Top 15 Food and Drinks of 2024

I am showcasing my favorite product tests of the year by launching the BeeKneeBob Awards! In 2024, I got to try over 300 products across various categories, and if you are new to my blog, my favorite products to review are the edible ones! From the perfect morning coffee brews to late-night snack cravings, these 15 picks stood out.

This list mainly includes the best coffee, candy, and salty snacks of 2024. And while some of these products may not have been released in 2024, they were new to me during my testing, and I believe they deserve a moment in the spotlight.

If you’re interested in beauty, don’t miss my blog post on the Top 10 Beauty Products of 2024.

Let’s eat, drink, and be merry!

The 2024 BeeKneeBob Awards Presents…

The Best Food and Drinks of 2024

15. Cirkul Water Bottle and Cartridge

Cirkul might be a novelty, but it made a big splash in my summer hydration routine. This customizable flavored water combines innovation with fun, featuring a stainless-steel bottle paired with unique flavor cartridges. Adjust the intensity of the flavor dial from 1 to 10, and voilà, the result is a customized zero-calorie flavored water experience with every sip. Each $4 cartridge equals six 20-ounce bottles. While the vast array of flavors can get pricey, seeing my Cirkul bottle in the fridge is often the nudge I need to reach for water over a sugary drink.

14. Mac-A-Roni Simply Pure Deliciousness

From the creators of Rice-a-Roni comes a natural progression: Mac-a-Roni. The name was inevitable, and the brand’s foray on the comfort food market strikes a chord in familiarity and convenience. Mac-a-Roni stands out with its slightly larger portions and natural, non-artificial colors. Available in flavors like Three Cheese and White Cheddar, it leans mild than what I’m accustomed to, but it holds a wholesome place as an affordable, go-to dish for those busy weeknights.

13. eat G.A.N.G.S.T.E.R. Vegan Pizza Crust & Flatbread Mix

Homemade pizza brings back memories, and as I’ve grown older, I’ve become both attached to old favorites with a pinch of desire for healthier alternatives. Enter Eat G.A.N.G.S.T.E.R. vegan, gluten-free, grain-free pizza crust mix, catering to a variety of dietary needs. Made with water, oil, and apple cider vinegar, the dough is easy to press into a pan and bakes into a soft flatbread. It holds a sweet earthy taste, thanks to ingredients like date sugar and tiger nuts. While it lacks the firmness of traditional crusts, this mix is a creative option for foodies and a warm welcome to those with dietary restrictions.

12. Spindrift Nojito Sparkling Water

Sparkling water usually means low-calorie bubbles with a nice scent but little to no flavor. I’m so pleased to have this common expectation of carbonated water interrupted by Spindrift Nojito blend, fusing lime and mint in a sparkling drink that actually delivers flavor. I could actually taste the duo! Talk about a refreshing surprise; this drink is a sparkling miracle in a can.

11. Yolky Potato Chips with Salted Egg Flavor

Claiming the title of the most unique salty snack I’ve tried this year (and maybe ever), Yolky Chips from Singapore brings a combination of salty and sweet. The creamy egg yolk flavor is elevated with curry leaves on top of a ridged potato chip. It’s hard to imagine something crispy tasting creamy, yet Yolky Chips manages to pull it off. The brand also offers other unconventional snacks like fried fish skin and Szechuan pepper chips.

10. Goldfish Salt & Vinegar Crisps

Goldfish takes a bold turn with their new Salt & Vinegar Crisps, offering an intense yet perfectly balanced flavor duo. Oftentimes I find salt and vinegar snacks too salty or not tangy enough, but this time the flavors are exactly at the level I like them to be. Like the package says, Goldfish’s Crisps line is light and airy. They are so light that I forget how much of them I eat in one sitting!

9. Aggropops Barbecue Lentil Puffs

Packed with protein and fiber, these puffs are crispy and made from lentils sourced from Canada. Aggropops Barbecue Lentil Puffs are smoky, as if they came straight from the cookout. At just 158 calories for a 1.5-ounce bag, I could crunch away guilt-free.

8. Cafe Bustelo Peru and Mexico Ground Coffee

In 2024, I received a box of two canisters of new blends by Cafe Bustelo: Peru and Mexico. Cafe Bustelo Peru blend is described as having cacao notes, and Cafe Bustelo Mexico has nutty undertones. Both are dark roasts, but which one wins my heart? It’s a tie! Cafe Bustelo’s latest blends are equally delicious, but lighter than I anticipated. I was drawn to the smooth mouthfeel of the coffee as well as the subtle flavors when paired with sugar and milk. Now when I shop for ground coffee, Cafe Bustelo is on my radar, thanks to these products. They truly raised the bar.

7. Hershey Kisses Café Moka

A last-minute addition to my top 15, Hershey Kisses Café Moka made quite an impression on me at first bite. Thanks to a holiday candy sampler, I learned about this limited edition flavor, sold exclusively at Hershey’s official store. Inspired by Latin America, these Kisses merge Hershey’s signature chocolate with the rich, soothing flavor of mocha coffee. Dearest Hershey, please consider selling these at more locations—I’ll love you forever!

6. Blue Bunny Twist Pints Ice Cream

One of my biggest gripes with store-bought ice cream is the hard, icy texture. Blue Bunny Twist Pints has changed the game with swirling duo flavors like chocolate and vanilla, cookies and cream, and mint chocolate. But let me be frank: it’s all about the airy, soft serve texture. No more chiseling away into a block of ice anymore or resorting to the microwave. IT’S SOFT SERVE.

5. Fweygo Candy Spicy Gummy Bears

I am known to approach spice with caution, along with chewy candy in general. I wasn’t expecting to like these. In fact, I pictured myself passing the leftovers to my younger relatives, who can handle the heat better than I can. Fweygo gummy bears are coated with chamoy powder, popularized in Mexican candy. The initial burst of saltiness with fruity sweetness soon transitions to a tingling heat. This kind of spice doesn’t take control but offers a playful pinch, never once drowning out the original sweetness of the classic bear.

4. Jif Peanut Butter and Chocolate Spread

Jif’s latest creation takes their original creamy peanut butter and balances it with cocoa. The flavor profile remains classically nutty but sweet enough to enter dessert territory. Chocolate peanut butter lovers are sure to find plenty of uses for this even-leveled spread, as did I when I launched my recipe for Jif Chocolate Peanut Butter No Bake Cookies this year. The recipe was a hit on my blog, earning Jif Peanut Butter and Chocolate a well-deserved spot in my top picks.

3. Joyride Sour Blue Raspberry Strips

I discovered Joyride through a YouTube video by Ryan Trahan, whose travel adventures exude positivity and humor. It’s no surprise his channel boasts over 17 million subscribers. When not making fun videos, he’s promoting Joyride, a candy brand made with 4 grams of sugar and no additives. I was excited for the opportunity to try Joyride Sour Blue Raspberry Strips, and they did not disappoint. Not only are they soft to chew, but their prebiotic fiber helps with my digestion. That means I can’t consume very many in one sitting, but it’s nice to have a candy that tastes indulgent while offering a health benefit!

2. Jolly Time Simply Popped Sea Salt Microwave Popcorn

Sea salt, oil, and popcorn sounds healthy, but perhaps too healthy to the point that I’m left with a bland snack. Jolly Time Simply Popped line of microwave popcorn proves that you don’t need to soak corn kernels in heavy additives to serve up some addictive popcorn. I couldn’t believe how delicious it tasted straight out of the bag. While I’ve always loved cheesy and ultra-buttery offerings, Jolly Time has made me rethink my popcorn priorities. The popcorn is still buttery and salty despite the light seasoning.

1. Pop & Bottle Mocha Cold Brew Oat Milk Latte

What kind of magic is this? Mocha? Check. Cold brew coffee? Check. Oat milk? Love it. Latte? I know it well. Combine these coffee ingredients together in a sleek can, slap on a 100-calorie label, and call me a fan. Pop & Bottle serves up a rich, chocolatey coffee with a creamy mouthfeel. To my surprise, their lactose-free coffee also contains adaptogens, like ashwagandha and maca, to support stress management. This innovative coffee drink is my top pick for 2024. Is this coffee nirvana? Don’t ask me right now—I’m too busy ascending!

The end of 2024 is here, and so concludes the first annual BeeKneeBob Awards. I’ve thoroughly enjoyed my years of product testing and want to salute all the brands that made a favorable impression on me this year. The innovations in the world of consumer products never cease to amaze me. See you all in 2025!