Florida Citrus Center

Category: 1 pea: For nematodes only; a blight

Rating: 1 pea on a 5-pea-pod scale
Verdict: One would think we’re old enough to know bitter by now: When in doubt, ask for a sample tasting.

Mind you, there’s no reason why a convenience store can’t serve delicious boilers from a countertop hot pot, periodically pulling them from the freezer throughout the day. There are, however, excellent reasons why they could repulse the palate. These pre-boiled peanuts were probably simmering for another four, six or eight hours. As a result, they passed “mushy” into “mawkish” territory. We kid. They were peanut-slushies-in-a-shell.

But that wasn’t the worst of it with these Hawk’s Original Jumbo Boiled Peanuts. We confess to a prejudice against the “Georgia Jumbo” type peanuts (actually, their website calls them “Virginia type jumbo peanuts;” we defer) used by this Tampa-based company. They lack any depth of flavor, usually imparting bitter, industrial, sour, and/or metallic aftertastes. And these jumbos fit that bill.

Our biggest mistake was opting for the Cajun flavor. Or perhaps it was Jalepeno. Because the regulars were not ready to serve and we were craving, we succumbed. Think stale hot sauce. That desperation set us up for quite a fall as we motored toward the Georgia border on a Sunday afternoon.

We could have avoided the misery -- and saved $4.50 -- just by asking for a sample.

Season: Probably all year round
Hours: Probably all day long
Price: $4.50
Serving: Probably a quart in a giant Styrofoam cup
Notes: Maybe they have something better next door?
Proprietor: n/a
Last taste: July 2008.
Nut type: Virginia-type jumbos.
Soak time: n/a
Boil time: n/a
Taster: Thomas