We all loved baked beans.
Enjoyed as part of a delicious Full English Breakfast, spread over some toast or a jacket potato or eaten cold out of the can on many a camping trip (or day at university), they're versatile and nutritious, but most importantly, they're delicious. But when you're eating baked beans and having a great time, do you ever think they'd taste better with Dr Pepper?
No? Well, then, who on earth are these specially-flavoured baked beans for?
I don't know what's going on at the Dr Pepper headquarters, but alongside making delicious fruit-flavoured soda, someone in the boardroom really wanted to get into the baked beans industry, clearly envious of all the money that Heinz was making pretty much unopposed.
Was this a good idea? I guess that only time will tell, but in the meantime, I'm going to go out there and see if I can find me some... Dr Pepper baked beans. That's... going to take a while before I get used to saying that.
Described as "Sweet and A Little Bit Sassy" by Walmart, which is one of the places you can find these baked beans, alongside my nightmares, while they've somehow sold out online - these beans are made by the Serious Bean Co. The internet's unofficial fast food informant, Instagram account @thejunkfoodaisle, have already spotted a can of the stuff.
Nope. This is not all one massive prank. Here's more evidence pointing to exactly that: the description of these "Sweet and A Little Bit Sassy Dr Pepper Baked Beans" on the Walmart website.
"With its blend of 23 flavors, Dr Pepper has long been a secret ingredient among top BBQ Pitmasters. The 23 original flavors of Dr Pepper give this batch its name and its amazing flavor. Sweet and Sassy success. No preservatives. Seriously Delicious. Always original. Always bold. Always delicious."
People are torn. Wouldn't you be? This particular tweeter gets exactly where I'm coming from: there's no way we should mix Dr Pepper and baked beans. Are you insane, Dr Pepper?
But on the other side, these weirdly-flavoured baked beans have their own advocates, as well. This one tweeter said it's pretty much the same as using Dr Pepper with a pork shoulder in a slow cooker. She might also just be tired of having to stir Dr Pepper in a can every time she wants baked beans.
There's always the chance, though, that this is an example of a British/American divide. A Texan explained that her family's own recipe used Dr Pepper too: "That’s the best way to make baked beans! My grandparents lived in Waco, and this WAS our family 'secret' recipe!"
Well, there you have it, folks - wherever you side on the whole Dr Pepper baked beans debate, one thing we can no longer dispute is that it now exists in our daily lives. Take that information as you will.