When someone says the phrase "comfort food," this generally brings to mind thoughts of things like macaroni & cheese, pot roast, or spaghetti & meatballs. All hot foods that make you feel good. While lemonade is not hot, this is a comfort beverage that is generally consumed in the heat. There's something comforting about getting out from the hot summer sun and enjoying a long drink of the lightly sugared lemon drink that cools and refreshes the whole body. Finding the perfect glass of lemonade however can be fairly elusive. Too acidic, too much sugar, not enough lemon, too much lemon; it's a fairly difficult balancing act. I'm going to take a look at Simply Lemonade and see if they come anywhere close to a perfect glass of lemonade… or miss the mark entirely.

Simply Lemonade is a brand of the The Simply Orange Juice Company, which is part of The Coca-Cola Company. The first thing you can't help but notice are the many bottle sizes. They start with the 13.5 oz "travel size," work up to the popular 59 oz, and finally cap out with the jug-like 89 oz. The small size is something you can easily fit in a lunch sack and somewhat mocks the larger 59 oz shape. A funny note here on pricing: The small size can generally be found for about $2.50 a bottle, the medium size anywhere from $3-5 dollars and most of the time the "jug" size can be found for about $5-7 dollars — at least as experience from a local sampling of grocery stores in the Houston area. So if you're looking to save money, go for the larger size for sure, but then again, the point of this review is to see if it's worth even buying in general.

All of the bottles let the color of the lemonade show through: it is a vibrant pale yellow that doesn't contain any artificial colors. The labeling has a white background with a picture of a large lemon on it. Lettering is in a black frilly font, spelling "Simply Lemonade" on the front with the phrase "all natural" in yellow across the top. The screw-on top is a nice solid green shade, reminiscent of the color of lemon tree leaves.

Looking at the contents on the back of the bottle solidifies what they say on the front about "all natural." Containing only "pure filtered water, natural sugar, lemon juice, natural flavors," this lemonade is also 11% actual lemon juice. (From my personal experience most lemonades stay in the 7 to 10 percent range). So right from the onset, Simply Lemonade is setting the bar fairly high. They don't hide their product behind colored plastic, they claim all natural ingredients, and you can only find it in the refrigerated sections (thus implying it'll go bad otherwise). An 8 oz. serving contains 120 calories, 15 mg sodium, and 30 g carbs (28 g sugars).

Let's pop the seal and see if it delivers on its promises!

The green cap is held in place with a green sticker that reminds you to "Shake Well," and once the green screw cap is removed there is a foil cap under that that needs to be peeled away. Once that is removed a faint hint of sweet lemon comes from the top. Pouring out the first few glasses provides a nice satisfying "glug" sound due to the concave nature of the neck of the bottle.

Simply Lemonade delivers on its claims: the lemon flavor here is strong, but at the same time (because of the natural sugar?) it isn't followed by a sickeningly sweet aftertaste. Another thing that amazes me is that it's not as acidic as I was expecting for 11% lemon juice. I've had lemonade that is 7% lemon juice that feels like a kick in the mouth. The "tart" flavor is held back very well and in fact it's one of the first times I have actually been able to refer to the more "fruity" nature of a lemon. It has a very clean finish due to the natural sugars and the taste is very smooth overall. This drink is almost the personification of "refreshing" in my book. They seem to have worked hard to perfect a lemonade recipe and it shows.

If you have been gun-shy about poorly made lemonade or it being too tart or acidic, I'd suggest giving Simply Lemonade a try. Its bottles don't hide the goodness they have managed to create and it might change the way you think about lemonade.

Being a Hispanic-oriented beverage, Nestle launched their Aguas Frescas last June not only here, but also in other markets that would relate to its origins: Los Angeles, Dallas, Houston, Phoenix, San Francisco/San Jose, San Antonio, Fresno, Sacramento, San Diego, and McAllen, TX.

Billboard in Chicago

Unlike Coba's entry, Nestle went more mainstream with their package design, portraying their drinks in a more standardized bottle shape and over-the-shelf design. You won't find much in the way of "Hispanic origins" or taquerias on the label, other than the "Aguas Frescas" name itself.

While they are all part of the same selection, there is a difference in bottle design among the flavors. We found each of Nestle's lineup at local convenience stores offered at the same pricepoint. However, it should be noted that the Horchata flavor comes in a label-wrapped 14 oz bottle, while both Jamaica and Tamarindo come in larger 20 oz bottles with a standard "label band" design to the packaging.

Nestle Aguas Frescas Horchata
Horchata is often a combination of some sort of milk (sometimes from rice), cinnamon, sugar, and other flavors. Nestle's entry uses sweetened condensed milk. As mentioned, unlike the other two Aguas Frescas offerings from Nestle, you can't actually see the color of this beverage through the plastic bottle. The entire unit is covered in a shrinkwrapped label portraying a light tan and milky substance. When you actually see the drink itslef, it's more milky white in color, with just a hint of tan (i.e. the portrayed color in the label is far more attractive).

We've reviewed other ready-to-drink horchatas in the past, and Nestle's seems to stack up pretty well. It's very sweet, but the cinnamon and nutty flavor could use a little more strength. Texture was smooth and milky. Overall, the flavor was somewhat bland when compared to authentic horchata, but for a bottled version, not bad!

Ingredients: Water, sweetened condensed milk, sugar, and less than 2% of rice flour, natural flavors, calcium carbonate, garageenan, gellan gum, and cinnamon. A 14 oz. bottle contains 230 calories, 60 mg sodium, and 48 g carbs (40 g sugars).

Nestle Aguas Frescas Jamaica
Next up is the hibiscus flavor, a cranberry-colored beverage in a 20 oz. clear bottle. There's a slight fruity scent when you remove the cap. As for the flavor, it's pretty solid on the front end, but the sweet hibiscus flavor is diluted. Far more watered-down than Coba's Jamaica. The taste is good, but it just doesn't last. Unfortunate, since it would seem like all the elements were in place, including sugar, but it was not to be. The drink is still refreshing and unique, but lacking overall.

Ingredients: Water, sugar, hibiscus (extract), and less than 2% of natural flavor, ascorbic acid (Vitamin C), and citric acid. A 20 oz. bottle contains 210 calories, 0 mg sodium, and 53 g carbs (46 g sugars). It also contains your daily supply of Vitamin C!

Nestle Aguas Frescas Tamarindo
The use of tamarind is popular in aguas frescas drinks, so it's not a surprise that Nestle included this flavor. The color is very cloudy, sort of a yellow/apricot look, with just a hint of scent that most closely aligned with mango, in my opinion. Like the other flavors in this lineup, Tamarindo is quite sweet. If you've never experienced tamarind, it's somewhat hard to describe the flavor, because it tends to dabble in sweet as well as tart. When compared to Coba's Tamarindo, Nestle's came up a bit bland in taste. Lots of sweetness, and in a way, somewhat syrupy and not as clean as others we've tasted. Still, it's a unique flavor that does offer a good does of refreshment.

Ingredients: Water, sugar, tamarind puree, and less than 2% of gellan gum, natural flavor, citric acid, pectin, and ascorbic acid (Vitamin C). A 20 oz. bottle contains 250 calories, 10 mg sodium, and 62 g carbs (57 g sugars). Like the Jamaica flavor, Tamarindo contains your daily supply of Vitamin C.

We applaud Nestle for bringing this unique flavors to a broader market, and there seems to definitely be a growing market for ready-to-drink aguas frescas. Still, these entries feel a bit too corporate and mass-produced, rather than authentically-flavored. They are great entry points for those curious about aguas frescas, but in no way represent the best flavor experience to be found in the sub-genre.

Coba was founded by Jose Luis Domene and Arnulfo Ventura as a way to bring ready-to-drink aquas frescas to the marketplace, based on all natural recipes. The description on the back of the bottles provides the setting for the flavor experience:

In the tropical jungle of Mexico's Yucatan peninsula, nourished by the cooling waters of four natural lakes, lies the majestic remains of the ancient Mayan city of Coba. Revered for its agriculture and with a name meaning "waters stirred by wind," Coba captures the purity, heritage, and spirit of one of the most ancient, beloved drinks of our culture, aguas frescos!

In each bottle of Coba we strive to capture that purity, heritage, and spirit in honor of our Meso-American forefathers as we bring the tradition of refreshing agues frescos to a modern, on the go world. Lightly sweetened with agave and made from the finest traditional ingredients, we invite you and your taste buds to come with us on our journey to the land of Coba.

So, that's the spin. Let's talk a little more about the product itself.

The packaging is quite attractive, coming in 16 oz glass bottles that resemble barrels, or vitroleros jars, traditionally used to make aguas frescos. A vibrant paper label wraps the bottle, featuring bright artwork and traditional style of the flavor features inside. Overall the look stands out as something more of a juice, not an high-production run soda.

On to the flavors…

Coba Jamaica
A redish/purple juice color, you unscrew the cap and are greeted by a strong hibiscus scent, which reminded me of another drink we've reviewed that uses that as a primary ingredient, OOBA Hibiscus.

There aren't a whole lot of ingredients inside: purified water, natural roselle (hibiscus), and organic agave nectar. What results is a sweet, yet slightly bitter drink, that does a nice job quenching thirst. I like the combination of flavors on my tongue. A 16 oz. bottle contains 140 calories, 0 mg sodium, and 36 g carbs (36 g sugars).

Coba Guayaba
One look at this flavor and you may see a slightly darker pineapple juice, with a tropical scent. Then you taste the guava and find that it's smooth, but still "puckery." The overall texture is thicker than other Coba flavors, and that reflects on the overall experience as well. This drink is a heavier tropical entry with a distinct flavor that stands out.

Like Jamaica, there aren't a lot of ingredients inside: purified water, natural guava puree, organic agave nectar, and natural flavor. When I think of Mexican drinks, this flavor seems like something that fits right in flavorwise! A 16 oz. bottle contains 220 calories, 0 mg sodium, and 56 g carbs (54 g sugars).

Coba Mango
Pop the top off Mango and it's hard to mistake the flavor. You are overwhelmed with a clean, strong mango scent. The look is that of a bright orange juice, but the texture, like Guayaba, is quite thick. This feels like the definition of a "refreshing fruit water." It's strong, unmistakable, and pure in execution. Mango done right.

In order to do the right thing, it only takes 4 ingredients: purified water, natural mango puree, organic agave nectar, and natural flavor. This flavor could do a nice job cutting the spiciness in food, or as a standalone refreshment. A 16 oz. bottle contains 230 calories, 0 mg sodium, and 60 g carbs (56 g sugars).

Coba Tamarindo
With a color that looks like dark apple juice, just what does tamarind taste like? It's a staple of aquas frescas drinks and probably can best be described as a tad sweet while also a tad sour. The flavor experience is almost akin to that of a light tea. Not an overpowering taste, but one that is very welcomed and refreshing!

Ingredients: purified water, natural tamarind, organic agave nectar, and natural flavor. Very quenching juice experience, but light and complimentary. A drink you'll return to again and again. A 16 oz. bottle contains 140 calories, 0 mg sodium, 130 mg potassium, and 36 g carbs (36 g sugars).

Overall, we're quite impressed with the Coba lineup. Here in Chicago, we have a lot of authentic Mexican food & drink. The flavors presented match a lot of what we've been able to try locally. Great job, Coba. Highly recommended!

Official Website: DrinkCoba.com

New Design: Hawaiian Punch (2011)

Taking a look at a 2010 bottle vs. 2011, the change is obvious. We've moved from a clip-art feel to a fully-rendered scene. The Wall Street Journal covered the change in a January 2011 article, noting that Dr Pepper Snapple Group is trying to "appeal more to the drink's target audience of 13-year-olds."

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Punchy: 2010 vs. 2011 Versions

One of these changes is implementing more of a CGI-style on the art. Again from the Journal, "'Punchy is very Hanna-Barbera,' said Jaxie Alt, Dr Pepper Snapple's vice president of juice and juice drinks, referring to the animation studio behind the "Flintstones" and "Scooby-Doo" cartoons. 'But we live in a Pixar world now.'"

Old Design: Hawaiian Punch (2010)

Additionally, the formula for the drink has changed, now adding sucralose to the high fructrose corn syrup sweetener. This change was designed to cut down on the calorie count. Here at BevReview, we didn't have a bottle of "old" Hawaiian Punch accessible, so we are unable to compare the taste changes. Interestingly enough, "panels of "flavor experts," as well as moms and teens, couldn't tell the difference between the new and old formulas," according to the Journal article. Frankly, we find that a little hard to believe with a straight face.

We're interested in seeing how these changes affect the broad array of Hawaiian Punch flavors that can be found regionally, beyond the core Fruit Juicy Red flavor. According to the official Hawaiian Punch website, those flavors currently include Lemon Berry Squeeze, Orange Ocean, Green Berry Rush, Polar Blast, Bodacious Berry, Berry Limeade Blast, Berry Bonkers, Berry Blue Typhoon, Lemonade, Lemon Lime Splash, Mango Passionfruit Squeeze, Mazin Melon Mix, Wild Purple Smash, and Fruit Juicy Red Light.

Apparently the brand has done well during the recession, which is why DPSG is putting more money behind it, as non-carbonated drinks are still in sales growth patterns while classic carbonated beverages decline.

Frankly, we find the design a bit too busy, as there are a lot of elements now in play on that label, including the logo, Punchy, fully-rendered ocean, bunches of fruits, etc. Many of these elements were present on the previous packaging design, but they were more clearly defined at a glance.

And for the record, we happen to be fans of Hanna-Barbera.

In my last review, I looked at Adina Holistics Zero Wild Black Cherry with Resveratrol + Vitamins. Continuing in this line of drinks that combines tea, fruit flavor, and herbal extracts, today I look at Adina Holistics Zero Mandarin Melon Berry with Maqui + Vitamins.

I went over some of the logistics for the Zero bottle in the previous review, so let's go straight to the ingredients, which read as follows:

Water, Erythritol, Grape Juice Concentrate, Citric Acid, Malic Acid, Potassium Citrate, Tricalcium Phosphate, Natural Maqui Melon Flavor with Other Natural Flavors, Vegetable Juice Concentrate (Color), Stevia Rebaudiana Leaf Extract, White Tea Concentrate, Calcium D-Pantothenate, Niacinamide, Pyridoxine Hydrochloride, Organic Lemon Balm Leaf Extractives, Organic Valerian Root Extractives, Organic Chamomile Flower Extractives, Organic Hibiscus Flower Extractives, Organic Basil Leaf Extractives, Organic Lemon Verbena (Lippia Citriodora) Flower/Leaf/Stem Extractives, Cyanocobalamin.

Like the previous variety, this flavor is gluten free, with zero calories and no caffeine or juice, plus small amounts of vitamins. The label does note that there are 200 mg of "organic herbal extracts and organic white tea concentrate…" This drink is also sweetened with stevia.

Ok, let's get to the drink. Be sure to shake the bottle as some settling may occur, and if you let it sit long enough, this will be evident. Aesthetically, the color is that of a deep pink lemonade and seems somewhat enticing. Opening the cap, I smell a melony-fruity aroma, and I think a hint of vitamins, but who knows.

The taste is sort of like a Jolly Rancher watermelon candy. I am somewhat surprised by this, and not in a bad way. There is a bit of an herbal aftertaste, but this flavor seems to taste better than the cherry one I just reviewed. I think part of it is expectations, as I typically enjoy cherry flavored things and the previous flavor was not great.

The somewhat "fake sweet" stevia aftertaste is present in the Mandarin Melon Berry, but doesn't seem as strong as the black cherry variety, but again, this could be expectations. Anything this shade of pink wouldn't taste like real fruit, so you know what you can expect going in. The more I drink, however, the more I taste it, and the less I like it. Again, I really think it is the aftertaste.

In conclusion, I find this flavor to be "OK," and even a little bit better than the previous Zero variety I reviewed, but I'm on the fence there. I still wouldn't give a rousing endorsement to either of these flavors, but if you really don't want the calories, Mandarin Melon Berry might be worth a shot.

I think I could almost recommend this as an accompaniment to food, but again, the endorsement wouldn't be rousing. In general, both varieties of Zero are a little too artificial for my taste. The fact that I won't finish drinking the bottle after this review is done should tell you something – for those who are looking for natural tasting drinks.

Official Website: AdinaWorld.com

In my last review, I looked at Adina Holistics Pomegranate Acai with Yumberry. Continuing in this line of drinks that combines tea, fruit flavor, and herbal extracts, today I look at the new Holistics Zero line, specifically Adina Holistics Zero Wild Black Cherry with Resveratrol + Vitamins.

As I previously mentioned, these drinks come in an attractive fourteen ounce bottle, or 413.7 ml if you prefer, and I love the oversize bottle opening, for which I used many a hyperbolic description in the past.

Unlike the previous herbal elixirs I reviewed, this bottle does not contain a separate list of herbal ingredients with their amounts. Of course this variety has zero calories thanks to the use of Stevia as a sweetener, hence the name "Zero." In addition, there are zero sugars and small amounts of vitamins that you can see listed in the nutritional facts, mostly various B vitamins.

As far as the ingredients, they read as follows:

Water, Erythritol, Citric Acid, Grape Juice Concentrate, Vegetable Juice Concentrate (Color), Fruit Juice Concentrate (Color), Potassium Citrate, Malic Acid, Natural Black Cherry Flavor with Other Natural Flavors, Tricalcium Phosphate, Stevia Rebaudiana Leaf Extract, Salt, White Tea Concentrate, Resveratrol (Polygonum Cuspidatum) Root Extract, Calcium D-Pantothenate, Niacinamide, Glycerol Ester of Wood Rosin, Pyridoxine Hydrochloride, Organic Lemon Balm Leaf Extractives, Organic Valerian Root Extractives, Organic Chamomile Flower Extractives, Organic Hibiscus Flower Extractives, Organic Basil Leaf Extractives, Organic Lemon Verbena (Lippia Citriodora) Flower/Leaf/Stem Extractives, Cyanocobalamin.

Unlike the previous varieties reviewed, this type is not fair trade, nor organically certified, but perhaps that has something to do with the particular ingredients, or lack thereof. You may notice, however, the use of organic ingredients in the list above. It is still certified as gluten free, which is great, but I also wouldn't expect gluten in this kind of drink.

Now, let's get to the guts of the matter. The liquid looks like a deep reddish-purple, but is almost a dark pink/light red when held up to the light. Upon opening the cap, the drink smells like a sweet cherry, sort of like a Ludens cough drop – this is a good thing. In the aroma I sense a hint of vitamins. The taste is that of a sweet cherry, almost too sweet, in that diet pop (soda for some of you), no sugar sort of way. This is more present in the aftertaste. I would liken the taste to a frozen slushee sort of treat, the kind you place in your freezer at home. It isn't bad, but has a less "natural" taste to it. In addition, you do need to shake it, because there is some light sediment in the bottle, depending on how long you've let it sit.

Inside the cap, the "Herbalism for Life" saying is: "After all is said and done, more is said than done." And of course it is followed by a "Namaste" at the bottom, which always appeals to the LOST fan in me. It's cliché, but still like getting a fortune in a bottle.

In conclusion, I find this flavor to be solid, but a little "fake sweet," which is a drawback of most drinks trying to avoid calories, as there are only certain sweetening options available. I think this particular variety is subject to taste, so if you like Kool-Aid or Fla-Vor-Ice frozen pops, you may like this more than if you are looking for a juice-related taste. Of course for people consuming those products, this may be a big step up healthwise.

Overall, I would say this variety is not bad, but nothing earth shattering either. I love black cherry in general, and this wouldn't be high on my list of black cherry flavored drinks. So in the final analysis, I would say it's ok, but not strongly recommended.

Official Website: AdinaWorld.com

In my last review, I looked at Adina Holistics Cranberry Grapefruit with Goji. Continuing in this line of drinks that combines tea, fruit flavor, and herbal extracts, today I look at Adina Holistics Pomegranate Acai with Yumberry.

As I previously mentioned, these drinks come in an attractive 14 oz. bottle, and I love the oversized bottle opening, which allows one to guzzle this sweet nectar, or just get more liquid in your mouth; I've heard it both ways.

As far as the health specs, very interestingly this variety provides the exact same herbal mixture as the Cranberry Grapefruit variety: 533 mg of herbal infusion, all organic: American Ginseng Root Extract, Gotu Kola Extract, Astragalus Root Extract, White Tea Extract, Tulsi Leaf Extract, and Eleuthero Root Extract (Although I don't mention them here, the amounts of each are identical to Cranberry Grapefruit). Again, it would seem that the primary purpose of the drink seems to focus on both energy and bodily immunity. And like all varieties of Adina I have reviewed thus far, the bottle contains 110 Calories, and 26 grams of sugar, with negligible sodium (two varieties have 5 mg and one has 10 mg).

The actual ingredient list is as follows, with asterisked items denoted as fair trade certified, which may appeal to those with particular social consciousness. Additionally, this variety is both USDA Certified Organic and gluten free. And if you needed to work on your Latin, this ingredient list also supports that function:

Organic Brewed Tea (Water, Organic White Tea Extract*), Organic Sugar*, Natural Pomegranate Acai Flavor with other Natural Flavors, Citric Acid, Grape Juice Concentrate (Color), Organic Purple Carrot Juice Concentrate (Color), Organic Pomegranate Juice Concentrate, Elderberry Extract Concentrate (Color), Organic Acai Clarified Extract, Organic Blueberry Juice Concentrate, Tartaric Acid, Organic Yumberry Juice Concentrate, Organic American Ginseng (Panax Quinquefolius) Root Extractives, Organic Gotu Kola (Centella Asiatica) Extractives, Organic Astragalus Membranaceus Root Extractives, Organic Tulsi (Ocimum Sanctum) Leaf Extractives, Organic Eleutherococcus Senticosus Root Extractives

As far as the actual drink goes, there seems to be a little sediment as with the other varieties, but it is harder to see with the darker drink shade. The color has an inviting cran-grape look, with the promise of a fruity finish. Upon opening the bottle, I smell a fruity aroma, sort of like a botanical fruit drink, which of course this is. The taste is also fruity, but not overly strong. It has kind of a raspberry lemonade flavor to it, or some similar fruit flavored lemonade. It is fairly clean, although I can still sense a slightly bitter aftertaste, again, most likely the herbal infusion. I think it is a sweeter flavor than the other two and probably my favorite of the three reviewed so far.

The cap states "Never stand between a dog and a tree." This is sage advice indeed. Comparing the three Adina drinks I have reviewed thus far, this one is my favorite. It finishes cleaner, most likely because it has more of a fruity taste and this masks the herbal additions better than the other varieties. Of course all of this is a matter of preference, but the many juices that make up this variety do combine for a better taste than previous varieties. I really do think I can taste the blueberry juice in there, which enhances the beverage as a whole. If you like fruit drinks and want the health benefits, Pomegranate Acai is the variety for you.

Official Website: AdinaWorld.com

In my last review, I looked at Adina Holistics Mango Orange with Chamomile. Continuing in this line of drinks that combines tea, fruit flavor, and herbal extracts, such as Jade Green Tea and Coconut Guava, today I look at Adina Holistics Cranberry Grapefruit with Goji.

As I previously mentioned, these drinks come in an attractive 14 oz bottle, and I love the oversize bottle opening, which allows a stream of flavor to burst forth on one's tongue. Overkill on the metaphor? Yeah, I think so too, but that said, it is a great perk.

Moving onward to the ingredients, this variety provides a plethora of herbal benefits, 533 mg to be exact (as opposed to the 369 mg in the Orange Mango). All organic, this flavor includes: American Ginseng Root Extract, Gotu Kola Extract, Astragalus Root Extract, White Tea Extract, Tulsi Leaf Extract, and Eleuthero Root Extract. One might gather from this list that the primary purpose of the drink seems to focus on both energy and bodily immunity. The bottle contains 110 Calories, and 26 grams of sugar, with negligible sodium.

The actual ingredient list is as follows, with asterisked items denoted as fair trade certified, which may appeal to those with particular social consciousness. Additionally, this variety is both USDA Certified Organic and gluten free. And if you needed to work on your Latin, this ingredient list also supports that function:

Organic Brewed Tea (Water, Organic White Tea Extract*), Organic Sugar*, Natural Grapefruit Cranberry Goji Flavor with other Natural Flavors, Organic Purple Carrot Juice Concentrate (Color), Citric Acid, Pectin, Xanthan Gum, DL-Alpha-Tocopheryl Acetate, Retinol Palmitate (Source of Vitamin A), Organic American Ginseng (Panax Quinquefolius) Root Extractives, Organic Gotu Kola (Centella Asiatica) Extractives, Organic Astragalus Membranaceus Root Extractives, Organic Tulsi (Ocimum Sanctum) Leaf Extractives, Organic Eleutherococcus Senticosus Root Extractives

Now, for the actual drink: I see a bit of sediment as I did in my previous review, so I recommend shaking the bottle to be on the safe side. When I open the bottle I see a dark pink liquid, kind of the color of a dark raspberry lemonade. The smell is also that of a robust raspberry lemonade, which has me very excited about actually tasting the beverage. I can only assume it is the grapefruit and that the color is giving me the impression of this potential taste.

As I actually taste it, I am struck by the fruity flavor and the distinct presence of the organic sugar. It is fairly clean and tastes somewhat like a flavored lemonade, but has the slightly bitter aftertaste of grapefruit and what I assume is the herbal concoction. Upon further review, the long term aftertaste must be the herbals. The liquid is very fluid in consistency, with the fruity-herbal mix that I'm finding in both the Adina drinks I've tasted. Again, the aftertaste is distinctly apparent, but the initial flavor of the drink could almost pass for a pink lemonade. As with the orange mango, it is a fairly refreshing taste, but in this case there is a divide between initial flavor and aftertaste.

Last time there was a saying inside the cap, but this time it is just an Adina monkey head that says "Show me the monkey." This is a cute addition to the overall experience.

As I stated in my last review, overall I love the presentation and the ingredients. The taste of the cranberry grapefruit is more mainstream than that of the orange mango, and I would view that as a positive, as I believe a wider audience would enjoy this beverage.

This flavor might go well with some foods, but the aftertaste is the make or break factor in deciding with what to combine this drink food-wise. The presence of the flavor of the herbal extracts in the drink will both attract some to this flavor and keep others away. I am fairly happy with it overall and to my personal taste, I think it is better than the mango orange. However, I must admit, the aftertaste keeps the decision whether to drink the cranberry grapefruit in the realm of health benefits first, taste second.

Official Website: AdinaWorld.com

Are you looking for a fruity tea with health benefits? Well look no further. Adina provides just such a line of drinks that combine tea, fruit flavors and herbal extracts in their Holistics line of beverages. We've previously looked at their Jade Green Tea and Coconut Guava flavors. In this installment, I will review Adina Holistics Mango Orange with Chamomile.

Upon first glance the Holistics beverage line comes in attractive 14 oz bottles with a "happy monkey" logo and a prominent USDA Organic icon beneath. I am already predisposed to like this drink based on the aesthetics. In this particular bottle, the colors compliment the tinted orange color of the drink, and the glass bottle already scored brownie points with me. Built into the texture of the glass one sees a cursive "Adina" on both sides of the top of the bottle in a convex format, while "Drink No Evil" is found in a concave manner around the lower edge of both sides of the bottle. The cap is fairly large, indicating a large-mouth opening. I would estimate that it is about an inch in diameter, which should improve taste delivery.

As far as the ingredients go, this drink is more than just a pretty face. This herbal elixir contains 110 calories per bottle, 26 grams of sugar, and a trace amount of sodium. There is a 369 mg holistic herbal blend of lemongrass extract, lemon balm leaf extract, white tea extract, chamomile flower extract, and valerian root extract, all of them organic.

The actual ingredient list is as follows, with asterisked items denoted as fair trade certified, which may appeal to those with particular social consciousness.:

Organic Brewed Tea (Water, Organic White Tea Extract*), Organic Sugar*, Natural Mango Orange Flavor with Other Natural Flavors, Citric Acid, Ascorbic Acid, Beta-Carotene, Retinol Palmitate, Organic Lemongrass Extractives, Organic Lemon Balm Leaf Extractives, Organic Chamomile Flower Extractives, Organic Valerian Root Extractives. 

Being that the drink is USDA certified organic, you know it has gone through a measure of testing. As an additional note, it is also certified gluten free, an important fact for many consumers.

Now, let's get to the actual drink. Although I don't see it on the bottle, I do recommend shaking the drink as some contents seem to settle. Opening the cap, I see what looks like a slightly darkened orange liquid, accompanied by a fruity, quite botanical aroma. In fact, the botanicals almost overpower the fruity scent. The taste is quite sweet, but clean, and has a mango-ey/orange flavor, but with an herbal, slightly medicinal aftertaste (although I don't mean that derogatorily).

There are multiple tastes at work, and seem to hit different taste buds in your mouth – remember those old diagrams in elementary school: salty, sweet, sour, bitter? I'm not saying it hits all of them, but there are definitely various flavors at work depending on the particular mouthful. I love the widemouth bottle, which allows you to really drink it down. The consistency is very clean and clear, no feel of sediment, and it is almost water-like in consistency; it is that clean.

As with some other brands of tea, there is a saying inside the cap, which they call "Herbalisms for Life." This particular saying states "He who laughs last, didn't get it." It also says "Namaste" at the bottom, which really appeals to me, being a huge LOST fan. Perhaps the Dharma Initiative did find work after the show ended.

Overall, I love the presentation and the ingredients. The drink itself is good, but I think more suited as a stand-alone drink or a thirst quencher. I think it would be tougher to pair it with foods, although with some thought, I'm sure I could come up with something appropriate. Adina has delivered a quality drink and the herbals in both the ingredient list and the taste make this a unique drink that will appeal to the health food crowd. As a stand-alone drink, I think this fits the bill.

Official Website: AdinaWorld.com

This drink comes in a 20 oz. glass bottle with shortneck, emblazoned with Sobe's iconic lizard iconography. The beverage is a deep red color with a fruity, almost cranberry-like scent emanating from the open cap. Overall, quite pleasant.

As for the taste, it's sweet, but not too sweet. In fact, it's very good. It's also pretty much an assortment of a zillion "fruit concentrates" when it comes to flavor (take a look at the ingredients!) Lightly tangy when it first hits your tongue, followed by a deeper flavor of pomegranate, then a lightweight aftertaste. This drink contacts L-carnitine and red clover extract, which are herbs that apparently are there to help you… or something. Well, officially, Sobe claims that they "are specially formulated to energize the body, uplift the spirit, and enlighten the mind." So… you have that going for ya at least!

Here's what's inside:

Sobe Elixir Yumberry Pomegranate
Filtered water, sugar, pear juice concentrate, grape juice concentrate, pomegranate juice concentrate, calcium lactate, black carrot juice contentrate (color), citric acid, raspberry juice concentrate, natural flavor, ascrobic acid (Vitamin C), L-carnitine, red clover (trifolium pratense) flower extract, yumberry juice concentrate, chromium picolinate

A 20 oz. bottle contacts 250 calories, 55 mg of sodium, and 65 g of carbs (63 g of sugars).

If you get a chance to come upon a bottle of this discontinued drink, give Sobe Elixir Yumberry Pomegranate a try. I'm not sure why it's been washed off the market, but I would imagine other flavors or combinations had stronger sales. It's light, refreshing, and the flavor is surprisingly tasty!