Review: Izze Sparkling Grapefruit

 

This drink is interesting to me because it walks a fine line with two of its components.  Sparkling fruit juice can be good as long as they keep the fizz respectable and the fruit juice sweet but not heavy.  Grapefruit can be good as long as they tone down the bitterness a bit (I actually really love grapefruit so that's not a problem except for in Aranciata).   That being said, I'm a sucker for anything in glass bottles.

Outsides:  In a nice glass bottle with a "easy" twist-off cap (It's never easy for me but thankfully, twists off easily with the help of a hoodie).  It's a similar color to Ruby Red juice, kinda salmon colored with hints of pink and orange.  The drink smells like a ripe grapefruit.

Insides:  Ok, this is what sparkling juice should taste like.  It's kind of an alternative to soda, very fizzy but also sweet with realistic fruit flavor.  The grapefruit is the star of the show, but the flavor isn't overpowering.  There's also a blend of other juices like apple, white grape and orange, but these blend well with the grapefruit and serve as a nice neutral or enhancing base to its flavor.  It's also:  1)  Not syrupy  2)  Nice and fizzy.  3)  Sweet but not too sweet (the only sugar in it is natural fruit sugar)  4)  Not too tart.  So yeah, I like it....a lot.

Overall:  It still has 120 calories, but if you're looking for a good alternative to soda then you should look at this.  It's fruity, fizzy and all-natural.  Obviously, if you don't like grapefruit then don't drink this, but I really can't not give this a buy.

My Rating:  Buy it!  Here's the Izze site:  Izze Home

Review: Pepsi Next Paradise Mango

 

My reaction to seeing this was pure "Wahhh?"  Mango!  In a cola!  But it's true, there's a Pepsi with a hint of mango in it.  Now, I haven't tried Pepsi Next either although it's supposed to have 60% less sugar than regular Pepsi (the whole bottle has 100 calories and is sweetened with High Fructose Corn Syrup, sugar and aspertain, so quite the combination).  I do like a lot of the colas that have hints of other flavors in them (although I'm a Coke fan in that respect).  Cherry and Vanilla Coke are something I'll drink when I'm craving a mainstream soda and it works well enough with citrus.  However, mango as a flavor hint to Pepsi is still a little jarring.  

Outsides:  It really just looks like normal Pepsi but smells like you dropped a piece of Stride Mega Mystery gum in it (Oh no, am I spoiling the mystery?  I actually think there's some strawberry mixed in there too).

Insides:  It's a little bit jarring at first since I never would have expected mango to go with Pepsi, but it kinda works.  This is a lot like cherry Pepsi in that the mango flavor makes the Pepsi a little sweeter and the cola flavor a little more mild.  The soda is really fruity scented, but isn't a blatant fruit soda in terms of intensity of flavor.  Also, I wish they'd have a little more cola flavor just because the mango is so overpowering.  As for Pepsi Next, it's not a terrible lower calorie option.  The soda tastes a little more syrupy than usual and you can kinda taste the asperain, but if you love pop and want to shave off a few calories, this is a LOT better tasting than normal diet (although I kinda like Pepsi Max).

Overall:  It's a bit strange but I like it.  This kinda makes me wonder what kinds of flavors will Pepsi release in the US next (because Japanese Pepsi has a TON of crazy flavors).  Pepsi Coconut?  Pepsi Melon?  Pepsi BACON!!!   Only the consumers and corporate executives can decide.

My Rating:  Try it!   Here's Pepsi's site if you want to look at it:  Pepsi.

Also, here's some pictures of the swanky room I'm in.  I work at my school's medical library as the media desk babysitter and they're remodeling the upstairs part, so I get to stay in the very classy yet very cold Rare Books Room.

 

Soda Pop! Jones Soda Crema De Pina

What:  Pineapple Cream Soda

Where:  Jones is based in Canada but I think these are the Mexican/Latin American varieties.

Why Should I Care:  I freaking love Jones Soda.  Not only do they have some really unique flavors, but they also use real cane sugar.  I mean, Pineapple isn't that exciting (it is, but I've seen other sodas with that same flavor), but I think Jones is the company that made apple soda popular in Pittsburgh.  Plus they have flavors like Berry Lemonade, Bubblegum and Fufu Berry (which is a mix of strawberry and raspberry).  However, I don't really know what to expect with this one.  It's not that I dislike cream soda or pineapple, but is it going to have that same bite that pineapple does?  Is it going to be too sweet?  Is their coconut in it?

Packaging:  It's in an awesome glass bottle with someone's photo on the front.  The caps have a saying on them too.

Non-Taste Senses:  It's bright yellow and it smells like pineapple candy

Taste:  So, this tastes like a really smooth pineapple soda.  It has the perfect amount of fizz (fizzy but not bitey), it's not too sweet and the pineapple flavor focuses on the sweet as opposed to the sour.  There is a bit of a cream soda base to it, but that mostly helps with the smoothness and if you dislike cream soda, you probably wouldn't even notice it.

Overall:  So, I'm honestly a little surprised at how good this is.  I love Jones Soda but the whole creamy pineapple seemed a bit iffy.  But Jones passed with flying colors.

My Rating:  Buy it!  Here's the site.  They also have all kinds of other stuff like submitting your photos for them to put on their bottles and random special editions.

Soda Pop! Cascal Fine Dark

What:  Fermented Soda with hints of Malt and Honey

Where:  California

Why Should I Care:  So, I got a four-pack of this (and the apple one) when it was almost expired.  That was about four months ago.  Granted, I had this back then and I hope the only thing that has changed is that there's less carbonation.  Cascal is a soda that tastes very simular to a wine except it's non-alcoholic and doesn't have the sweetness of sparkling juices.  I actually do enjoy these in between teas for those reasons although the new ones drop the ball by adding Stevia to it (which leaves an aftertaste as opposed to leaving a nice clean palate).  So, what do I think about the Fine Dark with its hints of Malt and Honey (more of a beer rip-off than wine but I actually prefer a good beer to cheap wine).

Packaging: It's in a glass bottle, adding to the sophistication.  It also has a twist-off cap.

Non-Taste Senses:  It's kind of this dark amber/light brown color with a slight murkiness to the liquid.  You can smell the honey pretty strongly

Taste:  I'd like to say it's aged to perfection, but it really could use a bit more carbonation.  I'm actually a huge fan of the mixture of honey and malt, which gives it a slightly heartier taste while still having a lightness with the carbonation.  Also, this tastes so much better without the Stevia.  It's still sweet but it's not overly sweet.  If you're going to serve it (especially if it's four months past expiration), you need to serve it cold.

Overall:  Why'd you have to get rid of this flavor, Cascal?  It's good and I highly recommend people try it if you can find it somehow.  Or write them and tell them to bring it back.  I can't recommend this for everyone, but it's pretty fantastic.

My Rating:  Try it!  Here's the site!

Soda Pop! Cascal Berry Casis

What:  Fermented Soda with blackcurrant, tangerine and lemon.

Where:  California

Why Should I care:  For some reason, this seems a lot more mainstream than their other sodas (which tend to have some kind of flower in their flavor profiles).  Blackcurrant is a little questionable but everyone knows what tangerine and lemon are.  I also thought it was called "Berry Crisis".

Packaging:   It's just a boring aluminum can.

Non-Taste Senses:  It's pinkish and smells slightly berry-ish.

Taste:  This has stevia in it.  It's something I noticed in the mango one but was willing to put asside, but that Stevia extract is the lone factor that turns this from a good drink to something that I can't completely recommend.  Here's the thing.  I have the bottles still.  They have 70 calories per bottle for a drink that is a less sweet version of a soda.  Yeah, you only have 60 calories in these cans but it doesn't have that "clear" taste.  Stevia leaves this sweet aftertaste in my mouth which makes me want to eat something or more likely, drink something else.  If I ignore that, which is difficult, it really is great.  The citrus cuts the sweetness of the berry to give it this perfect balance.  It's not overly sweet, it would go great with meat but nooooooo, we need to make it sweeter.

Overall:  I guess I'm disappointed but I honestly can't give it a pass.  It's worth a try and if you can get it cheap, I'd recommend trying all the flavors.

My Rating:  Try it!  Here's the site.

Soda Pop! Cascal Fresh Tropical

What:  Naturally-flavored tropical fake wine

Where:  California

Why:  Cascal is a brand that delivers on making something that isn't too sweet while still being flavorful.  Like I said before, their products taste a lot like a non-alcoholic wine and that's great for a lot of people, whether you're pregnant or a special occasion for a family or just if you want that kind of taste without the alcohol.  Also, it's in mango and I just can't see that being bad.

Packaging:  I got the canned version so it really isn't too exciting.

Non-taste senses:  It has a simular color to mango juice and it smells like mango.

Taste:  I think out of all the ones I've tried, this is my favorite (the malty Fine Dark is a close second).  The mango flavor is strong but not too sweet and is reminiscent of a sparkling juice.  There's also a mix of other flavors including the lime, that makes it a nice blend as opposed to just mango.  The level of carbonation is nice too, not being too strong but still feeling like you're drinking a soda as opposed to juice that's been shaken in your backpack.

Overall:  It's worth a try.  I've had mango beer that's tasted better, but it's a nice blend.

My Rating:  Try it!  Here's the site.  Something that's kinda nice is that they give you food pairings when you look at the flavors.

Soda Pop! CasCal with hints of Apple and Anise

I'm sorry about the name;  I just want different drinks to be distinctive and this was the first thing that came to mind.

What:  Fermented Soda (soda made from fermentation instead of mixing syrup with carbonated water).

Where:  USA (or California to be precise)

Why Should I Care:  Well, it's not as terrible for you as regular soda is.  It only has 80 calories for the entire bottle.  Also, fermentation is how they make alcohol and the product description says it's made for a "grown-up" taste.  Some people may be wondering why anyone would want a drink that tastes like wine except without the alcohol and I really can't give people's personal reasons.  Maybe they're pregnant and want to have something nice with a fancy meal.  Maybe it's Thanksgiving and those jerks don't want to be too sleepy before shopping at Black Friday.  Maybe they just don't drink alcohol but find sparkling cider disgusting (I know I do).  I think there's a couple reasons that make sense but I haven't reviewed this yet so there may be a big reason to not want it.

Packaging:  Simple glass bottles with a twist-off cap.

Non-Taste Senses:  It is a not-quite clear yellow color and it does have a light wine scent.

Taste:  I think if you come into this expecting soda/pop, you're going to be pretty disappointed.  It's not that sweet and the fermented nature gives it that wine taste.  The juice is primarily made of apples so you're gonna taste that but I honestly didn't taste too much of the anise.  It's there, but it tastes more like gingerbread spice to me.  This stuff is probably best served chilled.  Also, mine is a little expired but I've had it not-expired and even then, it isn't super fizzy.  It's more of something you feel in your mouth than when you're drinking it.

Overall:  It's not bad and I recommend people getting this for pregnant women as opposed to sparkling juice with enough sugar to make the baby hyper for 5 years.  It's not amazing and probably isn't good for kids, but it's a good substitute for wine.

My Rating:  Try it!  Here's the site.  They recently went through a product redesign so that's why mine looks different.

And now for something completely different: Jolly Ranchers Watermelon Soda

What:  Watermelon soda with everyone's favorite sweetener, High Fructose Corn Syrup!

Where:  USA

Why Should I Care:  I don't drink soda/pop too often and when I do, I try to stick with ones that use cane sugar.  This one is a bit of an exception though because of two reasons 1.)  It's only a dollar for a liter and 2.)  It's freakin' Jolly Rancher!  Watermelon Jolly Ranchers are delicious so why shouldn't this soda be!

Packaging:  It's a fairly large bottle with the Jolly Rancher logo on it.  I'd prefer a smaller size and a glass bottle, but I tend to prefer a lot of things that are never going to happen.

Non-taste senses:  It looks and smells like a Watermelon Jolly Rancher.

Taste:  This may come as a shock, but it tastes like a watermelon Jolly Rancher.  It's not overly sweet or sugary (syrupy) and it also has a nice fruity flavor.  Unfortunately, the fizz doesn't hold up too well.  The soda starts out nice and fizzy but by the time I used it for this review, it flattened out.

Overall:  Soda is bad for you.  It is full of sugar (high fructose corn syrup) and will make you fat.  However, if you need some soda pop love, this is pretty good.  It's fruity, colorful and may possibly brighten your mood a little that day.  Don't expect a gourmet experience though.

My Rating:  Buy it (just not too often).  Apparently, you can only find these at random Dollar stores and Big Lots.