The satisfaction of indulging in food might be relatively short-lived, but there’s nothing quite like the contentment derived from Washington State University delectables.
From the university’s famed Cougar Gold cheese to its Crimson Confections and Cougar Series red wine blends, there are many WSU culinary products to make Cougs’ palates happy.
Cougar Gold — WSU Creamery’s signature cheese appeared in the “Highly Recommend” column of Bon Appétit magazine early last year. The verdict: “absolutely incredible.” Of course, Cougs already knew that. The canned cheese with a cult-like following comes in a 30-ounce round and is available at Ferdinand’s Ice Cream Shoppe, Brelsford WSU Visitor Center, select stores, and online, along with its sister flavors: Natural Viking, Cracked Pepper & Chive, Dill Garlic, Sweet Basil, Natural Cheddar, Smoky Cheddar, Crimson Fire! and Hot Pepper.
Crimson Confections —Unfortunately, Crimson Confections are no longer produced at WSU. You can find WSU-themed candy at Bruce’s Candy Kitchen online.
WSU seasonings and rubs — Spice things up with flavor combinations from the WSU Department of Animal Sciences, which offers a WSU Espresso Seasoning & Rub and WSU Everything Seasoning.
WSU Honey — The WSU Department of Entomology produces honey on the Palouse and in Island County as part of its honey bee research. Honey is bottled separately by location to highlight its origin’s flavor. Production is seasonal and based upon bees’ productivity, so quantities may be limited.
WSU Blended Learning wine series — These red, white, and sparkling wines are available through Brelsford WSU Visitor Center, along with myriad Coug-connected wines and hard ciders. Wines are made by WSU viticulture and enology students in partnership with Washington state winemakers, who share their expertise and resources for a valuable, hands-on learning experience. Grapes come from some of the state’s most iconic vineyards.
Cougar Collectors’ series — The red wine blends in this limited-edition series, first bottled in 2014 and made possible through a partnership between Wine-By-Cougars and the WSU Alumni Association, are now up to eight offerings. Sales support scholarships for the next generation of WSU wine leaders and other WSUAA initiatives.
Cougar Brand Smokies — These German-style smoked sausages from Cougar Quality Meats at the WSU Meats Lab are made with beef and pork, primarily from the WSU Cattle Feeding Lab and Swine Center. The rest of the recipe is secret.
WSU Premium Beef — Students and faculty in the Department of Animal Sciences work together to raise and harvest Angus and Wagyu beef from WSU’s pasture-to-plate cattle herd. Several packages are available. Cougar Quality Meats also offers all-beef pepperoni sticks, beef jerky in espresso and sweet-and-spicy flavors, pork bratwursts, pork breakfast sausage, and more.
And they make great gifts…
Check out the Crimson Gift Guide for information on where to buy WSU foods and other Coug gift ideas.
The Brelsford WSU Visitor Center offers ways to buy WSU-themed gifts.