When I was a kid, I picked through my Froot Loops cereal trying to figure out what fruit the orange, red, yellow, green, blue, and purple rings were attempting to replicate. I took my frustrations with the task out on myself. “Maybe I’m not as talented as I thought.” “Maybe I don’t know my fruits like I thought I did.” For years afterward, each bowl of Froot Loops taunted me with every spoonful, but now I know it was a fool’s errand because they all have the same flavor: artificial fruit and sugar. 

Kellogg’s, producer of popular breakfast cereals like Apple Jacks, Frosted Flakes, Rice Krispies, Frosted Mini Wheats, Rasin Bran, and many more, have been firing out boxes of Froot Loops since 1963. Known for its delicious, fruity aroma and fun diversity of colors, this cereal is a childhood staple for many. Interestingly enough, up until the 90s, Froot Loops only had orange-, red-, and yellow-colored pieces; they eventually added the green, blue, and purple to balance out the warm tones.  

The iconic mascot Toucan Sam possesses the awesome power of super scent and can smell his signature cereal from great distances. His catchphrase, “Follow your nose,” encourages kids to choose his cereal over others because of Froot Loops’ delicious fruity scent. 

Over time, Froot Loops has been offered in many flavor options including original, birthday cake, wild berry, tropical, a Frosted Flakes mashup, and even a version with marshmallows. The cereal has also been the subject of many collaborations with other brands and products like the Froot Loops Pop-Tart, Froot Loops Candy Canes at Christmas time, Froot Loops popsicles, and even Carl’s Jr. And Hardee’s Foot Loops donuts.  

A typical box of Froot Loops is bright red and features the lovable Toucan Sam, the Froot Loops and Kellogg’s logo, a bowl of the cereal, and many other vibrant colors throughout. While the overall design has remained pretty consistent over the years, alternate flavor varieties aside, it still does an excellent job of drawing consumers in with fun a display of bright colors. 

One and a third cup of this Kellogg’s classic provides 150 calories and 12 grams of sugar. It’s made with whole grain corn and boasts “natural fruit flavors,” an “excellent source of vitamin C,” and “no high fructose corn syrup.” 

I often make a big deal about the smell of a cereal and whether or not it’s appealing, and Froot Loops is the reason why. In my opinion, smell has a lot to do with the cereal experience and Froot Loops is the gold standard. Maybe it’s just the fact that it always takes me back to my childhood and reminds me of a simpler time, or maybe it’s all the sugar inside, but the fruity smell of this cereal is unlike any other and is something everyone needs to experience before they call their lives complete. 

Some cereals are only good with milk added to them, often because the milk enhances them in some way and makes the cereal more enjoyable, like Life cereal for example. I wouldn’t just eat a bowl of Life dry. Other cereals like Cinnamon Toast Crunch, Frosted Flakes, Cookie Crisp, and Reese’s Puffs, are good with or without milk. Then there are some cereals that are simply better dry, without milk. This includes the likes of Cheerios, Rice Krispies, Kix, and yes, Froot Loops. 

Dry, Froot Loops do not taste like fruit at all. They taste like whole grain corn puff rings with a slight “fruity” flavor and some added sugar. They get soggy quickly, and the milk afterwards doesn’t taste like milk, fruity milk, or even like sugary milk; instead, it tastes like whole grain flavored milk. Sounds appetizing right? Overall, they’re better dry. The crunch of each dry piece is perfect dry but ruined once not.  

Points are awarded to Kellogg’s for Froot Loops in nostalgia, scent, creativity, and mass appeal, but sadly taken away for taste, sogginess, and versatility. I still love Froot Loops and go back to them regularly. Why? Maybe it’s just the genius marketing by Kellogg’s and the encouraging words from old Toucan Sam. I do like Froot Loops, just skip the milk.