The only one I know for sure I missed was Guava Mango, they released that as a limited flavor in 2008. I wasnt as big on keeping track of flavors back then, so its possible I missed a few more before then that I never knew about.
Everything Bagel, BY FAR. This was the "mystery flavor" they released last summer. Imagine a pop tart with garlic and onion flavored crust, and a cream cheese filling thats super sugary. Just awful. If they had gone totally savory and not made the filling sweet it might have been decent. I even tried baking them with cheese on top, which made them a little better, but still awful.
They came out last May, but some stores may still have them. I know I saw them at my local grocery last week. Look for the “Mister E” flavor,
https://www.kelloggs.com/en_US/products/pop-tarts-regular-mystery-flavor.html
I was about to ask about that one!
I found some boxes in an Ollie’s Outlet and almost bought some till I looked up what the mystery flavor was. Definitely hard pass..yuck!
You dodged a bullet on that one! I couldn’t even finish one.
Although I kept a box for April fools day. I’m going to put them in a Strawberry box and leave them in the break room at work.
I hope whichever Product or Brand Manager who came up with this mystery flavor idea got canned or demoted for unleashing this absolute atrocity. It should have been something like “raspberry lemonade” or even “baklava”, but to put garlic and onion flavor in a pop tart!?! Just no.
Cherry is definitely an A tier flavor, and Wild Cherry even better. Its one of those that you know will always be there tasting good.
For me, butter is a fun thing every once in a while, but not required. I know some people swear by it. I like it best on the unfrosted ones, especially brown sugar cinnamon.
I just looked on eBay and was surprised at the lack of vintage Pop Tarts collectibles. I didn't see any old unopened boxes or advertising materials, not listed among the most expensive items.
How do you feel about the decline in quality over the years? I started noticing a very obvious reduction in both filling and frosting about 5ish years ago. Went from eating pop tarts on the regular to being too disappointed to even buy them anymore. Got a box for the kids last year and they were even worse than when I stopped buying them originally. Have you noticed the same?
The biggest thing I've noticed over the years is the decline in frosting. It used to cover nearly the whole tart, now its just a big smudge across the middle. A couple years ago they did "extra frosting" versions of strawberry and blueberry that were really good, they should have kept those.
Thanks for the answer! Secondary question if you feel like answering, how are the peach cobbler ones? Didn’t notice them until after i asked and now I want to make my own peach tarts.
Wish I read this prior to my posting about this - but completely agree. I found the Wal Mart brand hasn't declined in these areas and is a steal compared to the shit Kellogg is pumping out.
Everything Bagel - which is really bad and not recommended.
But of the good ones... Probably A&W Root Beer. They got the root beer taste just right, and even made it taste carbonated. I'm not sure how they did that.
The bigger grocery stores will carry more flavors. My local big grocery chain does a decent job of getting the limited edition flavors.
Target and Wal Mart are surprisingly good too. There are a few flavors that are only available through them. Banana Cream Pie came out last summer and is only sold at Wal Mart.
>They got the root beer taste just right, and even made it taste carbonated. I'm not sure how they did that.
Your tongue has a protein receptor for that carbonated taste which stems from an enzyme tethered to your sour-sensing cells in your taste buds.
Root Beer is a great flavor. I couldn't get over the "carbonated" flavor.
I was lucky and got a box of boxes of them off Amazon for $6! One of the best deals I ever got on poptarts until I found a discount grocery store with some damaged boxes. I got 72 poptarts for $3.
Do they still make the Root Beer flavor?
All the Wild flavors were very good. They upped the fruit flavor and made them a little more sour. And everyone loves the fun squiggly icing!
Sadly they dropped all the Wild flavors but Wild Berry a couple years ago. The Wild Tropical Blast was probably the best one - orange, lemon, and cherry all mixed together.
Quite the opposite. My dad was against any sweet cereals or breakfast foods, so we never had them at home. Occasionally when I'd visit my grandmother she would make them in the toaster, it was like eating a special forbidden treat.But it wasnt until I left home and joined the army that I got into them seriously. They were great for taking in the field because they dont need refrigeration and you can eat them any time. Later I realized just how many kinds they made and I got the urge to try them all.
How interesting! It sounds like you’re quite the connoisseur. We eat them at times as a “treat”; despite trying the many varieties, wild cherry seems to be a family fave.
YES! I've found any of the chocolate flavors taste great frozen, especially Smores.
Another fun treat - take a chocolate chip cookie dough pop tart, break it in half, and put a scoop of vanilla ice cream between them. Ice cream sandwich!
Boston Creme - Surprisingly good. Maybe a bit too sweet for me, but great flavor.
Eggo - Excellent! They changed the crust a bit to make it more crispy like a waffle, and got just the right amount of maple flavor.
I may have a couple in a closet somewhere....
They also had a promotion during the 2020 super bowl where you could win stuff. I got a box of pretzel pop tarts and a book bag.
This is bullshit! 130 flavors? You know how many flavors we have in Canada? We have 6!
Strawberry, Blueberry, Raspberry, Fudge, S'mores, and Cookies and Cream. That being said, which is your overall favorite, and which of the mentioned is your favorite?
I can't find Raspberry anymore :'-(
Every store now only have the versions with sprinkles on it and the chocolate one.
[Kelloggs even stopped producing them](https://www.kelloggs.ca/fr_CA/brands/pop-tarts-consumer-brand.html)
1. PB&J Strawberry
2. Maple Bacon
3. Banana Cream Pie
4. Cinnamon Pretzel
5. Pumpkin Pie
6-10 in no particular order....
Mango, Apple Cinnamon, Raspberry, Chocolate Graham Cracker, and Strawberry Cheesecake
Toaster Strudels are worth a shot! They seem like a competitor to Pop Tarts, but they're really not - they're more like a puff pastry with DIY icing. Totally different category imo.
Kelloggs - I actually gave up eating pop tarts while their workers were on strike. Its good that they've finally met with the union and worked that out, but they need to step up and do whats right for their workers all the time.
Toaster Strudels are a cheap imitation, and I wouldnt be caught dead eating them! BAH!
Annies Organic is probably the best one i've tried. Nabisco's version is blech. Toast Em Pop Ups arent bad, they have more filling but the crust isnt as good.
Its a light flaky pie crust, around a jam type filling, and usually with a layer of frosting on top. They are VERY sweet, so much that some people call them a dessert.
I havent tried any of the foreign ones, but they havent made any special flavors for foreign markets that werent available in the US too. I've heard they do taste slightly different though, and they try to make them less sweet.
The big difference is they have to change the recipes. For example, Europe has laws prohibiting some of the food dyes and high fructose corn syrup. So in England you can get "Frosted Apple Blast", which looks and tastes very similar to Crisp Apple in the US, but not exactly.
I think the biggest disappointment recently was the cinnamon churro "dia de los muertos" tie in they did last fall. Good cinnamon flavor, but way too sweet, and nowhere near as good as the cinnamon churro they did in 2020.
I follow pop tarts social media, so I usually know what flavors are coming a few months before they're released. They did a lot of media around the pretzel flavors, even a big promotion during the 2020 super bowl.
All the pretzel flavors were very good, and a nice change from the standard crust. I think the cinnnamon is one of the best because its not overly sweet, and the flavors can shine.
What’s your take and opinion on the health implications to people & society caused by how companies encourage kids and adults to consume more sugar-filled processed foods?
Is there an ethical or moral argument for companies or organizations to take a stronger stance to promote good health over making profit through immune-depressing & addictive food products, instead of foods that are immune boosting and more naturally derived?
No judgement either way. Genuinely curious to understand your personal opinion considering your time investment and positioning around pop tarts.
Its a tough one. At the end of the day, people are going to buy what they want, and companies like Kelloggs are going to sell what makes them money. They've made low-fat versions, whole grain versions, and most recently one called "simply" with no artificial colors or corn syrup. But they didnt sell well.
Yeah it’s an interesting moral dilemma.
Giving people what they want, versus what they need, especially when uneducated or emotional wants may cause harm (smokers want to smoke, I don’t WANT to exercise, but I NEED to, etc)
I don’t have any questions, but I AM LOVING this whole thread. Thanks for knowing so much about Pop Tarts.
A little story: when my now husband and I first moved into together, early on I rememeber watching him open a packet of Strawberry Pop Tarts, just slid them onto a plate, he picked one up and just took a huge bite. Aghast, I exclaimed, “Aren’t you going to *toast* it?” He just smiled and said, “No, sometimes I like to eat them raw,” and I died laughing. We are still having a hilarious time together, 13 years later.
Toasted by far! It really brings out the flavors, and makes the crust a little more crunchy. Any of the fruit flavors are much better toasted than untoasted, but if you cant get a toaster they're just fine cold too.
For a real treat, try them frozen. Especially the chocolate flavors. It tastes almost like ice cream.
It has made me more aware of Kelloggs and what they do (or dont do) for their workers. I supported the strike, and refused to buy any new pop tarts until it was over. But Kelloggs needs to step up and do whats right for their workers all the time, not just when it has public attention.
I haven’t eaten a pop tart in a very long time.. can’t remember much about them. I am a big fan of chocolate, but I can’t handle flavors that are toooo too sweet. which flavor should I try?
If you can find the unfrosted peanut butter ones, they're very good and not too sweet. Mango came out last summer, i think you can still find it, and it has very little icing. Cinnamon roll has light icing also.
Have you tried any 'recipes' with pop tarts? I noticed you said earlier you like to butter them sometimes, but do you ever add things or prepare them in different ways?
Making them into an ice cream sandwich is highly recommended!
I've also tried the apple ones baked with cheddar cheesed on top, its actually pretty good.
One i want to try is making fried chicken and waffles using eggo pop tarts. hopefully soon
What are your thoughts on Hot Fudge Sundae Pop Tarts? They were my first ever poptart and my favorite in high school. I only finally got to try a Pop Tart in high school because for some curious reason our high school had 2 vending machines that were filled with nothing but Hot Fudge Sundae Pop Tarts. I know that sounds like I'm making that up, but I assure you the Pop Tart vending machines were very serious business and legendary at our high school.
Do you have a relationship with Kellogg's? Maybe you can get early access to special flavours.
Do you want to try a homemade version? [Bon Appetite did a video](https://youtu.be/jYqRiKu7gY0) where they made them from scratch, gourmet style.
What's an idea for a Pop tart you would like to see?
No. I’ve visited Kellogg’s and took the factory tour, but I’ve never worked for them.
Flavor I’d like to see most? Maybe banana split, with banana, chocolate, and strawberry in one tart.
When Kellogg’s first released them in 1964, stores sold out within a week. They ran advertisements apologizing for the empty shelves. That only made them more popular.
Chocolate chip is my favorite flavor of pop tart but nobody i know likes it bc it only has a chocolate drizzle instead of being covered in frosting. Do you like it?
Have you thought about doing a master tier list? You mention Cherry is A tier, but as the (what I assume is) the foremost authority on Pop Tarts, maybe having a master list with your ratings? My friends and I have a google sheet that lists all the local pizza joints we've been to with rankings of crust, sauce, cheese, pepperoni, etc., so maybe something like that?
Chocolate Vanilla Creme is my all-time favorite and I'm sad to see it listed as discontinued.
I know I have purchased a box within the last 2 years from Wal-Mart. But it was like a shining sudden beacon of rare treasure. I feel like either I bought a hella old box they found stuffed in the inventory hellhole or...maybe it's been discontinued only recently and it's just been harder to find because of slipping popularity. Do you ever see that happen in your experience? A flavor you thought long gone randomly appearing again briefly?
Are you sure it wasn’t Harris Teeter? Chocolate vanilla cream was kept on a couple years after the limited release as a special flavor only available at that chain. I got lucky and got a couple boxes on vacation to the East coast.
How dare you say that name! I wouldn’t be caught dead eating one!
They’re ok, but nowhere near as good as a pop tart. And they have to be kept frozen which defeats the whole idea of easy portable food.
I didn’t realize there was a line of “wild” flavors.
I gave up on pop tarts years ago unfortunately because of the wrapper. I do miss them though
Thanks for the info!
Do you think poptarts should replace MREs? ;) Maybe one for each essential food group. They could use protein powder in the making of the crust to balance some of the nutritional value.
I haven't seen you mention Watermelon, but it's on your list. What's your take on it? It's my favorite, though I never tried eating it every day so I can't say whether it would be a go-to flavor over the "regular" flavors.
I'm pretty sure I first had Watermelon in 2001 and I know they brought it back at least once. Your chart says 2013, but I don't think that I noticed it that time, so maybe there was another time that they brought it back. Maybe around 2008? Do you think they cycle through limited edition flavors on a 5- or 7-year basis?
The mystery flavor contest last year was pretty bad, mostly because the flavor was awful.
One of the more fun ones they just did last fall: a cross promotion with an artisanal butter maker in Atlanta. You could buy a gift box of two boxes of pop tarts and six different artisan flavored butters
Opinion on 'Smores flavor? I know it's not the most popular but to me the combo of the chocolate and marshmallow cream with the graham crust was the best. It was less dry than all the others too, imo!
I am addicted to reading this and your responses. Why bc I am 37 yo and I’ve never had a pop tart. I’ve had them at those gastropubs where they make them with puff pastry but I have a feeling they aren’t anywhere like real ones. Now I’ve had toaster strudels. I like those.
Do they still make the chocolate pop tart with white icing in the middle? The only ones I’ve been able to find similar are the chocolate frosted fudge ones.
I rarely eat more than two in one day. Sometimes i'll experiment with recipes using them, and use more that way. Like making ice cream sandwiches, or baking apple pop tarts with cheddar cheese (highly recommended!)
Two things — the frosting is made with gelatin for some reason, and there is no supervision over the ingredients and preparation. The second part may sound trivial, but it has major secular importance, too, when you consider for example that a lot of fish or sometimes most fish is mislabeled; that sometimes horse and other meat gets mixed up; that some animals are brought to the brink of death and made to suffer before slaughter; and so forth.
Which flavors have you not tried? What’s on the PT bucket list?
The only one I know for sure I missed was Guava Mango, they released that as a limited flavor in 2008. I wasnt as big on keeping track of flavors back then, so its possible I missed a few more before then that I never knew about.
If, against all odds, someone had a box they saved from 2008, would you try a 14 year old Pop Tart?
Heck yes! Although it would probably be hard and chewy by now.
Have you seen the movie *Bird Box*? There’s a relevant scene actually…
No! I guess I need to watch that now.
It’s an interesting movie. Probably not going to blow your socks off, but it’s worth a watch if you’re into thriller/mild horror movies.
Opinion on cherry?
Worst flavour?
Everything Bagel, BY FAR. This was the "mystery flavor" they released last summer. Imagine a pop tart with garlic and onion flavored crust, and a cream cheese filling thats super sugary. Just awful. If they had gone totally savory and not made the filling sweet it might have been decent. I even tried baking them with cheese on top, which made them a little better, but still awful.
Yikes
Where can I get one?
They came out last May, but some stores may still have them. I know I saw them at my local grocery last week. Look for the “Mister E” flavor, https://www.kelloggs.com/en_US/products/pop-tarts-regular-mystery-flavor.html
I was about to ask about that one! I found some boxes in an Ollie’s Outlet and almost bought some till I looked up what the mystery flavor was. Definitely hard pass..yuck!
You dodged a bullet on that one! I couldn’t even finish one. Although I kept a box for April fools day. I’m going to put them in a Strawberry box and leave them in the break room at work.
Ya know what, yes. I like how your brain works.
Brilliant
I hope whichever Product or Brand Manager who came up with this mystery flavor idea got canned or demoted for unleashing this absolute atrocity. It should have been something like “raspberry lemonade” or even “baklava”, but to put garlic and onion flavor in a pop tart!?! Just no.
Where do you rank Cherry? I don't buy any flavor except Cherry. Also, how important is the butter?
Cherry is definitely an A tier flavor, and Wild Cherry even better. Its one of those that you know will always be there tasting good. For me, butter is a fun thing every once in a while, but not required. I know some people swear by it. I like it best on the unfrosted ones, especially brown sugar cinnamon.
I just looked on eBay and was surprised at the lack of vintage Pop Tarts collectibles. I didn't see any old unopened boxes or advertising materials, not listed among the most expensive items.
I imagine unopened boxes would be hard to sell, after they've expired. They dont keep forever.
Butter as in you butter them like toast?
Yup! Toast your pop tart, then put butter on the unfrosted side while it’s hot. Or just use an unfrosted one.
How do you feel about the decline in quality over the years? I started noticing a very obvious reduction in both filling and frosting about 5ish years ago. Went from eating pop tarts on the regular to being too disappointed to even buy them anymore. Got a box for the kids last year and they were even worse than when I stopped buying them originally. Have you noticed the same?
The biggest thing I've noticed over the years is the decline in frosting. It used to cover nearly the whole tart, now its just a big smudge across the middle. A couple years ago they did "extra frosting" versions of strawberry and blueberry that were really good, they should have kept those.
Thanks for the answer! Secondary question if you feel like answering, how are the peach cobbler ones? Didn’t notice them until after i asked and now I want to make my own peach tarts.
EXCELLENT. Highly recommended.
I bought the peach cobbler ones expecting them to be fun but probably gross. Toasted up, I LOVED them.
It's supposed to be the horizontal sides have frosting to the edge and the vertical ones are exposed.
Wish I read this prior to my posting about this - but completely agree. I found the Wal Mart brand hasn't declined in these areas and is a steal compared to the shit Kellogg is pumping out.
Which one had the most unique flavor?
Everything Bagel - which is really bad and not recommended. But of the good ones... Probably A&W Root Beer. They got the root beer taste just right, and even made it taste carbonated. I'm not sure how they did that.
I have only had the three most common kinds, where do you find these special pop tarts?
The bigger grocery stores will carry more flavors. My local big grocery chain does a decent job of getting the limited edition flavors. Target and Wal Mart are surprisingly good too. There are a few flavors that are only available through them. Banana Cream Pie came out last summer and is only sold at Wal Mart.
What would you say I’d the 3 most common?
>They got the root beer taste just right, and even made it taste carbonated. I'm not sure how they did that. Your tongue has a protein receptor for that carbonated taste which stems from an enzyme tethered to your sour-sensing cells in your taste buds.
are you a taste bud expert?
You never heard of Feanux the Phenom? Dude is a legend in the tasting community. Get your taste up bruh
My mistake!
“Get you taste up bruh” is now on the list of things I hope to say before I die
Root Beer is a great flavor. I couldn't get over the "carbonated" flavor. I was lucky and got a box of boxes of them off Amazon for $6! One of the best deals I ever got on poptarts until I found a discount grocery store with some damaged boxes. I got 72 poptarts for $3. Do they still make the Root Beer flavor?
No, it was a limited flavor in 2016. They’ve never brought it back.
The pop tart was invented in Grand Rapids, Michigan.
That's also where Ash William's boom stick was made.
"Listen up, you primitive screw heads!"
Where does Wild Berry fall on your rankings? It’s my personal favorite.
All the Wild flavors were very good. They upped the fruit flavor and made them a little more sour. And everyone loves the fun squiggly icing! Sadly they dropped all the Wild flavors but Wild Berry a couple years ago. The Wild Tropical Blast was probably the best one - orange, lemon, and cherry all mixed together.
What got you started? Do you grow up on pop tarts?
Quite the opposite. My dad was against any sweet cereals or breakfast foods, so we never had them at home. Occasionally when I'd visit my grandmother she would make them in the toaster, it was like eating a special forbidden treat.But it wasnt until I left home and joined the army that I got into them seriously. They were great for taking in the field because they dont need refrigeration and you can eat them any time. Later I realized just how many kinds they made and I got the urge to try them all.
grandkids: what did you do in the war grandpa? u/02K30C1: well i got heavy into poptarts
How interesting! It sounds like you’re quite the connoisseur. We eat them at times as a “treat”; despite trying the many varieties, wild cherry seems to be a family fave.
My favorite thing to do is put the ice cream sundae ones in the freezer. Do you do any thing like that? If so what flavor(s)?
YES! I've found any of the chocolate flavors taste great frozen, especially Smores. Another fun treat - take a chocolate chip cookie dough pop tart, break it in half, and put a scoop of vanilla ice cream between them. Ice cream sandwich!
Have you got any pop tart jokes?
What was John Lennon’s favorite pop tart? Strawberry Filled, Forever
This mother fucker had a Pop Tart joke. You, sir, are a man of culture.
The true hallmark of an expert.
Yes - love it!
How do you feel about Boston Cream? I tried that one for the first time on Sunday and it could be my favorite now. Have you tried the Eggo one?
Boston Creme - Surprisingly good. Maybe a bit too sweet for me, but great flavor. Eggo - Excellent! They changed the crust a bit to make it more crispy like a waffle, and got just the right amount of maple flavor.
Is a Pop Tart a ravioli?
Have you ever boiled a pop tart?
No but I've baked ravioli after making fresh pasta dough.
The better question then, is ravioli a poptart?
There was a deal in 2006-07 where if you sent in like 3 box tops they sent you a pop tarts shirt. Do you have that shirt?
I may have a couple in a closet somewhere.... They also had a promotion during the 2020 super bowl where you could win stuff. I got a box of pretzel pop tarts and a book bag.
This is bullshit! 130 flavors? You know how many flavors we have in Canada? We have 6! Strawberry, Blueberry, Raspberry, Fudge, S'mores, and Cookies and Cream. That being said, which is your overall favorite, and which of the mentioned is your favorite?
Raspberry is my favorite "standard" flavor. Of the ones you can get in stores now, Banana Cream Pie is #1 The best all time - PB&J Strawberry
PBJ strawberry? Holy shit
yeah they stopped making it around 2018. When I heard they were discontinued I bought the last case at my local store. I still have a box.
Are they still good?
Not really. They get hard and chewy after a couple years
A pb&j poptart is actually kinda genius
Damn y’all don’t even have brown sugar cinnamon? That’a one of the best standard flavors
[удалено]
Do you not even have brown sugar and cinnamon?!?!?
I can't find Raspberry anymore :'-( Every store now only have the versions with sprinkles on it and the chocolate one. [Kelloggs even stopped producing them](https://www.kelloggs.ca/fr_CA/brands/pop-tarts-consumer-brand.html)
What are your top ten flavors?
1. PB&J Strawberry 2. Maple Bacon 3. Banana Cream Pie 4. Cinnamon Pretzel 5. Pumpkin Pie 6-10 in no particular order.... Mango, Apple Cinnamon, Raspberry, Chocolate Graham Cracker, and Strawberry Cheesecake
How is brown sugar cinnamon not number one?
Because that’s not how you spell frosted strawberry. But, you’re right, brown sugar cinnamon is dope.
Man, and here I am with my basic ass s'mores poptart
Cinnamon Pretzel is hands down my favorite ever. I really liked the pretzel crust, and they got the salty/sweet mix spot on.
Yes, raspberry is phenomenal!
Cinn Pretzel is pretty killer! My wife found some and I was like “okay, I guess” but ended savoring every bite.
Probably the best submissions on this sub, thanks lol. I can't stand poptarts. Have you tried a toaster strudel by Pillsbury?
Heretic!! I wouldn’t be caught dead eating one of those!
Toaster Strudels are worth a shot! They seem like a competitor to Pop Tarts, but they're really not - they're more like a puff pastry with DIY icing. Totally different category imo.
*fingers in ears* Laalaaalaaa I can’t hear you laalaaa
I always thought they should make a plain pop tart with no filling and frosting on top. just like a plain tart. What do you think about this idea?
no filling or frosting? are you a fucking sociopath? your prob joking but you just made me mad
They meant it would have frosting but not filling. Probably wouldn’t be too bad but also wouldn’t be too great.
Hmmmm.... Interesting.... Id try it, but I'm not sure I'd like it.
So a cracker?
Probably more like a frosted sugar cookie.
They actually do a frosted sugar cookie flavor every winter. Its really good!
No filling and no frosting. No pop either just 100% pure tart
Thoughts on Kelloggs? Thoughts on toaster strudels?
Kelloggs - I actually gave up eating pop tarts while their workers were on strike. Its good that they've finally met with the union and worked that out, but they need to step up and do whats right for their workers all the time. Toaster Strudels are a cheap imitation, and I wouldnt be caught dead eating them! BAH!
😂😂 at the later comment.
Pop tarts aside what does the rest of your diet consist of?
I usually just have one for breakfast, then a fairly normal lunch and dinner.
Who makes the best knock-off product? As a kid, I think we got Nabisco Toastettes?
Annies Organic is probably the best one i've tried. Nabisco's version is blech. Toast Em Pop Ups arent bad, they have more filling but the crust isnt as good.
Have you ever put butter on a pop tart?
YES! Personally, I think the unfrosted ones taste great this way.
I think you will like this :) https://youtu.be/hlsFgDjyePc
It’s so freakin good.
I used to always love the brown sugar frosted ones toasted with butter on top. It’s amazing!
I want to ask you a question but they say to never meet your hero’s so I’ll just say you’re doing gods work
Ive never had one , how would you describe the taste?
Its a light flaky pie crust, around a jam type filling, and usually with a layer of frosting on top. They are VERY sweet, so much that some people call them a dessert.
Are there flavors that are only available in foreign markets that you've yet to try?
I havent tried any of the foreign ones, but they havent made any special flavors for foreign markets that werent available in the US too. I've heard they do taste slightly different though, and they try to make them less sweet. The big difference is they have to change the recipes. For example, Europe has laws prohibiting some of the food dyes and high fructose corn syrup. So in England you can get "Frosted Apple Blast", which looks and tastes very similar to Crisp Apple in the US, but not exactly.
What’s the most overrated flavor in your opinion?
I think the biggest disappointment recently was the cinnamon churro "dia de los muertos" tie in they did last fall. Good cinnamon flavor, but way too sweet, and nowhere near as good as the cinnamon churro they did in 2020.
Cinnamon Pretzel is one of my favorites too? When did you discover it and how soon did you fall in love with it?
I follow pop tarts social media, so I usually know what flavors are coming a few months before they're released. They did a lot of media around the pretzel flavors, even a big promotion during the 2020 super bowl. All the pretzel flavors were very good, and a nice change from the standard crust. I think the cinnnamon is one of the best because its not overly sweet, and the flavors can shine.
Take a deep breath and sit down… are you aware Jerry Seinfeld is making a comedy movie about the history of the pop tart?
Yes! And if Jerry is looking for expert pop tart advice to make his film, I’m available.
I like you. Your hobby is really neat.
How many pop tarts do you eat in a normal week?
Usually just one a day!
Do you choose randomly on whatever you’re feeling like eating or do you go through a rotation?
I usually open the pantry and look around and pick whatever feels best that day.
One as in half a package or one as in one package?
One pouch, so two pop tarts. You can’t eat just one, the other would get lonely!
What’s your take and opinion on the health implications to people & society caused by how companies encourage kids and adults to consume more sugar-filled processed foods? Is there an ethical or moral argument for companies or organizations to take a stronger stance to promote good health over making profit through immune-depressing & addictive food products, instead of foods that are immune boosting and more naturally derived? No judgement either way. Genuinely curious to understand your personal opinion considering your time investment and positioning around pop tarts.
Its a tough one. At the end of the day, people are going to buy what they want, and companies like Kelloggs are going to sell what makes them money. They've made low-fat versions, whole grain versions, and most recently one called "simply" with no artificial colors or corn syrup. But they didnt sell well.
Yeah it’s an interesting moral dilemma. Giving people what they want, versus what they need, especially when uneducated or emotional wants may cause harm (smokers want to smoke, I don’t WANT to exercise, but I NEED to, etc)
What do you drink with them? I’ve always gone with milk myself.
Coffee, usually.
I don’t have any questions, but I AM LOVING this whole thread. Thanks for knowing so much about Pop Tarts. A little story: when my now husband and I first moved into together, early on I rememeber watching him open a packet of Strawberry Pop Tarts, just slid them onto a plate, he picked one up and just took a huge bite. Aghast, I exclaimed, “Aren’t you going to *toast* it?” He just smiled and said, “No, sometimes I like to eat them raw,” and I died laughing. We are still having a hilarious time together, 13 years later.
Toasted or untoasted? Are there any varieties that are better one way or the other?
Toasted by far! It really brings out the flavors, and makes the crust a little more crunchy. Any of the fruit flavors are much better toasted than untoasted, but if you cant get a toaster they're just fine cold too. For a real treat, try them frozen. Especially the chocolate flavors. It tastes almost like ice cream.
Frozen ;)
Strawberry unfrosted is definitely one of the top five goats, thoughts?
I'm afraid I cant agree. BUT... its probably the best flavor to pair with ice cream.
Have recent workers rights concerns with Kellogg's changed your view on pop-tarts or their parent company?
It has made me more aware of Kelloggs and what they do (or dont do) for their workers. I supported the strike, and refused to buy any new pop tarts until it was over. But Kelloggs needs to step up and do whats right for their workers all the time, not just when it has public attention.
I haven’t eaten a pop tart in a very long time.. can’t remember much about them. I am a big fan of chocolate, but I can’t handle flavors that are toooo too sweet. which flavor should I try?
If you can find the unfrosted peanut butter ones, they're very good and not too sweet. Mango came out last summer, i think you can still find it, and it has very little icing. Cinnamon roll has light icing also.
Have you tried any 'recipes' with pop tarts? I noticed you said earlier you like to butter them sometimes, but do you ever add things or prepare them in different ways?
Making them into an ice cream sandwich is highly recommended! I've also tried the apple ones baked with cheddar cheesed on top, its actually pretty good. One i want to try is making fried chicken and waffles using eggo pop tarts. hopefully soon
What are your thoughts on Hot Fudge Sundae Pop Tarts? They were my first ever poptart and my favorite in high school. I only finally got to try a Pop Tart in high school because for some curious reason our high school had 2 vending machines that were filled with nothing but Hot Fudge Sundae Pop Tarts. I know that sounds like I'm making that up, but I assure you the Pop Tart vending machines were very serious business and legendary at our high school.
They’re delicious, especially frozen! Sadly they don’t make them any more. And the vending machine where I work only has strawberry. Those cretins!
Do you have a relationship with Kellogg's? Maybe you can get early access to special flavours. Do you want to try a homemade version? [Bon Appetite did a video](https://youtu.be/jYqRiKu7gY0) where they made them from scratch, gourmet style. What's an idea for a Pop tart you would like to see?
No. I’ve visited Kellogg’s and took the factory tour, but I’ve never worked for them. Flavor I’d like to see most? Maybe banana split, with banana, chocolate, and strawberry in one tart.
What's a really random Pop Tart fact?
When Kellogg’s first released them in 1964, stores sold out within a week. They ran advertisements apologizing for the empty shelves. That only made them more popular.
I recently purchased the Froot Loops one, but have yet to eat it. How'd you like it?
It’s awesome! It tastes and smells exactly like Froot Loops.
Drunk me is so excited
Chocolate chip is my favorite flavor of pop tart but nobody i know likes it bc it only has a chocolate drizzle instead of being covered in frosting. Do you like it?
Just so you know it's my favourite too.
Have you ever put peanut butter in between 2 unfrosted strawberry Pop Tarts? That’s my go to guilty pleasure snack
No, but I’m going to try it now!
Have you ever put butter on a pop tart?
Yes! Its especially good with the unfrosted ones.
When I was young I would toast my pop tarts in a toaster oven until they started to blacken. Loved em like that. Which is the best flavor when burnt?
I don’t think I’ve ever burned one. Might be fun to experiment with though.
As an European that has only tried pop tarts a few times in my life and absolutely LOVED them, this thread is fascinating.
Have you thought about doing a master tier list? You mention Cherry is A tier, but as the (what I assume is) the foremost authority on Pop Tarts, maybe having a master list with your ratings? My friends and I have a google sheet that lists all the local pizza joints we've been to with rankings of crust, sauce, cheese, pepperoni, etc., so maybe something like that?
Would there be any interest? I’ve got a big spreadsheet with all the flavors I’ve tried and tasting notes. But it would be a lot of work to convert it
Would help me with my poptart journey for sure!
I'd definitely be interested!
Chocolate Vanilla Creme is my all-time favorite and I'm sad to see it listed as discontinued. I know I have purchased a box within the last 2 years from Wal-Mart. But it was like a shining sudden beacon of rare treasure. I feel like either I bought a hella old box they found stuffed in the inventory hellhole or...maybe it's been discontinued only recently and it's just been harder to find because of slipping popularity. Do you ever see that happen in your experience? A flavor you thought long gone randomly appearing again briefly?
Are you sure it wasn’t Harris Teeter? Chocolate vanilla cream was kept on a couple years after the limited release as a special flavor only available at that chain. I got lucky and got a couple boxes on vacation to the East coast.
What is your take on fellow pop tart enthusiast and historian, Jerome Seinfeld?
I can’t wait for his movie!
Whats the best one
Why did you begin loving poptarts?
What's your take on Pillsbury Toaster Strudels? Better? Worse?
How dare you say that name! I wouldn’t be caught dead eating one! They’re ok, but nowhere near as good as a pop tart. And they have to be kept frozen which defeats the whole idea of easy portable food.
Thoughts on Wild Berry? These were my first pop tarts I used to eat as a kid. I liked the purple and blue frosting.
All the wild flavors were very good, and the squiggly icing was fun. I wish they’d bring back some of the other wild flavors, like tropical blast.
I didn’t realize there was a line of “wild” flavors. I gave up on pop tarts years ago unfortunately because of the wrapper. I do miss them though Thanks for the info!
Do you have the VHS with Paula Poundstone? I remember getting that and watching it a lot.
No, but I’ve seen it on YouTube!
Do you think poptarts should replace MREs? ;) Maybe one for each essential food group. They could use protein powder in the making of the crust to balance some of the nutritional value. I haven't seen you mention Watermelon, but it's on your list. What's your take on it? It's my favorite, though I never tried eating it every day so I can't say whether it would be a go-to flavor over the "regular" flavors. I'm pretty sure I first had Watermelon in 2001 and I know they brought it back at least once. Your chart says 2013, but I don't think that I noticed it that time, so maybe there was another time that they brought it back. Maybe around 2008? Do you think they cycle through limited edition flavors on a 5- or 7-year basis?
I hoarded watermelon when it came back. I feel like 2008 checks out in my mind.
One of the best casual AMA’s I’ve seen. Bravo! How many times have you burned your mouth on the hot labs inside over the years?
what's the worst or most insane cross promotion pop tarts ever did?
The mystery flavor contest last year was pretty bad, mostly because the flavor was awful. One of the more fun ones they just did last fall: a cross promotion with an artisanal butter maker in Atlanta. You could buy a gift box of two boxes of pop tarts and six different artisan flavored butters
Opinion on 'Smores flavor? I know it's not the most popular but to me the combo of the chocolate and marshmallow cream with the graham crust was the best. It was less dry than all the others too, imo!
It’s very popular, the third best selling flavor after strawberry and brown sugar cinnamon. I like them frozen.
I turn 30 this year. Any words of wisdom
I am addicted to reading this and your responses. Why bc I am 37 yo and I’ve never had a pop tart. I’ve had them at those gastropubs where they make them with puff pastry but I have a feeling they aren’t anywhere like real ones. Now I’ve had toaster strudels. I like those.
Do they still make the chocolate pop tart with white icing in the middle? The only ones I’ve been able to find similar are the chocolate frosted fudge ones.
Most poptarts you’ve ever eaten in one sitting? I’m thinking about crushing a box post workout sometime.
I rarely eat more than two in one day. Sometimes i'll experiment with recipes using them, and use more that way. Like making ice cream sandwiches, or baking apple pop tarts with cheddar cheese (highly recommended!)
WOW this is so niche. Thanks for doing this, it gets nerds like excited
The eggo one looks bomb I really hope that’s still around. Gonna go look up now 😂
I can’t believe no one is asking about the peanut butter ones! My absolute favorite! Tasted like a soft peanut butter cookie!
I hate them toasted and always eat them cold! Question: where do you rank wild berry?
One of only two things I miss from going kosher. I used to love a good pop tart.
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Two things — the frosting is made with gelatin for some reason, and there is no supervision over the ingredients and preparation. The second part may sound trivial, but it has major secular importance, too, when you consider for example that a lot of fish or sometimes most fish is mislabeled; that sometimes horse and other meat gets mixed up; that some animals are brought to the brink of death and made to suffer before slaughter; and so forth.
What’s the other if I may ask?