Starbucks’ Pumpkin Spice Latte made pumpkin spice famous more than ten years ago. Now you’ll find it added to everything from soup to nuts! But do those products actually taste good? Consumer Reports put several to the test.
Consumer Reports’ expert food panel started with 20 products to find the tastiest. Some are not so great. Putting “pumpkin” on the label didn’t make Blue Diamond almonds irresistible. The candylike brown-spice coating masked the taste of the nuts.
But there were some standouts. Noosa Finest Yoghurt Pumpkin is full and creamy, with real pumpkin and a hint of pumpkin pie spices. It’s made with whole milk and is pretty rich, so watch your portion. Or you can start your day with Pumpkin Spice Cheerios. They taste mostly of cloves but also have hints of cinnamon and nutmeg.
Snack on Pumpkin Spice Flax Crunchy Granola Bars from Kashi, with 4 grams of fiber. They have pumpkin and flax seeds, and taste of honey and brown spice. The tasters agreed on Imagine Organic Creamy Pumpkin Soup; it is thick, smooth, and slightly sweet, with some pumpkin spices.
And last, have a glass of water ready for Trader Joe’s Fall Harvest Salsa. Testers said the heat overpowered the flavors of pumpkin, apples, and squash, but the salsa was still tasty.
While pumpkin snacks can be yummy, not all are healthy. Take a look at the label to make sure those traditional spices don’t also come with a load of added sugars.
Complete Ratings and recommendations on all kinds of products, including appliances, cars & trucks, and electronic gear, are available on Consumer Reports’ website. Subscribe to CR.org.
