Oreos: South Korea Edition

This has been a disappointing year for Oreo. Usually, they'll release a new flavor every quarter or so. There was supposedly a Tiramisu flavor in March, but I missed out on it; it wasn't available when I switched to grocery delivery once the pandemic began, and it was no longer on store shelves when I started to do my own shopping. When I looked on Amazon, I saw that I could order them for about $12 per package plus shipping. Too rich for my blood. 

However, while on Amazon, I did see an Oreo multi-pack, with different flavors from South Korea. I thought it would be a good treat, a way to sample other varieties of Oreos. (I'm debating whether to call them K-Oreos, like K-Pop, but that might be too cute.) 

The most intriguing items to me were the two packages of Oreo wafers. They came in two varieties, chocolate and vanilla.

I really like this concept. I think Keebler used to have a wafer cookie like this, with a mint variety around Christmas, but it may have been discontinued or my stores no longer carry them. It's nice to see an Oreo version. 

One other thing I like is that they are individually wrapped. So often, I'll open a package of cookies, and it goes stale before I finish them. These come in a cardboard box, so even though it is more packaging in one sense, it seems less wasteful, less of the harmful packaging.

The vanilla one was really good. The wafers are crisp and flaky, and the coating tastes good. It's slightly similar to the vanilla-coated Oreos they have for the holidays, but is still its own thing. 

The chocolate one was good, too. It had a slight coffee tinge to it, which I can only possibly explain by the malt powder used. Overall, I recommend. I'd love to see an Americanized version of this for both the chocolate and vanilla versions (and maybe a Cool Mint version?). 

When it comes to the cookies, each box is similar to one row of cookies in the typical American pack, but it is divided into two packages inside the box. Again, I really like this. It's smart. Instead of seeing the whole package go stale, you can enjoy them on your own schedule. Not only that, but according to the nutrition information, each half-package is a serving. Genius. 

For all of these, the cookie/non-creme part of the Oreo is a bit lighter than the American version. It's not as sweet, but also not as dense.

The Red Velvet cookie, Double Stuf in size, is okay. I like the way it smells more than the way it tastes. It smells like a good mix of chocolate and cream cheese, but that doesn't translate to the taste for either the cookie or the creme. It would be nice to have stronger flavors of each, especially the creme. The translated ingredients list indicates that they have both cream cheese powder and cheesecake synthetic flavor, but I didn't taste them as such.

Vanilla Mousse is a thin Oreo. I enjoyed the cookie part of the Oreo more on this one; it had a really good chocolate flavor. I didn't really taste vanilla in the creme, though. The ingredients list has both vanilla extract and vanilla cream artificial flavor, but it wasn't apparent to me, even when having the creme by itself.

Tiramisu is also a thin Oreo. It had the same coffee-ish flavor as the Oreo wafers, though with more of a chocolate flavor mixed in due to the cookies. I thought this was successful. I'm not a coffee fan, but I thought this was pretty well-executed. 

The final two flavors were Strawberry Creme and Mild Sweet. Again, these come in the half-packs that I think are a really great idea.

The Strawberry Creme flavor is surprisingly close to a real strawberry smell and flavor. It reminds me of those strawberry sugar wafer cookies. The chocolate in the cookie isn't that prominent, probably because this is a Double Stuf-sized cookie. But I think these are really good. I would buy these again. They have both strawberry extract powder and strawberry artificial flavor. 

Mild Sweet is... good? I don't understand the aim of this cookie, which seems like it would be a normal Double Stuf Oreo cookie, chocolate cookies with regular sugary creme. It's good, but I feel like I'm missing something. The ingredients list has an "acidity regulator" which I don't see in the other products, but even then, I'm stumped. However, it is good.

Overall, I'm glad I tried these. I've sampled a lot of American Oreos in the past 10 years, but despite everything I had heard about international Kit Kats, I never thought to look outside the U.S. for Oreos from other countries. I would buy some of these if I saw them on store shelves here, especially the wafers and the strawberry cookies. I'll have to keep an eye out for other varieties.

Girl Scout Cookie Crumble: Part 4

It all comes down to this. This is for all the marbles. It's all on the line. 

Who will emerge victorious?

Thus far, we've seen that Samoas and ABC S'mores are better than Caramel deLites and LBB S'mores, Shortbreads and Do-Si-Dos are better than Trefoils and Peanut Butter Sandwiches, and Peanut Butter Patties and Lemon-Ups are better than Tagalongs and Lemonades. (In my opinion, of course. I'm not a reviewer who pretends I have all the answers. Just good taste.) 

It's the fourth quarter. The score is tied 3-3 between Little Brownie Bakers and ABC Bakers. Here we go.

Cookie Crumble, Round 7: Thin Mint (ABC) vs. Thin Mint (LBB)

Thin Mints are the classic Girl Scout cookie. I don't need to tell you that. This is the only cookie (aside from the recent S'mores addition) to have the same name in both regions. So I was surprised to see that THE signature Girl Scout cookie could be so different between the two regions. 

The ABC Thin Mint is a good cookie. It's more crunchy/crispy, and more mint-forward. The cookie is flavorful, has a good taste. The mint flavor is stronger, while the chocolate flavor is not as apparent. 

The LBB Thin Mint is also a good cookie. But it's a better executed cookie. The chocolate is smoother. The chocolate and mint flavors are more well-balanced. The cookie is still crunchy, but it's not like a cracker. The LBB Thin Mint hits the boxes for the ideal Thin Mint. 

Round 7 Winner: Thin Mint (LBB)

Overtime: Caramel Chocolate Chip, Toffee-tastic, Thanks-A-Lot

I've never tried these cookies before. I usually stick with my favorites. But I felt like I needed to taste them in order to round out my taste test. Since they don't have an equal made by the other baker, I didn't think it was right to include them in the overall score. But I thought they were worth mentioning.

Caramel Chocolate Chip (ABC) has good caramel and chocolate flavors. The cookie is gluten-free, which is a positive for some. I found it to be dry, almost like a biscuit. I wasn't a fan. I don't hate it, but I wouldn't choose to buy it.

Toffee-tastic (LBB) is also a gluten-free offering. It's like a sugar cookie with toffee pieces. It tasted somewhat like a Maurice Lenell cookie in mouth feel/texture (if that is a familiar reference to you - it might be too Chicago-centric). It is satisfying, but the toffee pieces can be sticky. 

Finally, the Thanks-a-Lot (ABC) cookie was actually very good. It's a shortbread cookie with a layer of chocolate on the bottom. Sadly, this cookie is being discontinued, but I think this was a real winner. It reminds me of the Petit Ecolier cookies. 

Final Thoughts

I always thought that Girl Scout cookies were a universal experience. I'm still surprised they're not, as I think about it. It wouldn't be difficult for two bakers to use the same recipes, would it? Are the differences due to climate? Is it an urban/rural split? 

Yet as I think about what it would take to have one common recipe for the whole country, I realize that we would be getting rid of cookies that would be somebody's favorite. Someone out there loves Caramel deLites and Peanut Butter Sandwiches just as they are. They grew up on those cookies, and suddenly having Samoas or Tagalongs would be a big shift. 

For myself, I have to declare Little Brownie Bakers the winner. I liked their cookies better. Though I did find some I liked more in the ABC Bakers lineup. (I may have to place more online orders in future years to get kinds not available in my region.) 

Wherever you live, whatever cookies are available to you, buy cookies and support a good cause. 

Girl Scout Cookie Crumble: Part 3

Which set of Girl Scout cookies is better? This is a question I've attempted to answer in my last few posts. If you haven't read Part 1 and Part 2 yet, I encourage you to catch up. It's fine. I won't start without you. 

Back? I'll get started. 

Cookie Crumble, Round 5: Peanut Butter Patties vs. Tagalongs

Like I said in my last post, I'm not really a peanut butter-as-dessert person. Even when it's combined with chocolate, it's not something I'd choose to make or order off a menu. But I had to try these cookies to really complete this scientific determination. 

The Peanut Butter Patties by ABC are solid cookies. I could see buying these. The chocolate is on the sweeter side, and is a good complement to the peanut butter in the cookie. The shortbread-ish base of the cookie is also crunchy, giving the cookie a good tactile mouth feel. I like this.

Tagalongs by LBB are a slightly lighter cookie. The peanut butter in the cookie is a stronger flavor than the chocolate; it really takes over, and the two competing flavors aren't as well balanced. It's okay, but I like the Peanut Butter Patty better.

Round 5 Winner: Peanut Butter Patties (ABC)

Cookie Crumble: Round 6: Lemonades vs. Lemon-Ups

I'm a fan of lemon. It's not a default choice for me, but it can be a good change of pace, a break from the usual. 

Lemonades by ABC are good shortbread cookies with a slight lemon icing on the bottom side. I like the idea of this cookie, where the lemon icing isn't visually apparent but is positioned well for flavor. (Though I'm wondering now: are we supposed to eat these with the lemon design facing up or facing down?) The lemon design on the on the cookie is visually appealing. The lemon flavor is on the lighter side, and isn't very strong. 

Lemon-Ups by LBB are the same idea, a shortbread cookie lemon icing, though the design is different and the icing is different. I have to say, I like the lemon icing on this cookie better than the Lemonade. The Lemon-Up icing is closer to lemon flavor, even almost a Lemonhead. It's tangier, more flavorful. I like this cookie better.

Round 6 Winner: Lemon-Ups (LBB)

Score:

ABC: 3

LBB: 3

Girl Scout Cookie Crumble: Part 2

My last post featured the first two rounds of the Girl Scout Cookie Crumble. Samoas were found to be superior to Caramel deLites, while ABC S'mores had a slight edge over the LBB S'mores. 

But those are just the first two showdowns. There are plenty more in store.

Without further ado, let's jump into it.

Cookie Crumble, Round 3: Shortbreads vs. Trefoils

I will admit, I don't always buy this type of cookie. A shortbread cookie sometimes seems too plain. Why go for this when there are options with chocolate, peanut butter, caramel? However, I've come to appreciate this kind in recent years. 

The Shortbread cookie (ABC) is a standard, straightforward shortbread cookie. It's pleasant enough, and good with milk. I kept thinking it would be nice to add frosting to it, or dip it in chocolate. But this cookie is good on its own. It reminds me of the old McDonaldland cookies that I remember getting from McDonald's as a kid. (Do they still make those?) 

Meanwhile, the Trefoil (LBB) is also good. It has more of a buttery, doughy flavor, and it does have a higher fat and calorie count. I like the Shortbread cookie slightly better, but both are good. If you weren't aware of the other, you wouldn't feel like you were missing anything. 

Round 3 Winner: Shortbread (ABC)

Cookie Crumble, Round 4: Peanut Butter Sandwich vs. Do-Si-Dos

I'm not usually a peanut butter-as-dessert person. I feel like it's fine with sandwiches and snacks, but it doesn't always interest me in dessert. However, in the interest of science and not leaving any cookies untasted, I wanted to include these in the crumble.

The Peanut Butter Sandwich cookie (ABC) is a solid peanut butter cookie with real peanut flavor. It almost tastes like a slightly sweeter version of peanut butter crackers. It tastes healthy, with denser cookies. I can picture myself hiking a trail and using these for some quick energy.

The Do-Si-Do cookie (LBB) is sweeter than the Peanut Butter Sandwich cookie. It's more like a Nutter Butter cookie. The cookies are flakier, and the filling is sweeter. This cookie is also great in milk. This is the first LBB cookie with lower calories than its ABC counterpart, though it does have a higher sugar content. And I like it better. The Peanut Butter Sandwich tastes too healthy. The Do-Si-Do tastes like a treat.  

Round 4: Do-Si-Do (LBB)

Score:

ABC: 2

LBB: 2

Girl Scout Cookie Crumble: Part 1

It was only in recent years that I learned there are two different bakers that make Girl Scout cookies every year. The U.S. is divided up in two territories, and where you live determines which baker makes the cookies you can buy. The bakers don't use the same recipes; there might be similarly-named cookies in each, like Thin Mints and S'mores, but they are made differently and have a different taste to them. (The L.A. Times has a pretty good explanation of the different territories and the cookies available in each.) 

I've been curious about the different flavors, but I live in Little Brownie Baker territory, and there aren't really any ABC Baker sellers nearby. (I'm not about to drive more than a few hours for cookies unless Oreos are involved.) However, the daughter of a friend who lives in ABC Baker territory was selling these, and through the wonders of shipping by mail, I was able to order the complete set. Meanwhile, during Girl Scout cookie season, I can find LBB cookies everywhere: outside of grocery stores, drug stores, the library, even getting off the train at night after work. This would be my year to try both. 

Which is better: ABC Bakers or Little Brownie Bakers? Which cookies are the best? I bring you: the Girl Scout Cookie Crumble.

(Note: regardless of what I say in these reviews, please still continue to support and buy cookies from your local sellers. It's a great cause and deserves support.) 

Cookie Crumble, Round 1: Caramel deLites vs. Samoas

Samoas are a favorite cookie of mine. Thin Mints get the main focus, but Samoas are good in their own right. I like the chocolate and caramel combination, and it's nice that the cookies are bite-sized. However, the name Caramel deLite is not unfamiliar to me; I wonder if I was in that territory in the past.

Putting the cookies side by side, the Caramel deLite looks more appealing. But when I tried it, I felt like it was a dry cookie overall. Like it was missing something. The caramel flavor was there, the chocolate was there, but most of the flavor was in the cookie they were bonded to. 

Meanwhile, the Samoa hits exactly right. It's a bit richer. You feel like you're eating a cookie, and the caramel and chocolate flavors are stronger. Looking at the ingredients, the Samoa has vegetable oil as its second ingredient, while the Caramel deLite has enriched flour as its second ingredient, which I think makes the difference. Samoas have 10 more calories per two-cookie serving than Caramel deLites, but I think it makes all the difference.

Round 1 Winner: Samoas (LBB) 

Cookie Crumble, Round 2: The Battle of the S'mores

S'mores are a recent addition to the Girl Scout cookie lineup. (Or maybe it feels that way - I'm getting old.) When you look at each baker's version of the cookie, you can see that they are drastically different.

The LBB S'mores cookie is a sandwich cookie. It's more like a traditional s'more in this way. The cookies are graham cracker-flavored, and the filling is chocolate creme with a slight bit of vanilla creme. I didn't get on board with these cookies when they were first introduced, but over time I've come to appreciate them. These are cookies that I recommend you take small bites of and really savor them, letting the different flavors show up as they come.

The ABC Smore's cookie is a wholly different approach. In this version, the graham cracker is on the inside with some vanilla/marshmallow creme, all surrounded by a chocolate coating. This is actually really good. The chocolate adds a rich flavor and tastes more like real chocolate than chocolate-flavored creme ever could. But the graham cracker is still there. I wouldn't say the vanilla/marshmallow is strong in either case. (In fact, it seems like anything s'mores flavored features a regular vanilla/marshmallow flavor when it should really be a burnt marshmallow flavor.) But the ABC cookie is really good. If I place future orders from the ABC territory, I'll include a box or two of these.

So, which is better? I like both. I'll buy both again. But I have to give the slight edge to ABC in this case. I've grown to like the LBB version, but the ABC version gets closer to what a s'more is, and is the more satisfying cookie overall. If they were both for sale and I could only buy one, I'd go with the ABC version. It has 40 more calories per 2-cookie serving than the LBB version, but it seems to make a difference.

Round 2 Winner: S'mores (ABC) 

Score:

ABC: 1

LBB: 1

Twizzlers: Strawberry Smoothie, Watermelon, Orange Cream Pop

I grew up liking Twizzlers. They were a frequent road trip and movie theater food. It wasn't until I was older that I had my first Red Vines, and now whichever one I buy will depend on the mood I'm in. (I like the initial taste of Twizzlers better, but sometimes there's an aftertaste that Red Vines doesn't have.) In the past few years, I've tried some good Australian licorice, too. 

Like any food company looking to spike some interest in its long-standing brand, Twizzlers releases seasonal flavors every now and then. I was at a convenience store one day recently and came across a flavor I've never tried: Strawberry Smoothie. I was curious enough about it to give it a try. They also had returning flavors Watermelon and Orange Cream Pop, which I've seen before but thought I would try again for this blog.

The Strawberry Smoothie is good overall. I like the flavor of the licorice itself. My first thought was that regular Twizzlers are already strawberry-flavored, so I didn't know how this would be different. But the Strawberry Smoothie flavor is a bit lighter and sweeter than regular Twizzlers. It reminds me of the fun-sized licorice bars that are released for Halloween. It's pleasant.

I'm not so much on board with the filling inside the licorice, though. My guess is that this is where the "smoothie" part comes in, but I would like these better without it. I think I have it ingrained that my licorice experience should only include one texture, so to have an Oreo creme-type filling in the licorice throws me off a little.

Next up is Watermelon Pull 'n' Peel. I like this flavor okay. Pull 'n' Peel is good to have when you're feeling anxious or restless and need something to do with your hands. To its credit, the watermelon flavor doesn't taste like watermelon bubble gum and make me feel uncertain about swallowing it. However, I don't love it enough where I could see buying it regularly. 

The final flavor I have for today is Orange Cream Pop. I like this at first, but again, the filling gets me every time. I will admit that the filling is what really makes this taste like an orange cream bar, instead of just orange licorice. Hmm... maybe this flavor will get me to come around on the filling. 

Overall, I didn't outright love any of these flavors, though my favorite of the three is Orange Cream Pop. I liked the licorice part of Strawberry Smoothie, but not the filling; and Watermelon was okay, but not something I'd be likely to want over and over. 

Key Info:

Flavor: Strawberry Smoothie Filled Twizzlers
Date Found: July 2020, CVS

Description: Strawberry Smoothie Filled Twizzlers

Package size: 16 Twizzlers

Serving size: 2 Twizzlers, 140 calories, 1.5 grams fat, 20 grams sugar

Flavor: Watermelon Pull 'N' Peel Twizzlers
Date Found: July 2020, CVS

Description: Watermelon Pull 'N' Peel Twizzlers

Package size: 12 Twizzlers

Serving size: 1 Twizzler, 110 calories, 0.5 grams fat, 15 grams sugar

Flavor: Orange Cream Pop Filled Twizzlers
Date Found: July 2020, CVS

Description: Orange Cream Pop Filled Twizzlers

Package size: 16 Twizzlers

Serving size: 2 Twizzlers, 140 calories, 1.5 grams fat, 20 grams sugar

Peeps-apalooza 2020

I don't love Peeps... but I don't hate them, either. Peeps made appearances in my Easter baskets throughout my childhood, to the point that I'll buy at least one package for old time's sake every year. (For the record, I like the chick shape more than the bunny shape.) In recent years, Peeps have branched out to target different holidays, with pumpkin-shaped Peeps for Halloween and tree-shaped Peeps for Christmas. 

Still, Easter is the big event. It's no wonder that the fine folks at Peeps would put most of their eggs into the Easter basket. When I was out this year a few weeks before Easter, I counted no less than 8 different flavors of Peeps available. I've never really tried the different flavors, but with a blog I want to be great comes great responsibility. 

So I took a deep dive.

I thought Party Cake Peeps were okay. They taste just like a regular Peep at first. Eventually, there's a subtle cake batter flavor, but it wasn't strong enough to be distinctive. I like the idea of these, but the final product was so close to an original Peep that I didn't think there was enough that set it apart. 

On the other hand, I thought Hot Tamales Peeps were really good. It's been awhile since I've had any of that candy, so I couldn't remember how hot the cinnamon flavor was. But it was pitched just right, with the heat from the cinnamon nicely balanced by the sweet sugar of the marshmallow. I would buy these again, no question. 

Cotton Candy was another inspired choice. It is sweeter than a regular Peep, with a cotton candy flavor. It's hard to describe how that could be so, except that it tastes more sugary somehow (unless the power of suggestion helped that out). However, this was another one that wasn't too far from a regular Peep. 

And then there was Sour Watermelon. The only artificially watermelon-flavored food or drink I've liked has been the watermelon slushie drink that Taco Bell had in the past few years. I wasn't a fan of watermelon Oreos when they came out, and I'm not a fan of Sour Watermelon Peeps. They remind me too much of the Watermelon Bubblicious gum. I tend to like that flavor as a gum, but as a food, I get this feeling that I shouldn't swallow it. This had a strong flavor, too. It might have been a bit better if it wasn't as sour. 

Aside from flavored Peeps, I also came across Peeps that were dipped in chocolate and/or filled. I've previously balked at these, since one package of 3-4 of these Peeps might cost the same as an entire package of 10-15 regular Peeps. Still, in the interest of science, I decided to try these out. 

Coconut dipped in dark chocolate is actually pretty good. The coconut flavor is subtle at first, and could be stronger, but it's enough to satisfy. It's still fundamentally a Peep, just with a hint of coconut. The chocolate makes it a winner. I know it's not necessarily the healthiest thing to dip a Peep in chocolate, but we don't eat these every day, either.

The regular Peep dipped in milk chocolate was also good. You likely know what a regular Peep tastes like. Add some milk chocolate and it's a sweet treat. The chocolate adds a good flavor. (Maybe everything should be dipped in chocolate?)

Chocolate Caramel Swirl took me by surprise. The packaging describes it as "chocolate marshmallow filled with creamy caramel dipped in rich chocolate." I thought this one was very good. There is only a small amount of filling, so you'll likely need to eat the whole thing or at least half to taste it. But it's an interesting flavor combination, and interesting to have a filling. The filling itself was more caramel-flavored than caramel, in my opinion. It wasn't smooth or creamy like caramel in a candy bar, but was more like a caramel custard.

Finally, there was Raspberry in creme-flavored fudge. I wanted to like this, but the raspberry flavor seemed off for me. I wanted to it to be stronger and slightly more tart. Instead, this had the sweetness of artificial raspberry without any tartness. The white creme was okay; I wouldn't say it was great nor bad. I likely wouldn't buy this again.

Thank you for joining me on my Peeps odyssey. I'm glad I tried these out and saw how I liked them. For me, some were winners, while others had flavors that were either too strong or too weak, instead of being "just right." I'll know in the future if I ever see these again to add Hot Tamale, Coconut, and Chocolate Caramel Swirl Peeps to my cart. 

Key Info - Flavored Peeps:

Flavor: Party Cake Peeps
Date Announced/Found: March 2020, Walgreens

Description: Party cake flavored marshmallow

Package size: 10 Chicks

Serving size: 4 chicks, 110 calories, 0 grams fat, 24 grams sugar

Flavor: Hot Tamales Peeps
Date Announced/Found: March 2020, Mariano's (Kroger)

Description: Hot Tamales Fierce Cinnamon

Package size: 10 Chicks

Serving size: 4 chicks, 110 calories, 0 grams fat, 24 grams sugar

Flavor: Cotton Candy Peeps
Date Announced/Found: March 2020, Walgreens

Description: Cotton candy flavored marshmallow

Package size: 15 Chicks

Serving size: 4 chicks, 110 calories, 0 grams fat, 24 grams sugar

Flavor: Sour Watermelon Peeps
Date Announced/Found: March 2020, Walgreens

Description: Sour watermelon flavored marshmallow

Package size: 15 Chicks

Serving size: 4 chicks, 100 calories, 0 grams fat, 22 grams sugar

Key Info - Dipped/Filled Peeps:

Flavor: Coconut Peeps in Dark Chocolate
Date Announced/Found: March 2020, Target

Description: Coconut flavored marshmallow dipped in decadent dark chocolate

Package size: 3 Chicks

Serving size: 3 Chicks, 150 calories, 3.5 grams fat, 29 grams sugar

Flavor: Marshmallow Peeps in Milk Chocolate
Date Found: March 2020, Target

Description: Marshmallow dipped in decadent milk chocolate

Package size: 3 Chicks

Serving size: 3 Chicks, 160 calories, 3.5 grams fat, 29 grams sugar

Flavor: Chocolate Caramel Swirl
Date Found: March 2020, Target

Description: Chocolate marshmallow filled with creamy caramel dipped in rich chocolate

Package size: 4 Chicks

Serving size: 2 Chicks, 120 calories, 3 grams fat, 20 grams sugar

Flavor: Raspberry Peeps in Creme Fudge
Date Found: March 2020, Target

Description: Raspberry flavored marshmallow dipped in decadent creme flavored fudge

Package size: 4 Chicks

Serving size: 4 Chicks, 210 calories, 4 grams fat, 39 grams sugar