REVIEW: Alani Nu Purple Cotton Candy Energy Drink

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Alani Nu Purple Cotton Candy Energy Drink can

’Tis cotton candy season!

Though the person who declared National Cotton Candy Day for the end of the year, on December 7, might disagree. So that day will live in infamy and, apparently, in fairy floss. But to me, cotton candy is a summer treat.

Instead of going to a carnival, state fair, amusement park, cotton candy vending machine (yes, they exist), or crashing some kid’s birthday party, you can get your cotton candy fix from the fine folks at Alani Nu.

Now, you might be thinking, “Drinking an energy drink isn’t the same as biting into a cloud of sugar that gets stuck to anything that has a hint of moisture. Also, Alani Nu already has a cotton candy flavor.” True and true. Yes, and the original Cotton Candy variety is crazy delicious, but this is Purple Cotton Candy.

If you’re assuming the “purple” here means grape, you’re correct. If you thought cranberry, nice try. Oddly, it smells like blue raspberry, but once you get past that, it has a nice grape flavor with a hint of cotton candy that’s reminiscent of the original Cotton Candy variety.

The can looks slightly different from Cotton Candy's one, but the liquid inside looks the same.

The grape flavor in the aftertaste occasionally leaned medicinal. Maybe I drank too much Dimetapp as a kid, or something that makes me think of that. It wasn’t every sip, and it wasn’t full-on medicinal, just a slight detour in an otherwise pleasant flavor.

So if you can’t get to a carnival, state fair, amusement park, or cotton candy vending machine, or you get kicked out of a birthday party before partaking in the fairy floss, cracking open a can of Alani Nu’s Purple Cotton Candy (or the original) might be the next best thing. It isn’t as great as Alani Nu’s Cotton Candy, but it’s still pretty good. And if you accidentally grab this one instead of the original because they both have colored stripes running down the sides of the can, you’ll probably enjoy it.

Purchased Price: $2.99
Size: 12 oz can
Purchased at: Target
Rating: 7 out of 10
Nutrition Facts: (1 can) 10 calories, 0 grams of fat, 200 milligrams of sodium, 1 gram of carbohydrates, 0 grams of sugar, 0 grams of protein, and 200 milligrams of caffeine.

New Frozen Food, Protein Oatmeal, and More Spotted — June 24, 2026

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Here are some interesting new products found on store shelves by your fellow readers. If you’ve tried any of them, share your thoughts in the comments. Spotted something new? Send your photos to [email protected].

Raybern’s Buffalo Chicken Sliders

Raybern's Buffalo Chicken Sliders.

Raybern’s Ham & Swiss Sliders

Raybern's Ham & Swiss Sliders.

(Spotted by Amanda Y at H-E-B.)

Beyond Steak Filet Made With Avocado Oil

Beyond Steak Filet Made With Avocado Oil.

(Spotted by Robbie at H-E-B.)

Mason Dixie Big Buttermilk Biscuit

Mason Dixie Big Buttermilk Biscuit.

Mason Dixie Garlic Parmesan Butter Pull-Apart Parker Rolls

Mason Dixie Garlic Parmesan Butter Pull-Apart Parker Rolls.

Mason Dixie Sweet Honey Butter Pull-Apart Parker Rolls

Mason Dixie Sweet Honey Butter Pull-Apart Parker Rolls.

(Spotted by Sarah R at Whole Foods.)

Magic Spoon Maple Brown Sugar Protein Oatmeal

Magic Spoon Maple Brown Sugar Protein Oatmeal.

Magic Spoon Banana Bread Protein Oatmeal

Magic Spoon Banana Bread Protein Oatmeal.

Magic Spoon Apple Cinnamon Protein Oatmeal

Magic Spoon Apple Cinnamon Protein Oatmeal.

(Spotted by Amanda Y at Sprouts.)

Farmer Focus Organic Chicken Skewers Grilled Mediterranean Style

Farmer Focus Organic Chicken Skewers Grilled Mediterranean Style.

Farmer Focus Organic Parmesan & Herb Chicken Meatballs

Farmer Focus Organic Parmesan & Herb Chicken Meatballs.

(Spotted by Amanda Y at Kroger.)

One Degree Organic Foods Peaches & Cream Sprouted Creamy Oatmeal

One Degree Organic Foods Peaches & Cream Sprouted Peaches & Cream Creamy Oatmeal.

One Degree Organic Foods Strawberries & Cream Sprouted Creamy Oatmeal

One Degree Organic Foods Peaches & Cream Sprouted Strawberries & Cream Creamy Oatmeal.

(Spotted by Amanda Y at Sprouts.)

SPOTTED: Limited Edition Hello Kitty SPAM

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Limited Edition Hello Kitty SPAM.

Kawaii! (Spotted by Vicky M at Walmart.)

If you spotted something new, send your photos to [email protected].

SPOTTED: Twix Cookie Butter, Snickers Peanut Butter, and M&M’s Minis Peanut Butter

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Twix Cookie Butter Spread.

Snickers Peanut Butter Spread.

M&M's Minis Peanut Butter Spread.

I want to mix these together and call it Halloween Candy Spread. (Spotted by Tom O at Giant Eagle.)

If you spotted something new, send your photos to [email protected].

REVIEW: Taco Bell Cinnamon Sugar Churros

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Taco Bell's Cinnamon Sugar Churros are available in a 3 pack.

When Taco Bell came out with its Milk Bar Birthday Cake Churros last year, I wrote three questions in my snack journal:

  1. Why didn’t Taco Bell come out with standard cinnamon sugar churros first?
  2. Whose birthday are we celebrating?
  3. Would it be weird if I stuck a candle at the end of it and then stuck the churro into a birthday cake?

Then Taco Bell came out with Salted Caramel Churros, and I jotted down three notes in my snack journal:

  1. Where are the standard cinnamon sugar churros?
  2. Why isn’t the filling salted caramel-flavored?
  3. These are much easier to juggle than the birthday ones.

But FINALLY, Taco Bell has come out with Cinnamon Sugar Churros dusted with cinnamon sugar and filled with cream cheese. And that led me to add three more questions to my journal:

  1. Why did it take so long for Taco Bell to offer regular churros?
  2. Are they better than Taco Bell’s Cinnamon Twists?
  3. Is it weird that I have a snack journal?

Like the Salted Caramel Churros, these are sold as a pack of three mini churros and are part of the Luxe Value Menu. After eating two right away and one several hours later, I wish I had more because they are damn delicious.

Looks like a churro. Smells like a churro. Crunches like a churro.

While the exterior tastes like many other churros I’ve had with a bold, sweet cinnamon flavor, what sets these apart from a standard churro is the cream cheese filling.

Is not hollow like a churro.

Oddly, the ingredients call it “horchata flavored filling” and the churros themselves “horchata churros,” but I didn’t taste anything different from a standard cream cheese filling. Its tang complements the sweet cinnamon sugar coating and makes these taste slightly different from your usual carnival churro.

I’d love a chocolate-filled version someday, but for now, these more than satisfy my sweet tooth. They also met my desire for a texture adventure, with a satisfying crunch.

Although they are served warm, they’re still quite good chilled. I intended to save one for my wife, so I put it in the fridge. But a few hours later, I got hungry, and its fried cinnamon sugar aroma pulled my nose, made me open my mouth, and stuffed the whole thing in it. I was totally forced. Surprisingly, it was not only good, but it had most of its crunch. Shhhh. Don’t tell my wife since she doesn’t read this site.

Taco Bell’s Cinnamon Sugar Churros are flat-out tastier and more sweet-tooth satisfying than the chain’s Cinnamon Twists. I really wish Taco Bell would either keep them on the menu or replace the Twists with them. I’m going to write that in my snack journal now.

Purchased Price: $2.49*Size: 3 pieces
Rating: 8 out of 10
Nutrition Facts: 190 calories, 9 grams of fat, 1 gram of saturated fat, 0 milligrams of cholesterol, 190 milligrams of sodium, 25 grams of carbohydrates, 1 gram of fiber, 6 grams of sugar, and 1 gram of protein.

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

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