I love the original Honey Bunches of Oats, that’s why I was intrigued when I saw Post’s vanilla variety. It’s a little more expensive ($3.50 rather than $3 at my Wal-Mart), but not enough to detour a personal taste test so I went ahead and bought a box.
When I got it home I was quiet surprised. I poured myself a bowl, added some milk, took a nice big bite and was immediately hit with the vanilla. It was a strong vanilla too, which was the surprising part, completely replacing the usual honey splendor many would expect. It took a couple bites to get used to but soon after it was the usual sugary, cereal indulgence I was looking for.
Another little surprise is the lack of “vanilla bunches” in this version of the product. It could have just been the random box I grabbed but there seemed to be fewer bunches then normal. This wasn’t a problem for me, as even the flakes were coated with vanilla bean, but it could be an unappreciated texture change for some.
As far as the nutritional info, this is the usual cereal affair. There’s 220 calories in a serving most of which coming from carbohydrates, 46 grams. Only 12 of those grams come from sugar while another 4 is fiber, which is something a tasty cereal like this usually lacks. Being in part made of whole wheat and oats, there is some natural nutritional value here but the vitamins and minerals listed are still largely fortified. Oh, and according to the ingredient list, that vanilla flavor you taste is actual grounded up vanilla beans!
Overall, I was quite happy with Post’s Honey Bunches of Oats with Vanilla Bunches. It was a good alternative to the usual honey only variety. I was a little disappointed that there were fewer actual bunches in the cereal, but with a little milk and a banana on the side this tasted just as great.