Saturday, March 10, 2012

MUNCHIES - Sweet & Spicy Peanuts (2012) Review


  NOTE: Frito has apparently discontinued these, however, this review still stands in the case you find some somewhere or they re-continue this snack unchanged from this recipe. If they release a new product with the same name I will review that separately.

  Since I'm reviewing two snacks in the Frito's Munchies line of snackfoods in the same amount of days, so I thought I'd just quote my opening thoughts from yesterday:

  "I noticed these a few weeks ago and they got my attention, but I didn't want to try it right
away because I didn't want to be disappointed but I decided to bite the peanut (get it?) and try it anyway..."
   So what are these like anyway?

  Taste: Just like I said yesterday, "When you first put a few in your mouth they actually taste a little fizzy, like weak pop-rocks, but after a few you realize that it's just a trick your brain is playing on you". The biggest taste is the peanut and the second biggest is the bland multipurpose starchy mixture that they coat the peanuts with. I kinda liked the flavoring they add, but it's like the BBQ one, it's biggest difference is that it's just a little less sweet and mostly spicy instead. Besides that the peanuts are actually really good (and the biggest flavor) but again, I have to deduct 2 points for the bland coating they use. 5 out of 10.

  Edibility: Peanuts don't get jammed anywhere and the coating is super brittle. So edibility isn't an issue. 10 out of 10.

  Packaging: Same issue as yesterday, colors are good, text is clear and it's just nicely done except for (again) the name. As I said yesterday: "Unless you've been living under a rock your whole life, you know what the word munchies usually implies, stoners (usually people that smoke marijuana) getting hungary after getting high (though it actually generally refers to being hungry after taking any drug, illegal or not), and I think that it was a really poor marketing decision to insinuate something like that." -1 Point.

  Summary: Pretty much the same as yesterday, taste needs a little work, good edibility, bad choice of name. 14 out of 21 overall.

Friday, March 9, 2012

MUNCHIES - BBQ Peanuts (2012) Review


NOTE: Frito has apparently discontinued these, however, this review still stands in the case you find some somewhere or they re-continue this snack unchanged from this recipe. If they release a new product with the same name I will review that separately.

  Okay, I know I haven't reviewed any actual MEAT snacks in a while and I will post one next week, but first, this week I have a special double-header. Both today and tomorrow I will be posting a new review from the Frito's Munchies line of snacks. Anyway, on to the review.

  I noticed these a few weeks ago and they got my attention, but I didn't want to try it right away
because I didn't want to be disappointed but I decided to bite the peanut (get it?) and try it anyway and for at least one I wasn't disappointed (I can't give too much away). So how does it stack up?

  Taste: When you first put a few in your mouth they actually taste a little fizzy, like weak pop-rocks, but after a few you realize that it's just a trick your brain is playing on you. Well, what does it taste like once you get over that? It's slightly sweet and a tad smokey because of the BBQ flavoring, the peanut is the overwhelming taste and besides that the biggest taste is the bland multipurpose starchy mixture that they coat the peanuts with. I actually like the taste they add and the peanuts are actually really good but I have to deduct 2 points for the bland coating they use. 6 out of 10.

  Edibility: Peanuts don't get stuck anywhere and the coating is really brittle (think really old paper). So edibility isn't an issue. 10 out of 10.

  Packaging: I am actually not a fan of the packaging, the colors are really good, the text is clear and it's just overall nicely done EXCEPT for the name. Unless you've been living under a rock your whole life (no offense to people who actually live in rock-like structures), you know what the word munchies usually implies, stoners (usually people that smoke marijuana) getting hungary after getting high (though it actually generally refers to being hungry after taking any drug, illegal or not), and I think that it was a really poor marketing decision to insinuate something like that. -1 Point.

  Summary: Taste is okay, coating needs flavor and eats well enough but that name is a deal-breaker in my book but I'm only going to deduct a point for that because the food is pretty good. 15 out of 21 overall.