You have to feel bad for the humble peach.
It’s spent countless millennia and evolutionary paths to become perfectly shaped and juicily flavored for consumption. Yet we buffoonish humans just laugh at it. Because it kind of looks like a fuzzy booty.
Well I’m here to be your champion, my peachy friend. I’m very proud of you for becoming the star of General Mills’ latest limited edition Cheerios variety—a feat I imagine requires multiple levels of American Idol-style performances that would leave lesser fruit crying into their crisper drawers.
Suck it, durian: no one wants prickly, smelly Cheerios.
So now that you’re joining the proud lineage of fruit pyramid-friendly flavors like Strawberry and Pumpkin Spice, no one will be able to mock you any more, or to make you the butt of many jokes. I won’t allow it.
No ifs, ands, or butts.
Okay, I’m gonna be honest: the only reason I’m so optimistic about Peach Cheerios is because the last limited edition Cheerios have all been great—I mean, I’ve definitely binge-eaten Chocolate Peanut Butter Cheerios in quantities that would recalculate cocoa powder tariffs.
In reality, I’m skeptical of an pure peach cereal. Is that fruity flavor strong enough to carry a toasted oat-based cereal? Will there be pits? What about whole grain peach fuzz?
But I skittishly digress and shall dive into this bowl anyway.
As a peach cereal, Peach Cheerios is pretty much perfect. Not too sweet, not too candied, and definitely authentically peachy, these rings are bursting with more fruity peach goodness than an overstuffed cobbler. This “all natural” peach goodness is only amplified by General Mills’ choice to bake the flavor in, rather than glaze or powder it on. As a mellow baked-in version of a typically sharper floral fruitiness, Peach Cheerios’ coating still allows the savory toasted oatiness that lies below to shine through like a wholesome sunrise.
The only issue with eating Peach Cheerios raw (that’s the right word for fruit-flavored cereals, right?) is the Dole factor. Yes, I’m talking about how, after eating several handfuls, a sticky fruit syrupiness begins to make the back of my mouth feel like a sun-baked Dole fruit cup.
Which is why I highly recommend adding milk to Peach Cheerios, to turn them into the milder “peaches and cream” cereal it was destined to be. With the addition of a little creaminess, the whole bowl becomes more like a crunchy smoothie than a cereal—and that’s the first time I’ve used “crunchy smoothie” as a compliment ever since I forgot my Jamba Juice on my sunny dashboard.
It was right next to the fruit cup.
Peach Cheerios is the best peach cereal I’ve ever had. So while peach fans can hustle their buns straight to the grocery aisle to buy a buttload (forgive me, peacher, for I have sinned) of this stuff, the rest of us have to ask ourselves a question: is peach a sustainable flavor? Other than those Neutral Good fruit-in-cereal types, most cereal lovers I know eventually long for something more earthen—be that buttered peanuts or powdered cocoa—while a taste as niche as Peach Cheerios likely won’t be a reliable “every day cereal,” or a regular repeat buy. I’m going to enjoy this box while it lasts, but catch me next week looking forward to whatever fruity Cheerios General Mills pulls from their cereal cornucopia next.
I’m hoping for Grape Cheerios, so when I inevitably leave them to ferment with the Jamba Juice, at least I’ll be able to crunch up a winey buzz.
The Bowl: Peach Cheerios
The Breakdown: Authentically and not too sharply peachy, Peach Cheerios are wholly true to their namesake flavor. But its one-note palate is likely only to appeal to diehard peach lovers—for me, it overripens its welcome too fast.
The Bottom Line: 7.5 Chevy saunas out of 10
Moving from Georgia (the peach state) to South Texas left me searching, begging, clamoring for peach anything. There is not a decent peach anywhere down here. When I saw Peach Cheerios I was thrilled. After eating a bowl I’m left asking, “Where’s the peach?” The good news is that the flavor isn’t candy-icky imitation peach. It’s just a very subtle peach. If I had a peach to cut up and add to the cereal it would be perfect.
Jordy and my family think alike! I got 1 giant box..went back for a case and have never seen again!!life is not worth living if our families can’t get it again!! When Cheerios started to taste like nasty medicine many years ago..we quit eating cereal period..Refused to eat anything but Cheerios regular. Wrote Company saying we could die happy(we in our 70’s) when you went back to original!! Please bring back peach so we can buy shelf out if only limited.We are still only eat Cheerios family..but NEED PEACH too!LOL! THANKS
Jordy and my family think alike! I got 1 giant box..went back for a case and have never seen again!!life is not worth living if our families can’t get it again!! When Cheerios started to taste like nasty medicine many years ago..we quit eating cereal period..Refused to eat anything but Cheerios regular. Wrote Company saying we could die happy(we in our 70’s) when you went back to original!! Please bring back peach so we can buy shelf out if only limited.We aee still only Cheerios family..but NEED PEACH too!LOL! THANKS
I bought one gigantic box of Peach Cheerios the first time a saw them at Walmart. They were sold out the next time I went to Walmart and they haven’t gotten them back in stock, even though the price sticker still holds a place on the shelf. Weeks later, Winco got a shipment in, but in a much smaller size. So, I bought six boxes in an attempt to last me until some other store got them in. Two months have passed and now I’m out of my favorite cereal, which is nowhere to be found.
Peach Cheerios is not at my Walmart store! so i ended up with Nutter Butter cereal and Banana Nut Cheerios
So, first question first:
Is Mango or Peach the better cereal? :p
(I guess they are equally good. xD)
Speaking of the Mango Cereal: Since Trade Joe’s got totally Mango Madness tow years ago, i’m kinda intrigued with exotic flavored cereal.
As you mentioned a lot of people like “earthy cereal” over real fruit cereal and even for me, who loves his oatmeal made with fruit(“puree”), has a hard time to imagine a peach flavored cereal beeing a staple breakfast/snack/decereal for me.
But then again i love peach/apricot/mango flavored yogurt and while peach isn’t anything i’d love to eat around christmas… a good “peachy” bowl with cold milk, while it’s warm(hot outside is something i could get used to xD
So: GM is doing good release this cereal for a limited time and maybe bring it back next year. Like the pumpkin cereals. 😀
Anyways: Thanks again for the great review and my “daily dose” of cereal nerdiness 😀
Oh before i forget to ask: In Germany peach/apricot Flavor often comes with passionfruit (e.g. in yogurt) and it’s actually one of my favorite dairy + fruit flavors. Is this also a thing in the US? ‘Cause i wasn’t able to find a whole lot of products combining the two flavors.
I’m just asking, ’cause i could imagine the flavor combination would work for cereal too 😀
Cheers!
I like canned/frozen peaches but my favorite fruit is pineapple but I wouldn’t want it to be just pineapple but something like bringing back yogurt Cheerios and have pineapple yogurt Cheerios or something along those lines.
Where did you find them??? I’ve been looking everywhere!
I’m still wishing for Dulce de Leche Cheerios. That’s up there with Chocolate Peanut Butter Cheerios for me.