Tillamook’s new smoothies sound better than they taste
Normally, any offering from Tillamook might have the food panel tasters asking for more.
The ice cream, butter, cheese, yogurt and sour cream from the farmer-owned Oregon cooperative have always been known for their creamy goodness. But Tillamook’s latest offering left The Spokesman-Review reader food panel disappointed. Almost everyone who tasted the new yogurt smoothies thought they were chalky.
“It looks like it should be creamy and sweet, but in reality it tastes like blended chalk frappe,” Peggy Kazanis said of the Vanilla Bean flavor.
Both the Vanilla Bean and Oregon Strawberry flavors earned only two stars for taste and value (that’s a poor on our scale).
“If you want a drinkable yogurt, I guess this is good. The vanilla flavor is pretty good, but I’d prefer to eat my yogurt with a spoon,” Tina Johnson said.
Matt Quesnell wasn’t a big fan of the drink either. “Tastes vaguely like yogurt that’s been left out too long and has started to become liquid. Not as horrible once you take a few drinks, but not great.”
The Oregon Strawberry flavor seemed creamier to some tasters but still left a chalky residue in some mouths.
“Only slightly less horrible than the other is all I can say,” said Donald Clegg. “It better cure cancer or do something equally great for the body – because it’s awful for the mouth.”
The smoothies also come in Marionberry, Mixed Berry and Orchard Harvest. They can be found next to the yogurt in the dairy case at the supermarket.
Tillamook Vanilla Bean Smoothie
Price: $1.59 for 11 ounces
Nutrition per serving: 240 calories, no fat, 11 grams protein, 47 grams carbohydrate, 5 milligrams cholesterol, no dietary fiber, 150 milligrams sodium.
Taste: • •
Value: • •
Comments: “Tastes like diluted medicine. Would anyone really pay to drink this?” Larry Inman
“Other than the chalky residue left on your teeth, it’s not half bad.” – Skip Hubbard
“Chalky taste from vanilla drinkable yogurt. I would have to be pretty thirsty to drink this one.” – Nancy Robinson
“Chalky with an astringent, butter aftertaste – truly, sincerely awful.” – Donald Clegg
Tillamook Oregon Strawberry Smoothie
Price: $1.59 for 11 ounces
Nutrition per serving: 240 calories, no fat, 11 grams protein, 47 grams carbohydrate, 5 milligrams cholesterol, no dietary fiber, 150 milligrams sodium.
Taste: • •
Value: • •
Comments: “If I was really, really thirsty and this was the only liquid around, I might take a sip. Otherwise, please spare me.” – Larry Inman
“The subtle strawberry flavor is really quite good. Not too thick and not too thin but a little bit chalky.” – Skip Hubbard
“Chalky taste from strawberries is a little bit better, but room for improvement. They kind of grow on you after awhile.” – Nancy Robinson
“Artificial tasting. The pre-geriatric Ensure.” – Marilyn Moore