BevReview.com

Guest reviewer and natural beverage enthusiast George Tsakiridis returns with another review. He previously took a look at the Zola Immunity Smoothie. We hope you enjoy his thoughts!

This is Part 2 in a 4-part series reviewing the Zola smoothie line. Today's review covers the Zola Antioxidant Smoothie. To learn more about Zola, why not take a look at our Zola Açai Superfruit Juice line review and well as Part 1 of this series covering the Zola Immunity Smoothie.

TEXT

The Antioxidant Smoothie is described as a "Berry Blend of Açai Berries & Banana." It contains 82% juice and 70% organic ingredients (as opposed to the Superfruit Juices that are certified organic). Aesthetically, the antioxidant smoothie bottle follows the same general label design, only the lettering is light purple.

Jumping right into the drink qualities, I was struck by the smell of the drink, and not in a positive way. To me it smelled sort of like cold olives. The Antioxidant Smoothie was similar to the Immunity flavor in viscosity, thin, but not runny.

The color of the liquid was a sort of purple-orange color, and was opaque with particles, as other Zola drinks. Regarding taste, it was sweet with an almost olive flavor. Upon a second opinion (my wife), I was informed that the olive smell was the grape seed. Either way, it will be a different smell/taste for those who have not experienced it previously. The sweetness does carry through in the aftertaste, which may be seen as a positive aspect by some drinkers.

As with the Immunity Smoothie, the taste grew on me over time, although it was definitely distinct. I wouldn't recommend this drink to everyone because of its unique taste. In this regard, I still think the Immunity Smoothie has the upper hand, but as the different flavors show, taste is not the only factor to consider when choosing one of these drinks.

It also depends on what health benefits you might want to maximize. There are other antioxidant drinks that also fit the bill on that count, so this would not be your only choice. Personally, I don't think I would choose the Zola Antioxidant Smoothie over other antioxidant drinks, including the Zola Açai Superfruit Juices, assuming taste is the main factor. Either way, Zola has produced a unique Antioxidant Smoothie that some may want to give a try.

In March, Pepsi announced that 2 new versions of Mountain Dew Game Fuel would be hitting the marketplace for a limited time this summer. Themed to tie into the World of Warcraft massively multiplayer online role-playing game (MMORPG), a citrus red version and a wild fruit blue version were created. Today we take a look at Mountain Dew Game Fuel Alliance Blue.

Mountain Dew Game Fuel Alliance Blue

Unlike Mountain Dew Game Fuel Horde Red, which is a return of 2007's original Game Fuel flavor, Mountain Dew Game Fuel Alliance Blue is all new… at least according to a Pepsi representative when we inquired about the flavor. Their quote: "Alliance Blue is a completely new flavor developed specifically for this launch." Thanks to the addition of Alliance Blue, I guess Game Fuel has become a multi-flavor franchise for Mountain Dew!

It's a new Wild Berry flavor… that's familiar

Having hit the stores here in June, it's officially available for 8-10 weeks. Based on the June 8 date of Pepsi's press release, that ends the run between August 3-17, most likely dependent on local supplies. For those wondering, the original Mountain Dew Game Fuel had a 12 week run.

Because spelling "Mountain" was too hard

Like Horde Red, this Mountain Dew flavor features the new "Mtn Dew" spelling noted in the revised logo. As I mentioned previously, it's a curious inclusion given that we've seen the official rollout of the DEWmocracy winning beverage Mountain Dew Voltage — which is being shipped using the old style Mountain Dew logo — even though there are filed trademarks and logos for the spelling "Mtn Dew Voltage".

WoW, it's a new Dew!

Given that this drink is pretty much a marketing promotion for World of Warcraft, that's what Pepsi has been emphasizing when promoting Alliance Blue. The company probably devotes 2-3 sentences to the drink in the announcement press release, touching solely on the fact that "Mtn Dew Game Fuel is available in two varieties that represent the opposing factions of the game: citrus-cherry-flavored Horde Red and wild fruit-flavored Alliance Blue" and "Mtn Dew Game Fuel will be available in 20-ounce single serve bottles and 12-packs of 12-ounce cans from June through the summer. A full slate of advertising will support the product's launch with TV and radio spots created by BBDO NY and digital from Tribal DDB."

The primary color scheme of Alliance Blue is blue and black, with a yellow/orange logo that uses the "Mtn Dew" logo with a sharp, angular style. The World of Warcraft logo prominently appears above the Dew logo, while a small subtitle denoting "Dew with a Punch of Wild Fruit Flavor" sits towards the bottom.

Don't make her mad!

Nowhere on the label is the promoted flavor of "Alliance Blue" actually mentioned. In fact, on Pepsi's own product facts website, they refer to this flavor as "Mountain Dew Game Fuel - Wild Fruit". If you keep reading on facts website, it's noted that "Wild Fruit flavor represents the Alliance, who fight to restore order to the war-torn world of Azeroth." Despite the freaky eyes found on the main character showcased via the Alliance Blue label, I still think it's an improvement over the green thing pictures on the Horde Red label. As I've mentioned, I don't play in the World of Warcraft universe, so if someone would like to identity this character in the comments, you are more than welcome to do so!

Non-branded Review Can for Alliance Blue flavor

Looking at the color of Mountain Dew Game Fuel Alliance Blue, it's a very nuclear blue. We're talking the type of hue that you'd typically associate with Easter egg coloring kits. What, did PAAS make a deal with Pepsi or something? The color is brighter than that you'd see in Mountain Dew Voltage, bolder than last summer's Mountain Dew Revolution, and probably closest in look/feel to Pepsi Blue. The look of this drink is most definitely going for that highly surreal, artificial hue.

Do you like HFCS?

When you open a bottle or can, the smell you are greeted with is rather sweet, with a hint of berry. The taste, however, was surprising. Given the blue coloring, I expected quite the berry flavor. To be honest, it was quite muted, rather dull in flavor. I wouldn't say it was the same formula as Mountain Dew Revolution, but the lightness of the fruit flavor was on parallel with that. Interestingly, it wasn't an overtly BLUEberry flavor. The packaging notes that this is a "wild berry" drink, and frankly, if you closed your eyes and drank it, I think you'd have a hard time telling it apart from Mountain Dew Code Red. It's just that neutral.

I'd argue that Alliance Blue tastes more cherry is basis than the implied Horde Red flavor. Call me crazy! But as we speculated when this drink was announced, you really do have to wonder if Alliance Blue has some sort of shared heritage with Mountain Dew Revolution. The one thing you can't miss is the aftertaste, which is quite fake and syrupy. The carbonation level was probably not as strong as normal Dew, while the acid level seemed to be lower as well. It's not a great flavor of Dew, and I don't think it could sustain itself as a regular entry. Then again, I didn't think Mountain Dew Voltage was sustainable either… yet it's the newest permanent line extension… go figure!

Ingredients:

Mountain Dew Game Fuel Alliance Blue
Carbonated water, high fructose corn syrup, citric acid, natural flavor, sodium benzoate (preserves freshness), gum arabic, caffeine, sodium citrate, glycerol ester of wood rosin, calcium disodium edta (to protect flavor), Blue 1, brominated vegetable oil, Red 40

A 20 oz. bottle of Mountain Dew Game Fuel Alliance will cost you 280 calories (10 less than Horde Red), and give you 105 mg of sodium, and 76 g of carbs — all of which are sugars.

More logo fun!

The Game Fuel lineup is known for its high caffeine content and Alliance Blue doesn't disappoint with 6.0 mg/oz. Actually, if you increase the number of decimal places, it looks like Alliance Blue (6.125 mg/oz.) may have just a tad bit more caffeine than Horde Red (6.000 mg/oz.). These numbers are higher than original Mountain Dew's 4.5 mg/oz., while Coke's Vault has 5.875 mg/oz. Though higher than regular Dew, Alliance Blue is still clear of energy drink territory, where Red Bull has 9.64 mg/oz. and Monster clocks in with 10.00 mg/oz.

Note Wild Fruit branding, not Alliance Blue

The return of Mountain Dew Game Fuel supports Pepsi's strategy of short-term line extensions to build interest around their brands. Dew has quite the track record in this area, having seen more spin-offs than probably any other PepsiCo product. For example, do you remember these limited-time flavors?

• Mountain Dew LiveWire (Summer 2003, full time in Summer 2004)
• Mountain Dew Pitch Black (Halloween 2004)
• Mountain Dew Pitch Black II (Halloween 2005)
• Mountain Dew MDX (2005)
• Mountain Dew Game Fuel (Summer 2007)
• Mountain Dew Supernova (Summer 2008)
• Mountain Dew Revolution (Summer 2008)
• Mountain Dew Voltage (Summer 2008)
• Mountain Dew Throwback (Summer 2009)

Unlike the returning Horde Red which was a repeat of 2007's original Game Fuel, Mountain Dew Game Fuel Alliance Blue is a new flavor for the summer of 2009. Surprisingly not very berry-tasting, the muted flavor profile was actually a notable element that we liked. Unfortunately, it was hampered by an unpleasant syrupy aftertaste.

Here in Chicago, my wife and I live in a pretty diverse neighborhood, noted by a strong Hispanic and Polish influence. This often produces some interesting options available at the local fruit market… or when you are seeking unique beverages to review. It's with this background that I looked forward to experiencing a new line of 4 flavors from the folks at Jones Soda… I guess you could call it their Hispanic Collection. We start off with Jones Soda Naranja Mandarina, or in English, Jones Soda Mandarin Orange.

Jones Soda Mandarin Orange

According to the press release I was sent (which featured both English and Spanish translations), "Jones Soda Co. is excited to introduce a new collection of Spanish labels and soda flavors honoring the culture and spirit of Hispanics living in America." It goes on to mention that these four flavors will "debut in the single-serve sections of select retailers in Los Angeles, San Diego and Arizona."

If you can't find them near you, the flavors are also available via the Jones Soda website. Besides the Mandarin Orange flavor, there is Lime, Fruit Punch, and Pineapple Creme. Each will feature photos from Jones Soda fans that "celebrate the community and Hispanic artwork."

Over the years, we've tasted many orange sodas, including Fanta Orange, Orange Slice, Orange Crush, Sunkist, and Tropicana Twister Soda Orange. There's been some drinks in there that aren't quite a real orange soda; Mountain Dew LiveWire comes to mind. There have been those that don't look like an orange soda, like the clear Sierra Mist Undercover Orange. But in most cases, these drinks taste pretty fake and syrupy.

Cocos features some crazy cartoon action!
Photo #10402 by Frank Barbara, Encinitas, CA

Jones Soda Mandarin Orange stands out from the pack, though it's a different kind of orange experience. Just like their limited time Halloween entry from last year, Jones Soda Blood Orange Soda, Mandarin Orange isn't exactly in the same flavor profile as a typical orange experience. The name isn't a misnomer; there does seem to be a mandarin influence here. Mandarin oranges don't have the same sourness as the typical citrus variety, and that's reflected in this Jones flavor. It's subdued, producing less "pucker", being more mild and sweet. If you've had Hansen's Natural Mandarin Lime Soda, you know what type of orange I'm talking about.

One of the best orange sodas I ever had was on a trip to Costa Rica I went on a few years ago… Fanta Naranja. It was pretty much Fanta Orange, but with real sugar. I'd pretty much put Jones Soda Mandarin Orange in that same category of excellence, which makes sense, given it's use of pure cane sugar — or as described on the label of this drink, "refresco superior de caña pura." This drink is very satisfying, clean, and not overly carbonated, allowing you to really taste the flavor.

We've reviewed many Jones Soda flavors over the years. One of our traditions here on BevReview.com is to take a look at the artwork featured on the bottle and provide some sort of comment about it, typically in a sarcastic way (which sometimes comes back to bite us, given that we've been contacted by many folks who tell us "hey, that's MY photo!") The photo on this bottle of Jones Soda Naranja Mandarina is #10402 and was shot by Frank Barbara of Encinitas, CA. This image, which is portrayed in black & white, appears to be some sort of sign by the side of the road, denoting a place called "Cocos". A character is visible which probably represents a fruit or vegetable, I think. There's a palm tree in the background, along with a bug, and the character is holding a container. Man, I don't know where to start with this, other than it probably would make a pretty great 1980s cartoon… you know, the type that don't make any sense!

Speaking of the bottle design, we see the standard Jones Soda white/black label color scheme in place, with the flavor name written in orange. This label is bilingual, with the Spanish title given prominence, while the flavor is translated into English below the photo. The nutrition facts, descriptive text, and ingredients are also presented in both languages on the back. Speaking of which…

Ingredients:

Jones Soda Mandarin Orange
Carbonated water, inverted cane sugar, citric acid, natural and artificial flavors, sodium benzoate (as preservative), modified food starch, potassium sorbate (as preservative), ester gum, Yellow 6, Red 40

A 12 oz. bottle packs 170 calories, 35 mg of sodium, and 42 g of sugars… and is caffeine free.

Whatever you call it — Jones Soda Naranja Mandarina or Jones Soda Mandarin Orange — this Hispanic-influenced drink features an excellently satisfying flavor experience. It's a different type of orange taste, one that's not as bitter, but surprisingly mild and smooth. ¡Muy bien!

Guest reviewer and natural beverage enthusiast George Tsakiridis returns with another review. He previously reviewed Zola Immunity Smoothie. We hope you enjoy his thoughts!

When you think of natural sodas, Hansen's is one of the first names that comes to mind. In this review I will be looking at Hansen's Natural Cherry Vanilla Creme Soda, one of the flavors in their cane sugar soda lineup.

We've previously looked at Hansen's Natural Creamy Root Beer Soda and Hansen's Natural Mandarin Lime Soda, and frankly, based on the positive experiences we had with those natural sodas, we were looking forward to the Cherry Vanilla Crème flavor.

It's hard to miss the emphasis on cane sugar, which appears in a bright yellow star near the top of the can, and honestly, they are justified in touting it there. This flavor blew me away with an incredibly clean taste. I am not one to gush over the taste of soda pop, but this flavor really made my day.

Opening the can, one smells a clean cherry aroma that is plain awesome. The look of the drink is crystal clear, like what you might expect out of a lemon-lime drink, showing that there are no unnecessary artificial colors added.

It really mirrored other "healthy" black cherry sodas I have tasted in this appearance and smell. The catch is, this is not just another black cherry drink, which becomes evident in the taste. Once I tasted it, I was met with a great balance of crème and vanilla along with the cherry. The aftertaste is amazing, with both cherry and crème evident – understated, but very good with a clean finish.

Moving to the nuts and bolts of the drink, it contains no high fructose corn syrup because it is cane sugar sweetened, and it shows. Each can contains only 160 calories, and is definitely worth it for so tasty a treat.

A full ingredient list is as follows:

Hansen's Natural Cherry Vanilla Crème Soda
Pure triple filtered carbonated water, cane sugar, citric acid, natural flavors with extracts of madagascan vanilla and washington cherry

As the label states, there is no caffeine, sodium, or preservatives – all positives. I would buy this again in a heartbeat. I am normally not this excited about a drink, but can't say enough about this one. Anyone who is a fan of both crème and cherry sodas has just hit the jackpot. Hansen's has achieved a major coup in the drink world.

In March, Pepsi announced that 2 new versions of Mountain Dew Game Fuel would be hitting the marketplace for a limited time this summer. Themed to tie into the World of Warcraft massively multiplayer online role-playing game (MMORPG), a citrus red version and a wild fruit blue version were created. Today we take a look at Mountain Dew Game Fuel Horde Red.

Mountain Dew Game Fuel Horde Red

If this drink looks familiar, that's because it is! Pepsi has confirmed that Mountain Dew Game Fuel Horde Red is the same formula as the first Game Fuel flavor that was available in 2007, tied to the release of the Halo 3 game on the Xbox 360. I know a lot of Dew fans are welcoming its return, no matter how its branded.

Game Fuel's Cherry flavor returns!

Having hit the stores here in June, it's officially available for 8-10 weeks. Based on the June 8 date of Pepsi's press release, that ends the run between August 3-17, most likely dependent on local supplies (much like we've seen with the inventories of Pepsi Throwback and Mountain Dew Throwback fading away, much to our dismay). For those wondering, the original Mountain Dew Game Fuel had a 12 week run.

It's the infamous "Mtn Dew" logo

This is the first Mountain Dew spinoff flavor to use the new "Mtn Dew" spelling noted in the revised logo. This is curious because since that name spelling change, we've seen the official rollout of the DEWmocracy winning beverage Mountain Dew Voltage — which is being shipped using the old style Mountain Dew logo — even though there are filed trademarks and logos for the spelling "Mtn Dew Voltage". Are you confused yet?

Forget the Halo, it's all about WoW!

Like the original Halo 3-inspired Mountain Dew Game Fuel, it seems the emphasis of this drink promotion isn't really about the Dew itself, but more about the marketing tie-in. Pepsi probably devotes 2-3 sentences to the drink in the announcement press release, touching solely on the fact that "Mtn Dew Game Fuel is available in two varieties that represent the opposing factions of the game: citrus-cherry-flavored Horde Red and wild fruit-flavored Alliance Blue" and "Mtn Dew Game Fuel will be available in 20-ounce single serve bottles and 12-packs of 12-ounce cans from June through the summer. A full slate of advertising will support the product's launch with TV and radio spots created by BBDO NY and digital from Tribal DDB."

The rest of the copy, I think, speaks to the real purpose of this drink. Here's an excerpt:

To celebrate the launch of the two beverages, Mtn Dew, working in partnership with Blizzard Entertainment, is offering World of Warcraft players an in-game pet, known as a "battle-bot," available exclusively through the promotional Web site http://www.warcraft.com/Dew. This site also offers an extended 14-day free downloadable trial of the game.

Choose a side online!
(Source: MountainDewGameFuel.com)

Throughout the summer, visitors also have the chance to win great gaming related prizes every 15 minutes for 84 days with Mtn Dew Game Fuel's "Choose Your Side" promotion, resulting in 96 giveaways per day — a grand total of over 8,000 prizes. Among the prizes are Alienware Notebook computers and Razer Gaming Peripherals, such as headphones, speakers and keyboards, as well as Mtn Dew Game Fuel/ World of Warcraft branded gear and apparel.

"We are thrilled to be collaborating with Blizzard Entertainment to harness the power of one of the most popular and recognizable game franchises," said Frank Cooper, chief marketing officer of sparkling beverages, Pepsi-Cola North America Beverages. "We're giving players a new way to experience World of Warcraft and a new way to experience Dew.
Both of us, and more importantly, the consumers, will benefit from the partnership."

Earn tokens for the chance to win prizes!
(Source: MountainDewGameFuel.com)

"We're pleased to be working closely with Mtn Dew to bring this opportunity both to our own community and to the broader gaming audience as a whole," said Paul Sams, chief operating officer of Blizzard Entertainment. "In addition to putting thousands of great prizes up for grabs, this promotion offers World of Warcraft players a new way to show their Horde or Alliance pride out in the real world."

Forget the taste, it's all about World of Warcraft! But I guess that's where we come in, right?

This time around, the drink is available in both 20 oz. bottles and 12 oz. cans in 12-packs, just like the original Game Fuel. The Horde Red flavor features a label with a red/orange/yellow/black color scheme, with the "Mtn Dew" logo showcased in an angular, creamy-colored font. The World of Warcraft logo prominently appears above the Dew logo, while a small subtitle denoting "Dew with a Blast of Cherry Citrus Flavor" sits towards the bottom.

This guy… he's scary

It should be noted that nowhere on the packaging is the phrase "Horde Red" used to describe the flavor. In fact, on Pepsi's own product facts website, they refer to this flavor as "Mountain Dew Game Fuel - Citrus Cherry". Granted, that same site also notes that "Citrus Cherry represents the Horde, who have banded together to ensure their mutual survival against the supression of the Alliance." Not being a World of Warcraft player (I'm more of a Clue boardgame guy myself), I hope I don't lose all credibility by not being able to identify the creepy green character featured on the Horde Red label. I'm sure that will be rectified in the comments!

Non-branded Review Can for Horde Red flavor

The color of the beverage has a red hue, but more of an orange-red. It's not as red as Mountain Dew Code Red. The smell upon opening the bottle brings you back to Kool-Aid, of all things… the Tropical Punch flavor to be exact.

Just like our first review of this red flavor, we were greeted by a tangy, but mild taste. It didn't seem as biting or acidic as classic Mountain Dew. The subdued tone reminded me quite a bit of the muted cherry flavor found in Vault Red Blitz. While the flavoring was definitely "red", it was not overly cherry. A good correlation might be that Mountain Dew Game Fuel is to cherry soda what Mountain Dew LiveWire is to orange soda — in both cases, they seem like they'd be part of the same families, but aren't quite. Game Fuel is sort of its own thing. It doesn't really resemble Code Red at all, which one would assume it would.

Yup, it's got high fructose corn syrup

Given that this drink is loaded with our friend high fructose corn syrup (HFCS) — oh Mountain Dew Throwback, please come back! — you are greeted with a pretty syrupy aftertaste that isn't very clean at all. If you are used to the way Dew tastes and frankly just want the buzz, this probably won't phase you one bit. But if you are more of a beverage connoisseur (is there such a thing?), you may be correlating the experience with that of cough medicine. There's a fruity flavor there with hints of citrus and watermelon, but it's not the best Dew line extension by any means. As I noted before, I'd put it in a classification with Mountain Dew LiveWire, which I personally feel is an underwhelming drink that isn't really worthy of the Mountain Dew brand.

Here's what's inside:

Mountain Dew Game Fuel Horde Red
Carbonated water, high fructose corn syrup, citric acid, natural flavor, sodium benzoate (preserves freshness), gum arabic, caffeine, sodium citrate, Yellow 5, glycerol ester of wood rosin, calcium disodium edta (to protect flavor), Yellow 6, Red 40, brominated vegetable oil

A 20 oz. bottle of Mountain Dew Game Fuel Horde Red will cost you 290 calories, and give you 110 mg of sodium, and 77 g of carbs — all of which are sugars. But as we all know, the big difference with Game Fuel vs. the rest of the Dew lineup is the caffeine content, which has historically been high. (Do you expect anything less for the gamer demographic?)

Hey, there's another logo on the back!

Mountain Dew Game Fuel Horde Red breaks down to 6.0 mg/oz of caffeine. In contrast, original Mountain Dew contains 4.5 mg/oz., while Coke's Vault has 5.875 mg/oz. These numbers aren't really close to the energy drink leaders, where Red Bull has 9.64 mg/oz. and Monster clocks in with 10.00 mg/oz.

Note Citrus Cherry branding, not Horde Red

The return of Mountain Dew Game Fuel supports Pepsi's strategy of short-term line extensions to build interest around their brands. Dew has quite the track record in this area, having seen more spin-offs than probably any other PepsiCo product. For example, do you remember these limited-time flavors?

• Mountain Dew LiveWire (Summer 2003, full time in Summer 2004)
• Mountain Dew Pitch Black (Halloween 2004)
• Mountain Dew Pitch Black II (Halloween 2005)
• Mountain Dew MDX (2005)
• Mountain Dew Game Fuel (Summer 2007)
• Mountain Dew Supernova (Summer 2008)
• Mountain Dew Revolution (Summer 2008)
• Mountain Dew Voltage (Summer 2008)
• Mountain Dew Throwback (Summer 2009)

In the end, it's great to see the return of Mountain Dew Game Fuel, now expanded to 2 flavors. Horde Red is a flashback to 2007's original flavor, which did have a distinct cherry-ish taste, but was also quite syrupy. The real advantage of this drink is the 6.0 mg/oz of caffeine, far greater than you'd find in original Dew. If you want a buzz, this is your beverage!

In 2009, the folks at PepsiCo have rolled out 3 new permanent flavors as part of the Amp Energy lineup. We've already taken a look at the lemonade-flavored Amp Energy Lightning. This was joined by Amp Energy with Black Tea and the drink we're taking a look at today, Amp Energy with Green Tea. It should also be noted that a limited edition flavor also joined these 3 this year, Amp Energy Tradin' Paint.

This release pattern in 3's seems to be a habit in the Amp lineup. If you recall, back in March 2008, we saw the rollout of another 3 flavors that joined the traditional Dew-inspired original and its cherry-spinoff Overdrive. These flavors were the grape Amp Energy Traction, berry-inspired Amp Energy Elevate, and orange-infused Amp Energy Relaunch.

While the triplets of flavors in 2008 reflected existing Pepsi/Dew tastes, the three in 2009 seem to be setting out on their own. We saw the world of lemonade visited with Amp Energy Lightning, and now we're entering the interesting realm of "Tea + Energy Drink" with the Green Tea Amp extension.

Teas are hot in the marketplace these days, with the folks at AriZona, Lipton, Snapple, and Nestea continually looking to expand their lineups, notably with green teas. Aside from showing up expected tea products, you are starting to see these flavors added in unusual places to promote the ideas of health and infusion of antioxidants. For example, we found it an odd combination last year when we reviewed Canada Dry Green Tea Ginger Ale, but the experience was quite positive, even though you probably didn't expect tea in your ginger ale!

This is the background we have as we explore Amp Energy with Green Tea. If you don't look carefully at the can, you might think this is some sort of camouflage/military drink, since the green and gold colors are accented by a leafy pattern in the background. Unlike the other flavors in the Amp Energy lineup, there's no crazy name that doesn't mean anything ("Relaunch", "Traction", etc.). The name of this product is exactly what is is… Amp Energy with Green Tea. It's an interesting divergence from the typical naming patter, but perhaps the folks at Pepsi felt that this name was the most effective.

Below the logo on the front of this cane is the phrase "Defend", highlighting the inclusion of beta-alanine and antioxidants. There's also a claim that this drink contains a "Charge of Green Tea and Yuzu". Not being all knowing, I had to look up "yuzu", which is apparently a citrus fruit from eastern Asia with roughly a grapefruit/orange flavor. Around the top of the can, there is a gold band featuring words that proclaim elements in this beverage, as is typical for other Amp Energy flavors. This time around we are greeting with "Amino Acids", "Energy + Tea", and "Ginseng".

Rotating the can slightly, there is additional text fond under a secondary logo panel:

Strengthen your body with the power of Amp Energy with antioxidants plus beta-Alanine, B-Vitamins, Ginseng and intense hits of Green Tea and Yuzu.

The power of Amp Energy plus lemonade flavor and a specially formulated blend of L-Carnitine, Guarana, and B-Vitamins for an explosive energizing bolt.

Amp Energy with Green Tea - More Power To You

As is the tradition with other Amp Energy beverages, the pulltab reflects the primary color of the can, in this case… green, like the original Amp Energy flavor.

Apparently, beta-Alanine is a type of amino acid, which helps to process proteins to create energy… just in case you were wondering. I know I was!

That's all fine and dandy, but what does this drink taste like? The color is that of a pale amber, similar to the hue you'd find with ginger ale. You are greeted by a sweet smell, hinting at tea and lemon, but not much else. My first sip brought with it a slightly bitter "beginning", producing a tangy and bubbly sensation on my tongue. This was a different experience for me when compared to other Amp Energy flavors, which tend to reflect flavor profiles in line with traditional carbonated soft drinks. There's some sourness in the flavor, but don't be mistaken, the tea experience is there. In fact, it dominates all the way through to the aftertaste. The overall flavor is sweet, with a lemony/citrusy overtone present… perhaps that's the much heralded yuzu coming into play. Either way, the tanginess produced a nice kick in flavor and sensation in the mouth. It surprisingly had a lot in common with the tastes we experienced with Canada Dry Green Tea Ginger Ale. It's different, but it's good.

Like the original Amp Energy and Amp Energy Overdrive, you'll find an assortment of nutritional supplements in this drink. Here's a breakdown based on 8 oz. servings (there are 2 per 16 oz. can). Amp Energy with Green Tea contains ginseng (17 mg vs. Amp/Amp Overdrive's 10 mg), taurine (148 mg vs. Amp/Amp Overdrive's 10 mg), guarana (124 mg vs. Amp/Amp Overdrive's 150 mg), and B vitamins (2 mg). It also features beta-Alanine (350 mg), maltodextrin (63 mg vs. Amp/Amp Overdrive's 55 mg), and about the same amount of sodium (70 mg vs. Amp/Amp Overdrive's 65 mg, Amp Traction's 70 mg, Amp Elevate's 65 mg, Amp Relaunch's 110 mg).

Amp Energy with Green Tea contains more caffeine than the original Amp Energy and Amp Energy Overdrive, breaking down to 9.75 mg/oz. per can, in comparison to Amp/Amp Overdrive's 8.875 mg/oz. (Standard Mountain Dew contains 4.5 mg/oz., while Red Bull has 9.64 mg/oz. and Monster clocks in with 10.00 mg/oz.)

A full ingredient list is as follows:

Amp Energy with Green Tea
Carbonated water, high fructose corn syrup, citric acid, natural flavor, beta-Alanine, green tea, sodium hexametaphosphate (to protect flavor), taurine, guarana seed extract, caffeine, maltodextrin, sodium benzoate and potassium sorbate (preserves freshness), niacinamide, panax ginseng root extract, calcium pantothenate, calcium disodium edta (to protect flavor), pyridoxine hydrochloride (Vitamin B6).

I really liked Amp Energy with Green Tea. If you are a tea fan, then this is a drink to check out, combining the unique taste elements with the features of an energy drink. The sweetness of the general Amp Energy flavor counteracted the sometimes bitter experience you get from a tea, but the overall flavor profile blended with with a citrus hint. Thumbs up!

You know, sometimes Japan gets all the interesting beverages. I'm not exactly sure why some products and flavors appear there that we'd never see here in the States.

Coca-Cola Plus Catechin
(Source: CocaCola.co.jp)

Case in point, Coca-Cola Plus Catechin. Here's how the Associated Press describes it:

Green tea-flavored Coca-Cola will hit Japanese stores June 8, Coca Cola (Japan) Co. spokesman Katsuya Sato said Thursday. It contains tea antioxidants called catechins, leaves a slight green tea aftertaste and is mainly targeted at health-conscious women in their 20s and 30s, Sato said. [Source]

Coca-Cola Plus Catechin
(Source: AP)

At the same time, Pepsi is rolling out what seems to be their yearly theme of Japanese novelty flavors. Hitting in late June, the latest is Pepsi Shiso, reported to have a basil flavor. Per Wikipedia, Shiso is also known as perilla, and is like a mint leaf.

Pepsi Shiso
(Source: Suntory.co.jp)

Like the rest of the world, Coke is the beverage leader in Japan, which leaves Pepsi to play catch up. And while here in the U.S. they try to do that with niche drinks like Pepsi Throwback, Pepsi Natural, and Sierra Mist Ruby Splash, in Japan the tastes seem to be a little crazier.

Pepsi Ice Cucumber
(Source: Suntory.co.jp)

For example, in 2007, Japan's Pepsi distributor, Suntory Ltd., rolled out Pepsi Ice Cucumber. It didn't actually contain any of the namesake vegetable in the ingredients, but did contain "the refreshing taste of a fresh cucumber," according to spokeswoman Aya Takemoto (per The Associated Press).

Pepsi Blue Hawaii
(Source: Suntory.co.jp)

Last year, Suntory followed that up with Pepsi Blue Hawaii, a combination of pineapple and lemon flavors. Our friends over at The Impulsive Buy noted that the taste was quite "sweet and artificial, especially the pineapple," but it eventually grew on them. Apparently, it tasted nothing like Pepsi Blue.

Pepsi White
(Source: Suntory.co.jp)

Then in late 2008, Pepsi Japan did it again with the introduction of Pepsi White, described as containing a Pepsi and yogurt flavor. The folks over at the A.V. Club remarked that it didn't actually taste like yogurt, but there was a creamy flavor with a hint of lemon.

While these drinks are probably all disgusting and on par with something you might find in a Jones Soda Holiday Collection, it's still pretty fascinating how these kinds of flavors come to market in Japan. Oh well, I guess we'll have to settle for some Mountain Dew Throwback while it lasts!

Last Wednesday, May 27, the Chicago Cubs beat the Pittsburgh Pirates in a Major League Baseball game at Wrigley Field here in Chicago. What does this have to do with beverages? Keep reading!

Gatorade fountain in Chicago Cubs dugout
(Source: Chicago Tribune)

You see, in the 7th inning, Nyjer Morgan of the Pirates scored, avoiding a tag at home plate by Cubs pitcher Carlos Zambrano. Umpire Mark Carlson called the player safe at home, which Zambrano highly disagreed with. A shouting match started between player and umpire, resulting in Zambrano shoving the umpire. Per MLB rules, this results in an automatic ejection from the game.

The controversial play and call
(Source: WGN-TV)

Now Zambrano is a great pitcher, but is also quite a hot head. He didn't take being thrown out of the game lightly. As he headed into the dugout, he grabbed a bat and started hitting the Gatorade dispenser, breaking it in parts. The Chicago Tribune reported that the machine had been repaired just 24 hours earlier after Cubs pitcher Ryan Dempster punched it. Watch video via MLB.com to see the "Gatorade attack" as it played out!

Attack on the Gatorade machine
(Source: WGN-TV)

This season, the Gatorade machine replaced the standard water coolers you typically find in baseball dugouts. It was an innovative play for PepsiCo, giving them some nice branding with the orange background and the new "G" Gatorade logo there to be seen on television. In addition, it provided quick access to multiple flavors and water.

I have a friend, Nick Rosario, who works in the commissary operations at Wrigley Field. He was able to provide me with a list of the 6 options found in this Gatorade fountain.

The 6 fountain flavors
(Source: MouthpieceSports.com)

The flavors are, from left to right:

• Gatorade Lemon-Lime
• Gatorade Fruit Punch
• Gatorade Lemon-Lime
• Water
• Water
• Water

After the attack by Zambrano, the machine was repaired. However, it's last game was Sunday, May 31. The Tribune reports that the Gatorade fountain is being pulled out of the dugout, and the old water dispenser will be returned in its place.

It was a sad end for this beverage branding opportunity… and so short lived. But you just know that despite the outcome, PepsiCo loved all the promotion they got out of this string of events. Imagine if this was Coke's VitaminWater brand. Would it have had the same effect?

The Sunkist brand is one that is familiar in the beverage marketplace, given the popularity of Sunkist orange soda since 1978. However, it should be noted that the name is actually licensed from Sunkist Growers, a co-op of citrus growers in California and Arizona. The folks at Maverick Brands has teamed up with Sunkist on a new series of juices and smoothies called Sunkist Naturals. We just had the opportunity to try one of the many flavors, Sunkist Naturals Glorious Greens

With 10 flavors to choose from, there's bound to be a fruit smoothie combination that you like. I'm a big fan of apples, so the Glorious Greens flavor caught my eye. This flavor is described as containing green apple, kiwi, bananas, mango, pineapple, and lemon juice, along with 14 superfruits including wheat grass, flax seed, spirulina, and green tea.

I'm impressed with the package design on the Sunkist Naturals products, which each feature an attractive rounded 15.2 oz. bottle, a bit more curved than what we saw with the Zola Immunity Smoothie. The caps are color-coded to match the flavor, which also ties into the visual imagery on the lower half of the bottle. Below the prominent "Sunkist" name and smaller "Naturals" brand, is the flavor description, along with a small explaination. This is superimposed on attractive photographic art showing the fruits included in this drink. In the case of Sunkist Naturals Glorious Greens, apples and kiwis can be easily seen with a greenish-hue.

The back of the bottle not only contains Nutrition Facts, but also a short story about the flavor (in this case, it was "Enjoy Your Greens!") that further describes the process of making this particular smoothie flavor. They don't shy away from all the stuff that's included in this drink. For example, this description of Glorious Greens was pulled from the official website:

Each sip contains vitamin filled green vegetables including broccoli, cabbage and kale; along with antioxidant rich green tea and phytonutrient rich echinacea, dulse and spirulina. Plus, heart-healthy omega-3 rich flax seeds and blue-green algae. The smoothie is a good source of vitamins B-complex, C, K and also contains dietary fiber.

In college, I worked in food service management and used kale quite often as a display garnish. And I can't say that I even know what "phytonutrient rich echinacea" is, but apparently, I drank it!

And speaking of drinking, I bet you are wondering what this beverage tastes like! Upon opening the bottle, you are met with, well, somewhat of a scary green drink. It's darkish green, something looking like blended spinach. Add to that the sweet — yet uniquely odd — scent of vegetables. If you aren't familiar with drinking smoothies (include me in that group), then you have to ask yourself, "seriously, you are going to drink this?" I was wondering if starting with the green-colored drink was a good idea or not!

Thankfully, that choice was redeemed when I actually took my first sip. I was really surprised by the flavor! (Apparently, the color green set my bar low, but still, it tasted good!) The flavor was sweet and provided a very clean aftertaste. The prominent tastes came from kiwi and banana, I felt, though there was a nice touch of that bitterness you find with green apples. The scent and flavor experience together also brought out the hint of pineapple influence, in sort of a tropical, citrusy way. Frankly, when I got beyond the look and the scent, I had a pleasant drinking experience.

Here's what's inside:

Sunkist Naturals Glorious Greens
Apple juice (water, apple juice concentrate), apple juice puree, banana puree (banana, citric and ascorbic acid), mango puree, pineapple juice (water, pineapple juice concentrate), kiwi puree, nutrient blend (spirulina, chlorella, green tea extract, spinach, broccoli, wheat grass, barley grass, oat grass, green cabbage, dulse, kale, echinacea, flax seed, citrus bioflavonoids), lemon juice concentrate, natural flavor

Each 15.2 oz. bottle is technically 2 servings, but seriously, who just drinks half a bottle? Thus, if you do the Nutrition Facts math for the whole bottle, you are looking at 280 calories, 50 mg of sodium, 520 mg of potassium, 68 g of carbs — including 6 g of dietary fiber and 56 g of sugars, and 4 g of protein.

Unlike most of the carbonated soft drinks you'll find us exploring here on BevReview.com, this is a drink that really shines in the nutrients area. For example, it contains 80% of your daily values for Vitamin A and 60% for Vitamin C. Round that out with Calcium (2%), Iron (4%), Vitamin K (15%), Thiamin (4%), Riboflavin (2%), Vitamin B6 (15%), Vitamin B12 (20%), Iodine (40%), Magnesium (6%), Zine (4%), and Manganese (20%). The bottle proclaims that is contains 100% juice, nothing artificial, no preservatives (thus why you have to keep this stuff refrigerated), and no GMO (that's genetically modified organisms — yeah, I had to look it up!)

And for you Pepsi Throwback lovers out there… there's no high fructose corn syrup either (ha ha!)

Despite the odd green color found in Sunkist Naturals Glorious Greens, I was pleasantly surprised by the taste. With a balance of apple, kiwi, and other smoothie-ish flavors, this drink hit the spot. Hats off to the solid packaging design as well, which drew in a non-smoothie drinker like myself with its nice visuals and familiar brand name.

When it arrived in the mail, it looked exactly like something Victoria's Secret would crank out… if they made a pink lemonade-flavored energy drink. Yes, I held in my hands a very pink can of Her Energy, not only a name defining the targeted demographic, but also an acronym representing "Healthy Energy Revitalizer".

If you were watching the Indy 500 over Memorial Day weekend, you probably noticed the pink race car of Alex Lloyd, which was sponsored by Her Energy for the big race. It was pretty hard to miss!

Her Energy & Alex Lloyd at the Indianapolis 500

But what is this Her Energy drink? Well, if you believe the marketing, it's an energy drink targeted specifically at women. Instead of the single male market that most energy drinks are aimed at, Her is going after the female/teen side, with their targeted demographic of females 15-45.

It's an interesting position, and given how the package I got as a sample featured a pink box with a 4-Pack of cans inside, all wrapped in pink and white tissue paper, I'd say they understand who they are going after. Her Energy argues that their research shows that women don't want 12 or 16 oz. of energy drink, thus why they are shipping in the Red Bull-sized 8.4 oz. can.

They also differentiate their product by noting that it has less caffeine than the average energy drink, saying it has "about the amount found in a can of Coke". For those keeping track, Coke has roughly 2.9 mg/oz. of caffeine, compared to Red Bull's 9.64 mg/oz. and Monster's 10.00 mg/oz. With such a small amount of caffeine, what makes this an energy drink? It does contain ginseng and taurine. In addition, catering to the female audience, it features calcium and antioxidants.

Her also comes in a diet version, which they label as "No Carbs/No Sugar". This is sweetened by the standard combination of sucralose and acesulfame potassium (Ace-K). The regular version of Her Energy is sweetened by high fructose corn syrup (HFCS).

Another unique differentiator of Her Energy is their note that "5% of net proceeds will be donated to charity". Taking a look at their official website, they've given to quite a few, including notable female-oriented organizations like The Susan G. Komen Breast Cancer Foundtation, Avon's Run/Walk events, and The Nicole Brown Foundation which fights against domestic violence.

The cans are very attractive, with a clean, lowercase "Her" logo front and center. The regular version features white lettering on a pink can, while the sugar free version has pink lettering on a white can. The energy drink attributes are noted on the top portion of the can, wrapping completely around by listing ginseng, etc. At the bottom, front portion of each can, the flavor of "Pink Lemonade" is listed, with smaller type denoting Her's dedication to give to charity.

Upon opening the can, you are greeted with a minor whiff of lemonade scent. I'd compare it to the smell you'd get from a mix of Crystal Light's Pink Lemonade flavor. It's not overpowering, just light enough to catch your interest.

The drink itself is light pink, not as dark as Cherry 7Up or Cherry 7Up Antioxidant. It's also quite a bit lighter than Pomegranate 7Up or one of my personal favorites, Schweppes Raspberry Ginger Ale.

Upon that first sip, I must say that I was impressed with the taste. It's bubbly, more on a side of a ginger ale or lemon lime drink. The pink lemonade flavor is not tart, but rather sweet. The flavor doesn't had a negative aftertaste, and is clean enough to compliment food well. It's not a super strong pink lemonade flavor, but I don't think it needs to be. It fits in perfectly with the positioning of a lighter, more gentle energy drink. While it's not targeted at my demographic, if given the opportunity, I'd definitely try Her Energy again.

Here are the ingredients for the regular version:

Her Energy
Water, high fructose corn syrup, citric acid, taurine, sodium citrate, D-glucuronolactone, gum arabic, sodium benzoate, ascorbic acid, sucralose, acesulfame potassium, natural and artificial flavors, inositol, choline bitartrate, caffeine, glyceryl abietate, niacinamide, brominated vegetable oils, EDTA, panthothenic acid, pyrisoxine hydrochloride, ginseng, FD&C Red #40, potassium sorbate, cyanocobalamin (Vitamin B12)

A 8.4 oz. can of Her Energy regular will cost you 130 calories, 95 mg of sodium, 32 g of carbs, including 31 g of sugars.

The same visual attributes apply for the No Carbs/No Sugar version of Her Energy. Unfortunately, I wish the same taste applied. Like most diet beverages, this one suffers from the aftertaste associated with sucralose and Ace-K. It's very dietish. That odd taste is experienced during the main part of the drink itself, and also in the finish. My palette is personally not too fascinated by diet beverages, so if you are more accustomed to them, your experience may vary.

Here are the ingredients for the sugar free version:

Her Energy No Carbs/No Sugar
Water, citric acid, taurine, sodium citrate, D-glucuronolactone, gum arabic, sodium benzoate, ascorbic acid, sucralose, acesulfame potassium, natural and artificial flavors, inositol, choline bitartrate, caffeine, glyceryl abietate, niacinamide, brominated vegetable oils, EDTA, panthothenic acid, pyrisoxine hydrochloride, ginseng, FD&C Red #40, potassium sorbate, cyanocobalamin (Vitamin B12)

A 8.4 oz. can of Her Energy No Carbs/No Sugar contains 0 calories, 95 mg of sodium, and 0 g of carbs.

If there are any drawbacks about the Her Energy experience, it may be that it doesn't look like an energy drink, other than the can size. This may hurt or help the product's targeted market, but may also add confusion when trying to answer the question, "so what's so special about this drink?" The premium pricepoint of roughly $2 a can might also turn customers away from this unproven product in the marketplace, especially when a can is only 8.4 oz.

Overall, the flavor of Her Energy drink is excellent. Pink Lemonade is a good choice for a beverage aimed at the female market, and the branding and product positioning seem solid. The sugar free version isn't as great tasting as regular, and the premium pricing may scare away those interested in the concept. However, those that do try Her Energy probably will not be disappointed in the taste experience.