What Happens When Two Gross Fruits Come Together? Something Surprisingly Good! Pomegranate Craisins Are All Right.

The Good: Surprisingly flavorful and sweet.
The Bad: Proportionately expensive, Not especially nutritious for a fruit snack.
The Basics: Craisins Pomegranate Dried Cranberries snack surprised me by taking two fruits I was not keen on separately and making one delicious snack!


It does not take much reading though my back catalogue of food reviews to learn that there is no love lost between the pomegranate and me. Yes, Jelly Belly couldn’t sell me on Pomegranate jelly beans (reviewed here!) and Celestial Seasonings failed to wow me with their Cranberry Pomegranate Green tea (reviewed here!). So, it was with understandably low expectations that I went into my exploration of Pomegranate Craisins.

And yet, Ocean Spray completely surprised me with this flavor! How the company managed to take two things I am not so keen on independent of one another, put them together and make something that is actually delicious, I do not know! Ocean Spray succeeded in getting me to eat two fruits I usually cannot stand and enjoy the process. Kudos to them! I would have more enthusiastically recommended this product if it had all of the nutritional benefits of the fruits in question, but largely I am very happy!

Basics

Craisins, for those who are not familiar with them, are dried cranberries. Ocean Spray was clever when they named this product: cranberry + raisins = Craisins. The Pomegranate flavor Craisins are cranberries that have been dehydrated and then infused with pomegranate juice. The intent is to make the dried cranberry taste more like a Pomegranate and Ocean Spray succeeds in making them taste exactly like a Pomegranate!

Pomegranate Craisins come in various sizes, but always in sealed foil packs. The larger packs have zipper packs that allow them to be sealed in for freshness. The serving size is one ounce, which is approximately fifty Craisins. The Pomegranate Craisins can be used in pretty much any recipe that raisins are required for as they react almost identically to raisins. If acidity is an issue in the diet or recipe, be sure to confirm that Pomegranate Craisins will work instead, though the Pomegranate infused Craisins do not seem as acidic as the Original and not much more acidic than raisins.

Ease Of Preparation

Pomegranate Craisins are simple to prepare. Simply open the bag and remove them from it! There is no trick to eating Pomegranate Craisins; they are a snack that is ready to go from the bag to the mouth.

Taste

Pomegranate Craisins smell exactly like pomegranates. In fact, I am not entirely sure I had noticed the aroma of pomegranates before now. But when I opened the bag of Pomegranate Craisins, the smell that came out was not cranberries. Instead, it was a sweet, fruity smell that actually made me smile.

The Pomegranate Craisins are an interesting taste sensation. They are all of the best parts of pomegranates and cranberries without the negative aspects. As a result, these Craisins are sweet like pomegranates, but do not have the annoying seeds. They are bold like cranberries, but not unpleasantly sour. The resulting fruit snack is flavorful and sweet, instead of sour and gross. I suspect to get this Craisin flavor tasting so good, someone at Ocean Spray had to sell their soul . . . or maybe just use a ton of sugar!

Nutrition

Pomegranate Craisins are an all-natural snack, with no artificial preservatives. Given that the ingredients are mostly cranberries, sugar, and Pomegranate juice from concentrate, there is nothing hiding in them that will surprise consumers. These have a shelf life of approximately one year, so it's not a bad food or snack to stock up on.

Each one ounce serving of Pomegranate Craisins has 100 calories, none of which come from fat. There are two grams of dietary fiber and no other significant nutrients in a serving. This surprised me, as I figured there would be vitamins, but the packaging does not indicate any vitamins in this treat! As a result, this is a snack that is not at all bad for consumers, but not exactly bursting with nutrients for them either.

Storage/Clean-up

Kept in their bag, Pomegranate Craisins will remain fresh for a year and as long as the bag is resealed, one suspects they will last that long anyway. Because I've been getting them from the terribly unenvironmental sample packs, I've never had to deal with issues of freshness for my Pomegranate Craisins.

Cleanup is simple as well. Pomegranate Craisins are a dry food and thus leave no mess behind. Simply toss out the foil bag and cleanup is done!

Overall

Pomegranate Craisins are a weirdly delightful fruit snack and were they more nutritious, they would come much, much closer to a perfect rating.

For other Craisin reviews, please check out:
Cherry Craisins
Blueberry Craisins
Original Craisins

7/10

For other food and drink reviews, please click here to visit my index page!

© 2011 W.L. Swarts. May not be reprinted without permission.

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Cherry Craisins Are One Of Ocean Spray's Best Products!

The Good: Very flavorful, Very cherry flavored!
The Bad: Proportionately expensive
The Basics: Surprisingly delicious, Craisins Cherry Dried Cranberries snack might well be the best of the line.


As I finish off my backlog of products around the house (who am I kidding, the backlog is not noticeably diminishing!), I am finally up to the Cherry Craisins I got at the New York State Fair last year. Already, I have reviewed the original Craisins (reviewed here!) and the Blueberry Craisins (reviewed here!), but I think I ended up saving the best for last. In fact, the only serious issues with Cherry Craisins are the surprising lack of vitamins and the environmental impact of the snack.

Basics

Craisins, for those who are not familiar with them, are dried cranberries. Ocean Spray was clever when they named this product: cranberry + raisins = Craisins. The Cherry flavor Craisins are cranberries that have been dehydrated and then infused with natural flavors and, oddly enough, elderberry juice. The intent is to make the dried cranberry taste more like a Cherry and Ocean Spray succeeds in making them taste exactly like a cherry!

Cherry Craisins come in various sizes, but always in sealed foil packs. The larger packs have zipper packs that allow them to be sealed in for freshness. The serving size is one ounce, which is approximately fifty Craisins. The Cherry Craisins can be used in pretty much any recipe that raisins are required for as they react almost identically to raisins. If acidity is an issue in the diet or recipe, be sure to confirm that Cherry Craisins will work instead, though the Cherry infused Craisins do not seem as acidic as the Original and not much more acidic than raisins.

Ease Of Preparation

Cherry Craisins are simple to prepare. Simply open the bag and remove them from it! There is no trick to eating Cherry Craisins; they are a snack that is ready to go from the bag to the mouth.

Taste

Cherry Craisins smell exactly like what they are flavored to be, as opposed to what they actually are. There is not a hint of cranberry in the aroma to these Craisins and consumers are likely to be blown away by how rich the cherry scent is.

Each of the little dark maroon Cherry Craisins is extraordinary in their flavoring, though. I have never been a fan of cherry, but placing these on my tongue, I became a convert! The Cherry Craisins taste exactly like cherry, with only the slightest hint of dry, sour cranberries in the very last moments of the treat’s aftertaste. These are a great fruit snack for those who love cherries, but do not want the portability issues that can come with transporting the actual, undried, fruit.

Nutrition

Cherry Craisins are an all natural snack, with no artificial preservatives. Given that the ingredients are mostly cranberries, sugar, and Cherry juice from concentrate, there is nothing hiding in them that will surprise consumers. These have a shelf life of approximately one year, so it's not a bad food or snack to stock up on.

Each one-third cup serving of Cherry Craisins has 130 calories, none of which come from fat. There are three grams of dietary fiber and no other significant nutrients in a serving. This surprised me, as I figured there would be vitamins, but the packaging does not indicate any vitamins in this treat! As a result, this is a snack that is not at all bad for consumers, but not exactly bursting with nutrients for them either.

Storage/Clean-up

Kept in their bag, Cherry Craisins will remain fresh for a year and as long as the bag is resealed, one suspects they will last that long anyway. Because I've been getting them from the terribly unenvironmental sample packs, I've never had to deal with issues of freshness for my Cherry Craisins.

Cleanup is simple as well. Cherry Craisins are a dry food and thus leave no mess behind. Simply toss out the foil bag and cleanup is done!

Overall

Cherry Craisins are arguably the best alternative to expensive dried cherries on the market. They are flavorful, easy to transport and absolutely delicious!

For other foods, check out my reviews of:
Yancey's Fancy Buffalo Wing Cheddar
Dole 100% Juice Orange Peach Mango Juice
Kraft Deli Deluxe Bacon Cheddar Slices

8/10

For other food and drink reviews, please click here to visit my index page!

© 2011 W.L. Swarts. May not be reprinted without permission.

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Sweet And Flavorful Blueberry Craisins Might Not Rule, But They Taste Good.

The Good: Nutritious, Generally flavorful
The Bad: Not exceptionally blueberry flavored, Proportionately expensive
The Basics: A good snack, Craisins Blueberry Dried Cranberries snack are a great alternative for raisins for those looking for something flavorful.


Last year, at the New York State Fair, we were visited by Massachusetts' own Ocean Spray. They came with samples, like original Craisins (reviewed here!) and all sorts of Ocean Spray powdered juice drinks. Since then, I have pretty steadily gone through the various Ocean Spray products and the latest one I have found myself gorging upon are the Blueberry Craisins.

Basics

Craisins, for those who are not familiar with them, are dried cranberries. Yes, Ocean Spray was clever: cranberry + raisins = Craisins. The Blueberry flavor Craisins are cranberries that have been dehydrated and then infused with blueberry juice. The intent is to make the dried cranberry taste more like a blueberry and Ocean Spray succeeds in making them taste somewhat sweeter, if not like a blueberry.

Blueberry Craisins come in various sizes, but always in sealed foil packs. The larger packs have zipper packs that allow them to be sealed in for freshness. The serving size is one ounce, which is approximately fifty Craisins. The Blueberry Craisins can be used in pretty much any recipe that raisins are required for as they react almost identically to raisins. If acidity is an issue in the diet or recipe, be sure to confirm that Blueberry Craisins will work instead, though the Blueberry infused Craisins do not seem as acidic as the Original and not much more acidic than raisins.

Ease Of Preparation

Blueberry Craisins are simple to prepare. Simply open the bag and remove them from it! There is no trick to eating Blueberry Craisins; they are a snack that is ready to go from the bag to the mouth.

Taste

Blueberry Craisins smell more like cranberries than blueberries when one opens the pouch. The scene is slightly acidic in the nose and is strongly fruity. There is a slight underscent, but it is not distinctly that of blueberries.

Each of the little dark purple Blueberry Craisins is surprisingly bland and underwhelming. In fact, with only a single Blueberry Craisin on my tongue, the best way I could describe the dried fruit snack was "vaguely sweet" and "dry." But when a whole mouthful is put on the tongue, there is a strong, juicy flavor. The Blueberry Craisins insinuate the flavor of blueberries without ever truly living up to the potential of them. Eating the Blueberry Craisins yields a flavor much like the aftertaste of a swig of blueberry juice.

But what the flavor does have going for it is an overwhelming sweetness and rich fruit flavor. While the flavor is not as distinctive as one might hope for a blueberry infused product, the Blueberry Craisins effectively cut any sourness from the dried cranberry making for a healthy snack that is, at the very least, palatable.

Nutrition

Blueberry Craisins are an all natural snack, with no artificial preservatives. Given that the ingredients are mostly cranberries, sugar, and blueberry juice from concentrate, there is nothing hiding in them that will surprise consumers. These have a shelf life of approximately one year, so it's not a bad food or snack to stock up on.

Each one ounce serving of Blueberry Craisins has 100 calories, none of which come from fat. There are also two grams of dietary fiber. Outside that, there are no significant nutrients in a serving. This surprised me, as I figured there would be vitamins, but the packaging does not indicate any vitamins in this treat! As a result, this is a snack that is not at all bad for consumers, but not exactly bursting with nutrients for them either.

Storage/Clean-up

Kept in their bag, Blueberry Craisins will remain fresh for a year and as long as the bag is resealed, one suspects they will last that long anyway. Because I've been getting them from the terribly unenvironmental sample packs, I've never had to deal with issues of freshness for my Blueberry Craisins.

Cleanup is simple as well. Blueberry Craisins are a dry food and thus leave no mess behind. Simply toss out the foil bag and cleanup is done!

Overall

Blueberry Craisins are a pleasure to eat, but they are not the most true-to-flavor snack on the market. Still, they are sweet enough to enjoy and have nothing bad in them, making them a decent alternative for children to sugary snacks.

For other foods, check out my reviews of:
Idahoan Roasted Garlic Mashed Potatoes
Dole Sensation Natural Guava Juice
Kraft Deli Deluxe Bacon Cheddar Slices

6/10

For other food and drink reviews, please click here to visit my index page!

© 2011 W.L. Swarts. May not be reprinted without permission.

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Craisins Original Are A Flavorful Snack Which Is Good, But Not Amazing

The Good: Nutritious, Generally flavorful
The Bad: Slightly sour, Proportionately expensive
The Basics: A good snack, Craisins Original Dried Cranberries snack are a good alternative for raisins for those looking for something flavorful.


This last summer, my wife and I made a few trips to the New York State Fair. There, we made a point of stopping by the Ocean Spray booth where the company had a presence. In addition to having a little cranberry bog that the company brought with them, Ocean Spray brought boxes and boxes of Craisins. I managed to get a whole load of the samples and while I cannot review the various drinks I tried there, I have plenty of Craisins to review!

The first of those is the Original Craisins.

Basics
Craisins, for those who are not familiar with them, are dried cranberries. Yes, Ocean Spray was clever: cranberry + raisins = Craisins. The Original flavor Craisins are exactly what they appear to be, cranberries that have been dehydrated. There are other flavors, but the Original flavor are just cranberry flavored.

Craisins come in various sizes, but always in sealed foil packs. The larger packs have zipper packs that allow them to be sealed in for freshness. The serving size is one ounce, which is at least fifty Craisins. The Original Craisins can be used in pretty much any recipe that raisins are required for as they react almost identically to raisins. If acidity is an issue in the diet or recipe, be sure to confirm that Craisins will work instead as these are a bit more acidic than raisins.

Ease Of Preparation

Original Craisins are simple to use. Simply open the bag and remove them from it! There is no trick to eating Craisins; they are a snack that is ready to go from the bag to the mouth.

Taste

Craisins smell like cranberries and when one opens the bag of them. The scent is distinctive and slightly acidic.

Each of the little maroon Craisins is bursting with flavor. When one puts a Craisin on the tongue, the flavor of cranberries erupts. What is most fascinating about the Craisins is that there cranberry is a pretty dry-flavored fruit to begin with, so there is nothing lacking when one tries the Craisin. Instead, this tastes just like a cranberry because cranberries are not usually bursting forth with juice. This, of course, leads to the question of "what's the point?" To which, the answer can only be that Craisins are more portable and have a longer shelf life than actual cranberries. But for those concerned that Craisins would be a taste letdown, they are anything but.

In fact, Craisins are a little sweeter than actual cranberries, which makes them more palatable than actual cranberries. With their sourness cut some in the initial taste, the aftertaste bowls the consumer over for the bulk of the flavor and that works wonderfully with Craisins!

Nutrition

Craisins are an all natural snack, with no artificial preservatives. Given that the ingredients are only cranberries and sugar, there is nothing hiding in them that will surprise consumers. These have a shelf life of approximately one year, so it's not a bad food or snack to stock up on.

Each one ounce serving of Original Craisins has 100 calories, none of which come from fat. There are also 23 grams of dietary fiber. Outside that, there are no significant nutrients in a serving. This surprised me, as I figured there would be vitamins, but the packaging does not indicate any vitamins in this treat! As a result, this is a snack that is not at all bad for consumers, but not exactly bursting with nutrients for them either.

Storage/Clean-up

Kept in their bag, Craisins will remain fresh for a year and as long as the bag is resealed, one suspects they will last that long anyway. Because I've been getting them from the terribly unenvironmental sample packs, I've never had to deal with issues of freshness for my Craisins.

Cleanup is simple as well. Craisins are a dry food and thus leave no mess behind. Simply toss out the foil bag and cleanup is done!

Overall

Craisins are a good snack that is not bad for, nor as super great for consumers as one might hope. On an interesting note, my cat, Gollum, enjoys them with me and whenever I open a bag, he is right there trying to get some to eat. Gollum has good taste. I tend to agree with eating these and using them in muffins, on cereal and in other recipes, but truth be told, they are a pretty average snack. There are other flavors of Craisins that are more flavorful, but Craisins offer a decent baseline for the snack!

For other foods, check out my reviews of:
Jell-O Chocolate Fudge Pudding
Yancey's Fancy Wasabi Horseradish Cheddar
Hershey's Kisses Irish Creme

5/10

For other food and drink reviews, please click here to visit my index page!

© 2010 W.L. Swarts. May not be reprinted without permission.



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