What Is Turtle Flavor?

I had a teacher in first grade named Ellie and I genuinely can only remember two things about her: One is that she read Charlotte’s Web aloud to the class over the course of a couple weeks and laughed so hard at one point she had to take a break, and the other is that she loved Turtles (the candy). I swear I could not tell you a single thing she taught me but I can distinctly recall her waxing rhapsodic about how getting a box of Turtles from a friend was the best Christmas present she ever received. 

And yet, for all that, I never knew exactly what a Turtle was. I just had the vague impression that it was a decadent, delicious treat that must be the height of luxury and class. But what do they taste like? What flavor is Turtle? And what is Turtle flavor coffee? Let’s tap into some turtle power and get some answers.

What is Turtle flavor?

Despite its name, “turtle flavor” has no connection, taste-wise, to the hard-shelled reptile. While turtle soup is a dish that is considered a delicacy in some regions, that’s generally not what we’re talking about when we’re talking about turtle flavor. A Turtle, in confectionery circles, refers to a chocolate with caramel and pecans. 

Why the peculiar name? The story goes that in 1916 Chicago candymaker George DeMet had the brilliant idea of adding caramel to chocolate-covered pecans. When it was pointed out that the shape of the cluster looked like a turtle, the name was born. Today, DeMet’s still owns the trademark to Turtles. If you ask me, they do look a little like turtles, but if they had been invented in Florida we could just as easily be eating Manatees today. 

In any event, Turtles were popular from the beginning and continue to be a tasty treat. Cut to today, when flavoring technology has exploded. There’s every flavor imaginable at our fingertips and Turtle is no exception: Turtle flavor ice cream, Turtle flavor frozen yogurt, Turtle flavor syrup, and on and on. And, as with the original turtles in 1916, the flavor profile of these products is chocolate, caramel, and pecan. 

What is Turtle flavor coffee?

Notably, there’s a Turtle flavor of coffee at Dunkin. According to their website, “Swirling with notes of creamy caramel, buttery pecan, and smooth dark chocolate flavors, Turtle Love flavored coffee is a dark roast that will have you head over heels at first sip.” As you can see, the three key flavorings are right there in the copy. Now, as to why they decided to call it Turtle Love specifically, that I can’t answer. Is it…a play on “Total Love?” Or “Turtle Doves?” Maybe I’m overthinking it. 
If you’re a fan of the flavor of Turtle’s three classic ingredients, you’re in luck because it doesn’t seem like Turtle flavor is slowing down. From a quick Google search, it’s clear that companies know this is a winning combination. How about some Turtle Chex Mix? Maybe even some Turtle Whiskey? It’s a trio of flavors that everyone can shell-ebrate.