Tag: Candy

REVIEW: Limited Edition Galactic Fruit Gushers with a Mystery Flavor

Julie

Limited Edition Galactic Fruit Gushers Mystery Flavor

What are Limited Edition Galactic Fruit Gushers with a Mystery Flavor?

General Mills is re-releasing a limited edition lunchbox favorite: Galactic Gushers, featuring Asteroid Apple, Berry Star Clusters, and a Mystery Flavor (“Unidentified Flavored Object”). The product is available exclusively at Walmart.

How are they?

First, if you have never eaten a Gusher, a) do you eat vicariously through junk food bloggers? and b) they are kind of their own species. Not quite gummy candy, not quite fruit leather, Gushers are dense and chewy with a burst of fruit-flavored liquid in the center.

Galactic Gushers, to reinforce the outer space theme, are the Jupiter of Gushers in that they are large in mass and volume. This box – well-decorated with glittery letters and a rich purple celestial background – contains 20 pouches, each of which holds about 8-10 Gushers.

Limited Edition Galactic Fruit Gushers Mystery Flavor Colors

The flavors are distinguished by color: bright green (Asteroid Apple), sapphire blue (Berry Star Cluster), and dark purple (Mystery Flavor), a color combination that could be recycled if Jewel Tone Gushers or Cool Side of the Color Wheel Gushers ever hit shelves. Details like a swirl motif and edible glitter to resemble planets and stars would have been a fun addition to boost the galaxy imagery.

The Asteroid Apple’s hint of tartness tastes like a typical artificial green apple flavor, and the Berry Star Cluster mimics the concentrated sweetness and flavor of blueberry jam.

Limited Edition Galactic Fruit Gushers Mystery Flavor Innards

The Mystery Flavor was harder to pinpoint, because the taste of each purple Gusher seemed to vary slightly. Perhaps primed by its purple shade, I first guessed grape, then recognized a sweet note that reminded me of boysenberry.

For help, I turned to the Galactic Gushers promotional site, which lists the following as potential flavors:

  • Big-Bang Blue Raspberry
  • Meteorite Mandarin-Melon
  • Satellite Strawberry-Kiwi
  • Light-Year Lemon-Lime

One more taste detected acidity in the Gusher goo that seemed to point to Big-Bang Blue Raspberry as the Mystery Flavor.

Is there anything else you need to know?

Limited Edition Galactic Fruit Gushers Mystery Flavor Back

You can guess the mystery flavor at GalacticGushers.com daily through April 30th for a chance to win prizes like gift cards and Gushers swag.

As of this writing, “Big-Bang Blue Raspberry” is in the lead with only 48% of the vote. I wonder if Gushers purposefully designed the Mystery Flavor pieces to taste inconsistent, or if the minor flavor differences I detected among them were just my imagination.

*X-Files theme plays*

Conclusion:

After the novelty of the Mystery Flavor wears off, you are left with three perfectly acceptable Gushers flavors and perhaps a reinvigorated urge to storm Area 51.

Purchased Price: $5.88
Size: 16 oz. box (20 – 0.5 oz. pouches)
Purchased at: Walmart
Rating: 6 out of 10
Nutrition Facts: (1 pouch) 80 calories, 1 gram of fat, 0.5 grams of saturated fat, 0 grams of trans fat, 0 milligrams of cholesterol, 45 milligrams of sodium, 18 grams of carbohydrates, 0 grams of fiber, 10 grams of sugar, and 0 grams of protein.

REVIEW: Kit Kat Lemon Crisp

Dustin 11 Comments

Kit Kat Lemon Crisp

I have been searching for the new Kit Kat Lemon Crisp for a couple of weeks now. I adore Kit Kats, and my curiosity about this new springtime edition quickly became an obsession for me. I scoured every single candy aisle, seasonal display, and end cap in each store near my house. Anytime I saw a yellow bag of candy, I would get excited, only to be immediately disappointed. I began to lose hope.

Then, the other day, I was in Fry’s, shopping for random items and not even actively searching for the candy. I turned the corner of an aisle, looked down, and voila: there they were, in a nondescript, out of place Easter candy display. I immediately forgot everything else that I had come shopping for and rushed home.

I tore into the bag and unwrapped one of the small bars. The smell of soft, fragrant lemon hit my nostrils. The candy was a pale yet welcoming yellow.

Kit Kat Lemon Crisp Coating

The coating on the outside of the Kit Kats is sweet, slightly tart, and distinctly lemony, without being overwhelming. It doesn’t taste excessively artificial either, which is a major plus. The flavor reminds me of the cream in the lemon sandwich cookies that I used to eat when I was a child. It is undeniably delightful and oddly refreshing.

Texturally, it’s very similar to the chocolate coating on traditional Kit Kats that we’re all familiar with. It’s not necessarily chocolate, though. The packaging states that the candy is “crisp wafers in lemon flavored white crème.” As far as my mouth is concerned, it’s basically lemon-flavored white chocolate.

Kit Kat Lemon Crisp Give Me a Break

The wafers on the inside provide the same reliable crunch that they always have. I delicately ate the coating off one of them, leaving only the wafer layers. I wanted to see if they were lemon-flavored, and as far as I can tell, they’re not. They taste the same as a standard Kit Kat when you remove the chocolate. But that’s all right because the citrusy coating brings enough flavor for the whole bar.

Simply put, Kit Kat Lemon Crisp bars are heavenly and embody everything I want in a lemon-flavored sweet. Supposedly, they’re only a seasonal offering, but if they sell well, maybe Hershey will keep them around. I hope that’s the case because I’m not prepared to lose them.

Purchased Price: $3.50
Size: 9 oz. bag
Purchased at: Fry’s
Rating: 9 out of 10
Nutrition Facts: (4 pieces) 170 calories, 9 grams of fat, 6 grams of saturated fat, 0 grams of trans fat, 0 milligrams of cholesterol, 30 milligrams of sodium, 22 grams of carbohydrates, 15 grams of sugar, and 2 grams of protein.

REVIEW: Hershey’s White with Whole Almonds

Denis 11 Comments

Hershey s White with Whole Almonds

What is Hershey’s White with Whole Almonds?

Let’s start with what it’s not -— white chocolate.

That caught me off guard a little, especially with this being from Hershey’s, but this candy bar contains no chocolate at all and instead is white creme with whole almonds.

How is it?

Hershey s White with Whole Almonds Front

It’s just OK. Maybe my expectations were too high because this product kind of gives off the aura of being a high-end candy bar, but I wasn’t impressed. The white creme reminded me of hardened cupcake frosting, and I’m not talking the decadent type like you get at those fancy $5-a-cupcake places. I’m talking overly sweet frosting on a cupcake you get a superstore that rhymes with Malwart. As for the almonds, they were fine and whole, as promised. They were also lined up nicely down the center of the bar.

Hershey s White with Whole Almonds Back

Is there anything else you need to know?

No, you don’t need to know the following information, but I’m going to give it to you anyway. I spent nearly two minutes researching what creme was, and I learned it could be a sweet liqueur or a type of cream.

But, of course, I got distracted during my extensive inquisition and focused on the accent in crème, and more specifically, why the Hershey’s wrapper didn’t have said accent. I found no answer to that question, and I didn’t really care that much to begin with, so I gave up.

But I learned that the particular accent mark in crème is called a grave accent. That sent me down a rabbit hole of punctuation names that are just fun to say and even sound a little dirty, like rough breathing (look it up, I’m not lying), retroflex hook, inverted breve, and perispomene. So have fun with those.

Conclusion:

Hershey s White with Whole Almonds Side

This is certainly worth a try if you like almonds; it is a candy bar after all, and it will definitely hit the spot if you have a hankering for something sweet. But if you are looking for an indulgent treat that will give you the weird, pleasure-filled expression you see on commercials when people are trying some fancy candy, then this one misses the mark.

Purchased Price: 99 cents
Size: 1.45 oz. bar
Purchased at: H-E-B
Rating: 6 out of 10
Nutrition Facts: (1 bar) 220 calories, 14 grams of fat, 6 grams of saturated fat, 0 grams of trans fat, 0 milligrams of cholesterol, 35 milligrams of sodium, 22 grams of carbohydrates, less than 1 gram of dietary fiber, 18 grams of sugar, and 4 grams of protein.

REVIEW: Raspberry + Creme Kit Kat

Julie 2 Comments

Kit Kat Raspberry + Creme

What are Raspberry + Crème Kit Kat bars?

In time for Valentine’s Day, Kit Kat hopes to woo you with its newest limited edition flavor, featuring a festive pink-tinted raspberry crème enrobing its signature crisp wafers.

How are they?

Kit Kat Raspberry + Creme Unwrapped

Have you ever ventured into a circumstance thinking only of all of the things that could go wrong – only to be pleasantly surprised when all of your fears are unfounded? This describes my experience trying Raspberry + Crème Kit Kats, which, with their coating as pink as Cupid’s blushing cheeks, I worried would be a case of style over substance.

Upon opening the bag, I was greeted by a strong, worrying artificial scent — think fruit-scented lip balm — that I do not normally associate with edible things. Luckily, however, the scent was not an accurate predictor of the tastes to come.

Kit Kat Raspberry + Creme Cross Section

Upon first bite, I tasted a pleasant fruity sweetness that mimicked raspberry flavor well, without any of the acid or tartness. As I chewed, the coating’s crème component worked to mellow the bar’s sweetness rather than add to it. While crème or white chocolate can often be cloying, this Kit Kat’s coating was smooth and creamy in both flavor and texture, which paired well with the light, crispy wafers we all know and love. The result was a surprisingly subtle and wholly satisfying balance of flavors.

Is there anything else you need to know?

“Once bitten, twice shy” doesn’t just apply to bad relationships. My last encounter with fruit-flavored Kit Kats was with its Strawberry flavor in crème coating, which to me tasted too artificial, somehow both too sweet and too sour.

When I chanced upon Raspberry + Crème Kit Kats, I remembered the Strawberry variety and wished Hershey’s had paired raspberry with milk or dark chocolate instead. While I still think raspberry and traditional chocolate would be a delicious pairing appropriate for a Valentine’s Day-inspired flavor, I was not disappointed with this year’s offering. Kit Kat got berries and cream right this time.

If you disliked the Strawberry Crème product or, like many junk food aficionados, are lamenting the loss of seasonal Red Velvet Kit Kats, Raspberry + Crème Kit Kats may be the rebound you need.

Conclusion:

Pretty in pink and tasty too, Raspberry + Crème Kit Kats are worth trying, whether you choose to share with someone special or keep them all to yourself.

Purchased Price: $2.98
Size: 9 oz. bag
Purchased at: Walmart
Rating: 9 out of 10
Nutrition Facts: (4 pieces) 170 calories, 9 grams of fat, 6 grams of saturated fat, 0 grams of trans fat, 0 milligrams of cholesterol, 30 milligrams of sodium, 22 grams of carbohydrates, 0 grams of fiber, 15 grams of sugar, and 2 grams of protein.

REVIEW: Snickers Cool Coconut, Cool Lemon and Cool Peach (China)

Rachel 5 Comments

CoolSnickers1 pkg

What Snickers Cool Coconut, Cool Lemon and Cool Peach?

Again, China is working overtime to woo me with novelty junk food flavors and I’m happy to let them.

These are basically the previously-reviewed Japanese Snickers White with fruit flavors added – coconut, lemon and peach – and a “cooling” effect. I was excited for peach Snickers anyway, but COOL Snickers? Let’s do it – I already lit this mouth up with Fiery Snickers.

CoolSnickers2 bars

How are they?

While not the best Snickers I’ve tried, these were really interesting. The caramel and peanuts were the same as a regular Snickers. The white chocolate was over-the-top sweet and the nougat bland, both like the Japanese White version. Yet each flavor was a slightly different experience.

The coconut bars had a subtle, surprisingly-authentic aroma. The flavor closely resembled sweetened coconut flakes you’d buy at the grocery store. The cooling effect was least prominent in this flavor – it’s like the sensation of menthol without the mint flavor.

CoolSnickers3 size

The lemon had a less appealing smell – a little fishy. Thankfully, once out of the wrapper, it dissipated.

The flavor was a tasty sweet lemon-meringue-type lemon. There was more of the menthol cooling effect than the coconut. I was warming up to these “cool” bars.

CoolSnickers4 inside

The peach was also fishy, but again disappeared out of the package. I really liked the peach flavor – it was strong and not too synthetic. This was the “cool”-est of the bars – the menthol was kicking! It was a really fun sensation (a little cool AND warm), and not as medicinal as it might seem.

All three flavors could have benefitted from actual fruit mix-ins – coconut flakes, lemon zest, peach chunks. Often a visual or texture element goes a long way to convince us something could be real.

CoolSnickers5 cans

Is there anything else you need to know?

The pack I purchased consisted of four small bars (each made up of two 1.5-inch squares) in containers that looked like soda cans. Slaying me. “Things that look like other things” is the third-best way to get my money – right behind “miniature things” and “animals dressed like people.”

CoolSnickers6 contents

Conclusion:

Between the unusual flavors and cooling effect, Cool Snickers were fun and were pretty tasty. If they come stateside (summer – perfect time – just sayin’), they’re worth a try. Probably only worth overpaying for them on eBay if you’re a hardcore novelty junkie.

Purchased Price: $28.99 (free shipping)
Size: 480g pack of (12) 40-oz bars
Purchased at: eBay
Rating: 7 out of 10 (Cool Coconut), 7 out of 10 (Cool Lemon), and 8 out of 10 (Cool Peach)
Nutrition Facts: (per 100 grams), 501 calories, 27.4 grams of fat, 11 grams of saturated fat, 0 grams of trans fat, 252 milligrams of sodium, 53.6 grams of carbohydrates, and 9.6 grams of protein.