Tag: Candy

REVIEW: Starburst All Pink Strawberry Drink Mix

Meghan 2 Comments

Starburst All Pink Strawberry Drink Mix

What is the Starburst All Pink Strawberry Drink Mix?

When I think of pink drinks, two notable ones come to mind – Pepto Bismol and the Starbucks Pink Drink, which I always hear people talk about but never see anybody order. Joining the ranks of these two bubblegum-hued beverages, Starburst’s new All Pink Drink Mix promises to transform this candy’s most popular flavor into a sugar-free, family-sized, and chuggable delight.

How is it?

If nothing else, the box certainly was right in describing this drink mix as “All Pink.” It’s so pink that I’d say this stuff actually gives Pepto Bismol a run for its money.

Starburst All Pink Strawberry Drink Mix Closeup

Color aside, I think we all can agree the more pressing issue at hand is how this stuff tastes. Does it adequately emulate Starburst’s fan-favorite flavor, or is it more similar to every other strawberry drink mix on the shelf?

After unearthing a pitcher big enough to mix up one of these gallon-portioned stick packs from the dark depths of my kitchen cabinets, I didn’t find this mix to be reminiscent of either of those things. It’s much too sweet to taste like actual strawberries – which is okay, I suppose, since fruit-flavored-candies hardly ever taste like real fruit either. The problem here is that I found this to be too sweet to come close to Starburst’s take on strawberry. Maybe it’s the cloying blend of artificial sweeteners at work here, but I thought this tasted closer to aspartame-sweetened cotton candy than it did to strawberry Starburst.

Is there anything else you should know?

For what it’s worth, Mars, who owns and manufactures Starburst candy, doesn’t make this mix. Instead, this drink mix is licensed and produced by Jel Sert, who seems to specialize in cooking up branded drink mixes that taste nothing like they’re supposed to.

Conclusion:

Although I’ve choked down water enhancers worse than this, I can’t imagine anyone ever wanting to buy it in a family-sized bulk box like I did to write this review. On the bright side, though, at least the internet seems to have plenty of recipes for Starburst-themed mixed drinks to give me some ideas for how to use the other seven stick packs I’m stuck with.

Purchased Price: $7.96
Size: 4.34 oz. (8 packs)
Purchased at: Walmart
Rating: 5 out of 10
Nutrition Facts: (1/11 of a stick pack) 5 calories, 0 grams of fat, 0 milligrams of sodium, 1 gram of carbohydrates, 0 grams of dietary fiber, and 0 grams of protein.

REVIEW: Hershey’s Extra Creamy Milk Chocolate Bar

Vin 7 Comments

Hershey s Extra Creamy Milk Chocolate Bar

Hershey’s Extra Creamy Milk Chocolate Bar

You guessed it! It’s an extra creamy version of a Hershey’s Milk Chocolate Bar.

How is it?

The best Hershey’s bar I’ve ever had came directly from the source. As a kid, my family took a trip to Hershey Park in Pennsylvania. After the factory ride, an attendant (disappointingly NOT Hershey’s version of an Oompa Loompa) handed me the freshest, most delicious Hershey bar I’d ever had or would ever have.

Until now?

This Extra Creamy version gives that fabled chocolate bar a run for its nostalgic money.

Hershey s Extra Creamy Milk Chocolate Bar 2

I usually feel like Hershey’s chocolate is a tad plasticky at first, but I literally *SNAPPED* a rectangle piece off, and it melted in my mouth almost instantly.

It reminded me more of Cadbury chocolate or any of the other various “premium” brands than Hershey’s. If regular bars are “milk chocolate,” this tasted like “milkier chocolate” – more on that later.

I really think it’s an improvement on the classic.

Is there anything else you need to know?

I’m sure you’re wondering what’s actually different. I mean, it’s right in the name, but how can it prove it’s “extra creamy.”

My answer to that is, I don’t know.

I compared the ingredients of Extra Creamy and a regular, and there were a few small differences. Extra Creamy uses skim milk, whereas the original has “milk.” Regular also has “lactose, vanillin and emulsifier” listed, whereas Extra Creamy doesn’t. I guess that’s enough to make this one extra creamy?

Whatever tweaks were made, I dig them, and I want them to stick.

Conclusion:

Look, ultimately, it’s a Hershey’s bar. How often are you buying them for non-s’ more purposes? There are ten candy bars made by Hershey’s alone that you’d probably buy before this, but I definitely recommend trying one.

I hope Hershey’s makes this the standard moving forward. Hit me with an Extra Creamy Krackel. How about some Extra Creamy Reese’s Cups? Rolos? Mr. BETTER Bars?!

Keep it creamy, Hershey’s.

Purchased Price: 78 cents
Size: 1.58 oz.
Purchased at: Walmart
Rating: 8 out of 10
Nutrition Facts: (1 bar) 220 calories, 13 grams of fat, 8 grams of saturated fat, 10 milligrams of cholesterol, 50 milligrams of sodium, 26 grams of carbohydrates, less than 1 gram of fiber, 20 grams of sugar, and 4 grams of protein.

REVIEW: Taco Bell Sour Strawberry Skittles Freeze

Vin

Taco Bell Sour Strawberry Skittles Freeze

What is the Taco Bell Sour Strawberry Skittles Freeze?

If you’re a fan of Taco Bell’s Strawberry Skittles Freeze, you can now get a mouth puckering upgrade with an added pump of sour green syrup.

How is it?

Do you like Sour Skittles, but hate the coarse mouth-ripping sugar they’re coated in?

I mean, even if you love that tart palate-scraping sand, I have no doubt you’ll love the Sour Strawberry Skittles Freeze. This drink is a pretty spot-on representation of its namesake candy.

Taco Bell Sour Strawberry Skittles Freeze Top

Actually, while I was sipping this, I had a revelation – I never eat Skittles individually. I toss at least 4 in my mouth at once, so I’m not sure I’ve ever actually experienced the true standalone flavor of a Skittle. I guess I can officially confirm that Sour Strawberry is an elite Skittles flavor.

The level of sourness is right on par with Sour Skittles, but the fact it’s a frozen drink counteracts the usual feeling of thirst you’d have after polishing off a bag.

Is there anything else you need to know?

Taco Bell Sour Strawberry Skittles Freeze Bottom

As often happens, the advertising photos of this drink looked much better than the finished product. The sour syrup wasn’t striped throughout, but rather pooled at the bottom of the cup.

For some reason that didn’t register with my pre-frozen brain, so only my first few sips tasted like a delicious sour Slush Puppy.

If I wasn’t an aloof dope, I would have mixed it immediately to try and extend the sour sensation. I only ended up getting about five sour sips before it turned back into a normal Strawberry Skittles Freeze.

I’m not mad about it though, the regular is just as delicious and authentic to the candy I love, and it acted as a tasty palate cleanser.

Conclusion:

This refreshing drink was a great counterbalance to Taco Bell’s food, and I now realize I’ve been sleeping on their frozen drink menu for far too long.

Go enjoy one before National Skittles Day*.

*Which I’ve just declared as November 1st aka Half Price Halloween Candy Day!!!

Purchased Price: $2.39
Size: Regular
Rating: 8 out of 10
Nutrition Facts: 190 calories, 0 grams of fat, 0 milligrams of cholesterol, 45 milligrams of sodium, 48 grams of carbohydrates, 0 grams of fiber, 43 grams of sugar, and 0 grams of protein.

REVIEW: Snickers Pecan

Rachel 11 Comments

1 Snickers Pecan

What is Snickers Pecan?

Mars has created a new iteration of its Snickers chocolate bar for fall! To put it in simple math terms, Snickers – nougat – peanuts + pecans = Snickers Pecan. This one’s just nuts, caramel, and chocolate.

2 Snickers Pecan

So far, it’s only hit the market in a limited edition 15-pack that comes in a drawer-style box. This release is all about Texas – the pecan are from Texas, the wrappers say “Proudly produced in a Mars Facility in Waco, TX.” The graphics all reference the Texas flag, but in muted tones. “Texas Proud,” “Fixin’ To Satisfy,” and “Dig In, Ya’ll,” are printed on the box and wrappers. It’s a beautiful presentation.

3 Snickers Pecan

4 Snickers Pecan

How is it?

On first bite, these Snickers bars screamed THE SOUTH. Like you just picked them off the Formica counter of some sun-baked granny with a drawl who whipped them up along with a batch of pralines.

5 Snickers Pecan

The chocolate and caramel were the familiar Snickers formula (although the caramel felt stickier to me somehow), but the pecans brought a deeper, darker nut flavor than the usual peanuts. It worked really well. They were very sweet and felt indulgent enough as a once-in-a-while treat as opposed to an everyday snack. I really missed the nougat in these (big nougat fan here) so I dinged them a point for that.

6 Snickers Pecan

Is there anything else you need to know?

These were offered online only and sold out in less than 24 hours. No word on whether they’ll be released in stores, but they SHOULD BE. They’re far better than Fiery Snickers and those got shelf space. Don’t ask if you can have any of my 15-pack, it ain’t gonna happen.

7 Snickers Pecan

Conclusion:

If you don’t have any sweet old ladies to crank out pralines for you, definitely get these. Even if you do, get them anyway. They’re great, y’all.

Purchased Price: $30.00
Size: 15-pack Limited Edition Carton
Purchased at: snickerspecan.com
Rating: 9 out of 10
Nutrition Facts: (1 bar) 250 calories, 14g grams of fat, 4.5 grams of saturated fat, 0 grams of trans fat, 5 milligrams of cholesterol, 115 milligrams of sodium, 30 grams of carbohydrates, 1 gram of fiber, 25 grams of total sugars, 23 grams of added sugars, and 3 grams of protein.

REVIEW: Salted Caramel Milky Way

Mike 3 Comments

Milky Way Salted Caramel

What is Salted Caramel Milky Way?

I’m of two minds when it comes to salted caramel. On the one hand, “We added salt!” seems like the absolute bare minimum a company can do to differentiate its product. On the other, salt is a magic rock that makes everything taste better, and salted caramel demonstrates this particularly well.

Mars’ latest addition to its famed Milky Way line of products is the Salted Caramel Milky Way. According to the nutrition facts, a typical Milky Way 2 to Go bar has 75 milligrams of sodium, and this one has 170. Will adding 95 milligrams of rock be enough to rise above the competition?

How is it?

Unlike the more gourmet salted caramels that you might find, there are no salt flakes on the outside of these bars – they look like plain Milky Ways. As I bite into the bar, the saltiness is striking but not overwhelming. I’ve always found Milky Ways to be a bit too sweet, so it takes a fair bit of saltiness to balance it out.

Milky Way Salted Caramel 2

I take another bite and am surprised at the crunch. If this was a plain Milky Way, visions of insect endoskeletons and other foreign objects being ground into nougat would flash through my mind. In a salted caramel confection, it’s very pleasant. Context is everything. There may be not salt flakes on the outside, but they’re somewhere.

Is there anything else you need to know?

Given the vivid salty crunch, I expected to see some sizable flakes mixed in to the caramel, but close inspection doesn’t reveal any. This makes me think the caramel itself may not be the salted component in this bar.

But how to isolate the famously ooey-gooey bar into its constituent parts? The results of my freezer + meat mallet solution can be seen below.

Milky Way Salted Caramel Shattered

Picking through the shards of candy, I taste some bits that are mostly caramel and mostly nougat and am convinced that this is actually a “Salted Nougat Milky Way.” Salted Nougat sounds like the kind of weird old-fashioned candy that your grandfather ate at the 1904 World’s Fair, so it’s understandable that Mars went with the more popular Salted Caramel moniker.

Conclusion:

The Salted Caramel Milky Way bar is an excellent addition to the Milky Way line. It’s noticeably salty with crunchy bits, which may be off-putting for some, but if you’re a fan of salted caramel, you’ll love it.

Purchased Price: $1.48
Size: 3.16 oz.
Purchased at: Walmart
Rating: 8 out of 10
Nutrition Facts: (1 bar) 210 calories, 8 grams of fat, 5 grams of saturated fat, less than 5 milligrams of cholesterol, 170 milligrams of sodium, 32 grams of carbohydrates, 0 grams of fiber, 27 grams of sugar (including 25 grams added sugar), and 2 gram of protein.