Jones Soda Fruit Punch

If you want to learn more about the "whats and whys" of this new line, I recommend reading our first review for more background information.

In short, this beverage tastes a lot like Hawaiian Punch, if that drink has the clean taste associated with the use of cane sugar. While originally available just on the West Coast, you can also find it via the online Jones Soda Store.

As expected, Jones Soda Fruit Punch is red in color and smells like fruit punch. Nothing too crazy there. It's quite sweet and tastes great chilled, but you have to be expecting a rather bold fruit punch flavor. It's not really hidden in this drink!

Jones Soda Fruit Punch
Carbonated water, inverted cane sugar, citric acid, natural and artificial flavors, sodium benzoate (as preservative), modified food starch, potassium sorbate (as preservative), Red 40, ester gum, Blue 1

12 oz. bottle packs 170 calories, 40 mg of sodium, and 42 g of sugars, and is caffeine free.

34.5 km?
Photo 10409 by Frank Barbarra of Encinitas, CA

Label design features the standard Jones Soda white/black label color scheme in place, with the flavor name written in red. 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.

The photo on this bottle of Jones Soda Tutti Frutti is #10409 and was shot by Frank Barbarra of Encinitas, CA. Again touching on the Hispanic theme of this beverage series, this black/white image denotes a painted directional sign for "Califia" denoted in kilometers.

While not surprising in taste, Jones Soda Fruit Punch delivers a predictable-but-clean fruit punch experience sweetened with real sugar. Think of it as upscale Hawaiian Punch!

Jones Soda Lime

If you want to learn more about the "whats and whys" of this new line, I recommend reading our first review for more background information.

While there are a lot of lemon-lime drinks out there, you don't find many that are specifically lime. Jones Soda Lime is a refreshing exception. The color is a light green and the scent strongly hints at the lime-flavored origins.

However, when you actually taste the drink, you'll find that the lime isn't as strong as the smell may indicate. It's a lot less bold, lighter, and frankly, pretty tasty. The use of cane sugar produces a very clean experience.

Interestingly, Jones Soda Lime reminded me quite a bit of a 2006 Dessert Pack flavor that the company featured for a limited time around the holidays. Specifically, Jones Soda Key Lime Pie. Here's an excerpt from that review:

Green River was a soft drink developed in the early 20th Century in Chicago, named after the traditional coloring of the Chicago River for St. Patrick's Day. It was a light, citrusy drink, highlighted by a strong lime flavor. You can still find it in places today mostly for the nostalgic value (I had a milkshake flavored with it a few years ago at a local greasy spoon). Jones Key Lime Pie Soda has a very similar taste.

Jones Key Lime Pie Soda (2006)

… The drink smells much like Canfield's 50/50 or Cadbury Schweppes' Squirt. You might associate it with now-discontinued dnL from 7Up. Overall, it's fruity and fun, but has a tad bit of fakeness in the scent.

…The flavor is fresh, light, and slightly sour. Think of Sprite, but heavy on the lime rather than lemon.

The photo on this bottle of Jones Soda Limon is #10406 and was shot by Frank Barbarra of Encinitas, CA. Again touching on the Hispanic theme of this beverage series, color image showcases a pile of brightly-colored blankets of local origin.

How colorful!
Photo 10406 by Frank Barbarra of Encinitas, CA

Speaking of the bottle design, we see the standard Jones Soda white/black label color scheme in place, with the flavor name written in green. 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.

Ingredients:

Jones Soda Lime
Carbonated water, inverted cane sugar, citric acid, natural and artificial flavors, sodium benzoate (as preservative), acacia gum, potassium sorbate (as preservative), modified food starch, ester gum, SAIB, Yellow 5, Blue 1

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

While not a very strong flavor, Jones Soda Lime (or Limon, if you prefer) is a refreshing break from the ho-hum flavors typically associated with soft drinks. The clean lime flavor is subtle, but tasty, with just enough citrus feel to liven your step.

Jones Soda Pineapple Cream

If you want to learn more about the "whats and whys" of this new line, I recommend reading our first review for more background information. We were pleasantly surprised by the great orange flavor found in Jones Soda Mandarin Orange, so it was with great enthusiasm that we looked forward to Pineapple Cream.

One thing I did not expect, however, was a flashback to the Jones Soda Holiday Collection of 2008. Unlike previous years, 2008's Holiday Collection saw a massive reduction in flavors, producing only 3. One of those was a pineapple coconut flavor called Mele Kalikimaka Soda. In my mind, this Hispanic edition of Pineapple Creme tastes the same as that Christmas special edition flavor… and in case you were wondering, nothing like Fanta Pineapple.

While the color of Crema de Piña is a brighter yellow than the mute, mirky tone used with Mele Kalikimaka Soda, I believe the flavor profile is pretty similar. Thus, here's an excerpt from a Mele Kalikimaka review to define the taste:

When you open the bottle, the scent is very obvious. It's pretty hard to miss the pineapple + coconut combination. It's pleasant!

As for the taste, you are greeted with a smooth pineapple-influenced taste. Very clean, little negative aftertaste. The coconut adds a bit of creaminess and compliments the flavor nicely. Obviously, if you are already a piña colada fan, then this drink is for you. Even if you aren't, the combinations of tastes are very positive and make for pretty tasty diversion from what you'd usually find around Christmas. Plus, it's caffeine free and Kosher!

Jones Soda Mele Kalikimaka Soda

Like Jones Monster Mojito Soda, the Jones Soda folks seem to have found a nice niche here with Mele Kalikimaka Soda in regards to non-alcoholic soda versions of something you'd order at a bar. This drink is tasty, clean, and innovative… totally worth tracking down and enjoying.

The photo on this bottle of Jones Soda Crema de Piña is #10425 and was shot by Caitlin McCormick of Bainbridge Island, WA. Again touching on the Hispanic theme of this beverage series, this black & white photo depicts the legs of athletes playing football… as in soccer!

Get your kicks with this drink!
Photo 10425 by Caitlin McCormick of Bainbridge Island, WA

Speaking of the bottle design, we see the standard Jones Soda white/black label color scheme in place, with the flavor name written in yellow. 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.

Ingredients:

Jones Soda Pineapple Cream
Carbonated water, inverted cane sugar, natural and artificial flavors, phosphoric acid, sodium benzoate and potassium sorbate (as preservatives), modified food starch, ester gum, Yellow 5, Yellow 6

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 Crema de Piña or Jones Soda Pineapple Cream — this Hispanic-influenced drink is a great flavor for those looking at a non-alcoholic, clean piña colada flavor. There's a heavy done of creaminess added to the pineapple, producing an innovative taste.

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!