I don’t write about food here in PopCult too often. I don’t partake of some of the more popular-cultury foodstuffs like beer, bacon, spicy crap or fungi, but I do have a favorite flavor when it comes to sweets.

That would be chocolate, or chocolate malt. However, that’s pretty mundane and boring and you can almost always find it when you want it.

I do have a strong second-favorite, and it’s a wee bit more exotic. I’m talking about Orange Cream, the flavor made famous by the legendary Dreamsicle of my youth.

Now is not the time to get into how the Creamsicles don’t taste nearly as good as they did years ago when they were called “Dreamsicles” and had way more yummy chemicals in them. Now is the time to tell you about three limited-edition products, made with that fantastic flavor, which are available for a limited time (or store) only

Cap’n Crunch’s Orange Creampop Crunch has been creeping out across the country for the last several weeks, and it’s finally made its way to the Charleston area.

You have to excuse me for being excited. Not only is this a  very strong representation of my second-favorite flavor, but it’s also got some significant and obscure pop culture cred.

it’s been nine freaking years since Quaker has graced us with this particular manna from heaven, and its reappearance almost makes up for the sheer awfulness of their decision to discontinue Quisp cereal last year. Since its inagural limited 2016 release, the only thing that’s changed is that the good Cap’n is wearing a Hawaiian-style shirt on the front of the box.

The back of the box is identical to the 2016 release, and that’s worth noting because it’s a crowd scene with several mascots for discontinued Quaker Oats cereals making a rare appearance on a new product. Or particular note is the presence of Quisp’s nemesis, Quake, and his pet Kangaroo, The Orange Quangaroo, who deserves his spot because Orange Quangeroos were one of the few orange-flavored cereals back in the glory days of serving kids candy for breakfast. You can see the glorious and spectacular back of the box at the bottom of this post.

For the cereal nerds among you, this is the original coal miner Quake, not the ersatz cowboy version that they tried to peddle to us kids late in the life of that cereal.

And while some folks think it’s more important to ban food dyes than it is to feed kids, pay for schools, make sure state workers have insurance or fix potholes, others of us have some fond nostalgia for the big crunchy candy cartoon cereals of our long-ago youth. I would get a major rush from seeing Baron Von Redberry and Sir Grapefellow back on store shelves again, even if just for a limited time. I mean, I think back to how much energy I had as a kid, and I have to wonder how much of that was due to a steady intake of high-sugared, brightly-colored candy disguised as cereal.

And let’s not pretend that this was any way really a “part of a complete breakfast.” Yeah, sure…it’s the candy part of that breakfast. This is a treat, not a meal, and I wouldn’t recommend eating half a box in one sitting or anything…even if weed is legal where you live.

With me dieting rather successfully at the moment, one box of this stuff will probably last two months. I will savor and enjoy every delicious bite. It tastes exactly like the Dreamsicles I ate too many of when I was kid, only it’s cereal instead of ice cream, so there’s no danger of brain freeze.

Anyway, Cap’n Crunch’s Orange Creampop Crunch is here in Charleston. I found it at Walmart and I’m pretty sure it’ll turn up…briefly…where ever fine sugared cereals are sold.

Another interesting iteration of Orange Cream is the  Orange Vanilla Cream M&Ms, a white chocolate candy.

What’s cool about this is that the orange flavor is in the shell, while the white chocolate interior has the creamy vanilla taste.

Usually M&Ms don’t have strong flavors (or any) on their shells, and here it works to a wondeful effect. This candy, just like Cap’n Crunch’s Orange Creampop Crunch, tastes more like a classic Dreamsicle than most orange-cream flavored ice cream bars do now.

Orange Vanilla Cream M&Ms are exclusive to Dollar General, and they are supposed to be available all year round, but are much easier to find in the late-spring/early summer. It’s another way to get a quick fix if you love the flavor.

Please eat responsibly.

Lastly, we have the Dairy Queen Orange Cream Flavored Shake.

They do this every year for a month or two at the end of Spring, and as somebody who usually only drinks a milkshake two or three times a year, I am grateful for the limited nature.

This shake proves that, if they were so inclined, the giant consortium of ice cream bar manuacturers (or Big Frozen Novelty) could perfectly recreate the flavor of the Dreamsicle in ice cream form.  They just won’t do it.

Those bastards.

It takes a lot for me to forego my beloved chocolate malt for one of my rare indulgences in fine milkshakery, but this one can convince me to do it. I just have to make sure they don’t put that nasty whipped cream on top. I hate that crap.

So, if you love the orange cream flavor of a vintage Dreamsicle…’tis the season. Get out there and eat up while you can.