REVIEW: Starbucks Tropical Butterfly Lemonade Refresher

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Starbucks Tropical Butterfly Lemonade Refresher 1.

Well if this isn’t the drink of the summer, I don’t know what is.

Starbucks just released its summer drink menu, which includes the Tropical Butterfly Lemonade Refresher. It marries lemonade and ice with guava and passionfruit flavors, and you’ll find mango-pineapple pearls and a butterfly pea flower infusion.

Wow, that description sounds like there’s a lot going on. But rest assured, this drink tastes and looks beautiful. Like seriously, you’re going to want to get your camera out. The color cascades from purple to pink to orange, thanks to the pearls at the bottom.

I loved it at first sip, and then the refresher truly got better as I went. The mix of fruity flavors is smooth, unique (in a good way) and the right amount of sweet, and the lemonade adds a refreshing touch. It did have a tiny hint of tart to it – which I LOVE – but you might want to get the lemonade-free version if that isn’t your jam. While the butterfly pea infusion didn’t have a strong taste, the guava was the strongest fruit flavor.

Starbucks Tropical Butterfly Lemonade Refresher 2.

The pearls were a nice fruit burst to finish everything off. The mango was definitely more prevalent than the pineapple in the pearls. The flavor held strong as I nursed it, and my colleagues once again made fun of me for taking my time on an iced drink. But it was in the name of research! (And, OK, it IS how I normally do it…)

One of the coolest things about this new Refresher is the ability to adjust your caffeine. There are three options: light caffeine (that’s what I chose, as it was my afternoon beverage), extra caffeine (which makes it an Energy Refresher), or caffeine-free. I am absolutely loving the ability to customize depending on your caffeine situation. Go Starbucks!

Starbucks Tropical Butterfly Lemonade Refresher 3.

I’m looking forward to trying the other options, including the Energy version and the one with coconutmilk. If these don’t become a permanent addition, I might be writing a strongly worded letter to Seattle. Enjoy!

Purchased Price: $5.55
Size: Tall
Purchased at: Starbucks
Rating: 8 out of 10
Nutrition Facts: 90 calories, 0 grams of total fat, 0 grams of saturated fat, 0 grams of trans fat, 0 milligrams of cholesterol, 75 milligrams of sodium, 23 grams of total carbohydrates, 0 grams of dietary fiber, 21 grams of total sugars, 0 grams of protein and 20 milligrams of caffeine.

REVIEW: Dairy Queen Cinnamon Toast Crunch Dipped Cone with Cinnadust

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The sweating Dairy Queen Cinnamon Toast Crunch Dipped Cone

I’ve had more Dairy Queen Blizzards than any dietician or doctor would ever recommend, but I don’t believe I’ve ever had a DQ dipped cone of any sort. That all changed when I strolled into DQ and ordered up the new Cinnamon Toast Crunch Dipped Cone with Cinnadust. It’s part of the new “Breakfast Collection,” which, despite the name, is available all day. It turns out, I have been missing out.

I’m not sure I would have been impressed by a standard chocolate-dipped cone, but this upscale version did get my attention. I did not see it being made, as my local DQ has the kitchen and treat preparation area hidden from view, but the DQ website implies a two-step process with the vanilla cone dipped in a cinnamon coating and then sprinkled with Cinnadust. The result is splendidly sweet cinnamon goodness.

See the Cinnadust?

When the cone was delivered to my table, it appeared to be sweating in fear that it was about to be consumed. And those fears were well-founded, as not long after, only the paper cone wrapping remained. The coating was quite thick and took a bit of careful use of the teeth to prevent any major spillage, but it was worth the effort. The Cinnadust added some nice texture and extra flavor.

See the cereal pieces?

What makes this cone special is that the coating has tiny pieces of Cinnamon Toast Crunch cereal embedded in it. There’s not a lot, but it was enough to deliver the distinctive flavor of the classic breakfast staple. If you like Cinnamon Toast Crunch and you like ice cream, then you will enjoy this no matter the time of day.

Purchased Price: $3.19
Size: Small
Rating: 8 out of 10
Nutrition Facts: 290 calories, 12 grams of fat, 9 grams of saturated fat, 0 grams of trans fat, 25 milligrams of cholesterol, 100 milligrams of sodium, 39 grams of carbohydrates, 0 grams of fiber, 30 grams of sugar, and 6 grams of protein.

REVIEW: Burger King BBQ Bounty Whopper and Grogu’s Garlic Chicken Fries

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That BBQ Bounty Whopper box is super cool. It also reminds me of an AT-AT.

Burger King has a whole menu dedicated to the release of The Mandalorian and Grogu movie. Only in theaters…until it shows up on Disney+ in several months. There’s the BBQ Bounty Whopper, Grogu’s Garlic Chicken Fries, Imperial Cheddar Ranch Tots, and Grogu’s Blue Cookie Shake.

If you’re interested in trying the Whopper and the Chicken Fries and want to save a few bucks, order the online exclusive Lone Bounty Meal, which features the special Whopper, four pieces of the new Chicken Fries, and a small drink. That’s what I ended up getting, though I’m heartbroken it wasn’t called the Mando Combo Meal or at least the Mando Meal. But I’ll survive.

The inside of the box says "Have It The Way."

The Whopper features a quarter-pound flame-grilled beef topped with melty Swiss cheese, crispy pickle chips, bacon, lettuce, tomatoes, and a creamy BBQ Bounty sauce on a sesame seed bun, and served in a carton shaped like the Mandalorian’s helmet. Grogu’s Garlic Chicken Fries are seasoned with Parmesan and garlic and served in a Grogu carton with a side of garlic sauce. Unfortunately, my four-piece order did not come with the adorable carton. I’m dismal about that, but I’ll survive.

Grogu would be camouflaged in that lettuce.

With the BBQ Bounty Whopper, I was expecting something similar to the other Western burgers I’ve had, since the barbecue sauces used are usually predictable. But after a few bites, I realized that the BBQ Bounty sauce was different. It’s sweet and peppery with a Tex-Mex vibe, and I’m not sure I’d even call it a barbecue sauce. It’s okay tasting, but some eaters might find it a little weird.

Split View time!

The Whopper as a whole did not wow my taste buds. I liked the crispy pickle chips, which added a mild vinegary pickle flavor and an equally mild crunch. However, despite coming with bacon, I didn’t taste it. And the same can be said about the Swiss cheese. The lettuce, which surprisingly was actually green (maybe in honor of Grogu), added a bit of a crunch, while the tomatoes provided an acidic kick that cut through the saltiness. But the overall experience left me feeling slightly disappointed, like learning Grogu’s name and having to stop calling him Baby Yoda. But I’ll survive.

Four pieces of chicken fries is a boring sleeve.

With the Chicken Fries, I didn’t taste a hint of Parmesan or garlic in the breading, which made me wonder if I received an order of regular Chicken Fries. However, even the images on the Burger King website didn’t show any seasoning, so my order could have been correct, and the seasoning flavor was nonexistent.

No seasoning to be seen on the Chicken Fries.

All the garlicky heavy lifting is done by the dipping sauce, which looks similar to what Papa Johns’ serves with its pizza. However, it’s less garlicky, salty, and rich. While it tastes decent, I wish this Burger King sauce had leaned harder into the garlic.

I wish the sauce was green in color. Instead we get a boring garlic butter color.

I also wish Burger King added some spinach or something to turn the sauce Grogu Green. Feel free to take that name, Sherwin-Williams. Peeling back the lid to find green sauce would’ve somewhat made up for the lack of flavor from the Chicken Fries breading. As for the chicken within the breading that lacks parmesan or garlic flavor, it was tender and a little juicy.

The BBQ Bounty Whopper and Grogu’s Garlic Chicken Fries are decent, but they’re not can’t-miss items. And if you do miss them, you’ll survive.

Purchased Price: $11.49 (meal)
Rating: 5 out of 10 (Whopper), 5 out of 10 (Chicken Fries)
Nutrition Facts: BBQ Bounty Whopper – 920 calories, 55 grams of fat, 19 grams of saturated fat, 1 gram of trans fat, 125 milligrams of cholesterol, 1680 milligrams of sodium, 71 grams of carbohydrates, 4 grams of fiber, 16 grams of sugar, and 44 grams of protein.

Grogu’s Garlic Chicken Fries – 250 calories, 13 grams of fat, 2.5 grams of saturated fat, 0 grams of trans fat, 40 milligrams of cholesterol, 690 milligrams of sodium, 19 grams of carbohydrates, 1 gram of fiber, 0 grams of sugar, and 14 grams of protein.

REVIEW: Dunkin’ Dirty Soda

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Dunkin's Dirty Soda is a combination of Pepsi, coffee milk, cold foam, and love.

I’ve reviewed sodas, and I’ve reviewed Dunkin’s coffee milk-based Dunkalatte. But I never expected to review those two things simultaneously… until, for better or worse, Dunkin’s new Dirty Soda entered the scene.

“Interesting,” I thought idly when I first saw the word “soda” on the limited-time Spring menu. “I guess they’re trying to branch out to beverages other than coffee.” When I realized that this soda actually contained coffee as well, I practically did a spit take.

The sippy lid helps prevent cold foam from ending up on your nose. If you have a long tongue that probably doesn't matter.

If, like me, you’re struggling to wrap your mind around this concept, let me break it down: this new beverage mixes Pepsi, coffee milk, and a Sweet Cold Foam topping. If you remember 2022’s polarizing viral concoction “Pilk” (Pepsi + milk), this is essentially that, but with a jolt of java to boot.

Dirty soda often involves adding creamer to a soda, which, while making it sweeter, doesn’t tend to alter the existing flavor profile radically. The two main ingredients here, though—cola with its notes of caramel and spice and coffee milk with its notes of, well, the two things in its name—both bring distinctive personalities to play.

Look at that cold foam! It looks like, um, foam.

My first sip was such an overwhelming textural experience that it took me a few minutes to even process the taste. The velvety richness of the coffee milk is underlaid with the Pepsi’s acidic fizz and capped off by the fluffy super-sweetness of the cold foam. Creamy, bubbly, airy, this drink has it all! Once my taste buds realized what was happening to them, they were struck by the interplay between the bitterness of the coffee, the milkiness of the cold foam, and the deep cola flavor lurking beneath it all. These disparate flavors come together to form a molasses-y earthiness that almost reminded me of root beer. The uncanny combination made me feel, not entirely unpleasantly, like I was consuming some sort of medicinal tonic or faerie elixir.

Take a deep hard look into the cup of Dunkin's Dirty Soda. Does it make you feel dirty to be so deep inside it?

…Okay, you may notice that I’ve gone on about how unique this drink is, but I haven’t actually said whether it’s any good. Much like how Dunkin’ Dirty Soda is hard to define, that question is hard to answer.

The positives: this drink is certainly exciting. I found something quite charming about a massive global chain selling what sounds like it should only be accessible by unleashing a toddler at a soda fountain. I appreciate the creativity and ambition!

I guess it's not too dirty from the side.

That being said, I think it might just be too weird to work. The clashing flavors and textures never quite perfectly gel. Plus, unlike other beverages with clearly defined roles (like coffee when you’re tired or soda when you’re craving a sweet treat), it’s hard to imagine many customers regularly being in a state of mind where they’re craving a Dunkin’ Dirty Soda specifically.

…That also being said, if Dunkin’ ever wants to bring this weird drink back and make it even weirder, I’d be all in. Cherry Pepsi or caramel coffee milk, anyone?

So I say: live a little! Give this one a shot… even if you never want to do it again.

Purchased Price: $5.11
Size: Small
Rating: 6 out of 10
Nutrition Facts: 240 calories, 119 grams of fat, 7 grams of saturated fat, 220 milligrams of sodium, 82 grams of carbohydrates, 43 grams of sugar, and 5 grams of protein.

REVIEW: Dairy Queen Choco Frosted Donut Blizzard

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When my kids were little, they would sometimes ask for candy, ice cream, or donuts for breakfast. As a semi-responsible parent, I, of course, said no. Instead, I provided them with a healthy alternative, like syrup-covered pancakes or Cap’n Crunch, which probably had just as much, or perhaps even more sugar.

So maybe I need to call them up and take them to Dairy Queen for its new “Breakfast Collection,” which includes the Fruity Pebbles Shake, Cinnamon Toast Crunch Dipped Cone, and Choco Frosted Donut Blizzard. But after trying the latter, I’m going to suggest they have one of the first two options.

The new Blizzard creation is not bad, but it is not worth setting your alarm for either. As an aside, I was today years old when I learned that Dairy Queen does indeed serve breakfast, and that they have a chicken and gravy burrito, which I now have a burning desire to try. Sadly, and in defense of my ignorance of said breakfast offerings, many Dairy Queen locations do not serve the most important meal of the day, apparently including any in my area.

But back to the review. This new Blizzard includes old-fashioned (or cake) donut pieces, chocolatey icing pieces, and sprinkles mixed with vanilla soft serve. To put it simply, nothing stands out about this Blizzard. The donut pieces are fine, and actually, they are powdered sugar donut pieces according to the ingredient list on the DQ website, but I would have a hard time distinguishing them from a bland, store-bought vanilla cake. They were quite firm and held up well in the ice cream, but they didn’t make much of an impression on my taste buds.

Likewise, the icing pieces bring some chocolate flavor, as expected, but again, it’s nothing distinctive. The sprinkles add a bit of texture and some color if you are taking Instagram photos, but they do nothing for the taste. Overall, it’s not a memorable creation, although it is still ice cream with donuts and chocolate, so there was never any danger of me not reaching the bottom of the cup.

Next time I go to Dairy Queen, I’ll take my chances with one of the other two offerings from the Breakfast Collection, or maybe I’ll take a road trip to the nearest location serving breakfast and see what that chicken and gravy burrito is all about.

Purchased Price: $4.49
Size: Small
Rating: 6 out of 10
Nutrition Facts: 660 calories, 29 grams of fat, 17 grams of saturated fat, 1 gram of trans fat, 50 milligrams of cholesterol, 300 milligrams of sodium, 89 grams of carbohydrates, 1 gram of fiber, 66 grams of sugar, and 13 grams of protein.

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