Jones' Holiday 4-Pack

Candy Cane, Pear Tree, Ginger Bread and Sugar Plum

Friend of the blog Chuck Woolery (probably not the real one) sent me a Jones' Holiday 4-Pack containing 4 holiday flavors: Candy Cane, Pear Tree, Ginger Bread and Sugar Plum. Every single flavor is one I've never heard of and am excited to try. Jones is known for some of their unique flavors as well as for having interesting labels, some that people can customize themselves and order 12-packs with their uploaded artwork, pictures or photos on each bottle. Since beginning this blog my interest in soda has spiked and looking at Jones' website, I already see a few new ones I'd like to try, specifically Berry Lemonade and Blue Bubblegum.

The first soda of the holiday flavors I'm going for is the Sugar Plum. The two main reasons for trying this soda is one: I'm so thirsty for a soda right now, with me being snowed in for the past 24 hrs and not having access to any I just want one so bad. Two: of the flavors, Sugar Plum looks most inviting for a moment when I need a pure soda, not a unique (and possibly not tasty) flavor. Popping the screw top I'd knew I made the right choice. You are hit with tiny bubbles of plum sweetness, almost a perfect match for the real plum experience. It is a fruit soda at heart and while nailing the plum flavor, the soda delivers with moderate to above average carbonation, a sugary, sweet flavor, and a smoothness that makes it more like a regular fruit soda than a speciality flavor. I'm not saying "regular fruit soda" in a negative way, it is just that this flavor would fit in with grape, strawberry and orange. Even as the bottle empties, the last few sips have that plum burst and a tongue-biting goodness.


With this being a seasonal or maybe one-time flavor, I will have to try hard to get some other Jones choices in this blog. I'll also have to savor the other flavors as this plum...I just can't describe it. I'm not even a plum guy, it's not a top 10 fruit for me, but this soda is just amazing! And I finished it long before I even finished writing this post!



    "I was plum surprised"   



Overall Taste: 9.0 - Only those who hate plum should stay away from this soda, but for all others it is a MUST try.

Fizz Factor: 7.0 - Regardless of the measurement, on par with fruit sodas and perfect for the flavor. The level makes it extremely smooth and it floats down the throat.

Appearance: 9.5 - I hardly discussed this in the review because as soon as I took a sip I was just so excited. The soda has a light purple hint (just perfect) and the label, well, this one has a baby crying on Santa's lap...perfect for a holiday flavor, while being unique and funny.

Flavor: 9.5 - I wasn't skeptical of a plum soda but did not realize how delicious this flavor would be. It is something that I might pick up once every three months. It's a flavor that I'm still craving but not only that, might be sought after by me once the craving strikes in a week or so.

Bottom line: you must try this soda. Get your hands on some as soon as possible if you can, before the flavor is gone for the season. Go on Jones' website too. I almost want to order like 12 12-packs right now. And don't look at their retired flavors because if you are like me, you'll wish you had a crushed melon or cherry right now.

From the company: 12 oz has 180 calories, 0g of fat, 44g of carbs, 44g of sugar, and 0g of protein.

Coca-Cola Holiday 2012 Bottles

Chug you gorgeous fat man, chug

While buying a Coca-Cola the other day I noticed polar bears on the can. I turned to my friend to say "wow, they still have cans left over from last year?" Her response? "Don't you think it might be for this holiday season?"

It seems like only yesterday I was posting about the polar bear can controversy from last year. Coca-Cola did not make the same mistake again this year, launching the holiday season with red cans as opposed to white. However, their bottles will not be confusing to buyers as this year they feature Santa drinking a Coke. So here's to the holiday season, beginning a little early, but welcomed, because there is nothing more I like than to enjoy a Thanksgiving or Christmas meal accompanied by a cold bottle of the good stuff.





Seasonal Surprise: Pumpkin Pie Soda

It's not often that I get to celebrate the season with a specific soda offering but this autumn has presented me with a new flavor, one of which I'd never heard nor tried in my life. The flavor, pumpkin pie, comes to me from Maine Root, a soda company out of Portland, Maine. Instant attraction to this company, just listen to these other flavors: mandarin orange, blueberry, lemon lime...and the company is probably most famous for their root beer. With them being local I can now begin an active search to locate more of these drinks.

Apple, peaches, pumpkin pie -
Who's not ready, holler I!

The pumpkin pie for me might be the least appealing. Outside of eating toasted pumpkin seeds, my love of all things pumpkin flavored is non existent. It is quite a detriment here, however, I do not despise pumpkin. The rare pumpkin pie slice is in my history and overall, I find some of pumpkin's cousins, like squash, appealing. So when cracking into this bottle, my expectations were low and I was pleasantly surprised by a mist that had more of a cinnamon aura compared to that of a pumpkin. Inhaling more of the vapors, I am able to pick out a rich flavor, with a distinct root or spice buried within.

Now, taking the first sip I'm instantly hit with the pumpkin pie taste. There is no escaping it. It splashes across the tongue and the back of the throat and basically permeates the nostrils. The taste is there in full force and the soda component takes a back seat as this is not a very sweet beverage. I find myself taking sip after sip because in all honesty, I'm trying to find something I like about this drink. The basic fact that I do not love pumpkin IS a detriment here and although the soda is flavorful, and really, slightly spicy, I cannot fathom a time when I would opt for pumpkin pie flavored soda.

I would like to call these tests inconclusive but I'm going to grade the soda now and then present this soda to a few friends who love pumpkin pie. I'm hoping that the soda needs a better judge because in my honest opinion, I would not recommend this soda unless someone specifically asked me if I knew of a pumpkin flavored, carbonated beverage.

                                                                   

Overall Taste: 3.5 - Just not for me so the low rating is pure opinion

Fizz Factor: 5.0 - It has a bite but this is a cane soda and quickly loses its pop
Appearance: 7.0 - Bottle is non-descript but is the soda orange? That's is pretty cool
Flavor: 7.0 - While I don't like the flavor, it tastes like pumpkin pie

From the company: 12 oz has 165 calories, 0g of fat, 40g of carbs, 40g of sugar and 0g of protein.

Polar Cream Soda

I am not partial to Polar despite them being local because I am not a huge fan of seltzer water. In addition to that, I find that their line-up of sodas is not as familiar as brands I've been drinking my entire life, even though Polar has been around since 1882. With their home being Worcester, MA, I know that eventually I will tour their facilities and write about it here on this blog. And while I'm spitting out Polar information, a surprising fact I recently learned while watching Chronicle is that the owners of Polar's brothers and sisters own Wachusett Mountain, which is a small, but local, ski mountain in Massachusetts. Soda and skiing, that's the life.

"My uncle Roger said that he once saw
an albino polar bear." - Alan

I can't describe Polar's phenotype in any unique way: its color is basic caramel and the label is nothing fancy. It is worth noting that Polar's labels bear a polar bear named Orson, the company's mascot since 1902, pre-dating Coca-Cola's use of polar bears in their advertising.

Breaking the seal on the bottle elicits a quick burst of vanilla in the air, however, that is where the vanilla ends. The first sip is smooth and there is a thin layer of bubbles that cascades across the tongue but there is a distinct absence of vanilla. It could be a week of testing cream sodas has made me immune to a vanilla taste but I really don't think that is it. I believe that this cream soda just lacks a strong vanilla taste which is sad because in other areas, this soda is on par with others. There is a modest but apparent amount of carbonation and the way this soda bubbles is tangible, small ones that tickle the tongue. But this soda begs for more, more vanilla, more taste, and because of this, it does not deliver. It could be a perfect beverage for someone looking for a subdued cream soda but is anyone looking for that when it comes to cream soda? I hope the owners of Polar don't read this but I'm being honest after a week of rating cream sodas and this is just how I feel. I would hate to be banned from their facilities and even worse, the ski mountain.

Smoothness: 7.0 - This soda does not lack a smoothness
Overall Taste: 6.0 - Light on the vanilla, light on flavor, a weak cream soda
Fizz Factor: 7.0 - Not much head, bubbles are small and uniform, but gets watered-down towards the end
Appearance: 6.5 - Nothing unusual, nothing special, but still has that caramel clarity
Flavor: 5.5 - Possibly the least flavorful of the sodas tested

From the company: 8 oz has 120 calories, 0g of fat, 30g of carbs, 30g of sugar and 0g of protein.

A&W Cream Soda

A&W stands for Allen & Wright, a fact I did not know until writing this post and a fact that maybe you, the reader, did not know either. Tuck it away in the back of your memory to be pulled out later during trivia. Much of America's familiarity with A&W comes from it's root beer stands and restaurants, which serve classic American burgers and other delicious food and according to their website, still make root beer in store. Growing up I was only exposed to one A&W and trips there always meant a root beer float. I'm looking at their website now and drooling over their freezes and floats and burgers and chili dogs and...

But the cream soda. Right off the bat I'm stating this is the darkest cream soda I've tested. With the lighting, it is truly hard to tell, but I think everyone can see the dark brown tornado center within the middle of the glass. Even coming out of the bottle it looks more like molasses than caramel. The bottle itself is nothing amazing, drawing on only the iconic A&W logo, but within...within is that All-American soda.

Remember: A&W = Allen & Wright

What can I say about the first sip other than it is all encompassing. It blasts your nostrils and almost pops in your mouth. The whole sensation is balanced, with no flavor, or bubble, truly dominating but existing within the whole experience is a slightly new taste. Like Stewart's, it appears A&W's secret recipe incorporates something different and looking at this label I see "yucca extract." Now, like with the Stewart's, I'm not going to definitively say this is what makes it unique, but what I will say is that A&W has an aftertaste that almost craves for a food compliment. I'm not sure if it is my memory but sipping this soda I begin to want a burger to go along with it. My mind is almost demanding french fries, which is an obviously sneaky request initiated by my stomach. From a fizz factor standpoint, the soda is, like with the taste, balanced. It is not overpowering but it does bubble and you will feel it inside you as you chug more and more.

After 5 different cream sodas, I'm beginning to find a clear front runner in my mind. A&W right now is not it, but it does offer some things that others can't. First, it might be the perfect one to drink with a meal. Second, it has a unique aftertaste. Third, it is widely distributed and easy to find. Lastly, it delivers on the vanilla taste demanded by cream soda enthusiasts. The soda is not only a must try because of the different taste, it is also a classic American beverage brewed by a classic American company.

Smoothness: 7.5 - Smooth...bubbles and vanilla are balanced

Overall Taste: 8.2 - Unique aftertaste and fountain style beverage

Fizz Factor: 7.5 - They are there and part of the overall style of this soda

Appearance: 7.8 - Dark, but minimal bubbles and no head, the soda is almost a uniform caramel color

Flavor: 8.3 - This is cream soda from the makers of an All American root beer...so you know it's good.

From the company: 12 oz has 170 calories, 0g of fat, 46g of carbs, 45g of sugar and 0g of protein.

Dr. Brown's Cream Soda

One thing I love about blogging is that I am actively seeking out and researching sodas and learning about new flavors and old flavors I've never tried. This especially goes for Dr. Brown's soda, of which I only believed there to be a couple of flavors. Hardly. They actually produce 8 different types and, to my surprise, make glass bottles. I've only seen cans and plastic and everyone knows soda is best enjoyed out of glass.

"Very good. You just earned yourself a Doctor Brown's."
- Krusty's dad

Dr. Brown's comes in as a very old soda, originating in New York in 1869 with Dr. Brown's Cel-Ray soda, which is a celery flavored beverage. Dr. Brown's sodas are also kosher, which is not entirely unique, but gives them some popularity.

Now, I am remiss to say that my review will be based on cans of Dr. Brown's cream soda since so far we've only been trying cream soda in glass bottles. I don't believe it will hurt their review, however, from an appearance standpoint it is hard to see the caramel color of the soda through opaque aluminum. Maybe one day science will create glass cans but until then, I just have to make do.

The cans themselves are quite nice, a dark brown color, with clear branding and, building off their New York origins, a picture of the Statue of Liberty centered on the front. I can see on their website that other flavors bear different New York landmarks, similar to Olde Brooklyn sodas. I poured the contents of one can into a glass to get a better gauge of the color and I was not let down. Despite the dark brown cans, the soda is the classic tan cream soda color and if I'm not mistaken, this one is more on the caramel side than the golden. Pouring it into a glass also let me see that this soda bears a substantial bit more carbonation than the others, with bubbles forming all over the sides and creating a thin head on top.

It's that carbonation that pops in the first sip. This cream soda drinks more like a soda and while it is not overly carbonated, bubbles are definitely present right away, sliding across the tongue and bursting on the roof of the mouth. But the most noticeable component of the first sip is the vanilla. It is not one that lasts but as the soda streams across your taste buds it is all you can sense. It is strong and almost on the vanilla bean or extract side rather than a syrup. That short lasting flavor, rather its intensity, makes this a chugging soda. I feel like all my sips are gulps and that taking it in smaller sips would just fill my mouth with carbonation, rather than cream soda goodness.

It is getting harder to really pick one cream soda over another but there is something special about Dr. Brown's. It isn't the creamiest, the flavor doesn't bite, and while it does have a surprising amount of carbonation, it falls somewhere in the middle with its smoothness and flavor.

"There's that word again. Heavy. Why are things so heavy
in the future? Is there a problem with the Earth's
gravitational pull?" - Doc Brown

Smoothness: 7.5 - Smooth, but it doesn't coat your senses in creaminess
Overall Taste: 8.0 - The vanilla is strong with this one

Fizz Factor: 7.0 - An enigma, very carbonated, but not filling

Appearance: 8.0 - Caramel brown, and the added darkness casts a shadow in the center of the glass

Flavor: 8.5 - This is the classic cream soda

From the company: 12 oz has 180 calories, 0g of fat, 44g of carbs, 44g of sugar and 0g of protein.

Stewart's Cream Soda

Stewart's began making soda in 1924 with a focus on root beer. Now I've tasted their root beer and it is delicious, but it is a few of their other flavors that really intrigue me. First, their orange n'cream soda. This soda is readily available at my local store and it has been a favorite of mine over the past few holidays. Now while doing research on Stewart's I came across three other flavors that I did not know existed: a Stewart's grape, a cherries n'cream and a strawberries n'cream. All sound incredible, don't they? Too bad I've never had them. Can't even find them! Wish I could just taste them...

Roger...pass me a cream soda. And make it a double

The cream soda, however, is available in my local market and will be the featured cream soda of Day 3 of this, Cream Soda Week. Stewart's began as a root beer stand and the fountain style flows over to their bottles and taste. These bottles are clear with a red Stewart's logo, which is nicely offset by the golden soda behind it. The label itself reads "Fountain Classics" and everything here elicits a feeling of being at an ice cream parlor, ready to make a ice cream float or have Roger behind the counter slide you a frosty mug.

The first sip...for a cream soda...is something completely different from any other cream soda I've tasted. This shock leads me to turn the bottle around and study the ingredients: carbonated water, high fructose corn syrup, artificial flavor, a preservative, caramel color, citric acid and...quillaia extract. Is that it? Is that the something special that is giving a tiny bite to this traditionally smooth style of soda? I don't know but let me say, there is a bite to each sip of this soda. There is also a substantial difference in carbonation compared to the last few I've reviewed. The soda almost foams in your mouth and where other cream sodas coat tongue with vanilla creaminess, Stewart's does not. But the taste is so unique that I'm on my second bottle and still being hit with that mystery flavor, still wondering what makes this one so special.

For a traditional cream soda, Stewart's is lacking some of that vanilla flavor and some of that smoothness, but it is still a cream soda and still bears that overall likeness. What sets this soda apart from others is the fountain style that it claims. It is definitely foamy, crisp, worth chugging, and with that unique taste, Stewart's Cream Soda is almost in a class by itself.

Smoothness: 6.8 - It's the bite that takes away the smoothness
Overall Taste: 9.0 - Different, a must try, and a unique experience
Fizz Factor: 6.0 - That foaminess is almost a flavor in itself, the bubbles form in your mouth
Appearance: 8.0 - Nice label, nothing too fancy, and the soda is a golden tan
Flavor: 7.8 - A mild cream soda that satisfies

From the company: 12 oz has 180 calories, 0g of fat, 45g of carbs, 45g of sugar and 0g of protein.

IBC Cream Soda

"Sidney, relax. Have a cream soda."

Growing up, IBC root beer was a treat to be had on pizza nights and holidays. The fact that the soda comes in glass bottles was a big reason for that, but eventually I began to associate IBC with good times and good food, and honestly, the root beer is definitely a compliment to home cookin'. When I turned seventeen I purchased my first mini-fridge for my bedroom and stocked it with cans of many varieties but also glass bottles of IBC, for those special occasions. And now, IBC root beer is still a treat, to be had intermittently when I'm craving a classic root beer.

I digress because this post is about the cream soda. Starting with the all clear glass bottle, sans label, we see the soda in its full glory. IBC cream soda is almost golden, looking like a tanned honey, almost radiating from within. It could very well be the clear bottles that add to this display as nothing obstructs light from illuminating the creamy soda throughout. The bottles themselves have a raised glass label, making them unique, but the label itself resembles something from 1919, when IBC first began creating these bubbly beverages.



The first sip is light, almost airy, and the soda heads for the roof of the mouth, expanding to the sides before slipping down the back of the throat. It is not an overwhelming, powerful first sip but the taste is right there. Actually, when sipping the soda the taste does not linger, making you reach for another sip faster than I did with the Virgil's (Oct. 15, 2012). If you drink it, the tastes persists and quenches the vanilla craving, however, you still eagerly grab for another chug. IBC nails the cream soda and vanilla flavor but does so lightly. Halfway through a bottle and the mild carbonation is not affecting me in any way. In fact., the soda tastes so light it goes up into your smell receptors on every sip.

Like golden sun rays mixed with honey and
 trapped in a bottle

IBC's light cream soda is still strong on taste and might be the perfect companion to a meal, like for instance, a pizza night with family.

Smoothness: 9.0 - So smooth you almost miss it

Overall Taste: 8.0 - The taste is definitely there, but a little mild

Fizz Factor: 4.8 - Almost no carbonation but the feeling that the soda is invading your nose from behind means it is there

Appearance: 8.5 - The golden soda looks like a beverage from the gods and clear bottles accent this, although the label is hard to see cut into the glass

Flavor: 8.3 - A classic cream soda, nothing to make it stand out, but still delicious

 

From the company: 12 oz has 180 calories, 0g of fat, 48g of carbs, 48g of sugar and 0g of protein.

Virgil's Cream Soda

We start Cream Soda Week with a unique cream soda from Virgil's, who also make an absolutely delicious orange cream soda in addition to a classic root beer. But what sets this soda apart is the fact that it is made with cane sugar and it is micro brewed. It is considered a gourmet soda and made by REED'S Inc. from ingredients from around the world, is gluten free and contains no preservatives.

Well, he does look like a carpenter

Let's get to the soda but first, the bottle. What I originally thought was a pirate named Virgil on the bottle turns out to just be a bearded man in a flannel shirt, serving the soda to two eagerly waiting children. Unique, and intricate for a bottle label, and as I look closer at this particular label, I read "So rich and creamy you'll swear it's made in Heaven." So is that Jesus serving the soda? Did Jesus wear flannel? The background is definitely clouds...OK, well the label is, different, but the bottle itself is shaped more like a beer bottle than a soda and looks a little larger than only 12 oz.

Being the first sip of the week, Virgil's gets a leg up because cream soda is not a regular taste and that initial hit is like no other, something that may wear off as the week goes on. I don't guzzle cream soda at first; I sip. I want to enjoy that taste because it's not quenching a thirst, it is satisfying a craving. Virgil's is thick, extremely smooth, but filling. The all natural ingredients are apparent as one can almost taste the real cane sugar. It hits on every vanilla cream soda flavor and definitely envelops the taste buds and the tongue, reaching all the way down the throat. There is a substantial lack of carbonation, which is typical of cream sodas but in this sense, it goes unmissed as Virgil's drinks like a beverage compared to a bubbly soda.

So far the week is a success. Virgil's is smooth with no bite, and nothing to distract from that heavy vanilla taste.

Smoothness: 8.5 - Extremely smooth, like you're drinking cream itself

Overall Taste: 8.3 - The taste is definitively vanilla bean, you can almost taste the purity

Fizz Factor: 5.5 - Carbonation doesn't hit you until the soda is in your stomach

Appearance: 7.0 - Not a fan of Jesus serving me soda or wearing a flannel, but the soda is a perfect tan, and darker than some of the others to be sampled this week

Flavor: 8.0 - Nails the cream soda taste and does it all naturally, so no complaints here

From the company: 12 oz has 160 calories, 0g of fat, 42g of carbs, 42g of sugar and 0g of protein.

Cream Soda Week

Cream soda is known for its vanilla taste and it's that vanilla taste that separates this soda from all others. Despite the brown colour, cream soda is made with vanilla, either flavoring, beans, extract, or syrup, and it's vanilla that gives the soda its smoothness. And that's what cream soda really offers: a smooth, classy taste that glides into the stomach, coating every inch of the digestive tract in a palpable, thin layer of vanilla that sticks, long enough to satisfy until you reach for another sip.

This week we're celebrating cream soda with Cream Soda Week, where we will review Virgil's, IBC, Stewart's, Dr. Brown's, A&W and Polar. With many more on the market, the next week will include a few trips to local markets to see if I can't find a few more brands and turn this into Cream Soda Week-and-a-half. We're also going to add one new category to the ratings just for this week to help our analysis of cream sodas: smoothness.

Is there anything more beautiful? Ok, yes, but this is quite nice too.

The Mike & Ike Split

Mike wuz here '12
(Thanks to Melissa for the pic!)

 I was actually informed by a friend over a month ago about this split, when she casually said, "did you hear Mike & Ike broke up?" Soon after I began seeing the scribbled out names on candy boxes and then billboards that looked as if a graffiti artist demonstrated a dislike for one or the other member of the candy duo. More people started telling me about it and finally, my sister found out. She's the last to hear about anything. I did not want to address this feud, or split, because I wanted to focus on the candy: Mike & Ikes. They're delicious. They're top ten. And I can suggest 3 other ways off the top of my head I believe would or could generate more revenue than a split slash publicity stunt of classic monikers in the candy game.

1. Bring back Cherry & Bub. Cherry Mike & Ikes are one of the best fruit candies known to man. The pairing of cherry and a bubble gum flavors was incredible. It was genius and Cherry & Bub would be a smash if they came back.
2. Watermelon. It is the pinnacle of taste in the highly delicious Red Rageous Mike & Ike flavor. Use it. Bring it to other areas. Make a mix that focuses on watermelon and is complimented by the other flavors. The Red Rageous are possibly the best thing going for Mike & Ike right now; you can devour them by the handful and each flavor stands on its own. A big reason for this is the cherry but the watermelon, I mean, WOW.
3. A vanilla flavor. Pair it with almost anything else and it is BOMB! Make cream flavors...didn't Mike & Ike have lemonade flavors? Orange cream, strawberry cream, vanilla cream...doesn't that sound awesome? Put them all in the same box! You could even market it to an older crowd at first, then kids will inevitably find out and scoop them up.


Can't we all just get along?



I might also suggest more focus on the fruit twists. Since I've found those I've bought pack upon pack, stocking up on Saturdays to get me through til Fridays. I'm hooked. They are awesome. Do a cherry one with vanilla inside. Please?

Arizona Cherry Lime Rickey

Last week while at my nearest convenience store a young man asked the local merchant to begin carrying Arizona Cherry Lime Rickey. My inquisitiveness about this new beverage was quickly answered as the young man pulled an enormous, colorful can from his pocket, informing the cashier he had purchased this down the street. I thought little of the exchange until I saw the can at a 7-Eleven, the only location these new drinks are available, while working yesterday.

"How dare you interrupt my lime rickey!"
- Mr. Burns

First, and most obvious, impression is the size of the can: 23.5 oz and 695 ml. For a carbonated beverage this is a little large for my one serving tastes. The can design is extremely unique, created by Kenny Vidinich, winner of a contest for the cherry lime rickey's big can design contest. The swirling greens and reds on the can sweeping across the Brooklyn Bridge really helped set this can apart while the bubbly cherries and halved limes found bouncing around hint at the unique flavor contained within.

The name speaks for itself. Exactly as prescribed, this is a cherry lime rickey with a strong lime aftertaste. Initially, I believed there would be a really bubbly first bite, but the drink is smooth. With it being cherry, and not raspberry, that little kick of bitter that raspberry sodas tend to give is absent. But the lime is definitely there, taking right over after the liquid hits your lips. At halfway through the soda, I'm still trying to peg the taste as it's something I've never experienced. At halfway through the soda, I'm also starting to fill and the drink is slowly getting warmer.

That is the major drawback of the big cans. Too big for a guy like me, who would prefer to open and consume two smaller containers than one large one. I think the soda stays fresher. But with Arizona Cherry Lime Rickey only being available in the big cans, I had to make do. I definitely recommend trying the beverage but it's availability is questionable, so get to your local 7-Eleven soon to pick one up and help celebrate Arizona's 20th Anniversary with their new flavor.

Overall Taste: 6.5 - Unique, but a little flat, with a much stronger lime than cherry

Fizz Factor: 5.0 - Not much fizz but a smoother drink than soda

Appearance: 8.5 - The can is huge, but the design in marvelous, and reminds me of graffiti

Flavor: 7.0 - A must try but it's doubtful to become a regular choice of mine

From the company: 8 oz has 70 calories, 0g of fat, 19g of carbs, 18g of sugar and 0g of protein. The big cans hold about 3 servings (23.5 oz)

Mexican Coke vs. American Coke

There is a battle brewing, my friends. One between soft drinks made with corn syrup and ones made with cane sugar. The war goes back (and please don't quote me on any of this) to agriculture, with the United States being a prime climate for corn, not sugar. Corn syrup is made through processing corn starch and is widely used to sweeten products, including but not limited to, soda. Cane sugar on the other hand comes from tropical climates, like Brazil, is more heavily taxed as an import, and is a more natural way to sweeten foods as the cane sugar juice is heated to produce a syrup, where as corn starch requires additional processing (the addition of enzymes) to produce corn syrup. With both being sugars, and neither being a great source of anything but empty calories and deliciousness, the case for either remains strong.



Mexican Coke (left) vs American Coke (right)



With sodas, many organic flavors and imported sodas use cane sugar and many of the American mainstay beverages use corn syrup. Since Coke in my town is available in both American and Mexican styles, I am able to provide some insight into a taste comparison between the two.

First impression is the bottle. The Mexican Coke bottle is larger, 12oz (355ml) and bears a better resemblance to the classic Coke bottle shape. American Coke, the bottles I tested, were smaller, albeit cuter, but only contained 8oz (237ml). The Mexican bottle size is preferable, offering that additional 4oz that I'm particularly used to in one container as opposed to opening two separate American bottles to get a similar amount.

Moving to the first sip. They are distinctively different. The Mexican Coke fizzes as it hits your tongue and bites. The taste is less powerful than its American counterpart but very smooth, enveloping the entire mouth. American Coke, on the other hand, sits on your tongue an extra split second, coating it, lubricating your mouth as it spreads all the way down the back of the throat. Even the bubbles feel bigger; while the Mexican Coke fizzes the American bubbles. The tastes are very different as well, subtle enough to make both Classic Coke but overt enough so that anyone can tell the difference.

From a health perspective, the Mexican bottle came in at 150 calories compared to 100 calories for the American - meaning that equal volumes would contain equal calories. And really when it comes down to the other components outside of cane sugar or corn syrup, the two sodas are alike (carbonated water, caramel color, phosphoric acid, natural flavors and caffeine). So is there really a clear leader? Yes, Mexican cane sugar is less processed, but isn't supporting corn farmers part of the American way?

Anyway, my roommate tried them both and could tell there was a difference and claimed to like the American a little better...which was the same conclusion I came to as well. So for me, it'll be American Coke, the taste that maybe because I grew up with it, is a little more what I envision a Coke to be.

Thomas Fentiman, You're My Hero

"I love Cherry Tree Cola and Bacardi mang"
- Redfoo

After becoming a fan of LMFAO and Far East Movement, I noticed a specific soda bottle popping up in each band's videos. Intrigued, I researched and discovered the soda bottle was Cherry Tree Cola, named for the bands' record label, Cherry Tree Records.

Further research led me to the maker: Fentimans.

Before giving my review, the history of Thomas Fentiman, founder of Fentimans beverages, begins in 1905 with botanically brewed ginger beer. The brewing process uses herbs and roots, simmering them with flavorings and leaving them to ferment and carbonate to create a unique tasting cola, which coincidentally contains less than .5% alcohol.

In reviewing this cherry cola I realized my bias and asked a few friends to try the cola, one an avid soda drinker and the other not so much. They both, however, came to the same conclusion: it tastes like medicine. Could it be the cherry flavor? The botanical brewing process? I do not know but my opinion vastly differs. I love the stuff. Its so distinctly cola and yes, I'm a fan of drinking something so cool, from the bottle, to the band support, it is so unique.

Overall Taste: 9.0 - Cherry colas are my fav and this one is special

Fizz Factor: 5.0 - Not much from this botanical brew

Appearance: 9.0 - Distinctly-shaped bottle, dark colour, and a label the bears the record company's insignia

Flavor: 9.5 - Almost perfect, maybe the best Fentiman flavor, nothing compares to this cherry cola

Honestly, I think I need to do some more research. I think I need to have a few more people try this and get a few more opinions. There will be another Cherry Tree Cola review...

Wonka Kazoozles

While I'm on this binge of eating twists filled with sugar my friend Shane introduced me to Wonka Kazoozles. The ones he brought me were strawberry ropes with watermelon filling and they were thin. I didn't think much of them as a big draw of the Mike & Ike Twists are the thickness. However, I did find some Kazoozles cherry ropes with punch filling the other day so I decided to give them another try. Thank little baby Jesus I did because these ropes are bigger, thicker and exploding with an inner paste/gel that gives off a strong sugary odor as soon as the pack is opened.

Kazoozles - Delickoricious Chewy Candy

The candy is hard to describe other than it's a rope, so picture a long piece of rope licorice despite these Kazoozles definitely being more of a chewy fruit candy. The outer texture of the cherry candy is smooth, resilient and shines beautifully in different colors under different light (ok, that might be a stretch but right now, I'm seeing deep maroons and almost transparent reds mixed together). Inside is where the action is as the super sweet sugary paste, which even looks like a gel at the ends, bombards the taste buds with the sweet-sour 1-2 punch. The combination of the two different tastes and textures is near perfect, with the balance skewing to the paste over the the thin, but generous, outer cherry shell. I'm beyond ecstatic that I picked these up and gave them another chance because I just crushed two packages while writing this post and they were delicious.

I highly recommend trying these candies if you see them out. I wouldn't go as far to say order them right away, but definitely give them a shot if you too are riding the fruit twist addiction from which I am currently suffering (/enjoying).

From the company: 1 package/2 ropes contain 170 calories, 0g of fat, 43g of carbs, 29g of sugar and 0g of protein

Mystery Solved: Mike & Ike Blue Raspberry Fruit Twists

When I originally reviewed Mike & Ike Fruit Twists I joked about the blue raspberry flavor being a "mystery" because when I did the review, my research led me to find that this candy has been out for some time and I figured if I had not seen the blue raspberry flavor by now, I probably wouldn't for some time, or not at all. But it's times like these that show me there is really a "mystery" to the world and life itself. Yesterday while at Six Flags, I found the blue raspberry flavor. At a time when I wasn't looking for them, there they were. My brother and I entered the candy store to buy a mixed bag of gummi for the ride home and I was given a real fruit juice answer to a candy prayer I begged the sugar gods only weeks ago. And...

They are good. Better than, in fact, these Mike & Ike Fruit Twists are my favorite candy going right now. It takes years to become an all-time favorite, seeing as tastes can fade after the initial excitement, but right now I drool when I think of them. I'm making special trips to Walgreen's to stock up. I'm even buying them and putting them in the freezer to keep fresh, removing them hours before eating to allow time to soften up (they're chewier when a little cold). Now I get to taste the blue raspberry? Yes please.



Blue Raspberry: Bigger, Longer and Uncut


I can't even put the twist down to write this blog. They are addictive. I'm not a huge fan of blue raspberry flavored candy as sometimes the flavor comes off sour or overpowering but not here, not even slightly. It is the exact opposite as the strawberry takes over and visually, the filling looks more generous than in the shorter, watermelon, strawberry and green apple twists. The color of the filling is also pink where as the outer twist is blue, giving the candy a striking contrast from interior to exterior. But the taste reigns supreme here; they are as good as the other flavors, and these Mike & Ike Fruit Twists are a unique and extremely succulent candy, one of the best "new" options on the market.

From the company: 1 pack/container has 110 calories, 1g of fat, 25g of carbs, 16g of sugar and less than 1g of protein

My note: There is one twist to a package. The other flavors come 6 to a package and are shorter.

80's and 90's Soda Cans

My brother just sent me a link to The Chive where they are featuring soda cans from the 80's and 90's. I remember a few of these...

Click here to view their post.

La Semana de Gaseosas - Dia Cinco: Goya Fruit Punch

En la ultima dia de la Semana de Gaseosas, voy a revistar un otro producto de Goya y mi segun "fruit punch." Puedo comparar los dos. Quiero decir que esta semana fue muy divertido y trate unas gaseosas que no habia tratado sin la aydua de mi hermano porque me dio los Jarritos. Necesito visitarle pronto y comprar los Jarritos Mandarin. El me dio una botella de Madarin pero fue demasiado irresistible que no puedo esparar; lo bebi antes de revistarlo para el blog.

Refresco es la verdad!

Goya Fruit Punch is my second (for those who don't read Spanish) fruit punch this week. The inspiration behind this possible first of more theme weeks to come was an original delivery by my brother of a few bottles of Jarritos, including a pineapple and a madarin. Seeing that I drank those two before being able to have a Jarritos Week, I filled in the two empty spots with Goya. Not a bad choice at all and I like being able to do my first comparison, but Goya is bottled in New Jersey and is made with high-fructose corn syrup; Jarritos comes from Mexico and has cane sugar. I'm wondering if the difference will be noticeable in the two fruit punch options I was able to find.

It is. Not in a bad way, but in the same way you can taste the difference between regular and Mexican Coke. The Goya Fruit Punch is a little heavier. It is very sweet and reminds me of fruit punch drinks from my youth more than a soda because the carbonation is not intense and the aftertaste is an unidentifiable mixture of fruit flavors delivering that classic fruit punch flavor. The soda does not "pop" like the Jarritos did but the Goya Fruit Punch is smooth and steady, giving you exactly what you expect.

Now the comparison and it's a no brainer, the Jarritos is the winner. Not to say the Goya doesn't taste good but the Jarritos has more bubbles, a better bottle design, is sweeter but uses cane sugar, and is unpredictable where as the Goya is, like I said, exactly what you expect. I do think my review is tainted by the fact that twice in the same week I've had fruit punch sodas, so as a note to self I should not do same-week reviews like this because previous tastes might incite a bias in my opinions.

From the company: 12 oz has 190 calories, 0g of fat, 49g of carbs, 49g de azucar y 0g protein

La Semana de Gaseosas - Dia Cuatro: Jarritos Toronja

Desde fui un nino, me gusta azucar. Cuando estaba un nino siempre puse azucar en cereal, en fruitas y en muchos otras cosas pero solamente una cosa que no puedo recordar comiendo sin azucar: toronja. Tengo amigos que le gustan mucho la toronja pero a mi no me encanta porque es muy agrio. No me gusta beber los jugos toronja tambien. No odio la toronja, puedo ver los beneficios para el corazon y contra al cancer, y las fruita tiene vitamin C, que es muy buneo. Pero con esta gasoesa, no se que esperar.

"Make way for grapefruit. Go
grapefruit!" - Milhouse

Bam! This soda delivers. Despite not loving grapefruit, this soda is delicious. Maybe it's my adult taste buds, maybe its this blend of carbonated water and citrus toronja madness, maybe it's the sugar, but Jarritos Toronja is a refreshing blast of cool grapefruit. It has the grapefruit taste I remember from childhood but the overwhelming sour is missing, possibly obscured by the 54 grams of sugar! The soda is lively, jumps down your throat and the bubbles are just right. I guzzled a third of the bottle before I realized I needed to stop and its good right down to the last sip.

I wasn't a grapefruit hater before, and I'm still not an enthusiast, but I can see myself reaching for a grapefruit soda every once in an attempt to capture a taste of something different. I know there are a few brands out there that make grapefruit soda and I think before the week is out I may review another because this bottle is empty and I still crave a little more.

From the company: 8 oz has 110 calories, 0g of fat, 28g of carbs, 27g de azucar y 0g protein

La Semana de Gaseosas - Dia Tres: Goya Pineapple

Si me conoce, sabe que una de mis bebidas mas favoritas es una pina colada. Muy sabrosa! Cuando estaba en Las Vegas, solamente bebi pina coladas. Me gusta mucho las pinas, especialmente con marshmallow (no se la palabra correcta pero pina y marshmallow es muy delicioso!). He tomado gaseosas de pina antes, sin embargo soy muy cansado para tratar un producta nueva para mi: Goya.

SpongeBob doesn't live in
this pineapple

Luckily, my local mercado carries Goya sodas so I have a few to look forward to this week, including something called Cola Champagne...hmmm. Tonight it's the pineapple and I popped the screw on top old school and right off the bat was hit with a refreshing burst of pineapple mist. I couldn't resist, instantly grabbed for the first sip and was rewarded with a smooth pineapple surge of bubbles. The taste hits you right after that and it is very pineapple, minus that pinapple juicy wetness that makes the fruit one of my favorites. And I guess that is something I hold against the soda, that despite its spot-on pineapple taste it pales in comparison to the real thing. Other sodas have tastes that aren't easily replicated in nature however this is one of those rare cases. Don't get me wrong, the soda is a perfect pineapple but if I'm going to have a carbonated beverage I'm going to choose one that satisfies my craving for a soda and doesn't make me wish I just had piece of fruit instead.

From the company: 12 oz has 170 calories, 0g of fat, 43g of carbs, 43g de azucar y 0g protein

La Semana de Gaseosas - Dia Dos: Jarritos Tamarind

Primero, que es un tamarind? Fui al Internet para apprender que un tamarind es una fruita de Africa y tiene muchas usas, pero in este caso, la furita madura es dulce y usa en jugo, helado, y marmaleda.

My brother, having tried these flavors prior to me, was also confused about the origins of the tamarind. The first thing that strikes you about this soda, other than its name, is its color. It's like a dirty, orange, brown, and let's hope it's not that Mexican goodness. The color is not off putting however, since I have never seen a tamarind and they could very well be the same color. For this, Jarritos benefits from my ignorance.

"You know I don't speak
   Spanish, in English please"

Popping the bottle I had no expectations but nothing could have prepared me for what I tasted: nothing. The soda had no taste. The most peculiar thing and honestly, as I sit here drinking it I must be dreaming. It hits your lips...nothing. It hits your tongue...OK, there's something. It's as if you're drinking ginger ale and that first sip is uber fizzy. But then there's nothing. No taste. No aftertaste. No dulce. No fruit. I am more perplexed by tamarinds now than before.

I look at the label. Ingredients: carbonated water, natural sugar, citric acid, natural flavor (tamarind?), caramel color (ah that's what it is), and sodium benzoate. What is going on here? Is Jarritos messing with me? Right now my stomach is full of a soda I never tasted. I just burped. Nothing!

I highly suggest trying this soda just to try a soda with no taste. If there is a flavor I'm missing, can someone with a more refined palate please let me know what I'm supposed to be tasting?

From the company: 8 oz has 110 calories, 0g of fat, 29g of carbs, 29g de azucar y 0g protein

**UPDATE** I told my brother that it had no taste and he said I drank it when it was too cold. I don't know how to take that.

La Semana de Gaseosas - Primer Dia: Jarritos Fruit Punch

En el primer dia de gaseosas, voy a beber Jarritos Fruit Punch. Mi hermano me dio cinco botellas para mi cumpleanos pero bebi dos antes podia revistarlos. Me gusta tratar gaseosas neuvas pero nunca pienso que hay bastante gaseosas para toda semana. Asi, esta semana es "La Semana de Gaseosas."

Having not much base of comparison for a few of these flavors (what is tamarind?) I will just provide basic reviews and opinions on flavor. I could not find a Jarritos, or Goya, cherry cola, so these flavors will be taken on a case by case basis, with the exception of any that I can compare. Fruit punch for instance, I have in both Jarritos and Goya.

Jarritos means "little jugs"

Now, to the Jarritos Fruit Punch. Jarritos is Mexico's national soft drink, according to their website and I have to say, of the first day of this Soda Week, I'm blown away. Did you click the link? Did you view their website? They have eleven flavors. Eleven. I can't get wrapped up in that right now and I just need to stick to this review, this soda, this gorgeous bottle of Jarritos Fruit Punch.

First, the bottle. Jarritos brand name and logo on the bottle in glass. The label itself is sort of plain but the bottle shape is unique. The cap was not twist off and for some reason, with this product possibly coming from Mexico, it made me confident of its freshness (I was also thinking it trapped in the Mexican goodness, whatever you want that to be, bad or good). The soda is made with 100% cane sugar and pops on the first sip. I can't tell if it's because fruit punch sodas are not the norm around here, but the sweet and bubbly first aftertaste is delicious. It's a crave-worthy soda and each sip almost hits you in that same unpredictable way. Maybe its the Mexican goodness? We'll see in an hour.

Seriously, this is a surprising soda. I liken it to a strawberry Fanta, although the taste is a definite fruit punch and not strawberry. It's not overly sweet and leaves no heavy aftertaste. I highly recommend anyone living in a heavily-latino populated area to seek out your local mercados and buy some Jarritos. I'm beyond excited now to try the other flavors.

From the company: 8 oz has 110 calories, 0g of fat, 28g of carbs, 28g de azucar y 0g protein

Mamba Duo

Storck are the German geniuses behind Mamba Fruit Chews, or as they are more commonly know, Mambas. I've always had one extremely postive thing to say about Mambas and one extremely negative. First, they are one of only two candies I can remember that actually make you drool. Bonkers were the other, but they are not around anymore. On the negative side its the manner is which flavors are packaged. Regular Mambas come in four flavors (strawberry, raspberry, orange and lemon) but packages only contain a selection of three and there is no way of seeing which ones you'll get before you buy. Frustrating.

Storck is hitting us with a new seletion of flavors in the form of Mamba Duo (again, four new flavors, but three to a package). They are mixed flavors in swirled candy chews, including raspberry-peach, red currant-lime, cherry-banana, and watermelon-apple. Each sounds delicious and let me tell you, none disappoint.

Right off the bat we have issues. I bought four full packages and NONE contained watermelon-apple, so besides being angry, I will also be leaving that flavor from this review. I also notice as I eat them that they all look similar depsite being very different flavors. Those initial impressions aside, this is how I felt.



From left to right: red currant-lime,raspberry-peach, and
 banana-cherry



Red Currant-Lime: Red currant is a berry I am not familiar with but the berry flavor of these chews is very slight but juicy. The lime is only a hint at the end but the combination is on point with a touch of sour as you chew.

Raspberry-Peach: Another solid combination but these two battle for your taste buds right from the start. Its hard to tell exactly which flavor attacks first but for me its the peach. Both flavors compliment each other while the aftertaste is a swirl of Mamba delight.

Cherry-Banana: Not being a lover of banana flavoring I was surprised at how much I liked these. The cherry is subtle but present once your taste buds shy from the slightly overwhelming banana. I hate to call it overwhelming because the banana flavor is not too much, but actually perfect for the texture and size of these chews.

I can't express how much I like these Mambas and how happy I am at the flavor selection (although I and others would LOVE to try the watermelon-apple). I'm a huge fan of the original flavors and these continue that legacy of super juicy, super fruity, chewy candy.

Not a single watermelon in sight

From the company: Serving size = 6 pieces; 100 calories, 1.5g of fat, 1g saturated fat, 22g of carbs, 11g of sugar, 0g of protein