2016 Menu #15 Mexican Style Chicken Stew

[ViperGTS]

I felt like an MRE dinner and did a surprise grab out of the ration storage crate that I have. I've had this one a few times but never did a quick write up about it. Figured it would help some of the people new to the hobby.
Code 6116: 2016 contains the main chicken stew, cheese "Combos", veg crackers, jalapeno cheese spread, mixed fruit, cocoa hazelnut drink, candy, accessory pack with raspberry drink etc., flamless heater, and spoon.

Honestly can't complain about this one, everything is fantastic. Some tortillas would be nice instead of the crackers, but what can you do. Raspberry drink did taste pretty artificial, as expected. Had to break out the knife to open the fruit, (tear notches failed me) and figured I'd use my huge Japanese Samurai sushi knife (santoku made by kamikoto, if anybody wants to get one). This thing is a razor blade. Got out my white porcelain mess kit too. Nice big hunks of chicken in the main, corn and peppers as well. Perfect spice level for most people. The fruit tasted like typical canned fruit cocktail, nothing special. The veg crackers are my favorite out of all the varieties, and you cant go wrong with jalapeno cheese spread.

Skipped the cocoa and the Reeses.

In all, a very filling and enjoyable meal but does anybody else still taste the cheese spread for hours after it has been consumed?

[Smitty]

Haha yeah, that rasberry drink tastes exactly like the Jolly Rancher candy of, until now, nearly indeterminate flavour. I'm not a huge fan of it.

I hope you saved the Reese's Pieces for later, rather than skipping it all together. Like...my favourite candy of all time.

[Richard w.]

Thanks for the review. I have one of these in my queue right now. Bought some recent rations after a 10 year hiatus.

In defense of the beverage bases, I'd like to point out that their purpose in the rations is really to make bad water more palatable. If you've ever had creek water treated with the iodine tablets we carried in our canteen pouches or water that's been sitting in a water buffalo trailer in the sun for days, you know that anything strong--any flavor--is an improvement. I don't think Natick is shooting for Koolaid or Hi-C caliber powders.

[Smitty]

True, though I have had some excellent drink mixes that have easily served that purpose. Including several very good raspberry ones, haha. Mind you, I never have used Iodine, just UV pens and filter units on multi-day hikes (where when you find water, you don't care what colour it is).

[ViperGTS]

I have had treated creek water while camping, (both tablets and multi-stage pump type charcoal filters) and any flavor is an improvement for sure.

Smitty, i can ship you the Reeses pieces, not my favorite...Reeses cups are ok. I'm sure you can get them in Canuck country though. If not, let me know and I will ship.

[Smitty]

Mighty kind, good sir, I appreciate it. No worries though, as you say: they sell them here. I'm just bugging you, haha.