Is a Girl Scout Cookie Still the Same with a Different Name?
Today began the ever dreaded/loved time of year in my office where Girl Scout cookies come and take over.
In drooling... I mean looking over this year's order form, I noticed something slightly wrong. Has anyone else noticed the name change of my beloved cookies?
Thin mints are now still thin mints, but Samoas are now "Caramel DeLights" and Tagalongas are now "Peanut Butter Patties."
Anyone else notice/saddened this change in their areas?
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20 Comments:
I *think* the names were changed a while back here in the midwest but I'd have to double check. Our girls aren't selling cookies yet - I think it begins here in Feb.
My complaint is that I liked Thin Mints better when they didn't have a chocolate center cookie. Don't ask me why ... maybe just a nostalgia thing.
CooksForOne at 3:30PM on 01/12/09
I'm sad I haven't seen GS cookies in years. I guess I've lived too remotely for kids to knock on the door.
I would imagine name changes are an attempt to boost sales. Their top cookie of all time has to be Thin Mints and they'd be nuts to tamper with that. It's all about marketing. If you're offered, buy them and support a wholesome activity for girls!
PerkyMac at 3:31PM on 01/12/09
I think the alternate names have been around for a while now. The names depend on the cookie supplier your Girl Scouts use.
runnereater at 3:32PM on 01/12/09
Girl Scout: "Is this made from real lemons?"
Wednesday Addams: "Yes."
Girl Scout: "I only like all-natural foods and beverages, organically grown, with no preservatives. Are you sure they're real lemons?"
Wednesday Addams: "Yes."
Girl Scout: "I'll tell you what. I'll buy a cup if you buy a box of my delicious Girl Scout cookies. Do we have a deal?"
Wednesday Addams: "Are they made from real Girl Scouts?"
juliebugsmama at 4:01PM on 01/12/09
I still laugh when I hear that juliebugsmama! Thanks for the reminder.
PerkyMac at 4:19PM on 01/12/09
I was a girl scout for a really long time years ago. I remember one year when they changed the names, like the ones you noted. I was horrified. (apparently when you're eleven, its a travesty) I was told that they switched bakers (?). I think every year, they at least come out with new promo material, so the powers-that-be choose such things. Names, new cookies, posters, boxes, etc.
Also, they might have different distributors according to region? I can imagine this makes shipping easier....
I was also told later that some names were changes because they are not "PC" (i.e. Samoas... Do-si-dos) Recent years have seen a change in cookie selection, I think, too.
Chances are, name change alone will not change the way the cookies taste. But, if they're switching bakers, your cookie could change. Who knows. I haven't purchased any Girl Scout cookies in a long time. I might try making my own soon, though.
:]
engmcmuffin at 4:41PM on 01/12/09
@juliebugsmama LOL
Around here here the Girl Scouts set up shop at local supermarkets on weekends. So no need to wait for them to come a knockin'.
finsbigfan at 4:51PM on 01/12/09
Every year at Girl Scout cookie time, this question comes up. Runnereater above is dead on. It depends on which baker supplies your region/troop. More here: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Girl_Scout_cookie#Varieties
Adam Kuban at 5:14PM on 01/12/09
LMAO@juliebugsmama
Where I live they set up at supermarkets,knock on your door and everyone and their mother sells them at work,so there's NO WAY you can miss buyin them.....also I think they have a new flavor....
Dulce de Leche....I ordered 2 boxes!!!!
onepercent99 at 5:43PM on 01/12/09
I havent had a girl scout come to my door in 18 yrs :-( on very rare occasions I'll see them selling cookies outside a store but even that happens rarely. Been so long without them I dont even crave them anymore. Although I used to get a serious jones for samoa's every jan 31st.
huneybumper at 5:43PM on 01/12/09
Back when I was a GScout, we got the boxes of cookies, and we sold the boxes themselves, on-the-spot, but now you sign up for them and get them later, which I think makes it a bit harder to sell door-to-door to strangers. Because you have to take the order and then go back and give people the cookies and collect the money. I can imagine that if you cast a wide net, you're going back to some houses multiple times if the people don't happen to be home.
So now, parents sell a lot of cookies at work, because you can track down those people. I can't remember the last time an actual scout asked me to order cookies, but a lot of moms have asked.
dbcurrie at 9:29PM on 01/12/09
Is it girl scout cookie season already??? How do I find them in NYC?
pbisNOTmyname at 9:41PM on 01/12/09
@ohnofullmoon: I noticed right away, last year in fact. In the continuing dumbing down of America, I would guess that the Girl Scouts decided that their cookie names were either too complicated or too foreign sounding. And having not had a girl scout cookie in a very long time, i noticed that the "caramel delights" were not nearly as good as they were when I was a girl scout myself. At least they've left the Thin Mint alone: those are two words that are easy to pronounce!
spiceweasel at 9:38AM on 01/13/09
They changed names awhile ago in Ohio too. A couple years ago when I finally found medicines that worked to give me back my appetite, and help my nausea, I was in serious need of turning my 78 lbs. into more so my sister ordered me an entire case of Samoas, my fav flavor. I think I ate 8 boxes but couldn't do anymore, and still don't think I could eat a box--a couple maybe though, those things are tasty!
But thin mints are a family fav, especially fresh from the freezer!
bobcatsteph3 at 10:54AM on 01/13/09
That freezer idea sounds good bobcat. I don't particularly like Thin Mints but the fam does. Maybe I'll be able to tolerate them frozen.
Josdean at 11:41AM on 01/13/09
Wow, Josdean -- I think you're the first person I've ever heard of not liking Thin Mints! =) You should definitely try them frozen, they're amazing -- a slightly mellower flavor, which might be just what you need.
kfarrel3 at 11:48AM on 01/13/09
I'm going to try putting some in the freezer this year as well. When I saw that one of the skinniest/fittest ladies in the office ordered like, 24 boxes of cookies (ms. half-marathon runner/black belt achiever), I balked at the lady whose order form was on the door? "SHE is ordering this many cookies? NOWAY!" It was then that I learned GS cookies freeze well, as went the explanation on why she ordered so many.
joyyy at 11:59AM on 01/13/09
Yeah, I mentioned the freezing idea in another GS thread--not a mint fan, but freezing them is awesome, even with the downturn in recipe quality. I actually like commercial cookies frozen of all kinds.
HeartofGlass at 12:46PM on 01/13/09
@pbis - I'm in NYC and find them almost impossible to avoid. Several of the people in the office have daughters/nieces who are girl scouts. The girl scouts also set up camp a couple times a year in my office building's lobby.
I will never forgive them for discontinuing their Lemon Coolers , which were the best cookie in the world. Their current lemon sandwich cookies are a VERY disappointing replacement for all that awesome lemony goodness.
chisai at 12:57PM on 01/13/09
I love freezing Thin Mints too! Is it me or weren't Girl Scout Cookies going out of business? :( I'm confused!
Hillary
Chew on That
Chew on That at 5:22PM on 01/13/09