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Lolo Sparkling Pomelo Sage Hops: Lolo is a Pacific Northwest brand that makes non-alcoholic, low-calorie drinks. I typically don't like hops-based drinks (and generally don't enjoy the taste of beer), but this sparkling pomelo sage drink went way beyond my expectations. I really enjoyed how vibrant the citrus flavor was. It's sweetened just enough but also quite acidic and well balanced. And it has an herbal aftertaste from the addition of sage. Highly recommended. Purchased at Anchored Ship Coffee Bar in Ballard. 4.5/5.0

drinks exceptional lolo sparkling pomelo sage hops 4.5
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Lay's Roasted Seaweed Potato Chips: Since when did Lay's make Pringle's canister potato chips? Unlike the classic crispy, transluscently-thin Lay's potato chips, these are very much in the style of Pringles, though slightly smaller. They surprisingly come packed in a pull-out plastic tray (so you don't have to dig for the chips at the bottom, I suppose). I purchased them from Uwajimaya (the Japanese grocery chain in the PNW), though these are Chinese. The roasted seaweed flavor has a really satisfying savory sweet flavor and... (read more) 4.0/5.0

recommended chips fritolays chinese uwajimaya lays roasted seaweed potato 4.0
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Matutina Cinnamon Concha: Sadly, this post is solely for documentation as Matutina, a Mexican bakery in downtown Portland (about a 5 minute walk from Powell's), is now closed. I was able to try a concha fresh from the oven on the day before they shut their doors, and it was excellent. The bread itself was fluffy, yet had a slightly chewy texture, and the cinnamon crust was on the sweet side but had a lovely spiced flavor reminiscent of breakfast cereal. I hope they're able to open up elsewhere as these baked goods ... (read more) 4.5/5.0

exceptional portland pastry mexican matutina cinnamon concha 4.5
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Trader Joe's Yuzu Ripple Coconut Frozen Dessert: This vegan coconut-based "ice cream" is one of the best things I've ever had from Trader Joe's. The coconut base is more neutral than other vegan frozen desserts I've had, making the acidic yuzu ripples the dominant flavor. It seems to be flavored with both yuzu zest as well as marmalade-like yuzu "ripples" that add a satisfying chewy texture. Perfect for hot summer days. 4.5/5.0

exceptional vegan desserts icecream traderjoes yuzu ripple coconut frozen dessert 4.5
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wildwonder Peach Ginger Prebiotic and Probiotic Drink: I've had probiotic drinks, but this is my first time (knowingly) consuming a prebiotic drink (consisting of dietary fibers to further facilitate gut health). Though ginger is the first listed ingredient, I didn't find the drink to have as strong of a ginger flavor as I'd prefer. Additionally, even though it contains a mix of fruits (including peach puree and juice, and monk fruit), only 7% of the drink is juice. It tasted like a lot of things combined that didn't quite balance together (i... (read more) 2.5/5.0

drinks fruit wildwonder peach ginger prebiotic probiotic drink 2.5
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Tea King Grape Clouds Drink: Normally, bubble tea shops seems to specialize in either milk tea or fruit teas, with few shops being able to produce high quality beverages in both domains. Tea King is a rare exception where you can't seem to go wrong with either option. On my last trip, I got the Grape Clouds, a grape tea slush with a salty cheese foam topping. The fruit is super fresh (you get a healthy dose of grape pulp throughout), and the cheese foam provided a tangy, savory balance. After a long bike ride, it wa... (read more) 4.5/5.0

exceptional drinks seattle tea teaking grape clouds drink 4.5