REVIEW: Skittles Gummies Fuego

/ / Reviews / 2 Comments

While seemingly every candy brand is hell bent on making its products airy and crispy with the freeze-dried fad, Skittles is bringing the salty, squishy heat with a new line of Fuego Gummies. This, of course, is in addition to their already available freeze-dried Pop’d line, but regardless, it’s welcome to see something different coming out in the fruity candy market.

Skittles Gummies Fuego offers five flavors, spanning some of the Original flavors along with some Tropical ones — strawberry, lemon, watermelon, lemon, mango, and raspberry. The gummies themselves aren’t flavored any differently than a normal pack, but rather come rolled in a mixture of chili powder and salt that brings new taste, texture, and life to the Gummies experience.

There is no added lime, but the gritty, spiced up salty flavor tossed generously on every fruity candy reminds me a lot of Tajin seasoning, and I really like it. I’ve had several other gummies, like peach rings, tossed in Tajin and sold as a direct collaboration, so the pairing works great.

What sets these apart from a bag of peach or apple rings tossed in Tajin is the smaller size and variety of flavors that come in one package. It’s a lot more fun, and most of them come across really well. The mango and watermelon feel perfectly in line with the fruits that organically pair with a salty, slightly spicy chili profile found in many Mexican candies. The strawberry and lemon stand out as the most distinctly Skittles-tasting. There’s something about the original Skittles strawberry that is so unique to the brand, and I’ve always loved it. While it still stands out as Skittles strawberry or lemon, the salty chili amplifies and complements the familiar flavor delightfully.

The only one that doesn’t really work for me is the raspberry, and I usually enjoy raspberry-flavored candies. The company doesn’t call it blue raspberry, but the candy is blue and has that more artificial-leaning aggressive candy taste that clashes a bit with the salted chili powder coating. It’s not awful, but it’s the one I want to come back to the least, and would have happily swapped it out with a more established Skittles Tropical flavor, like pineapple or banana, to make this Fuego bag perfecto.

Purchased Price: $2.19
Size: 5.8 ounces
Purchased at: Target
Rating: 8 out of 10
Nutrition Facts: (12 pieces, 31g) 100 calories, 0 grams of fat, 0 grams of saturated fat, 115 milligrams of sodium, 24 grams of carbohydrates, 0 grams of fiber, 24 grams of total sugars, and 1 gram of protein.

10 Other Things I Consumed (September 2025 Edition)

/ / Other Things I Consumed, Reviews / 2 Comments

Here are ten other things I consumed last month that I felt like writing about:

Woodstock Organic Banana Water

Woodstock Organic Banana Water.

At the beginning of the month, a reader sent in a Spotted photo for Banagua Banana Water. Given that I go bananas over banana-flavored products, I really wanted to try it. However, I didn’t find it at my local Safeway. However, while browsing the Japanese drinks at one of the grocery stores near my place, I happened to come across Woodstock Organic Banana Water, and yes, that is the overripe banana color of the water in the can. I assure you, I did not pull that water from a storm drain after heavy rains.

While it’s not appetizing to look at, its flavor is unmistakably banana, and not the artificial kind. Of course, that makes sense since the only ingredient is bananas. However, I didn’t know bananas could hold so much water. While I thought it was good, I don’t think I’d ever repurchase it. If I want to drink a banana, I’d just blend one in a smoothie.

Nerds Gummy Clusters Cherry Lemonade Blitz

Nerds Gummy Clustsers Cherry Lemonade Blitz.

Despite initially thinking this was a silly idea when I first heard about it years ago, Nerds Gummy Clusters are one of my favorite candies to sneak from my son’s Halloween and goodie bag stashes. I love the contrasting textures and fruity flavors. However, this particular flavor was kind of a letdown. I expected a blitz of cherry and lemonade, but it had a more nondescript fruity flavor that I couldn’t quite convince myself was anything else. Maybe the Candy Gods made it that way to get back at me for stealing my kid’s candy? With that said, I enjoyed crunching and chewing through the entire bag, but I wouldn’t pick it up again.

Bloom Crisp Apple Sparkling Energy Drink

Bloom Crisp Apple Sparkling Energy Drink.

My goodness, this limited edition flavor is super yummy. I don’t taste any of the apple cider vinegar that’s in it, unlike a bunch of Poppi soda flavors I’ve had. And it has such a crisp apple taste with ZERO apple juice. That is…I don’t know what that is. Magic? Science? Magical science? Scientific magic? Sorry, I’m super amped up because, as I mentioned before, this tastes wonderful, and it’s given me a boost with 180 milligrams of caffeine from green coffee bean extract.

What I don’t like about it is how it says it has prebiotic fiber, but it’s only ONE GRAM. Any can of Olipop would roll their tab at that number. And that one gram comes from a source that partially sounds like the worst Marvel villain ever: Galactomannan prebiotic fiber. Yes, one gram is more than almost every energy drink in existence, but with the existence of Olipop and its cans that have more fiber than most of us get per day, I expect more.

Bugles Salt & Vinegar

Bugles Salt & Vinegar.

I love salt & vinegar chips, but these did not do it for me because their salt and vinegar flavor is so mild. I want the vinegar to whip my taste buds awake. I want my mouth to taste enough vinegar that when I talk, it smells like a Filipino kitchen preparing some delicious adobo. I did not get that hit of vinegar that I’ve experienced with almost every bag of salt and vinegar potato chips I’ve ever had. If I got another free bag of these (Disclosure: I got a free sample from General Mills), I’d give it away. Give it away. Give it away now.

Bugles Hidden Valley Ranch

Bugles Hidden Valley Ranch.

While I’d give away a bag of Bugles Salt & Vinegar, I’d probably keep a bag of Bugles Hidden Valley Ranch if General Mills sent me another one. (Disclosure: I got a free sample.) This one has a stronger flavor than the Salt & Vinegar one, although, with that said, I wish it were a bit more potent. Maybe that’s just how seasoned Bugles are?

Chex Mix Oreo Muddy Buddies

Chex Mix Oreo Muddy Buddies.

I’m sad this doesn’t come in a bigger bag because I demolished this quickly. According to the bag, these Muddy Buddies are made with real Oreo cookie wafers, and my taste buds believe it. They noticed that darker chocolatey note that Oreo wafers have. And that sugar coating on every piece, which causes the Oreo crumbs to stick to the Chex cereal, brings a sweet, sugary kick that does a great job of standing in for the Oreo’s creme filling. (Disclosure: I got a free sample from General Mills.)

Taco Bell Cheesy Melt Grilled Steak Burrito

Taco Bell Cheesy Melt Grilled Steak Burrito.

It’s no longer on the menu, but the list of ingredients in this sounds like it could’ve been a previous product with a different name or a future product with a different name. There’s seasoned steak, seasoned rice, a three-cheese blend, reduced fat sour cream, and a creamy jalapeno sauce in a flour tortilla. The other burrito that came out the same time as this one, the Chipotle Ranch Grilled Steak Burrito (which I didn’t try), sounded more fun with its steak, lettuce, fiesta strips, cheese, avocado ranch sauce, chipotle sauce, and pico de gallo in a flour tortilla. It had an advertised price of three dollars, which is surprisingly not bad. However, I paid $4.49 for mine. As for its flavor, it tasted much like how its ingredients list looked: familiar. I liked it. It had a decent amount of filling, and I’d order it again if it ever comes back with a new name.

Alani Nu Witch’s Brew Energy Drink

Alani Nu Witch's Brew Energy Drink.

Our reviewer, Sean, convinced me to try this, which has appeared every fall for several years now. Actually, this year marks the first time I’ve tried Alani Nu energy drinks, and I’ve been pleasantly surprised by them. Cotton Candy…crazy delicious. Watermelon Wave…wonderful. Sherbet Swirl…succulent. Witch’s Brew…why have I gone so many years without trying this? This caramel apple energy drink, a rare flavor in the energy drink world, is marvelous, and I can see myself revisiting it every year when it returns for the Halloween season.

Oreo Reese’s Cookies

Oreo Reese's Cookies OTIC.

Here’s a second opinion about these cookies. You can read our original review, written by Tiffany, by clicking here if you missed it. To me, there are two types of Reese’s peanut butter. There’s the stuff that gets stuffed into every “Reese’s” product that is Reese’s flavored, and then there’s the filling in the actual peanut butter cups, bunnies, pumpkins, ghosts, nutcrackers, eggs, trees, and whatever seasonal shapes Hershey’s will come up with in the future. To me, they taste different. With that said, these cookies, with their Reese’s peanut butter-flavored filling, don’t bring Reese’s to mind. It does bring to mind Oreo Peanut Butter Cookies, which are damn delicious, and I’d eat one off the floor if it were on there for less than five seconds, because I’m not going to let a wonderful-tasting cookie that was on the floor for only four seconds go to waste.

ZOA Frosted Grape Energy Drink

Zoa Frosted Grape Energy Drink.

I haven’t had a ZOA Energy Drink since I reviewed the original one back in 2021. But in case you haven’t noticed from this post, I’m apparently on my 2025 Energy Drink Tasting Tour. This particular zero sugar energy drink tasted great, and I loved the grape flavor. However, I did notice the artificial sweeteners a bit, which is something I don’t get with Monster Ultra Violet. It contains 160 milligrams of caffeine, derived from green tea and green coffee extract, making it an excellent option for those seeking a grape-flavored energy drink with more natural energy sources.

REVIEW: Tillamook Limited Edition Espresso Chip Ice Cream

/ / Reviews / 3 Comments

Tillamook Limited Edition Espresso Chip Ice Cream Container

I’ve never really thought about it until recently, but does coffee ice cream have caffeine? Well, it does, according to the internet and my bloodstream, which is circulating caffeine throughout my body as I type this at around midnight after eating a few scoops of Tillamook’s latest flavor — Espresso Chip.

I could use some Melatonin Mint Ice Cream, Tillamook.

The limited edition flavor combines rich espresso ice cream with crunchy, chocolatey espresso bits. I don’t recall ever having had a bad Tillamook ice cream flavor; I’ve only had great flavors and those that were good, but could’ve been better. And I feel this is another good flavor that could’ve been a little better, or perhaps I should say a little bitter.

Almost every coffee-flavored ice cream I’ve tasted had a strong and sweet taste that could give you coffee breath. However, the base in this Espresso Chip tasted a bit mild compared to the others. The coffee is present, and it’s very similar to those other ice creams. However, using the word “espresso,” I was expecting it to be a bit more potent and possibly more bitter than a standard coffee-flavored ice cream.

Tillamook Limited Edition Espresso Chip Ice Cream without lid

But it wasn’t just the ice cream base that was milder than expected; the same can be said about the espresso bits. I’ve crunched on many chocolate-covered espresso beans in my caffeinated lifetime, and I know they tend to bring it when it comes to coffee’s flavor and bitterness. However, while I had hoped the ones in the ice cream would compensate for the mild base, they ended up being almost as mild. I thought they did kick up the bitterness a minuscule bit, but maybe that’s just my taste buds forcing me to believe they were, but actually weren’t.

Tillamook Limited Edition Espresso Chip Ice Cream under the top layer

If one or the other were stronger, I could forgive this ice cream a little bit. But because both are almost equally mild, it’s disappointing. It’s a limited edition flavor, so it’ll eventually disappear from shelves. But if it returns, I hope it gets reformulated with a stronger ice cream base or stronger espresso bits or both.

Now that I’ve gotten all my complaining out of the way, I’ll still finish this container in a timely manner. It’s good. It hits the coffee flavor, it apparently gives me caffeine, and the espresso bits add a crunchy texture to the party. However, I wish the party were louder.

Purchased Price: $9.49*
Size: 1.5 qt tub
Purchased at: Safeway
Rating: 6 out of 10
Nutrition Facts: (2/3 cup – 92 g) 220 calories, 12 grams of fat, 8 grams of saturated fat, 35 milligrams of cholesterol, 60 milligrams of sodium, 24 grams of carbohydrates, 0 grams of fiber, 23 grams of sugar (including 18 grams of added sugar), and 4 grams of protein.

*Because I live on a rock in the middle of the Pacific Ocean, things are a bit pricier here. You’ll probably pay less than I did.

REVIEW: Popeyes x Hot Ones Smokin’ Rojo Chicken Sandwich

/ / Reviews / 3 Comments

I haven’t been into all these Hot Ones food products because, well, I’m scared.

I watch these Hot Ones clips on YouTube, and I see celebrities sweating and crying, and I wonder, do I want to subject myself to that because I don’t have a movie or TV show to promote? But a wise person once said, “Pain is a fleeting feeling. Oh, hey, that rhymes.”

So here I am with the Popeyes x Hot Ones Smokin’ Rojo Chicken Sandwich, featuring a crispy chicken fillet with a Los Calientes Rojo spread and pickles on a toasted brioche bun. Of the three menu items advertised, the sandwich falls within the middle range of spiciness. However, spiciness can be perceived differently by each person, so what Popeyes and Hot Ones consider spicy might be popping eyes out caliente to me. Fortunately, it was not that intense.

Before I get into how hot this sandwich was, I must say that the Los Calientes Rojo spread was indeed tasty. It’s smoky, tangy, and peppery with a hint of sweetness. That flavor pairs well with the Cajun spices in the chicken and tangy pickles. But while taking my first bite, all that flavor kind of took a back seat to the sauce’s spiciness. Actually, the bun, chicken, and pickles help soften the blow from the spicy sauce because when I tried the orange sauce on its own, it was noticeably spicier.

After taking a couple more bites, the heat was not relenting. It was also at this time that I could feel my head’s bodily fluids wanting to excrete from where they excrete from. My nose started running, and my scalp began sweating. While I was enjoying the sandwich’s flavor, it was at this point that I really felt the need for something to help combat the heat.

BONUS REVIEW!

REVIEW: Jack in the Box Monster Cookie Shake

A wise person once said, “With milk from mammals that go moo, spiciness can be soothed. Oh, hey, that rhymes.”

The limited time only shake features Chips Ahoy-flavored syrup and Oreo cookie crumbs blended with ice cream, finished with whipped topping and more Oreo cookie crumbs. My order didn’t appear to have Oreo cookies blended into it, but I didn’t really care at the moment because I needed to give my mouth some cooling relief. However, to make up for that, I pushed down whatever crumbs sprinkled on the whipped topping.

The Chips Ahoy-flavored syrup doesn’t remind me of the Nabisco-branded chocolate chip cookie, but it has an artificial brown sugar cookie dough taste that’s not bad. Whatever Oreo bits my straw sucked up, they added chocolatey hits to my tongue. It’s a fine-tasting shake, that’s a nice change of pace from a Jack’s Oreo shake, but it doesn’t shake up the shake world.

One last thing. I hate to nitpick about the shake that helped me weather the spicy storm known as the Popeyes x Hot Ones Smokin’ Rojo Chicken Sandwich, but if it’s a “Monster Cookie” shake, shouldn’t it have M&M’s? That is one of the definitive ingredients in a Monster Cookie recipe. Maybe the chocolate Oreo crumbs are the stand-in for the chocolate candy?

Thanks, Jack in the Box Monster Cookie Shake, for putting out the fire in my mouth.

Purchased Price: $7.99 (Sandwich), $6.29 (Shake)
Size: Regular (Shake)
Rating: 7 out of 10 (Sandwich), 6 out of 10 (Shake)
Nutrition Facts: (Sandwich) 620 calories, 33 grams of fat, 0 grams of saturated fat (that can’t be right, but that’s what the website says), 80 milligrams of cholesterol, 1450 milligrams of sodium, 53 grams of carbohydrates, 3 grams of fiber, 8 grams of sugar, and 29 grams of protein. (Shake) 800 calories. No other nutrition information is available on the Jack in the Box website.

REVIEW: Cheez-It Hot Honey Crackers

/ / Reviews / 2 Comments

Swicy is everywhere these days. Sweet plus spicy makes the ultimate flavor hack. Heat tames the sweet, sweet rounds out the spice, and your taste buds ride the flavor rollercoaster.

Now Cheez-It joins the swicy chat with its new limited-time Hot Honey Cheez-It Crackers.

I’ll admit, I felt skeptical for two reasons:

First, Cheez-It cheese is distinct, and I didn’t know if hot honey could hold its own without being overtaken. On my charcuterie boards, hot honey usually pairs well with mellow cheeses like Gruyère – not cheddar.

Second, outside of Flamin’ Hot Cheetos or Takis, I rarely trust a snack’s “heat” claims. Spice levels usually disappoint.

Still, I stan Cheez-It. So of course I copped.

First impression: no real smell. Like most Cheez-It boxes, opening the liner just hits your nose with… cardboard. For a second, my brain swore it caught Italian seasoning (probably because I stared at those specks of seasoning), but nope – just cardboard.

Digging in, the crackers looked inconsistent. Some carried a heavy dusting, others barely any. The cracker itself also looked lighter, which made me wonder if this was a white cheddar base – or maybe lighter meant “honey” and darker meant “heat.” The plot thickened.

Then I popped one in my mouth. Skepticism: shattered. These deliver.

Sweetness lands first, heat follows, and it all layers over that familiar Cheez-It cheese that wedges itself in your molars (it’s glorious, don’t come at me). The balance works, and together they hit eat-a-whole-box-in-a-sitting level of snackable.

Using white cheddar as the base? Boss move. The person who made that call knew precisely what they were doing. The heat doesn’t reach Flamin’ Hot Cheetos or Takis territory, but it’s real and builds into a warm, satisfying kick.

It doesn’t matter if the cracker looks lightly seasoned, pale, or the usual Cheez-It orange. If every piece carried maximum seasoning, the flavor might overwhelm, but the mix keeps you reaching back. This limited time flavor smashes.

Final verdict: Run, don’t walk! Hot Honey Cheez-It earns a spot, at least a trial run, in your snack rotation.

Purchased Price: $3.77
Size: 12.4 oz
Purchased at: Walmart
Rating: 9 out of 10
Nutrition Facts: (27 crackers – 30g) 150 calories, 7 grams of fat, 1.5 grams of saturated fat, 0 grams of trans fat, 0 milligrams of cholesterol, 210 milligrams of sodium, 20 grams of carbohydrates, less than 1 gram of fiber, 1 gram of sugar, and 2 grams of protein.

Scroll to Top