I never knew there were regional differences in Girl Scout cookies, only that they were delicious in the region of my mouth. But a Los Angeles Times "investigation" from last year (which follows work by Central Track) highlights that actually two different bakers supply the cookies getting sold door to door and in front of cannabis clinics right now.
So, for instance, a Thin Mint bought in Sacramento, California can be different than one bought in Miami, Florida in terms of flavor, texture, and sometimes price.
According to the L.A. Times' analysis, the Thin Mints made by Virginia-based ABC Bakers have deeper holes in the top and have more mint than chocolate, while those made by the Kentucky-headquartered Little Brownie Bakers are richer and have a taste of peppermint. In some parts of the country, "Samoas" are instead known as "Caramel deLites" and have more cookie, and "Trefoils" are known as "Shortbread."
Most of the prices are the same, but sometimes there's a difference of 2-5 cents per cookie.
The differences aren't just a matter of taste. Some cookies are vegan depending on who makes them. To check where your Girl Scout cookies come from, punch your zip code into the L.A. Times' interactive map.
