Tropical Sprite Remix

Have you ever had gummi bears? Shame on you if you said no. If not, just imagine your run-of-the-mill collection of Starbursts or Skittles. No imagine that you stuck them in a pot and melted them down. Mix in a bit of Sprite and you've got this new concoction from the people at Coca-Cola.

It is amazing that any liquid so clear can be so strong. The Sprite people have opted not to use their usual green bottle, and go totally clear so you can see the equally clear drink inside. One twist of the cap and it's like you've stuck your head in a bag of Life Savers.

The smell of the sugar eats through your teeth before you even open your mouth. Then comes the magical sip. Less than a mouthful is all you need and you feel like you've downed a thousand and one Jolly Ranchers. A kid's drink if ever I had one, this won't cure a thirst, but it will kill a candy craving in two seconds flat.

The most interesting part of all this, though, is that unlike most other crossover drinks, this one still has a hint of a taste of the original in it. The taste of the Lemon/Lime Sprite underneath is unmistakable and the only thing keeping this drink experience from being a total washout.

Chocolate Creme Filled Oreos

Look, I am an Oreo fan from waaaaaaaaaay back. Add to that that I am a chocoholic and this would seem to be a match made in heaven. Unfortunately, this is not the case.

Chocolate Creme Filled Oreos (CCFO) leave a little to be desired. The little to be desired is a BIG HONKIN' GLASS of milk. Now, while some feel that it is a crime to eat Oreos without milk in the first place, I think you can play this rule fast and loose. Unfortunately the CCFOs don't give you that choice. They tout that they are made with real cocoa (it says it on the package,) and I can believe it. Have you ever had a little bit of cocoa? I don't mean hot chocolate, I mean the cocoa powder. Let me tell you, it's bitter as can be and can suck every ounce of saliva from your mouth.

With that in mind, to me it tastes like the good people at Nabisco simply took your standard, assembly-line Oreo and mixed cocoa powder into the creme. Without adding a little extra sweetner, the creme becomes bland and, mixed in with the inherent dryness of the cookie, almost creates a concrete paste in your mouth. Not too good.

Like all things, however, size matters and the mini versions are MUCH better. With a smaller amount of cocoa to go with the smaller amount of creme, these CCFOs are manageable.

Overall, let me say that they are good, but MUST be eaten with milk. Without this magical substance all is lost, and you'd be better off sticking to your garden variety Oreos.