, although its creaminess is evident.

Taco Bell Frank's RedHot Diablo Crispy Chicken Soft Taco a closer look at the mess.

But I’m fine with the condiment not tasting like a unique mashup because I enjoyed the Buffalo flavor. But what I also liked was the vegetable smorgasbord. The acidic bursts from the tomatoes complement the spicy orange sauce, and I liked the crunch of the purple cabbage that enhanced the chicken strip’s texture. Although a little dry, the chicken strip was meaty and went the entire length of the tortilla. But its flavor was blocked by the Buffalo, which I didn’t mind.

Overall, Taco Bell’s Frank’s RedHot Diablo Crispy Chicken Soft Taco is delicious, and I enjoyed it enough to order it again during a subsequent visit. While the second one wasn’t as stuffed as my first one, it was just as tasty.

Purchased Price: $3.79*
Rating: 8 out of 10
Nutrition Facts: 250 calories, 11 grams of fat, 3 grams of saturated fat, 0 grams of trans fat, 25 milligrams of cholesterol, 710 milligrams of sodium, 27 grams of carbohydrates, 3 grams of fiber, 2 grams of sugar, and 11 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.

SPOTTED (SEASONAL EDITION): 10/24/2025

Here are some interesting new products found on store shelves by your fellow readers. If you’ve tried any of them, share your thoughts in the comments.

Reese's Peanut Butter Mini Trees
Reese’s Peanut Butter Mini Trees
(Spotted by Robbie at CVS.)
Ritter Sport White Speculoos
Ritter Sport White Speculoos
(Spotted by Sage G at World Market.)
Planters Nut Duos Salted Caramel Almonds & Vanilla Bean Cashews
Planters Nut Duos Salted Caramel Almonds & Vanilla Bean Cashews
(Spotted by Sarah R at Walmart.)
Good & Gather Signature Holiday Espresso Countdown
Good & Gather Signature Holiday Espresso Countdown
(Spotted by Robbie at Target.)
QuikTrip Hocus Pocus Hole Bunches
QuikTrip Hocus Pocus Hole Bunches
(Spotted by Robbie at QuikTrip.)
Kimberley’s Pumpkin Spice Drizzled Cookies
Kimberley’s Pumpkin Spice Drizzled Cookies
(Spotted by Sarah R at Safeway.)
Palmer Ghoulie Mix
Palmer Ghoulie Mix
(Spotted by Sarah R at Safeway.)
Belmont Peanuts Nutcracker Crunch
Belmont Peanuts Nutcracker Crunch
Belmont Peanuts Jingle Mingle Mix
Belmont Peanuts Jingle Mingle Mix
(Spotted by Robbie at Bealls.)
Treasured Harvest Sweet Holiday Trio
Treasured Harvest Sweet Holiday Trio
Treasured Harvest Sweet Holiday Trio
Treasured Harvest Sweet Holiday Trio
Treasured Harvest Festive Chocolate Trio
Treasured Harvest Festive Chocolate Trio
(Spotted by Sarah R at Safeway.)

If you’re out shopping and see new products, snap a picture of them, and send them in via an email ([email protected]) with where you found them and “Spotted” in the subject line. Also, if you want to send in photos and are wondering if we’ve already covered something or if they’re new, don’t worry about it. Let us worry about it.

REVIEW: Kellogg’s Stranger Things Demogorgon Crunch Cereal

Kellogg's Stranger Things Demogorgon Crunch Cereal Box

Stranger Things is in the midst of a generational run when it comes to brand collabs months before a show or movie releases. The fifth and final season of the popular Netflix show begins its three-part rollout on Thanksgiving, but branded products began popping up on shelves as early as July and August. I’m looking at you, God-awful Chocolate Strawberry Chewy Chips Ahoy cookies that were so bad we didn’t even review them here — yuck. From Cake Bites to Klondike Ice Cream Cones to frozen pizzas and endless amounts of clothing, candy, and candles, the Stranger Things finale is not coming or going quietly.

Fortunately for the cereal-lovers (me), whereas most brands phone it in with a generic-flavored colorful puff cereal to promote their movie or show (Wednesday, Wicked, Bluey, etc), the brand new Stranger Things Demogorgon Crunch is not only an under-utilized flavor, but perfectly on theme for the show. Demogorgon Crunch is a syrup-flavored cereal with Upside Down marshmallows, in the shape of a flashlight, a demogorgon, and a d20 die.

Kellogg's Stranger Things Demogorgon Crunch Cereal close up

If you are wondering where Eggo Cereal went, I have your answer: right here. Eggo cereal has never been as punchy, intense, and downright delicious as Post’s Waffle Crisp, and the same remains true for this “new” spin by Kellogg’s. But it makes perfect sense. In the show, Eleven eats tons of Eggo waffles, and there is already a new line of Eggo waffles out for the show’s final season. I can’t be mad at a company for doing an obvious slam dunk move and pulling it off. The hefty cereal pieces bear a nice, slightly mild maple flavor with a touch of butteriness that works well as a dry snack and holds their own in milk perfectly.

Kellogg's Stranger Things Demogorgon Crunch Cereal in a bowl

Generally speaking, marshmallows make every cereal better, and this is no exception. The marshmallows have a very sweet, vanilla-leaning flavor that is more pronounced than most cereal marshmallows and stands out well against the maple notes. My one major complaint is that, compared to Lucky Charms or my beloved Monster Cereals, the marshmallow-to-cereal-ratio is a bit lacking. To be fair, the cereal pieces here have a lot more flavor than most marshmallow-laden breakfast boxes, but I still could use more with this otherwise really satisfying release.

Kellogg's Stranger Things Demogorgon Crunch Cereal back of box

The box design and theming of Demogorgon Crunch is a 10 out of 10. I love the retro look and feel of the entire presentation, and the product is good enough to keep around on shelves beyond just a promotional item, too. This is the first time I have tried a maple cereal with marshmallows, and I am in favor of bringing this one back once it inevitably vanishes into the Upside Down after the promo cycle ends.

Purchased Price: $6.99
Size: 12.1 ounces
Purchased at: Target.com
Rating: 8 out of 10
Nutrition Facts: (1 1/3 cup. 40g) 150 calories, 1.5 grams of fat, 1 gram of saturated fat, 150 milligrams of sodium, 34 grams of carbohydrates, 2 grams of fiber, 14 grams of total sugars, 2 grams of protein.

SPOTTED (SEASONAL EDITION): 10/23/2025

Here are some interesting new products found on store shelves by your fellow readers. If you’ve tried any of them, share your thoughts in the comments.

DunkABoos
DunkABoos
(Spotted by Robbie at Walmart.)
Campbell's SpaghettiOs Halloween Design
Campbell’s SpaghettiOs Halloween Design
(Spotted by DJ at Dollar Tree.)
The Grinch Jumbo Gummy
The Grinch Jumbo Gummy
(Spotted by Robbie at Burlington.)
Tic Tac Stocking Stuffer
Tic Tac Stocking Stuffer
(Spotted by Robbie at CVS.)
Haribo Holiday Edition Goldbears
Haribo Holiday Edition Goldbears
(Spotted by Robbie at CVS.)
O Organics Candy Cane Herbal Tea
O Organics Candy Cane Herbal Tea
O Organics Apple Caramel Crumble Black Tea
O Organics Apple Caramel Crumble Black Tea
Signature Select Sugar Cookie Arabica Coffee Single Serve Cups
Signature Select Sugar Cookie Arabica Coffee Single Serve Cups
O Organics Cranberry Spice Herbal Tea
O Organics Cranberry Spice Herbal Tea
O Organics Cranberry Spice Herbal Tea
O Organics Cranberry Spice Herbal Tea
(Spotted by Tommy at Shaw’s.)
Signature Select Cranberry Orange Ginger Italian Soda
Signature Select Cranberry Orange Ginger Italian Soda
(Spotted by DJ at Redner’s.)
Signature Select Cranberry Orange Ginger Italian Soda
Signature Select Cranberry Orange Ginger Italian Soda
(Spotted by Robbie at Walmart.)

If you’re out shopping and see new products, snap a picture of them, and send them in via an email ([email protected]) with where you found them and “Spotted” in the subject line. Also, if you want to send in photos and are wondering if we’ve already covered something or if they’re new, don’t worry about it. Let us worry about it.

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