Critique of Pizzeria Pretzel Flavored Combos Snack

Combos are a brand of snack that is sold by Mars, Incorporated. They are traditionally small cylinders made of cracker-like bread that contains soft cheesy flavored filling. The particular flavor that I am discussing today is called Pizzeria Pretzel and as you may have guessed the bread outside is now replaced with a more crunchy pretzel shell. The new pretzel coating is not the alone on the surface; the topside of each approximately one inch long snack is speckled with appropriately sized salt crystals. On the bottom side there are anywhere between two to seven oblong dark brown patches left from the pretzels contact with the interlacing metal that they must have been baked on.

On each circular end of the Combos signature cylinder design the cheese filling is visible as if being seen in a cross section of cheese flowing down a pretzel straw. In several combos that I have in front of me, the inner wall of the pretzel shell is visible because the cheese does not entirely fill the interior. However this is not the case in the majority of the individual snacks, as most have the cheese filling flush with the rims of the pretzel shell.

The first thing I notice when biting down on the snack, other than the surprisingly firm pretzel that resulted in a crunchy experience, was the cheese filling that came out of it. I believe I noticed it first because the taste was different than the normal pretzel taste I was expecting due to its appearance. Spices and onion flavor that normally belongs in a pizza are added to the cheese filling giving a reason for the Pizzeria Pretzel name. I might add that the flavoring in the cheese is actually a quite tasteful addition.

After the snack is demolished by my teeth and I have a chance to taste it in its entirety, the salt crystals begin to dissolve and add just a bit extra to the taste. The inside cheesy filling that mixes in with the taste of the pretzel reminds me of the spray cheese or Easy Cheese by Kraft Foods. This is not a bad thing though, that cheese is very good on many foods, one of my personal favorites happens to be pretzels.

Combos with flavor such as this pretzel pizza variety don't feel like an afterthought to an already made product. Take for example Doritos, they're simply tortilla chips made with poor ingredients, ingredients that pale in comparison to authentically made tortilla chips, that are covered in starchy powder. Combos are different, they're unique and original. Not to mention tasty.