Honey Bunches of Oats - with Almonds

Name: Honey Bunches of Oats - with Almonds
Variation: Honey Bunches of Oats
Manufacturer: Post

Review: As a newcomer to this cereal, I'm assuming that Honey Roasted is the "regular" variety, and the rest are variations. So this is basically regular Honey Bunches of Oats, but with the addition of almonds - which recalls Cheerios Oat Crunch Almond. It has a very nutty flavor; in fact, I don't taste the honey at all in this. And once again, it's not sweet enough to hold my interest. I already miss Frosted Bunches. I learned my lesson and poured a smaller bowl this time, and I'm still finding it tedious drudgery to get to the bottom. I think I like this cereal even less than Honey Roasted, which I was able to tolerate as a small side, but not an entrée. This box... I'm tempted to just give it away.

Rating: 🥣
Leftover Milk: Flaky, and nutty.

Maple Cinnamon Cheerios Hearty Nut Medley

Name: Maple Cinnamon Cheerios Hearty Nut Medley
Variation: Cheerios
Manufacturer: General Mills

Review: That's a mouthful of a name, isn't it? I spotted this cereal at the end of last year. I generally steer clear of the overly healthy-sounding cereals, but something convinced me to give this one a try. Maybe it was the "maple cinnamon". Anyway, I had to draw the line at Cheerios Veggie Blends, advertised side-by-side with this cereal. Veggies in my cereal? Hard pass.

Available in Blueberry Banana and Apple Strawberry.

With the mix of loops and flakes, along with additional add-ins (almonds and, curiously, pumpkin seeds) this cereal medley superficially recalls Honey Nut Cheerios Medley Crunch (one of my newer favorite cereals of all time), but I hesitate to make that comparison, because I don't want to get my hopes up. Upon opening the box and pouring a bowl, it smells very maple-y, and looks awfully brown. Shall we dig in?

The taste is subtle. Honestly, it's very plain. I mean, it's not as bland as Rice Krispies - it has some flavor. But it's not sweet at all. And it's a chore to chew. After a few bites, I'm already regretting going all in and not starting with a smaller bowl. What was I thinking? I can't believe they got rid of Honey Nut Cheerios Medley Crunch, and thought this would be an acceptible substitute! I might have been better off with Veggie Blends, after all. At least they sound fruity.

Except a single thing to warrant recommending it.

I feel like this is the kind of cereal they show in commercials next to a plate of bacon and eggs, when they say "part of a complete breakfast". You know, the kind of cereal nobody in the real world ever actually eats. If this is what it takes to keep your heart healthy, then it's no wonder our country is in a state of health emergency right now. At least you have me to suffer through these bad cereals so you don't have to. I just wish I had a box of Chocolate Frosted Sugar Bombs so I could pour a bowl and wash my mouth out with it...

Rating: 🥣
Leftover Milk: Tastes like maple, cinnamon, and nuts. Yay.

Honey Nut Cheerios Minis

Name: Honey Nut Cheerios Minis
Variation: Honey Nut Cheerios
Manufacturer: General Mills

Review: Didn't I tell you we'd be seeing this cereal before long? So far, all the Minis cereals have been in the form of puffs (with only Lucky Charms standing out, with its mini marshmallows); despite being nothing more than a smaller version of the regular cereal (unlike Cinnamon Toast Crunch, which changed size and shape), these Minis are unique in that they come in the form of shrunken loops. And they are predictably adorable.

How does it taste? Just as you would expect. The only difference is that the smaller loops give it a different mouthfeel, and absorb the milk faster. It's softer, and not as crunchy, with more of a continuous texture, as opposed to being distinct bites of flavor. In graphical terms, a higher resolution yields a smoother picture. But in terms of taste, I feel like there's less character. It's a cute novelty, but I still prefer the original size.

Rating: 🥣🥣
Leftover Milk: Tastes of sweet, nutty honey.

Now, will we ever see Cookie Crisp Minis? I doubt it, just going by how rarely Cookie Crisp entertains novelty concepts (last year's Guardians of the Galaxy promotion was a rare exception). But I hope so! I'll be keeping my eyes open.

Honey Nut Cheerios

Name: Honey Nut Cheerios
Variation: Cheerios
Manufacturer: General Mills

Review: This is a cereal I haven't had in a very long time, despite it being one of my regular staples. It's just that Honey Nut Cheerios Medley Crunch came out, which is basically this cereal but even better. So much so, that I consider it a real contender for "greatest of all time", despite not featuring chocolate or marshmallows. Which is why I'm concerned that I'm not seeing it on shelves anymore. Please don't discontinue Medley Crunch, General Mills! Especially not in favor of the far inferior Oat Crunch lineup...

Anyway, back to the oft-imitated but never rivaled original Honey Nut Cheerios. If you ask me, the sweet and tasty "honey nut" flavor is the only thing that makes boring, bland Cheerios a palatable cereal. And it's pretty good on its own, if relatively plain. But where this cereal really shines is how well it acts as a base for fresh fruit add-ins. Bananas are my favorite, but strawberries are also good, and I've more recently discovered the joy of putting fresh blueberries in my cereal. Honey Nut Cheerios is a classic, and has long been one of my favorites.

Rating: 🥣🥣🥣
Leftover Milk: Sweet and nutty.

Cheerios Oat Crunch Almond

Name: Cheerios Oat Crunch Almond
Variation: Cheerios
Manufacturer: General Mills

Review: I had tried this cereal once before, since I live with someone who is fond of almonds. When I noticed the release of a new flavor this year, I figured it would be a good time to give the Oat Crunch lineup a proper go. This cereal is very nutty. Right out of the box, it makes a strong visual impression - with lighter and darker Cheerios, and big slices of almonds.

In 2021, when it was new.

My impression then, as now, is that if I'm in the mood for a healthy-sounding cereal (I make no claim as to the actual nutritional value of these products), I prefer Honey Nut Cheerios Medley Crunch. This cereal just isn't sweet enough for my tastes. But if it sounds good to you, do give it a try. I wonder if I'll like any of the other three flavors any better.

Rating: 🥣
Leftover Milk: It's a little nutty.

Kellogg's Crunchy Nut

Name: Crunchy Nut
Variation: Corn Flakes
Manufacturer: Kellogg's

Review: This isn't the sort of cereal that I normally like to eat, but the bold design of the box really caught my attention, with the bright yellow, and the black stripes. It's almost got a Charlie Brown aesthetic. It's flavored with peanuts and honey, so hopefully it's not just a glorified version of Corn Flakes (seeing as even coating them in sugar - which is basically Frosted Flakes - isn't enough to make me like them).

Verdict? They are plainer than what I usually eat. But they do have a sweet and nutty flavor. I don't love them, but I don't hate them either. That said, if I have a choice between these and Honey Nut Cheerios Medley Crunch, I'll pick Medley Crunch 10 times out of 10. And if there were no Medley Crunch? Well, I'd still rather have Chocolate Frosted Sugar Bombs instead. But nice try, Kellogg's. It's a definite improvement over plain Corn Flakes.

Rating: 🥣
Leftover Milk: Sweet and nutty.

Honey Nut Frosted Flakes

Name: Honey Nut Frosted Flakes
Variation: Frosted Flakes
Manufacturer: Kellogg's

Review: This is a good idea for a cereal; after all, "Honey Nut" did wonders for Cheerios. But it takes a lot to get me to like Frosted Flakes (spoiler: you have to make it chocolate, and add marshmallows). You can smell the nutty, honey aroma as soon as you open the box, but I daresay the smell is stronger than the flavor. Is it better than regular Frosted Flakes? I'd say so. But I can't foresee any scenario in which I'd pick this cereal over just buying Honey Nut Cheerios, and especially not while Honey Nut Cheerios Medley Crunch is on the shelves.

Rating: 🥣
Leftover Milk: A sweet and nutty flavor.

Honey Nut Cheerios Medley Crunch

Name: Honey Nut Cheerios Medley Crunch
Variation: Honey Nut Cheerios
Manufacturer: General Mills

Review: This cereal can no longer be considered a novelty, as it's become a regular fixture both on the store shelves and on top of my fridge, but I remember a time some years ago when it was still new. And while I'll admit that I usually gravitate toward the "Chocolate Frosted Sugar Bombs" family of cereals, for a healthy-sounding cereal (I'm not saying it's a health food, but it is Cheerios, and the emphasis on oats and nuts targets a different kind of customer), it's actually quite good. It's got both loops and flakes; the oat and nut clusters provide a satisfying crunch; and the leftover milk has a pleasantly sweet and nutty flavor. Not only does it render regular Honey Nut Cheerios pretty much obsolete (this cereal is like the Super Nintendo sequel to Honey Nut Cheerios), but it has acquired the honor of being one of the few cereals I would consider for the spot of my "Top Favorite". Can you believe that?

Rating: 🥣🥣🥣
Leftover Milk: A sweet and nutty flavor.