Oreo Chocolate Cake Strawberry

 What? Another Oreo product?

The Attraction

It said Oreo on it.

The Review:
As of late, I've been reviewing quite a bit of Oreo branded treats like this Milka Chocolate bar or these Red Velvet Oreos, so I took a break. Then I saw these at my local Asian grocer and my plans went out the window.

My best guess as to what Oreo Japan's new offering is their answer to the very popular Choco Pies in Asia. Maybe they are looking to hone in on some of that hot choco pie action. Let's see how they do with that.

I open the package and within, I see 6 individually wrapped Oreo Chocolate Pies. That seems to be a common practice with many snacks in Asia and I dig it. It keeps the snacks nice and fresh. I open up one of the packs and pull out an Oreo Chocolate Pie. As you can see below, it's oddly plastic-looking. It strongly resembles a plastic Oreo chew toy for a dog or a fake Oreo cookie novelty. Not sure how I feel about it, but I do catch a whiff of that signature strawberry smell that all Asian snacks that have strawberry flavor seems to have. Good to know that even the plastic looking shell couldn't contain that fruity aroma.

They look like a plastic Oreo chew toy

I bring it up to my mouth and finally take a bite. The texture reminds me less of a choco pie and more of a Mallomars. It has a great marshmallow-like chewy texture. However as I get lost in the texture of the bite, it dawns on me that what is also lost is the flavor. I taste a hint of strawberry, a little chocolate, but no signature flavor of an actual Oreo. It's really odd, because as I take another bite, I can barely taste much of anything; that includes strawberry, chocolate or cream.

Now, I've previously mentioned that I've noticed that snacks that originate from Asia tend to be milder due to different flavor preferences, but these...these almost literally have no flavor at all.

..and they almost taste like it

The Sweet:
I really enjoyed that marshmallow-chewy texture.

The Bitter:
Surprisingly, didn't taste particularly much like anything, must notably, an Oreo.

Conclusion:
It was only a matter of time before Oreo's review win streak would come to an end. I really didn't think this would be the product that would end it's streak. They got the texture right, but the one thing they've been doing so well up to this point was getting the flavor of the new combinations right. Surprisingly this product has very little resemblance of anything that I've come to know about the Oreo brand. Forget Oreo flavor, just flavor period was missing from this product and I for one will be happy to hopefully never see a domestic release of this item.

Video of the Week 

"Teaching stick?"

I love Conan O'Brien, even more so when he travels to new and foreign lands to learn more about different cultures. Previously I've brought you a clip when he traveled to Cuba. This week, it's Conan in Korea. In this clip, he's taking a Korean language class with a very stern instructor....but he doesn't seem to mind too much.

Oreo Cinnamon Bun

 

Pinch me. I must be dreaming

The Attraction

I read about this a few weeks ago somewhere. At the time I wanted to scream and jump up and down with excitement, but I thought that might set a bad example to the people I manage. Good thing there are men's stalls in the restrooms at work. Just one or the other is enough to catch my eye. Put them together and it is a recipe for additional calories for the week.

The Review:
Oreo has been stepping up it's game recently. They've done some tinkering recently and I've been a fan (see Thins), so when I heard they were adding another flavor, specifically a Cinnamon Bun one, I was ready to plunk down my hard earned cash to try some.

Looks like a Golden Oreo

I take my prized possession home and slowly peel back the packaging. "Hey, they sorta look like Golden Oreos." I think to myself, but a gentle whiff of the opened package dispels that thought as there is a clear smell of cinnamon to these cookies. 

"Woohoo...you sexy!"

I decide to not waste another minute and pick up a cookie and attack.

It has all the characteristics of an Oreo; crunchy, crisp cookie exterior, sweet cream interior. The crispy cookie wafer is where the cookie gets its cinnamon flavor from. On it's own, it has a flavor reminiscent of a graham cracker or a graham cracker-like product. That's a great start already, but then the cream plays off that flavor and tries to mimic some of the sugar icing that is on top of a legitimate cinnamon bun. It's not as sweet, but it strikes the right balance with the cookie shells. The folks at Oreo know what they are doing.

...but boy it doesn't taste like one!

The Sweet:
Great cinnamon flavor in the cookie shells partnered nicely with the sweet cream filling. It's an Oreo!

The Bitter:
Doesn't really capture the essence of eating a cinnamon bun

Conclusion:
OK, so you won't be forsaken a trip to the mall to grab a cinnamon bun because of these Oreo Cinnamon Bun flavored cookies. They actually don't capture much of that feeling at all. Yes, they both are sweet, yes they both contain cinnamon, but that's about where the comparisons end. I understand it's a marketing move to name it this flavor (and boy did I bite!), but it works. Both from a marketing standpoint because I bought a pack and as a snack itself because it's rather tasty.

As if life wasn't complicated enough, I now have another Oreo flavor I must choose from the next time I'm at the grocery store.

Video of the Week 
I normally don't like posting videos that have some bad mojo to it, but I thought this one might make some of our readers think twice before they loose their minds should someone honk at them. After all, it's only a honk and what does a honk really mean? Nothing really, but it almost spelled disaster for this guy.

He sure showed the person taking the video who's boss

Meiji Rich Matcha Biscuits

These look like grown-up Oreos

The Attraction:

Meiji is one of the major snack manufacturers from Japan. You may know them from classics like Yan-Yan or Hello Panda. If you are ever at an Asian grocer, you'll see their products all over the place. Upon my recent review of Oreos Thins, I had taken a renewed interests in Oreos, so when I saw these on the shelf, I thought it was high time to try these out.

The Review:
Matcha-flavored items have been steadily growing in popularity over the years. The flavor has made many fans due to the mild green-tea essence it conveys. Naturally, matcha also has a slightly bitter aftertaste which many snack manufacturers have taken advantage of by pairing it with chocolate to help mellow out the sweetness, however some manufacturers elect to remove the bitter aftertaste from their matcha-flavored products because they worry that consumers may find it off-putting. I wonder how Meiji decides to handle it with these biscuits.

These cookies are packaged in pairs to maintain freshness, which isn't unusual in Japanese snacks. I open a package and the matcha scent that wafts out is immediate. The cookie wafer is a shade thinner than an Oreo's and the matcha cream itself looks to be drier then the cream in an Oreo as well.

It's time to get to business.

I take a bite and the chocolate wafer crunches under the weight of my bite. The chocolate flavor is mild and quickly surrenders to the green tea flavor crashing the party. There is no doubt that the chocolate wafers just serve as the supporting cast in order to let the matcha cream shine. It's clear who's Glady's and who are the Pips in this snack...she's also not afraid to show a little bitterness along the way

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They really squeeze that matcha cream in there, huh? 

The Sweet:

Crunchy chocolate wafers paired with the mild green tea matcha cream works well and doesn't overwhelm you with the sweetness factor. The matcha flavor takes center stage and has a nice slightly bitter finish to cleanse the pallet.

The Bitter:
Some snackers may not love the bitter aftertaste of the matcha.

The wafers are not chocolate covered,

in case they look that way

Conclusion:
These are a neat little snack. Although this flavor pairing is not very unique these days, I can see why it's so successful. The mellow green tea vibe is an excellent counter to the sweetness of the chocolate cookie. It's easy to see how this item could get lost in the shuffle with all of the other "sexier", ehem, sorry, I meant "sexier" products out there. No, it doesn't have a glamorous brand to ride the coat tails of, but like other snacks that stood the test of time, maybe these Meiji Rich Matcha Biscuits can quietly stand on their own and distinguish itself from the pack by simply being....well....itself; unassuming, well made and provide the promise of a matcha-flavored snack for matcha-flavor lovers.

Video of the Week
I'm a fan of a band call Chvrches. They were recently in concert here in NYC, when a fan yelled out "Marry Me!". The lead singer seemed to take exception to this. Below as well as this associated article were the results. Personally, I don't see why she was so upset, but I'm also not an attractive Scottish female singer on tour that gets odd things yelled at them regularly, at least not anymore.

A proposal has never been less welcomed

Strawberry Creme Oreo

Just the right size to squeeze into my luggage

The Attraction:
It wasn't too long ago that I was out in Hong Kong strolling the local convenience store across the hotel trying to locate any international goodies that I could smuggle back into the States. That's where I ran into this pretty. With all the flavors that Oreo is offering these days, I don't think I've ever seen a Strawberry Creme Flavored Oreo before. Done deal.

The Review
I wasn't really sure what to expect here. Recently there's been a slew of flavors that Oreo has been releasing here in the US (Lemon, Limeade, Watermelon, Birthday Cake, etc). Part of me was excited at the idea of all the variations, but wondering why strawberry was never tested here locally. Anywoo, I was ready dig in to it...

One of the first things I observed is the packaging did not included some form of a firm tray or box to prevent the crushing of the cookies, which is exactly what happened to my pack on a 16 hour flight back home. (That's interesting considering the equivalent Oreos here are normally sold within a box). With my first bite, it was obvious that the cookie top and bottom shell were identical to the ones here in America; a nice crisp snap with chocolate flavor filled my mouth, but then another flavored followed that was also familiar, but not in the context of an Oreo. The strawberry creme came through and it was very much reminiscent of other Asian-oriented snacks that I've had previously that use a strawberry creme. Snacks like Pocky, Yan-Yan and Hello Panda came to mind immediately, but is that a good thing?

 Familiar top...

The Sweet:
Do you like strawberry flavored Pocky, Yan-Yan or Hello Panda? If you do, Strawberry Creme Oreos have a very similar flavor profile and can easily be interchanged with any of those Asian snack classics.

...unfamiliar creme or so I thought

The Bitter:
Although I recognize the popularity of all those items other snack items, I am not a fan of that type of strawberry "flavor". To me, that strawberry "flavor" is like a caricature of what strawberry is suppose to taste like. It comes across overblown and too artificial tasting. (Think Strawberry flavored Quik). Granted, if I had some Quik in front of me right now, I would gulp it down, but I don't think I would go out and buy more for a very long while.

Conclusion:
If you are a fan of Asian snacks that have a strawberry creme component to it, it'll be a good fit for you. Personally, this variation from Oreo won't be taking another trip with me back home. I'll reserve that space in my luggage for a more "natural" fit.

Video of the Week
Meanwhile, on the other side of the world, a good buddy helps a friend kick off his morning the right way with the assistance of Mr. Wasabi.

"Don't overreact, don't overreact, don't...oh well"

Bigger and Backer!

I know, I know...it's been a long time since I've updated this baby. Sorry, just had a lot going on and had to sort out eating all these tasty treats all while trying to look like I don't. Remember folks, as much as I love snacks, everything in moderation. OK, someone move this soapbox out of here...with that said, a plethora of reviews this week, El Jefe!

Lemon Twist Oreo

The Attraction

I came across this inviting package when I was up in Connecticut at the ever entertaining Stew Leonard's, which is terrific, by the way. I digress; being a fan of Oreos as well as enjoying a nice lemon-flavored snack cookie (quite popular and available in Asian grocery stores), it was destined to land in my shopping cart. The clever and eye-catching "limited edition" emblazoned on the package didn't hurt either.

The Review

Upon just cracking the package open, the smell of lemon cream came wafting out. It was really lemony smelling (in a good way). 

OK, so I dig my teeth in.....and textually, I'm quickly reminded as to why Oreos are as so popular as they are; the contrast of a nice firm cookie sandwiching a slightly yielding cream inside proves to be a very effective and addicting combination. Then the lemon cream hits my taste buds and I'm a bit surprised it's not as overwhelming as I was fearing when I opened the package. It delivers on it's promise of lemon-flavor, albeit sweeter then most of it's Asian cookie counterparts. Yes, I think I'll still have several more of these.

The Sweet

Enough lemon-flavor without feeling like you are biting into a lemon rind. It's also an Oreo, people...and you know how good those are.

The Bitter

A shade sweeter than I would like, but that didn't stop be from eating more of them. Oreos aren't also the cheapest cookie on the block; around the Northeast of the US, they seem to average anywhere from $4.50-$6.00 a package. As with some really great products, their limited availability sometimes help build their lore, but also disappoints fans that want to have an opportunity to sample new product, but have a difficult time locating them.

Nabisco uses their tried-and-true formula for their legendary Oreo line and successfully applies it to the lemon flavored version. The cookie combination is already proven to be historically sound, but does the lemon flavor prove to be enough to be a viable option to keep consumers coming back to demand a consistent spot on the supermarket shelves? I sure hope so.

Snickers Peanut Butter

Snickers and peanut butter, oh my!

The Attraction

I came across this little "prince" when I was visiting a friend in the UK awhile back. Here I was thinking it was only available in the UK, only to come back to the States to see it in a Duane Read. Oh well, it's still a Snickers with peanut butter. Two things you love put together have got to be great, right?

The Review

I was pretty excited to try this sucker, so I quickly unwrapped it right after I took this photo! I dug right in and immediately noticed something wasn't quite right. Something about it was different. No, not the peanut butter part, doofus. Something seemed missing.....nuts! There were maybe 1 to 2 nuts per square in the package. Maybe they thought the peanuts were redundant with the peanut butter? You can see my 1 nut in the picture below: (please feel free to create your own inappropriate jokes around that)

The Sweet

There's not really much to like. Frankly, I don't even remember what the addition of peanut butter taste like to a Snickers, because I was so distracted by the missing peanuts.

The Bitter

Where the eff are the nuts?! OK, let's say they thought the nuts were overkill for a product that contains PB, but they can't be completely surprised if part of what made a Snickers so enjoyable was the contrast of peanuts with the chocolate if Snickers fan are disappointed. Without it, the chocolate bar is rather ordinary and falls flat.

When you have a certain expectation based on an experience with a brand you like, you can't help but feel somewhat betrayed when their product doesn't have the same elements as the product they are using as the foundation. You love Honda vehicles? Try our new Honda car now with an HDTV built into the dash...oh, but it doesn't come with a Honda engine...

Don't waste your time on this one.

NutRageous

Did someone say Reese's? OK, I'll try it..

The Attraction

This could be a nutty version of a peanut butter cup? Sign me up... I also wasn't certain if this snack was readily available which made it all the more tempting to try. My eyes also seem to be drawn to any packaging that has "Reese's" on it.

The Review

This is not a nutty version of a Reese's Peanut Butter cup, although that not to say that's it's bad thing. NutRageous lives up to it's namesake; there's lots of nuts here! It's actually a lot more like what I imagined the Snickers Peanut Butter bar would be like; crunchy, chocolatey peanut butter goodness. It's like eating a Snickers bar and throwing in 2 more peanuts into your mouth because you love peanuts that much.

The Sweet

Love chocolate with peanuts? You've got the right bar! Peanuts are clearly on center stage with this snack. It almost seems like the chocolate is just a vessel to contains the nuts, nougat and caramel.

The Bitter

Most chocolate bars use a higher ratio of chocolate to nuts and although the name tells you exactly what the product is, it may seem like not enough chocolate or conversely, too many nuts. I'm not sure if there's a point to even put peanut butter in there cause the nuts are to plentiful. I don't remember even tasting it. It's like washing down a piece of lemon meringue pie with a glass of lemonade. After a while you aren't sure where the flavor is coming from.

I know I'm in danger of sounding like I may be hard to please, especially when I just previously skewered Snicker's Peanut Butter bar for not having enough nuts and for NutRageous for potentially having too many for some snack lovers. I think in this case, it's all about expectations; Reese's NutRageous bar tells you exactly what it is and what to expect whereas the Snicker's Peanut Butter bar implies that it's a Snicker's bar with peanut butter, but does not deliver as such.

NutRageous is the antitheses to many conventional commercial chocolate bars out there by seemingly giving you more peanuts than chocolate, but if you tire of peanuts playing a co-staring role in your snacks and prefer them to take the lead, this is perfect snack for you.