Today, Kevin and I are excited to review five unique astronaut snacks. These are all freeze-dried treats, including strawberries, peaches, bananas, a cookies and cream ice cream sandwich, and a mint chocolate chip ice cream sandwich. We’ve previously reviewed vanilla and Neapolitan ice cream from the same range, so we’re curious to see how these compare.
I found these snacks at World Market, priced at $4.99 per package. The packaging varies in weight: the strawberries and peaches are 14 grams each, the bananas are 28 grams, and the ice cream sandwiches are 31 grams. Despite my initial excitement about potential ice cream flavors, I soon realized they were just freeze-dried fruits.
The Freeze-Dried Fruit Experience
Strawberries: Astronaut strawberries have been part of space missions since the early Mercury days. They promise a sweet, crunchy treat that melts in your mouth. Despite this, I’ve never enjoyed freeze-dried strawberries in any form. The texture is hard and crunchy, sticking to my teeth like Styrofoam. Still, some might find the flavor reminiscent of fresh strawberries once chewed.
Peaches: Next up were the peaches, also 50 calories per package. These were thinner and more palatable than the strawberries. They had a muted flavor compared to the strawberries but still delivered a pleasant peach taste. These, too, were hard and crunchy, but easier to eat.
Bananas: The freeze-dried bananas, weighing 28 grams, were a better deal. They tasted more like fresh bananas and had a stronger flavor than the peaches. Their texture was less hard compared to typical banana chips, offering a somewhat sticky and rehydrated feel once chewed.
Ice Cream Sandwiches
Cookies and Cream Ice Cream Sandwich: This was real ice cream, freeze-dried for a unique snack experience. The 31-gram sandwich is 140 calories, and while the flavor was slightly muted, it retained the familiar taste of cookies and cream. It’s a crunchy treat, lighter than expected, making it an interesting alternative to regular ice cream.
Mint Chocolate Chip Ice Cream Sandwich: Similarly, this ice cream sandwich had a muted flavor. The chocolate was more pronounced than the mint, making it less vibrant than traditional mint chocolate chip ice cream. Despite this, it was enjoyable and had a distinctive crunchy texture.
Fun Facts and Final Thoughts
Each package included fun facts about space, adding an educational twist to the snacking experience. For instance, did you know that the tallest known mountain in our solar system is Olympus Mons on Mars, standing nearly three times higher than Mount Everest?
Overall, these astronaut snacks are more of a novelty item. While they offer a unique and enjoyable experience, they are quite pricey for everyday consumption. However, they’re perfect for educational purposes or as a fun treat for kids learning about space. If you’re curious about astronaut snacks, these freeze-dried fruits and ice creams are worth a try. Thanks for joining us on this taste test adventure!
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