In the hottest debut since, uh, the last time the Girl Scouts released a new cookie, the Savannah Smile, a tangy lemon cookie topped with powdered sugar, was announced as part of the Girl Scouts’ 100th anniversary celebration.
Similar to a previously sold, popular cookie called Lemon Coolers, these cookies are named after the Savannah, Ga., hometown of the group’s founder Juliette Gordon Low, and the “Smile” comes from its wedge shape, reminiscent of the old-school Brownie Smile cookie (we at TODAY.com like to imagine that it was named after our own Savannah Guthrie).
We snagged a box of these treats and gave them a taste. The verdict? Pucker up, these suckers are LEMONY, and the flavor lingers on the back of your tongue for a while. If you enjoy the cool, zestiness of faux lemon, you’ll love them. If you don’t, well, stick to Samoas or Thin Mints, which are by far the most popular of the cookie pack.
We asked for Savannah’s take on the Savannahs, and, surprisingly, she enjoyed them despite her aversion to lemon-flavored treats. “That’s tasty!” she said.
Unfortunately for Savannah, an avid peanut-butter lover, they don’t compare to the original peanut butter sandwich Savannah cookie (now discontinued). When she heard that Girl Scouts was releasing a Savannah cookie, she had hoped they would resurrect the peanut butter variety of her childhood. Alas, not quite. But there’s always the Doh-si-Doh.
TODAY.com staffers share their thought about Savannah Smiles, as well as additional rants and raves about Girl Scout cookies:
I like the new flavor. I hear other complaining that they’re too lemony, but I like my sweets tart; if anything, it’s a little too sweet. Nice crunchy texture. And I like that the cookie isn’t too large; a little of it goes a long way. As far as favorite Girl Scout cookie flavor goes, I’m a traditionalist. I’m all about the Thin Mint. There’s a reason they account for 25 percent of all Girl Scout cookie sales -- they’re the best. –Rick Schindler
I’m placing these cookies above Samoas but below Trefoils. Only the most forlorn-looking Girl Scout could get me to buy a box from her. The best GS cookies are Tagalongs, a.k.a peanut butter patties, kept in the freezer. The worst are Thin Mints. I’m not sure why everyone goes gaga for them. Mint is delicious — in mojitos and gum. Get out of my cookies! –Amy DiLuna
Pros: Nice little bite size. Like the powdered sugar and the cookie was not too crunchy and not too soft. Cons: The lemon flavor tasted a bit harsh and chemically to me. I feel like if you ate half a box you’d feel pretty sick. And really isn’t half a box the recommended serving size for Girl Scout cookies? (Don’t tell Joy Bauer I said that!)
My favorite Girl Scout cookies are Samoas (the caramel-coconut-chocolate ring-shaped ones). Delicious, and when I was little and my hands were smaller I could put them on my finger like a ring. Fashionable AND tasty! – Rebecca Dube
I liked the new cookie but I don’t think I would buy it, it was bit too lemony but I liked the crunch and airiness of it. –Mish Whalen
I like these tart little treats! They are heavy on the lemon, but I don’t mind it. They’d be good with some tea. But let’s be honest, they can’t touch the chocolaty classics like Samoas or, my personal favorite, Thin Mints (best frozen, with milk). –Katie Quinn
There you have it! You’ll have to wait until the Scouts are back to work to get your own box and taste them for yourself, which varies depending on region (they're already out and about in many areas). If you're desperate for a fix, you can check out the Cookie Locator app which will let you know exactly where those addictive little treats are being sold. Ahh, just in time to give us a tangible excuse for kicking our New Year’s resolutions to the curb. We’re just helping the kids, after all!
Tell us your thoughts on Girl Scout cookies.
Vidya Rao is a writer and food editor for TODAY.com. She's known to leave crumbs in her wake.