Soda Shaq Blueberry Cream Soda

One of my fondest Shaquille O'Neal memories is him sliding across the floor to save a ball from going out of bounds. I think that clip was on NBA Inside Stuff every weekend. After trying the Soda Shaq Cream Soda flavors thus far, I now have another, newer, fond memory of this basketball player...this entertainer...this one of a kind human being. On this last night of Shaq cream soda, I am going to tip back the blueberry cream in his honor.

How's the Lexus, Neon?

When I crack the top a burst of blueberry smacks me in the face. The first sip is like a kiss. I taste the initial berry goodness and pull away only to instantly want another and the can wants another and before my lips leave the can my mouth opens wide and I gulp and the soda pours down my throat. Then it hits me. This is the first blueberry cream soda I've ever had. Like the Jones Sugar Plum Soda from Christmas 2012, a unique flavor has tons of appeal and like that holiday soda, this one is better than expected. I did not plan to devour the whole can so quickly but the soda was so cold and so sugary good that I could not resist. The thing is, the soda is AS ADVERTISED. It is not a blueberry soda, it is a blueberry cream soda and that is EXACTLY what it tastes like. It is reminiscent of Life Savers Cream Savers candies and those, well, those were juuust fine by me.

Overall Taste - 7.8 - A rare flavor, the best of the bunch, and as blueberry as Violet Beauregard.
Fizz Factor - 5.0 - Lacking like the other flavors but here it doesn't matter at all. Just keep the soda cold.
Appearance - 7.2 - There is a berry hue to the soda. It's not blue, or purple, but the tint gives it a bump up from a 7.
Flavor - 6.0 - Unique and worth trying and while it is not a hardcore soda, it still delivers for a carbonated beverage.

Enjoy the whole family of Soda Shaq Flavors!

From the company: 8oz has 90 calories, 24g of carbs, 24g of sugar and 0g of protein.

Long Time No Blog

It has been a while since the last post and a can of Soda Shaq Blueberry Cream soda still sits cold and mysterious in my fridge. A long month of training for a race limited my sugar intake while general summer activities burglared my time. Now the race is complete and while I still need to pop my shirt off to cool down at the beach, I'm OK with carrying around the few extra el-bees that come with a diet rich in soda and candy.

I shared a Peach Sprite, Barq's Vanilla Root
Beer, Lime Fanta and of course, Cherry Vanilla
Coke, with this beautiful machine

This doesn't mean the past month was a total fast. I visited my friend the Coca Cola Dream Machine. I tried some new candies, including pomegranate gummy bears given to me by a friend at work, the new Starburst bites which will have their own review, and some non-Sour Patch sour watermelon candies. Very eventful month but not from a writing standpoint. I apologize for the long delay but following this post the blog will be back to business as usual, which doesn't mean daily posts, but more frequent than once every month and a half.

Thank you for following.

Soda Shaq Strawberry Cream Soda

Who is the man, that can jam over any man? SHAQ! Can you dig it?

The third can in Arizona's Soda Shaq Cream Soda quartet is the Strawberry Cream, a flavor that is unique but not the only in the industry. Coming off the orange cream I have high hopes for the strawberry; hopes that are only fueled by cracking the can and launching a strawberry splash into the air.

"Keep yo eye on Big Shaq and
 put yo money on the Lakers"

The strawberry odor is strong and the soda has a pink hue, features that enhance the experience. The first sip is as advertised, a strawberry cream, but just like the orange cream, the lightness to the soda creates a refreshing beverage that does not overwhelm. Sure, those craving something sugary and heavy should look elsewhere, but the two fruit flavors of Shaq's cream soda I've tasted so far satisfy in a way a heavy soda cannot and complement a snack or dinner without weighing you down.

Overall Taste - 6.5 - Equivalent to the orange cream and far above the vanilla.
Fizz Factor - 4.0 - Again, Arizona sodas seem to lack bubbles and this one is no different.
Appearance - 7.2 - Giving the strawberry a notch above the orange because the pink tint is cute, and really, I don't see too many pink cream sodas.
Flavor - 5.0 - Can't say it's better than the orange, or worse, and the choice really comes down to what you like better - orange soda or strawberry soda.

So choose, but choose wisely.

From the company: 8oz has 90 calories, 24g of carbs, 24g of sugar, and 0g of protein.

Soda Shaq Orange Cream Soda

"Hey Kobe, how's my orange
cream soda taste?"

Remember when Shaq came out at the All-Star Game and danced with the Jabbawockeez? I do. It was just another example of Shaq's awesomeness. The man has some serious moves.

Following Shaq's Vanilla Cream Soda is the Orange Cream Soda. Despite a lackluster performance for the vanilla, I still have high hopes for the orange cream. Pouring it from the gigantic, Shaq-sized can, there is an orange tint to a light tan soda that lacks bubbles but not a distinct aroma. The odor is a creamy orange, not an orange, but the exact flavor of an orange cream candy. I'm giddy.

The first sip is generous and strikes with a solid orange cream sweep of the taste buds. Each additional sip loses a little of that power but the light feeling of Shaq's soda is a benefit here. The refreshing lightness and the tan color make it a unique flavor in the orange cream spectrum, one that is quickly finding its way from the can and into my stomach. The soda is not filling and worthy of a try because it is a new experience, one I might not routinely repeat, but something that might befit other soda enthusiasts.

Overall Taste - 6.5 - The orange stands out and it is light, making it a refreshing drink that's not too sugary, not too sweet and definitely not filling.
Fizz Factor - 4.0 - Just like the other Arizona beverages there isn't much bubble to this soda, but in this case, it doesn't negatively affect the taste.
Appearance - 7.1 - The orange tint is unique and you got to love Shaq's smile on the can.
Flavor - 5.0 - A pleasant surprise! A light but creamy orange soda.

From the company: 8oz has 90 calories, 24g of carbs, 24g of sugar, and 0g of protein.

Soda Shaq Vanilla Cream Soda

Shaquille O'Neal. Four-time NBA Champion. Rapper. Actor. Soda Entrepreneur.

"Do you think Shaq got rich playing in Orlando?"
                                          

When I first heard of Shaq's new soda my mind exploded. Literally, BOOM! I love Shaq and really, who doesn't? I've never met him but from what I've seen on television, he appears to be a fun guy. His intensity as an athlete is off the charts. He was a Celtic. Due to all these reasons I wanted to try the soda badly, to plaster this former baller's face all over the blog and combine two things I love: carbonated beverages and basketball.

Shaq Cream Soda is made by Arizona and comes in four flavors: vanilla, orange, strawberry and blueberry. Beginning with the vanilla, this week will be devoted to the entire line-up of Shaq Soda. Starting with the cans, Arizona has outdone their colorful, and large, cans with a design inspired by the man himself. Shaq's face graces each can and it appears that there are 8 different face contortions to choose from. A Shaq for every flavor. Right from the start, even before you sip the beverage, you are already smiling.

For those of you who regularly read this blog, you may remember Cream Soda Week and using those cream sodas as a baseline I can truly say that Shaq's vanilla cream lacks intensity. It lacks that vanilla flavor. Combine this with a low amount of carbonation and you get a soda that is plain. I can't say the soda is bad though. It could be marketed as a lighter cream soda but not lighter on the calorie count. Each can contains 24oz and 270 calories, comparable to a 24oz Pepsi or Coke.

Despite the drawbacks, I still give a strong recommendation to try this soda. Like I said, it is not bad at all. It's just...light. Me? I want a creamy vanilla cream. Thick and lip-smacking. But maybe there are some who like a hint of vanilla from a soda that doesn't fill you up. If that is you, go out and get a can today.

"I am...Kazaam!" - Shaq

Overall Taste - 4.0 - Not a very strong vanilla but you can taste it.
Fizz Factor - 4.0 - Like the Cherry Lime Rickey, Arizona doesn't go crazy with the bubbles.
Appearance - 7.0 - They're getting a 5 just for the can design. It was so much fun to open my fridge and have 4 Shaqs looking back at me.
Flavor - 3.5 - Not the best vanilla cream soda...but an interesting one. Something to look for if you are out and about.

From the company: 8oz has 90 calories, 24g of carbs, 24g of sugar, and 0g of protein.

Super Mario 3-Dees Gummies

Once in a while a candy is spotted that has some unique allure. Sometimes it is flavor, sometimes brand, and sometimes it's just something else. Super Mario 3-Dees Gummies fit that something else because it was the packaging, the phrasing of "3 Dees" that made me wonder what a 3 dimensional gummy would be since, weren't they all 3-D?

"It's me! Mario!"

Well I was wrong because 3-D meant no flat back. Think of a gummy bear, where the front is shaped but the back lies flat. These Super Mario Gummies had no flat back and stood like statues on pedestals, reminiscent of the Gummy Venus de Milo from The Simpsons.

Each was a work of art in itself, coming in four different shapes: Mario, Yoshi, Donkey Kong and Diddy Kong. Four flavors as well, strawberry, watermelon, mixed berry and orange, and they're really good too. The taste and the texture of the gummies are unique and worth a re-tasting. They actually have a snap when you bite the heads of each character!


I'm not sure where to find them but try Amazon. I can't remember seeing something like this in recent memory and I have to say for candy fans, it's worth going out of the way to pick up a package (or 12).

Peeps Bubble Gum and Sweet Lemonade

Peeps Bubble Gum and Sweet Lemonade

Peeps are a Easter special, coming around every Spring to fill your mouth with sugary, marshmallowy goodness. Over the years I've grown accustomed to the yellow, pink and purple varieties, and the random shapes used throughout the year for different holidays, but last week I was surprised by a new batch of flavors: a bubble gum and a sweet lemonade.

"Hey, anybody see Pete? He was here just a minute ago..."

First, the bubble gum. Out of this world. A totally new take on Peeps and a flavor befitting of the overly sugary Peep candy. They border on addictive and within minutes the 10 that I purchased have been eviscerated. The combination of Peeps consistency and a totally new flavor is just what the brand needed. The insides of these guys are even pink, which just adds to the appeal. In tasting them, I begin to think a cotton candy flavor might be great as well. But these are an A+, and easy purchase it you see them, and something you'll hope starts making a seasonal appearance.

Little lemonade sugar freckles get eaten one by one

The Sweet Lemonade doesn't disappoint but it doesn't compare to the bubble gum. That is not saying it isn't wonderful, and they actually taste like Peeps sprinkled with slightly sour lemonade sugar, but they're not addictive. The hang on the lips though and give you that different experience a new flavor should. Something interesting about the label, it bears the name of Alexis Lemonade Stand and my first reaction is to think that the flavor is borrowed from some well established lemonade franchise. The truth is that it is a foundation battling childhood cancer and Peeps is donating money annually to the foundation because we continue to support and buy Peeps. Well, if the new flavor alone wasn't reason enough, this just makes buying some late Spring Peeps a must next time you're in the store.

I don't have to tell the Peep fans to try these, you probably already have, but for those who like an occasional Peep these are worth a go, so get 'em if ya' see 'em.