Review: MiO – Berry Pomegranate & Peach Tea
Mar 31st, 2011 by Steve
It's officially spelled "MiO", but seriously, who is going to capitalize both the "M" and the "O"? What is it? It's a "liquid water enhancer" from Kraft Foods, their "first new food or beverage category in more than 15 years," if you believe the folks at USA Today. Let's take a look at 2 of the 6 debut flavors, MiO Berry Pomegranate and MiO Peach Tea.
If you were to describe what MiO is to someone who didn't have a clue, I might say, "it's like food coloring… with flavor." You've got these plastic, squeezable bottles – much like food coloring – that stream out colored liquid. But in this case, these are flavors designed to spice up your water and make it more… flavorful?
The idea piggybacks on recent trends we've been seeing where instead of actually making the product, companies are just providing additives to something that's healthy already, like water. Of course, anyone who has ever had Kool-Aid knows that this concept isn't new, but in recent years there has been a newfound emphasis, mainly from smaller companies. Even longtime beverage mix Crystal Light (incidentally, also a Kraft brand) has gotten into the racket with individual "on the go" packets and new lines that promise additives and nutrients.
The bottle claims to make 24 servings, with one squeeze being ideal for 8 oz. of water. That's about 1/2 teaspoon of liquid added. Of course, at the same time, MiO's ad campaign proclaims that you can add a little or a lot… whatever you want. It's your choice! Have the drink your way — which fits the name, as "Mio" means "my" or "mine" when translated from Spanish or Italian. And at $4 a bottle, I'm sure Kraft wants you to use as much product as you can to make it "yours"!
The packaging design is slick, with the silver plastic bottles shaped like "droplets" of water. The "M" logo sits on the front of each, colored to reflect the flavor inside. The side of the bottle tries to explain how to best use this stuff:
Make Your MioFlip It – Unlock the flavor
Tip It – Each squeeze into water adds more flavor
Sip It – Your drink, your way
Click It – Twice to lock tightOne squeeze for each 8 fl oz. serving
A little MiO goes a long way. Always dilute.
It's also noted that while this product does not need refrigeration, "for best quality, use within one month of opening." It also comes in a "just try to find a place to recycle this" Type #7 plastic container.
(Source: YouTube)
For the sake of this review, we followed the suggested "one squeeze for each 8 fl oz." quotient. In the case of both flavors, the water was slightly tinted by the squeeze (purple for Berry Pomegranate, orange for Peach Tea) — think Easter egg coloring dye but not as dark. Also, unlike the commercials, the fluid did not seem to equally break up as it was added to the water. Rather, the weight drew it to the bottom of the glass, making the top part of the water weak, while most of the flavor was found at the end of your drinking experience. We don't see it suggested anywhere, but the best way we found to get the flavoring distributed was to stir the liquid with a spoon to spread accordingly.
Let's get into the taste of each, shall we?
MiO Berry Pomegranate
When you smell this drink, there's hints of a fake grape flavor. And that's sort of what you get when you drink it. It's syrupy and watery. The berry residue sort of sits on your tongue, along with the artificial sweeteners (sucralose and ascesulfame potassium). There's definitely sweetness present, but the amount of water in place also dilutes that quite a bit. Overall, not really impressed.
MiO Peach Tea
This smells like peach tea. Actually, it smells like "peach tea flavoring," but still, you sort of know what you are in for. With just one squirt, I'd have to say that this MiO flavor closely resembles the taste profile of chlorine. It's harsh, watery, and chemical. You don't really taste much in the way of tea either. It's probably more sweet than anything.
Seeing if we could redeem our obviously negative reactions to the recommended dosage, we squirted more flavor into each glass. In the case of Berry Pomegranate, the berry flavor did materialize more prominently. However, so did the feeling that I was adding some sort of odd syrup to a glass of water. Conducting the same addition of flavor to Peach Tea, we got more tea flavoring out of the experience, less "I'm drowning in a public pool."
I grew up drinking Crystal Light, so the idea of adding flavor to water with artificial sweeteners isn't new to me. But MiO doesn't seem to fit that niche, because it's barely adding flavor to water, whereas a drink mix like Crystal Light is actually looking to transform completely the flavor of water. Perhaps that appeals to some people who have a hard time drinking their daily recommended portions of water, but to me it seems like "hey, what's this watered down flavored stuff?" I live in Chicago, and you know what? Our water out of the tap is pretty darn tasty (thank you Lake Michigan), so maybe I'm not the proper audience for this.
It would seem the best way to get any decent flavor out of MiO is to add a considerable portion to water. If you only want a hint of flavor, they why even bother adding it? Get yourself a lemon. However, if you do want flavor, that will take many squeezes of MiO into your water, cutting down your recommended 24 servings. You might get 10-12 servings instead. At $4 a bottle, that's somewhat expensive for bad tasting water, don't you think?
Here's the breakdown of ingredients and nutritional information:
MiO Berry Pomegranate
Water, citric acid, propylene glycol, malic acid, contains less than 2% of natural flavor, sucralose and ascesulfame potassium (sweeteners), potassium citrate, Red 40, Blue 1, potassium sorbate (preservative)
MiO Peach Tea
Water, citric acid, propylene glycol, malic acid, contains less than 2% of natural flavor, sucralose and ascesulfame potassium (sweeteners), potassium citrate, Red 40, Yellow 5, Blue 1, potassium sorbate (preservative)
Both flavors have 0 calories, 0 g fat, 0 mg sodium, 0 g carbs, and 0 g sugars.
Official Website: MakeItMiO.com
Thanks for the review…I was thinking of trying it to encourage myself drink more water (which I tend to find boring) but with that I know to just skip it and save the $$$…guess I'll stick with lemons or berries.
Just wanted you guys to know that when I first heard about MiO from this web site, I went to their web site and requested a sample. I got the fruit punch, and it's delicious. I put a tiny bit more than recommended (four squirts for a 20 oz glass), but it tastes just like Kool-Aid or any other similar fruit punch. No aftertaste, and it's really encouraging me to drink more water. I don't know that I'd always pay four bucks for it, but every once in a while…
I feel the same way as Leslie, and I also go Fruit Punch. I need to drink more water, and this turns my water into, essentially, zero-calorie sugar-water. It's also much more convenient that individual packets of powder, since I can carry it around in my jacket/bag for probably a week and there's no garbarge each time and no stirring. I used a similar amount as Leslie with 2 squirts (we really need to go adopt the metric system) in a not-quite-filled 12 oz glass – it tastes good enough.
Also, as with any mixing of a small amount of liquid into a larger amount, it will mix on its own if you add the MiO first and pour the water on top of it.
I have to agree 100% with you on the peach tea flavor. I pick up chlorine while drinking it as well, much more than any pea or tea flavor. So gross.
You must be crazy man. Lake Michigan water is disgusting.
After seeing the commercials, I bought the Berry Pomegranate and Peach Tea. Adding only one squirt of the "juice" to the water, I found it similar in "flavor density" to Vitamin Water (which I am absolutely addicted to), but I did not enjoy the aftertaste or the residue-like feeling left in my mouth. I liked the Berry Pomegranate much more than the Peach Tea, but neither really impressed me.
The following week, I decided to get the Mango Peach flavor. This was a vast improvement in my opinion, but after 2 weeks of ingesting this syrupy-oily concoction approximately 4-6 times a day, I begin to get nauseous whenever I even think about squirting another drop of MiO into another bottle of water.
A great idea, certainly… but needs some improvement.
This product contains propylene glycol…a major ingredient in ANTIFREEZE! mmmmmmmm!
I thought the Peach Tea was OK and the Fruit Punch is definetly like Kool Aide, but thats alright if you like Kool Aide.
FYI… Propylene glycol is a food grade antifreeze (safe) and is in many food products (I work in the industry) and is not at all similar to automotive antifreeze which is poisonous.
I completely agree with the chlorine taste. We had seen the commercials and wanted to try this new product because it looked great! We started with the Peach Tea…it was so horrible. I felt as if I were at the public pool and had to dump the glass. I tried it stronger and weaker also…to no avail. We got the fruit punch and while that is so much better, it is pretty sweet and kool-aidish…I think I will just stick with my green tea.
oh dear lord! first of all the peach tea (just like everyone else says) taste like pool water! ick
i only tried mio because lots of my friends were drinking it. unfortunately the first and every time i go to the grocery store only the peach tea was left. i got to try some of my friends fruit punch and i think it taste like jello mixed with koo-laid. hmmm
Yeah, Chicago water is awful, not sure what you are talking about
I TOTALLY DISAGREE with your review.
I think MiO is wonderful (I just bought 12 more bottles yesterday since they were on sale) and I love how it tastes. And if it helps me to drink my RDA of water daily…even better! I prefer the Berry Pomegranate & Strawberry Watermelon flavors.
And as for picking on the name and how it's capitalized?!?!?!
Seriously, there really wasn't ANYTHING that you liked about MiO?
Does anyone know who designed the bottle/package?
Thanks
Frankly speaking: MiO is definitely a great product, especially the Fruit Punch.
On a professional level:
Those of you who worry about the Propylene Glycol, or the red coloring should realize this product has proven and tested ingredients which have been used in food products for many years.
We Americans need to drink more water, less soda, and if this product can make such healthy change then great!
i think you need to really lay off. i love MiO, my favorites at the moment are strawberry watermelon and peach mango. before leaving such a strongly worded review, i think you should've expanded our variety. i have cancer, and my best friend bought me my first bottle of mio for my birthday, because its hard for me to hold down water, the tastelessness makes me nauseous. your comment about only wanting a little? well thats what i do if i wanted kool-aid, i'd get it. i think mio works perfctly and leaves a refreshing flavored water sensation. it promises a "water enhancer" , not a drink mix. in my book, MiO gets 4 stars.
[...] previously reviewed a few versions of this flavor additive from Kraft Foods… and frankly, were a little [...]
This is a great product. I really enjoyed the sweet tea. I've been trying to find the peach and Pomegranate. It is very portable and I don't have to worry about the paper sleeves tearing and leaving grains in the bottom of my purse (Crystal Light)
If anyone has a good source that carries a large variety of flavors, please share!
Try the Fruit Punch and Mango Peach. Those ones are the good flavors!
I love the Mio water additives. I never used to drink water at all. Neither did my grandson. I have lost 30 pounds in one years. By leaving diet pop alone and drinking water. I could only do that if I put a tad of your flavoring in the water. Thank you so much for your calorie free additive
I've been a diabetic for over 30 years.. Love the berry flavor. So glad to see such a great tasting product out there. Diet soda is really bad just as everything else we eat but this is amazing and taste great .