Tuesday, February 28, 2006

Craving Buc-Wheats

The message board over at The Empty Bowl, "The Definitive Source for All Your Cereal News" has a topic listing for Buc-Wheats, the long-defunct maple-tinged wheat/buckwheat cereal that was always my favorite.

Forum user "Discomurf" wrote to General Mills, who bought up all of Ralston Purina's cereals when Ralston divested itself of its cold breakfast products.

He received this reply.

Thank you for contacting General Mills.

We appreciate that you have taken the time to tell us about your product flavor preference. Our research and development group relies on the data collected during market research activities, in addition to the feedback we receive from our consumers, to identify potential new products and packaging. Before any new product is released to market, they conduct extensive analysis and testing to determine if it will meet our quality standards, and ultimately, the expectations and preferences of our consumers.

We hope you continue to enjoy our products.

Sincerely,
Kristi Goodman
General Mills
Consumer Services

13 comments:

Anonymous said...

Wow! Thanks! This has been bugging me for a long time, that I couldn't remember the name of that cereal. It was one of the few sweet cereals my folks would buy and I really liked it. I wish they would bring it back!

Anonymous said...

Hey, thanks for the shout-out! ...just an FYI: Buc-Wheats was always made by General Mills never Ralston. Let's hope they come to their senses and bring the masterpiece back to our bowls.

-Discomurf

Anonymous said...

Upon cracking our first box of Kelloggs' Frosted Flakes GOLD this morning the look and taste were immediately quite evocative of our late, lamented Buc-Wheats. It's been too many years to say for sure but to me the similarities are more than casual. See what you think.

cjereneta said...

Not a chance.

Frosted Flakes Gold is corn-based. It's honey-flavored with marshmallow overtones. (Like Honey Nut Corn Flakes, but sweeter.)

Buc-Wheats were wheat flakes (think: Total) with distinct maple flavoring.

Anonymous said...

There is a cereal out there that is almost exactly like Buc Wheats. It's called Maple Buckwheat Flakes Cereal by Arrowhead Mills. Their products are usually carried by health food stores or in the natural foods section of large grocery stores, but this flavor is hard to find. Check www.arrowheadmills.com.

cjereneta said...

Ok, that's two strikes. Made a special trip to buy Arrowhead Mills Maple Buckwheat Flakes and again, NOTHING LIKE BUC-WHEATS.

Now I have two boxes of cereal in my cupboard that I will never finish eating.

Anonymous said...

I gotta disagree with you. I loved Buc Wheats as a kid and the Arrowhead Mills cereal tastes a lot like it but not quite as sweet.

Thia said...

My two cents: no cigar.

Yes, the Arrowhead Mills Maple Buckwheat Flakes cereal is tasty, but not really fillin' the bill for BucWheats.

I would love to have them back, or something darn close, 'cause they were the only commercial cereal I ever really craved.

macy said...

I havent had buckwheats since i was a kid. I am now 38 and still crave it.It has to be really really great to have that effect on someone.

macy said...

haha my mom put that on mine i am actually 12.lol

Anonymous said...

I Want A Bowl Of Buc Wheats So Much ! Why Would I Even Look Up Something So Silly As A Defunct Brand Of Cereal If It Was Not So Yummie ? The Dark Krinkled Delicately Glazed Flakes... Each Flake Holding The Perfect Amount Of Milk... Yum ! Bring These Back GM !

Bill Graham said...

I saw this blog and immediately wrote General Mills. "My wife and I have been searching the cereal shelves for years for anything approaching Buc Wheats. I recently saw a number of on-line comments about a great craving for this classic cereal taste. And of course these would be older consumers who would have experienced this wonderful product when it was produced. PLEASE bring it back!"

Anonymous said...

Child of the 70&80 General Mills I wish they would bring them back to my cereal bowl.