BACK ON SHELVES: Kellogg’s Crunchy Nut Cereal (2022)
Welcome back, Kellogg’s Crunchy Nut Cereal! I kind of forgot about you, but I’m glad to see your peanutty cereal flakes with honey again. Also, nice box! (Spotted by @C_Nicolich at Walmart.)
REVIEW: Spicy Nacho and Cool Ranch Jalapeno Doritos Dips
I’m sure by now you’ve all seen TikTok’s hottest new dance craze, the Dorito Dip.
What’s that? You haven’t? That’s probably because I just made it up.
Here’s something you won’t believe I’m not making up – Frito Lay makes Doritos-flavored dips now.
Do you love Doritos but wish they came in a wetter and gloopier form? Have you ever wanted a chip to taste like a Dorito, but inexplicably just didn’t get Doritos? Then you’re in luck because new Spicy Nacho and Cool Ranch Jalapeno Doritos Dips are hitting shelves nationwide.
I don’t know if I’ve ever actually dipped a Dorito, but you better believe I wanna dip stuff into the essence of Dorito… so that’s exactly what I did.
My dippers of the day were Santitas Tortilla Chips (underrated chips that someone once told me are literally repackaged unflavored Doritos), ridged potato chips, a soft pretzel, and Chicken McNuggets.
Starting off, Cool Ranch Jalapeno was only decent, and I actually liked it more for the addition of the jalapeno.
I didn’t necessarily think they’d be able to match the absolute perfection of Cool Ranch Doritos flavor, but I still needed more. It’s there, but the intensity is dialed down a ton. While the jalapeno gives it a nice crisp and spicy pepper flavor, the Cool Ranch takes a back seat. This flavor needs to be a dusty coating. It just doesn’t work as well as a sour creamy base.
To be fair, it still tasted pretty good with the Santitas and the soft pretzel, but it’s probably not even better than your run-of-the-mill ranch or onion-style dip.
As for Spicy Nacho, well, it just doesn’t need to exist. If I were to rank Spicy Nacho on the Dip Scale™, I’d put it slightly above the dip from Who Framed Roger Rabbit?
It’s no better than a mid-tier queso or nacho cheese. Fine, but whatever. I had to concentrate to get the distinct Nacho Cheese Dorito flavor that really only popped on the finish and was masked by the “spicy” of it all. Push comes to shove, you’ll know it’s based on Spicy Nacho Dorito, but it pales in comparison to the chip.
It’s not a bad pretzel companion, but it just didn’t enhance any of the other stuff. Santitas worked fine enough with both, but plain potato chips were a bust, and every McNugget dipping sauce works better.
Dorito flavor only succeeds as a dust. I’d steer clear of these unless you’re having a big spread and looking to pick up a couple of dips anyway. Just get the Cool Ranch and opt for a queso. Frito-Lay has a better Tostitos-branded one right down the aisle.
These don’t mention refrigeration after opening and are apparently shelf-stable for six months. Maybe I’m a wuss, but I find that pretty off-putting, just as I found the texture to be that of an off pudding. Wordplay.
These feel like they were dumped on shelves with no fanfare or marketing, and maybe for good reason. They’re a strange release at a strange time of year. They probably coulda done okay in the summer, but during Christmas? We’ll see how far the Doritos name takes them. I don’t think they’ll fly off shelves, but it’s not too late to try and move some units with the soon-to-be viral Dorito Dip.
Purchased Price: $4.98 each
Size: 10 oz.
Purchased at: Walmart
Rating: (Spicy Nacho) 4 out of 10, (Cool Ranch Jalapeno) 6 out of 10
Nutrition Facts: (2 tbsp) Spicy Nacho – 40 calories, 3 grams of fat, .5 grams of saturated fat, 0 grams of trans fat, 0 milligrams of cholesterol, 220 milligrams of sodium, 2 grams of carbohydrates, 0 grams of fiber, 0 grams of sugar, and 1 gram of protein. Cool Ranch Jalapeno – 50 calories, 5 grams of fat, .5 grams of saturated fat, 0 grams of trans fat, 0 milligrams of cholesterol, 230 milligrams of sodium, 2 grams of carbohydrates, 0 grams of fiber, 1 gram of sugar, and less than 1 gram of protein.
NOT FOOD: More Snack Boxer Briefs
(Spotted by Robbie at Ross.)
(Spotted by Robbie at Burlington.)
(Spotted by Robbie at TJ Maxx.)
(Spotted by Robbie at TJ Maxx.)
SPOTTED: 12/14/2022
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.
(Spotted by Robbie at Walmart.)
(Spotted by Robbie at Sam’s Club.)
(Spotted by Brian C at Walmart.)
(Spotted by Robbie at H-E-B.)
(Spotted by Robbie at Costco.)
(Spotted by Allison H at Harris Teeter.)
(Spotted by Robbie at Walmart.)
(Spotted by Sarah R at Whole Foods.)
(Spotted by Sarah R at Whole Foods.)
(Spotted by Robbie at Central Market.)
REVIEW: Mtn Dew Energy Pitch Black
NOTE: Mtn Dew Energy Pitch Black will be released in January 2023. Thanks to Mtn Dew for sending samples.
Mtn Dew Energy Pitch Black’s can SCREAMS Halloween. The purple and black colors bring witches and nighttime to mind, the green makes me think of monsters and zombies, and the white letters could represent ghosts, mummies, or the white void of nothingness that should scare us all.
But you’re probably reading this around its release in January 2023, so it’s past All Hallows Eve. However, the original Mountain Dew Pitch Black soda had a history with the holiday. It debuted during the 2004 Halloween season, and a sequel came out a year after.
While Mtn Dew Energy Pitch Black has nothing to do with Halloween, it does have a lot of caffeeine. Like others in the Mtn Dew Energy line, a can has 180 milligrams of the good stuff and ingredients that help support your immune system and give you a mental boost.
This energy drink is riding on the return of Mtn Dew Pitch Black and the introduction of Pitch Black Zero Sugar, both of which I reviewed earlier. In that review, I wrote that the zero sugar one tastes like a watered down version of the original and that I love the flavor of Pitch Black so much that I can’t get over the taste compromises that were made. But this Mtn Dew Energy flavor is much better tasting than the Zero Sugar version, and it accomplishes that with just four grams of sugar. There are hints of artificial sweeteners in it, but they’re less noticeable, probably thanks to the addition of fruit juice. It has enough of the original Pitch Black’s grape flavor and sugariness that I could see myself picking this up instead of the regular soda when I want a larger caffeine kick that’s almost twice as much as the sodas.
Despite the can describing the flavor as a “dark citrus punch,” it tastes like the grape Pitch Black from almost two decades ago. I don’t care how Mtn Dew describes it. It tastes like the original to me.
In my review of Mtn Dew Energy Code Red, I wrote that it might be my favorite in the energy drink line, but it will have to move over because this is now my favorite. I hope it never disappears. Or if it does, I hope Mtn Dew brings it back for Halloween.
DISCLOSURE: I received a free product sample from Mtn Dew. Doing so did not influence my review.
Purchased Price: FREE
Size: 16 fl oz can
Purchased at: Received from Mtn Dew
Rating: 9 out of 10
Nutrition Facts: (1 can) 25 calories, 0 grams of fat, 170 milligrams of sodium, 5 grams of carbohydrates, 4 grams of sugar (including 0 grams of added sugar), and 0 grams of protein.