REVIEW: Starbucks Iced Golden Ginger Drink

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Starbucks Iced Golden Ginger Drink

What is the Starbucks Iced Golden Ginger Drink?

Starbucks Iced Golden Ginger Drink pairs coconutmilk with a golden ginger blend, that includes turmeric, and a pineapple ginger syrup for a fruity iced beverage.

How is it?

Wow! This drink exceeded my expectations!

Starbucks Iced Golden Ginger Drink 2

First of all, the beautiful golden yellow color is sure to be seen on Instagram accounts everywhere.

At first sip, I got a nice flavor of ginger that lingered after, but in a good way. The pineapple came through later, which I think was due to needing to stir the drink a bit after the syrup settled. My husband and I both agreed that this tasted like the perfect virgin happy hour drink — fruity, creamy, and packs just enough of a punch.

What I love about this is that it wasn’t too sugary or sweet – it didn’t leave me feeling like I just had a sugar bomb. The coconutmilk also makes the Iced Golden Ginger Drink more filling, in my opinion, than a regular Starbucks Refreshers beverage.

Is there anything else you need to know?

Unlike Starbucks Refreshers, the Iced Golden Ginger Drink does not have any caffeine in it. So don’t expect it to give you that type of energy boost! But I love having an option if I feel like I’ve already caffeinated enough but still want to partake in an afternoon Starbucks run with my co-workers.

Conclusion:

I love this drink and can’t wait to enjoy it even more as the weather warms up.

Purchased Price: $4.95
Size: Grande
Rating: 8 out of 10
Nutrition Facts: 140 calories, 5 grams of total fat, 4.5 grams of saturated fat, 0 grams of trans fat, 0 milligrams of cholesterol, 120 milligrams of sodium, 22 grams of total carbohydrates, 0 grams of dietary fiber, 19 grams of total sugars, 1 grams of protein and 0 milligrams of caffeine.

REVIEW: Starbucks Nitro Cold Brew with Salted Honey Cold Foam

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Starbucks Nitro Cold Brew with Salted Honey Cold Foam

What is the Starbucks Nitro Cold Brew with Salted Honey Cold Foam?

Starbucks has released yet another cold brew beverage with Cold Foam. This time, it’s a Nitro Cold Brew with Salted Honey Cold Foam. Also on top is a toasted honey topping. For those of you unfamiliar with nitro, it means the cold brew comes out of a nitrogen tap, meaning it’s a bit creamy and smooth.

How is it?

I have been loving cold brew lately (I have an infant, so give me all of the caffeine!), and I like that Starbucks has been introducing honey into other new beverages. But this one, literally and figuratively, fell flat for me. The Nitro Cold Brew itself is standard Starbucks – I did enjoy the smooth taste – but it lost its nitro-ness quicker than I was prepared to drink the beverage.

Starbucks Nitro Cold Brew with Salted Honey Cold Foam Top

And let’s talk about the Cold Foam. I was pleased with the toasted honey topping – it had a nice sugary crunch – but the foam itself had no trace of honey flavor. It also dissolved into the drink rather fast, leaving me with about 3/4 of a cup of what looked like just plain cold brew.

I think Starbucks does cold brew beverages better when there is something IN the drink, a la Vanilla Sweet Cream or another syrup. The Cold Foam on top can really be a hit or miss.

Is there anything else you need to know?

If you mobile order your Starbucks drink (because if you wait in the drive-thru line, you’re coffee-ing wrong), they’ll wait until you arrive to pour the Nitro Cold Brew, which is a nice touch, to maximize the nitrogen in there.

Conclusion:

A decent drink, but not memorable. Glad I tried, but wouldn’t order again.

Purchased Price: $4.95
Size: Grande
Purchased at: Starbucks
Rating: 5 out of 10
Nutrition Facts: 40 calories, 0 grams of total fat, 0 grams of saturated fat, 0 grams of trans fat, 0 milligrams of cholesterol, 240 milligrams of sodium, 7 grams of total carbohydrates, 0 grams of dietary fiber, 7 grams of total sugars, 2 grams of protein and 275 milligrams of caffeine.

REVIEW: Wendy’s Breakfast Baconator

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Wendy s Breakfast Baconator

What is Wendy’s Breakfast Baconator?

A pre-10 a.m. take on Wendy’s famed Baconator hamburger, this walk-of-shame variation features grilled sausage, American cheese, a flattened egg, and enough Applewood smoked bacon to choke a hog. It’s also topped with a Swiss cheese sauce and served to you with a coffee and a smile.

How is it?

Take what you think you know about breakfast sandwiches and beat it into salty submission. While the Breakfast Baconator might not look as jam-packed as, say, some monstrosity from Carl’s Jr., Wendy’s has somehow managed to pack quite a bit of grotesquely gorgeous morningside taste in its bid for total breakfast domination.

Besides the requisite slab of fried egg and cut of grilled sausage — nicely done, by the way — the two distinctly separate layers of Applewood smoked bacon, while definitely the definition of “too much,” work perfectly for the breakfast sandwich. It might be even better than the lunchtime variety. And while the Swiss cheese sauce was somewhat lighter than expected, the two slices of American cheese make up for it, giving this pile of meat a surprising bite from the dairy.

Is there anything else you need to know?

Wendy s Breakfast Baconator 2

With so much bacon — I counted eight strips on mine — the salt in this sandwich is mouth-puckeringly strong. I say skip the hash browns and order an extra cup of coffee instead. You’ll need it way more, even after the Breakfast Baconator is a belching memory.

Conclusion:

Calorically rich in its Applewood smoked goodness, it really is a perfect-enough fast food breakfast and quite obviously the cornerstone of Wendy’s burgeoning breakfast menu, which, at least in my part of the country, could be considered fightin’ words. I mean, have you seen those Honey Butter Chicken Biscuits?

Purchased Price: $3.99
Size: N/A
?Rating: 8 out of 10
?Nutrition Facts: 730 calories, 50 grams of fat, 19 grams of saturated fat, 0.5 grams of trans fat, 280 milligrams of cholesterol, 1750 milligrams of sodium, 36 grams of total carbohydrates, 1 gram of dietary fiber, 7 grams of total sugars, and 34 grams of protein

REVIEW: Ruffles Lime & Jalapeno Potato Chips

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Ruffles Lime Jalapeno Potato Chips

What are Ruffles Lime & Jalapeno Potato Chips?

They’re lime and jalapeno-flavored Ruffles, of course, and the output of the first-ever “Chip Deal” between NBA All-Star Anthony Davis and Snack Food Company All-Star, Ruffles.

Why didn’t they name this a “partnerCHIP”? Talk about a missed opportunity.

Do I imagine, in my blind optimistic ignorance, Anthony Davis in a lab coat tasting chips and giving feedback like, “No, not enough lime. Season it more!”? Of course, I do. Doesn’t that sound amazing? Let’s assume that’s how these were made and pray that Ruffles will eventually release that B-roll footage as a media play.

How are they?

I have definitely taken down an entire bag of Tostitos Hint of Lime Tortilla Chips in my youth (also by Frito Lay), so I was hopeful the citrus flavor would hold up in this version.

Ruffles Lime Jalapeno Potato Chips 2

The chips appear evenly seasoned with “Lime and Jalapeno seasoning” that includes visible green flecks, which I’m assuming are dehydrated jalapenos and spices. I was also impressed with how remarkably accurate the front of pack picture was. I had several chips inside my bag that looked identical in seasoning coverage.

The upfront flavor is exactly what lime-chip lovers would expect, bright, fresh, clean citrus flavor that makes your mouth water but also leaves you wanting another chip indefinitely forever. Mmmm…delicious addiction.

Ruffles Lime Jalapeno Potato Chips 3

The jalapeno flavor tastes like peppers, not just heat, which is something not all “hot” chips get right. The lime flavor passes to the pepper flavor for the assist and leaves you with a lingering natural heat. Perfect.

Is there anything else you need to know?

This release came with three exclusive bag designs, and a sneaker called the Ruffles Ridge Tops. Ruffles has teased in several press releases that we can expect to see more from the A.D./Ruffles Chip Deal, and I have to say, they’re off to a solid start.

Conclusion:

These chips are a slam dunk. Yes, I heard your eyes roll just now. But, unless you hate lime-flavored things, these are worth a try. They’re nicely balanced and aren’t artificial tasting at all. Anthony Davis signed his name to a good one here.

Purchased Price: 2/$5 special
Size: 8.5 oz. bag

Purchased at:
Rating: 9 out of 10
Nutrition Facts: (14 chips/28g) 150 Calories, 9 grams of fat, 1.5 grams of saturated fat, 0 milligrams of cholesterol, 200 milligrams of sodium, 15 grams of carbohydrates, 1 gram of fiber, 1 gram of sugar, and 2 grams of protein.

REVIEW: Dunkin’ Iced Matcha Latte

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Dunkin Matcha Iced Latte

Update 3/4/2021: We also tried the blueberry-flavored version! Click here to read our review.

Matcha is not for everyone.

I can easily understand how its grassy and slightly bitter flavor can be a taste bud turnoff. Even when the bright green tea powder is mixed with milk and ice, like it is with Dunkin’s Matcha Lattes, it still won’t be for everyone.

But if you love the flavor, as I do, then Dunkin’s Matcha Latte is a perfectly adequate drink.

It’s available hot, iced, or frozen, but because it was 75 degrees when I ordered it, I decided to go with an iced latte. And, because I sometimes like to test my lactose intolerance, I decided to get mine with whole milk.

Dunkin’ makes a big deal about how its matcha green tea powder is from the Nishio region of the Aichi prefecture in Japan, where the finest tea leaves have been grown for more than 800 years. To be honest, I can’t determine how fine the tea is or whether the tea is from Nishio or the city of Uji in Kyoto prefecture. But I don’t care because I’ve enjoyed every slurp of Dunkin’s Iced Matcha Latte.

Full disclosure: I’m a man who is easily satisfied when it comes to matcha lattes. I’ve had a number of them, from either Starbucks or in bottled form from one of the many Japanese beverage brands I can get my hands on here on this rock that’s the closest U.S. state to Japan. Out of all of them, I don’t think I’ve ever had a lousy matcha latte.

Dunkin Matcha Iced Latte Closeup

To me, they all generally taste the same because it’s a simple drink. It’s pretty much matcha powder and milk. But this one from Dunkin’ doesn’t have as strong of a matcha punch as others. Maybe my dairy choice subdued the sweet, slightly bitter flavor, but it did make the drink creamy. Speaking of cream, I thought this tasted like a less sweet, less bitter matcha ice cream.

This offering from Dunkin’ isn’t going to change your mind about the green tea made from baby leaves if you don’t care for its flavor. But if you do enjoy the earthy matcha tea, it’s a perfectly fine latte and it’s nice to be able to buy one from someplace other than Starbucks.

Purchased Price: $3.99
Size: Medium
Rating: 7 out of 10
Nutrition Facts: 250 calories, 9 grams of fat, 5 grams of saturated fat, 25 milligrams of cholesterol, 130 milligrams of sodium, 33 grams of carbohydrates, 1 gram of fiber, 32 grams of sugar, 10 grams of protein.

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