SPOTTED ON SHELVES: Trader Joe’s Ghost Pepper Potato Chips

Marvo 3 Comments

Trader Joe's Ghost Pepper Potato Chips

I’m sweating a little from just looking at the photo above. (Spotted by Rachel C at Trader Joe’s.)

If you’re out shopping and see an interesting new or limited edition product on the shelf, snap a picture of it, and send us an email (theimpulsivebuy@gmail.com) with where you found it and “Spotted” in the subject line. Or reply to us (@theimpulsivebuy) on Twitter with the photo, where you spotted it, and the hashtag #spotted. If you’ve tried the product, share your thoughts about it in the comments.

Also, if you’re wondering if we’ve already covered something, search our Flickr photos or use the Google Search box on the right (or below if you’re on a mobile device) to find out.

REVIEW: Limited Edition Pumpkin Spice Starbucks Frappuccino Coffee Drink

Marvo 5 Comments

Limited Edition Pumpkin Spice Starbucks Frappuccino Coffee Drink

NOTE: This review was posted in 2015 when it was a Costco exclusive. In 2016, it’s no longer exclusive to Costco and is available in individual bottles.

If you want to hoard Starbucks Pumpkin Spice drinks so you can enjoy them year round, you either have to freeze Pumpkin Spice Lattes and then later warm them up in the microwave or hit the black market for expired Starbucks pumpkin spice syrup pumps. But this year there’s a third way and it’s available at Costco.

The Limited Edition Pumpkin Spice Starbucks Frappuccino Coffee Drink may not be handmade by a Starbucks Barista who wrote PSL on the side of the cup, but because it’s Costco, it’s available in bulk. It’s 12 bottles to be exact. So if you buy a pallet of them, you’ll have enough to last you until next pumpkin spice latte season.

Unlike a pumpkin spice latte you can purchase at a Starbucks location, this version has no pumpkin in it. But it does have an ingredient list short enough that I could type it here to slightly boost the word count of this review: Brewed Starbucks Coffee, Reduced-Fat Milk, Sugar, Skim Milk, Maltodextrin, Cream, Natural Flavors, and Pectin. Mmm…pectin.

At first, I thought the ginger flavor stood out a bit too much for my tastes. I think the coffee makes the spice stand out more. But, since I purchased 12 bottles of the stuff, I’ve had to drink a lot of it. And the more I drink it the more I like it. Perhaps I’m getting Pumpkin Spiceholm Syndrome.

There’s also a little nutmeg, a bit of cinnamon, and a whole lot of sugar in each sip, which makes the beverage really sweet. There’s also a lot of milk too, but it’s not whole milk so it has a thin texture. While I could see it being too sweet for some people, me and my future cavities are fine with it.

The bottle suggests to serve it chilled or over ice, but since I’m a rebel (and have 12 bottles of the stuff), I did some experimenting and warmed up a mug of it in the microwave for 30 seconds. It was wonderful and it reminded me of a pumpkin spice latte. Actually, I think I might prefer it heated over chilled.

A question some of you might be asking is if it’s an adequate replacement for when the Pumpkin Spice Frappuccino is erased from the boards from Starbucks locations for the year. No, of course not. These bottled Frappuccinos are no match flavor-wise for those handmade, wonderful, blended, sweet, and brain freeze-inducing beverages that have a nutritional bio similar to many fast food burgers. But if you’re jonesing for a pumpkin spice coffee drink in February, this’ll do.

(Nutrition Facts – 210 calories, 30 calories from fat, 3 grams of fat, 2 grams of saturated fat, 0 grams of trans fat, 15 milligrams of cholesterol, 105 milligrams of sodium, 37 grams of carbohydrates, 0 grams of fiber, 32 grams of sugar, 7 grams of protein, and 25% calcium.)

Item: Limited Edition Pumpkin Spice Starbucks Frappuccino Coffee Drink
Purchased Price: ???
Size: 12 pack/9.5 oz bottles
Purchased at: Costco
Rating: 7 out of 10
Pros: Tastes good chilled or warmed up. Hoardable. Better nutritional bio than a Pumpkin Spice Frappuccino you can get at Starbucks locations.
Cons: Ginger flavor might be a bit strong for some. Might be too sweet for some. Available in 12 packs, so if you don’t like it, you’ve got 11 more bottles to go through. Not as delicious as a Pumpkin Spice Frappuccino you can get at Starbucks locations.

SPOTTED ON SHELVES – 10/2/2015

Marvo 3 Comments

Here are some interesting new and limited edition products found on store shelves by us and your fellow readers. If you’ve tried any of the products, share your thoughts about them in the comments.

Dreamworks Shrek, Dragons, Home and Madagascar Fruit Snacks

Dreamworks Shrek, Dragons, Home and Madagascar Fruit Snacks

Wait a minute. Home doesn’t get a cereal? Look at the O in Home! That’s begging to be made into a cereal piece. (Spotted by Robbie at Walmart.)

Limited Edition Cap'n Crunch Halloween Crunch Cereal (2015)

Limited Edition Cap’n Crunch Halloween Crunch Cereal (2015)

Hallelujah! They redesigned the Halloween Crunch box! (Spotted by The Groove Machine at Walmart.)

Trader Joe's Autumnal Harvest Creamy Pasta Sauce

Trader Joe’s Autumnal Harvest Creamy Pasta Sauce

Dammit! I wanted crunchy autumnal harvest pasta sauce. What’s Good at Trader Joe’s reviewed it. (Spotted by Sylvia at Trader Joe’s.)

Special K Protein Chocolatey Dipped Mint and Chocolatey Brownie Meal Bars

Special K Protein Chocolatey Dipped Mint and Chocolatey Brownie Meal Bars

“It says it satisfies hunger, but will it satisfy my hunger for Cybertron domination,” said Megatron while grocery shopping. (Spotted by Amanda at Walmart.)

Limited Edition G.H. Cretors Pumpkin Spice and Orchard Apple Caramel Corn

Limited Edition G.H. Cretors Pumpkin Spice and Orchard Apple Caramel Corn

Around since 1885 and only now G.H. Creators has a pumpkin spice product (Spotted by Nicole W at Fresh Market.)

Utz Wavy Heluva Good Potato Chips (Bacon Horseradish, French Onion, and Jalapeno Cheddar)

Utz Wavy Heluva Good Potato Chips (Bacon Horseradish, French Onion, and Jalapeno Cheddar)

These are chips with the flavor of Heluva Good!’s Dips on them. It felt weird to type an exclamation point and then an apostrophe S. (Spotted by Ryan H at Wawa.)

Thank you to all the photo contributors! If you’re out shopping and see an interesting new or limited edition product on the shelf, snap a picture of it, and send us an email (theimpulsivebuy@gmail.com) with where you found it and “Spotted” in the subject line. Or reply to us (@theimpulsivebuy) on Twitter with the photo, where you spotted it, and the hashtag #spotted. If you do so, you might see your picture in our next Spotted on Shelves post.

Also, if you’re wondering if we’ve already covered something, search our Flickr photos or use the Google Search box on the right (or below if you’re on a mobile device) to find out.

SPOTTED ON SHELVES: Nestle Toll House Limited Edition White Chip Brownie Cookie Dough

Marvo

Nestle Toll House Limited Edition White Chip Brownie Cookie Dough

This looks like Nestle Toll House Hot Cocoa Cookie Dough’s identical twin. (Spotted by Kelly W at Walmart.)

If you’re out shopping and see an interesting new or limited edition product on the shelf, snap a picture of it, and send us an email (theimpulsivebuy@gmail.com) with where you found it and “Spotted” in the subject line. Or reply to us (@theimpulsivebuy) on Twitter with the photo, where you spotted it, and the hashtag #spotted. If you’ve tried the product, share your thoughts about it in the comments.

Also, if you’re wondering if we’ve already covered something, search our Flickr photos or use the Google Search box on the right (or below if you’re on a mobile device) to find out.

SPOTTED ON SHELVES – 10/1/2015

Marvo 11 Comments

Here are some interesting new and limited edition products found on store shelves by us and your fellow readers. If you’ve tried any of the products, share your thoughts about them in the comments.

Original New York Seltzer

Original New York Seltzer

I’ve been drinking the reborn Original New York Seltzer for weeks and it never dawned on me to post a photo of them. For those of you too young to remember, these were around in the late 80s to early 90s. I don’t think all the flavors are back, but the flavors shown here are black cherry, peach, raspberry, lemon & lime, root beer, and vanilla cream. Vanilla cream is my favorite. (Spotted by Chris C at World Market.)

Campbell's Chunky BBQ Flavored Baked Beans with Pulled Pork and BBQ Flavored Baked Beans with Chicken

Campbell’s Chunky BBQ Baked Beans with Pulled Pork and Baked Beans with Chicken

Remember when Campbell’s Chunky was “the soup that eats like a meal.” Now they are meals that eat like meals. (Spotted by Anne at Walmart.)

Special K Raspberry Cheesecake Protein Shake

Special K Raspberry Cheesecake Protein Shake

“It says it satisfies hunger, but will it satisfy my hunger for world domination,” said Cobra Commander while grocery shopping. (Spotted by Amanda at Walmart.)

California Pizza Kitchen Gluten-Free BBQ Recipe Chicken Pizza

California Pizza Kitchen Gluten-Free BBQ Recipe Chicken Pizza

There’s also a margherita version, if you get tired of CPK’s popular BBQ Chicken pizza. (Spotted by Marvo at Safeway.)

Quaker Safari Animals Strawberry Instant Oatmeal

Quaker Safari Animals Strawberry Instant Oatmeal

Awww. Cute. What kind of safari animal are those round white things? (Spotted by Amanda at Walmart.)

Thank you to all the photo contributors! If you’re out shopping and see an interesting new or limited edition product on the shelf, snap a picture of it, and send us an email (theimpulsivebuy@gmail.com) with where you found it and “Spotted” in the subject line. Or reply to us (@theimpulsivebuy) on Twitter with the photo, where you spotted it, and the hashtag #spotted. If you do so, you might see your picture in our next Spotted on Shelves post.

Also, if you’re wondering if we’ve already covered something, search our Flickr photos or use the Google Search box on the right (or below if you’re on a mobile device) to find out.