Unique! This was very sour, which I normally don't like, but oddly it had a sort of cinnamon aftertaste! Like a well-glazed sweet potato. Made me take a second look (metaphorically) at this bottle. Kinda neat. Not much else to say!
Overall
Cost: 5/10
Taste: 7/10
This is the good stuff! I really love it -- it's sweet, creamy, filling and delicious. There's real strawberry chunks, for gosh sakes! But it's also bad for you -- there's sugar AND there's fat AND it's also a bit expensive (over 5 bucks). So it's not an everyday thing, but is good for a treat week, and right now every week is a treat week for sadmanda :)
Overall
Cost: 4/10
Taste: 7/10
By god, this was so disappointing and now I see I previously felt the same way about another Cabot cheddar! What's the point of this blog if I don't even reference it whilst shopping!? Silly me. But these were on sale and I love cheese, so I got them. More fool me. Stay away from Cabot, or at least stay away from cheddar! I love cracker cheese but the taste of these was so bad, so empty. Any other cheese would be better. Maybe a nice Swiss, Pepper Jack, Gouda, etc.
Overall
Cost: 6/10 [2.50]
Taste: 6/10
Although they have terrifying sounding nutty flavors, this taffy is peanut and tree-nut free! That's really cool. The flavors aren't labelled, though, so I'm giving them a copious smell-and-look-over before I try them, because even an artificial PB taffy would eff my world up. And they have a lot of different flavors (which is neat)! But I digress.
Strawberry Banana: Cute pink and yellow stripes, this flavor is true to its name, and tastes a little like a banana split. I guess the milk in the recipe adds to that milky vibe. Problem is, it's very hot so this was extremely melty and hard to unwrap/consume. And I'm still a bit scared because New Food. But I think it was good. 7/10
Cotton Candy: This was the first "cotton candy" flavored candy I've ever enjoyed! It does indeed taste like cotton candy, but it's also a bit buttery. Pretty cool. 8/10
Red Licorice: This is also pretty darn uncanny for a red vine. But red vines aren't that great, especially in taffy form. 5/10
Honey: I was scared this would be seeret PB because it's tan. But it was just a nice light honey flavor. 6/10
Raspberry Lemonade: All of these flavors are impressively accurate! This tastes like a berry lemonade, and I like it. 7/10
Cherry: This was pink with just 2 tiny red stripes on the edge, so I didn't know for sure if it was cheerry or strawberry. However, it kinda tastes like medicine (albeit sweet medicine), so I think it's cherry. Too bad, I don't like this one, but I know it's my personal childhood medicine damage! 4/10
Overall
Cost: 5/10
Taste: 7/10
Yikes. I'm sad to report, these chips were rough. First, the bag is very flat. But you open it and there are chips in there. BUT you are presented with a weird smell, very sweet and not appropriate for chips. The taste is weird, mild and probably impacted by the smell. The texture was oddly soft, although these weren't expired and there was no hole in the bag that I could see. even the appearance wasn't great, as there were plenty of greyish spots on them. At least the sound of the crunch was OK. The rest of my senses were affronted, though. Still ate 'em, but this is now my bottom tier chip (among nut-free chips).
Overall
Cost: 5/10
Taste: 5/10
Man, this stuff used to be unambiguously safe, and now it's very ambiguous. Can't find allergy info anywhere, but some of their stuff has warnings, so I'm assuming that the lack of a nut warning means these are safe, even though...who knows. Other than that, this still tastes great. Good texture, and lightly sweet and salty corn. A great treat if you can have it without anxiety (and it seems I no longer can, RIP)
Overall
Cost: 5/10
Taste: 7/10
The store was out of my emotional support crackers (reduced fat wheat thins), so I got these instead. IDK if I'm delusional, but I think this version tastes a little worse. However, the fat content isn't really that different, and they're still a comforting and filling snack cracker. By the time I opened these up, I was out of cheese, so I'm just eating them plain, which is tragic but honestly not that bad. A little too sweet if you stop to think about it, but the size/shape/thickness of the cracker (very small and firm!) is second to none. I should buy cheese, as they are great to dip.
Overall
Cost: 6/10
Taste: 7/10
I was following a recipe that called for "prepared horseradish", and this was the only potential candidate at my store. I still don't know if it was quite what was intended, but it certainly is horseradish and it certainly is prepared. This stuff is strong. It did great in the recipe (a sour-cream horsey sauce) but on its own is too intense to use as a condiment, IMO. (Maybe on a very thick sandwich?). Tastes of horseradish. Big tingles. Luckily, it keeps for a while, so maybe I'll get a chance to use it as a mixer again in the future!
Overall
Cost: 5/10
Taste: 6/10
Ah, these are very vanilla onion rings. Just the idea that I can make onion rings in the oven like fries is exciting, so I appreciate that, and the cooking is pretty quick and easy (12min). But the taste is very plain -- they have basically no seasoning to speak of, so it's just onion and uninteresting fried dough. Still OK if you're hankering for an onion ring, although this deli-style is nowhere near as delicious as, say, a Burger King ring. But with the right sauce (though I don't know what it is -- thousand island? horseradish?) it's not bad. And less oily than it could be, if you bake 'em.
Overall
Cost: 5/10
Taste: 6/10
Solid stuff. I have a lot of complaints right now (mainly: it's so hot, I'm so sad) but no complaints about this wine, except the usual allergy mystery. Screw top, CabSav, solid juicy fruity dark and seductive red. Good cold, which is a relief because of the heat. I've only been sipping it, but it's good to sip. Sorry for the lack of insight today. This is a solid wine. Bye!
Overall
Cost: 5/10 [16$]
Taste: 6/10
Sorry to break it to Sammy boy, but this beer is not what I'd call "distinctively complex". However, the feelings it generates are complex! I used to be totally devastated when I drank a Sam Adams because of the Boston job rejection that weighed on me (and does even still). Now time has numbed those feelings a bit. Time and beer. And that makes me hopeful that other devastations will also dull over time (and beer). This is also a company which is overtly nut-free, so even though the taste of this is very generic-veering-on-unpleasant, it's a normal beer and I can drink it at parties or friends' places (as this one was) without freaking out that I'm doing to die. But yes, the taste is not fruity or hoppy or malty or anything. It's just "cheap beer but a little stronger haha". Lagers don't ring my bell I guess. But it's certainly drinkable, dare I say chuggable, and that's not really what I value in a beer but I will never turn it down, anyway.
Overall
Cost: 6/10
Taste: 6/10
This is nice! I'm not really a tea fan, let alone an herbal tea fan, but this one is probably as good as it gets for me in the peppermint tea space. Nut free, just pure mint leaves, not gritty, quick steep, tastes very fresh and strong. Just a nice, comforting, refreshing hot drink. I'm drinking it in the afternoon because I couldn't decide if it was for waking up or going to bed, and I still am not really sure. I guess it feels cozy. A weird summer drink, but nevertheless, I enjoyed my time with it.
Overall
Cost: 6/10
Taste: 6/10
I was lucky, my spring mix was free of those purple bits. It was basically generic salad greens, which I like very well. Plus, no need to wash, and I can eat out of the container? Very nice. I added a hard boiled egg and some dressing and it was a very satisfying little meal. Thanks Bowery! (I always think of being a teenager listening to the Decemberists while showering when I see the word "Bowery", anyone else? Hm? No?)
Overall
Cost: 6/10
Taste: 6/10
What a cute label. I like the idea of a limited edition wine, especially from a company I trust to be nut-free. Very comforting and exciting at the same time! Being a Grenache, this tasted like a typical cheap red wine to me. It was smooth with a light cherry vibe. Not too strong in any sense of the word, which is just fine.
I did pair this with the Sheet Pan Beef Tenderloin with Mushrooms and Brussels Sprouts as recommended, and it was good, but not amazing. The horsey sauce was the best part!
This was good! It's very pretty; a little of an orange rosé, and I trust the company and love the screwtop. Rosé can be too sweet or too tart and this was neither. More on the tart side, I think. Another 2-person 1-nighter, so it went down easy enough! No ramen for me though.
Overall
Cost: 5/10 [18$]
Taste: 6/10
This was alright. It wasn't my first go on the Montsablé train, so it gave very much "Old Reliable" energy, even though I still don't have allergy info or anything. Just that I've had a few now and been fine. Also, a very distinctive look, a screw top, and an uncomplicated flavor. I'd say it's nice. Too bad about the suggested pasta with pistachios, looks tasty.
Overall
Cost: 5/10 [17$]
Taste: 6/10
This was good! Am I into German whites now!? I guess so. The label art was a little lolzy, but the screwtop and taste were not. Like a Riesling, it was sweet and easy. But not too sweet or thin or acidic or gross. I wish I had had more of it! L also said it was good and didn't have a bad aftertaste. What more could you want?
Overall
Cost: 5/10 [19$]
Taste: 7/10
Hey, way to go, Germany. This was surprisingly good (buddy L agrees!) and pleasantly sweet. Not too acidic, not too simple, but very drinkable. No allergy info though, but I think we trust the Germans with their labelling.
I also made the suggested Baked Asparagus pairing, and it was good too, although I might prefer steamed asparagus to baked. But you can't go wrong with garlic and cheese on a veg. Also, for the real ones, my life is still bad and dumb. But this wine was not!
Overall
Cost: 5/10 [19$]
Taste: 7/10
This is good! I don't typically like ranch dressing, but it can be good on a salad, and this was definitely better than standard ranch. It's more ~complex~ and it did taste like Parmesan. I don't know about the peppercorn so much, but I guess it was more peppery than fatty, which is good. Solid, strong flavor, didn't make vom, what more could you ask for?
Overall
Cost: 6/10
Taste: 7/10
These are quite good, even though I'm not usually a fan of chocolate things! They're a bit like chocolatey teddy grahams, but way messier (so dang crumbly) and also butterier. They taste like chocolate and not like gluten-free blobs, which is a rare feat. The texture is definitely weird; firm inside and crumbly outers, but as long as you eat over a plate it's no problem.
Overall
Cost: 5/10
Taste: 7/10
This was OK, a very redwine-y red wine. I'd say that the notes of cherry are accurate. It's got that very gritty, thin, puckery vibe. Definitely still drinkable, went through it in a single night, but nevertheless not my favorite. Would probably go pretty well with the BBQ turkey recommended, if only I could access the recipe!
Overall
Cost: 5/10
Taste: 5/10
I always think I'm in for a Knorr-like experience with other rice and noodle packs, and I am always in for a shock instead. I followed the directions here, and yet this turned out so very firm and (even though it is gluten free) glutenous. Felt like I was eating some novel nordic grains or something instead of white rice. I guess the lesson is to add more water and cook it much longer than 20 min (and on the lowest possible heat). Other than the crunch, I guess the taste was fine. Very mild, herby side-dish-esque product. Not in my food repertoire, yet very unintense.
Overall
Cost: 5/10
Taste: 5/10
Love ice cream, hate chocolate ice cream, so this balances out to a mild acceptance. It's so hot out and it's been so long since I've had a frozen treat that this ended up being pretty nice. Dark chocolate creamy vibes. A little cup goes a long way. If only it were vanilla!
Overall
Cost: 4/10
Taste: 6/10
OK, the name Rain-Blo is objectively great. But also, these are such a nostalgia trip. It's so rare to find non-sugar-free gum now!! Hurts my jaw and I would never chew gum in public because I hate the noise when other people do it, so I'm not really a gum gal, but when I was a little kid, I bought a small gumball machine and I was so proud of it and myself and just delighted with the whole thing. It made me think of buying vending machines and pinball machines, even though a gumball machine is like, obviously much less intense. It took actual coins though! And then I was rich and had gum. So this tastes like that. The four colors actually do taste slightly different, I feel like, even though the flavor is basically "sugar and gum". And it wears out in approx 2 minutes. But still, what a trip! Thanks, RainBlo.
Overall
Cost: 6/10
Taste: 6/10
I am sad to report that this is a blursed candy (or should I say blurzed?). It looks cute, but pull and peels are never good, and this flavor is even worse than the plain red one. Part of the weirdness is the texture, which is spongier and rubbery. Part is the taste, which is generically cheap-strawberry-sweetness, and part is the smell, which is, again, like a beach toy. Sorry Twizzler, try again later.
Overall
Cost: 7/10
Taste: 5/10
