Oreo Orange-Tang cookie flavour gets a mixed reception

There’s an old adage that says if it ain’t broke, don’t fix it. Even though tinkering with an already perfect creation can be tempting, you’re much better off biting your tongue than messing up something great. Nowhere is this more true than with food. 

Almost every famous food and drink brand has at some point played with their most well-known creation. Whether it’s Diet Coke or Spicy McNuggets, frustrated creatives are always eager to adjust ingredients and play with flavour. Sometimes the experiment comes off. Sometimes it doesn’t. Either way, the results are always cause for conversation. 

Last week, Instagram snack source @junkfoodonthego shared a photo of a new Oreo flavour that soon had the internet up in arms. The photo in question featured what looked like Oreo’s ordinary black cookies, stuffed with an unusual orange creme filling. The packet revealed the lurid biscuits to be “Orange Tang” Oreo’s. 

As if in anticipation of the divided response from online commentators, @junkfoodonthego was cautious in their praise. In a lengthy caption for the post, they wrote:

“Most of us Americans grew up drinking Orange Tang whether it was at home or at school. I remember as a kid, it was so bomb!! It’s one of those things though that I think kids enjoy more than adults. Anyway these Oreos actually really capture the taste of orange tang in the creme filling.” 

“Now whether or not that is a good thing… I will leave up to you to decide. I think if you love Orange Tang, definitely give these a try. Personally I’m not sure how I feel about the combination of orange and chocolate but I know a lot of people love it. Interesting try for sure!”

Enjoy a twist on traditional Oreos? Check out this Cookies and Cream Swirl Bun:

The photo itself was actually taken in Dubai, suggesting that the flavour is not yet widely available. This, however, did not stop fellow Instagrammers from having their say. Daniellaalexis97 simply wrote “yikes” under the photo, while retroplex86 went all religious, exclaiming, “Everyday we stray further from God’s light [sic.].” Another commenter wondered whether there was a “competition for grossest flavour”.

However, it wasn’t all doom and gloom from snack fans. One user railed, “WHY DOES THAT HAVE TO LOOK SO GOOD”, while another excitedly added “Omg I need to try this flavour.” While there’s no word on when or if the flavour will make it out of the Middle East, it certainly looks like it would be a divisive addition to the Oreo lineup.