Another Gross Product For The Workout Crowd: Scivation Xtend Go Blue Raspberry Dietary Supplement

The Good: It does appear to actually energize to some extent, Easy enough to make from the powder into a beverage
The Bad: Expensive, Tastes terrible, Awful aftertaste, No immediate muscle results
The Basics: Xtend Go Blue Raspberry dietary supplement aided me with staying awake on a sleepy day, but will never be my preferred way of doing that!


My wife is pretty awesome. She has a tendency to get in products for me to try for review because she thinks that I am a professional-enough reviewer to provide truly useful information to readers in ways they can understand. So, when she handed me Scivation Xtend Go Blue Raspberry Dietary Supplement and told me to try it and review it, she said it would be a good thing for me to review because there are a lot of fitness buffs who are looking for good information.

Well, I tried the Scivation Xtend Go Blue Raspberry Dietary Supplement. I drank more glasses of the Scivation Xtend Go Blue Raspberry Dietary Supplement than I ever wanted to and I am left with a lingering question. How hard is it to create beverages for people who like to work out that don't taste like ass?! Seriously. And these drinks don't taste like professionally-cleaned pornstar ass, these are like gym-sweat, left in a locker over Christmas break, ass flavors. It's not worth looking like He-Man or mid-1980s Grace Jones to have to drink things that just taste like ass. Sadly, this is where I fell on Scivation Xtend Go Blue Raspberry Dietary Supplement.

Basics

Xtend Go is a powder-based beverage dietary supplement. The 30-serving canister is 15 oz. of light blue and white powder, which is to be resonsituted into the drink. One, theoretically, drinks the drink and is granted more instant energy, electrolytes and the materials needed to stimulate muscle growth and recovery. One drink is not likely to make anyone into He-Man (or the muscly female equivalent).

Ease Of Preparation

Xtend Go is a powder that needs water to be properly utilized. One 1/2 ounce scoop of the Xtend Go Blue Raspberry Dietary Supplement is intended to be added to 8 - 16 oz. of water. That is quite a range and the company advertises it as a variance of taste preference. I tend to like strong drinks, so I prepared mine with just over 8 fl. oz. of filtered water. Once one adds the water to the powder, stir and consume. This is a fairly simple-to-use dietary supplement!

Taste

The Blue Raspberry Xtend Go smells like a sweet Blue Raspberry beverage, like one might expect of a snow cone or cotton candy flavoring. This is, as most people know, not how raspberries actually smell, but the fake blue raspberry scent is adequately embodied in the bouquet of the Xtend Go Dietary Supplement.

In the mouth and on the tongue, the Scivation Xtend Go Blue Raspberry Dietary Supplement tastes very salty and slightly sweet. The dry, chemical secondary taste overcomes the vague sweetness of the beverage in a way that makes the mouth pucker. Unfortunately, that dry, unpleasant flavor lingers in the mouth and overcomes even the hint of fruit with each sip. The more of the Scivation Xtend Go Blue Raspberry Dietary Supplement beverage one consumes, the more it tastes like chemicals - bitter and sour - than anything resembling fruity.

The Scivation Xtend Go Blue Raspberry Dietary Supplement leaves a strong sour aftertaste in one's mouth that seems to last until one washes it out with something better.

Nutrition

As a dietary supplement, Xtend Go Blue Raspberry is designed to provide an energy boost by restocking the body's electrolytes fast. With 32% of the RDA of Vitamin B6 and a boatload (240 mg - 10% RDA) of Sodium, the Blue Raspberry Xtend Go appears able to achieve its stated goal. The 200 mg of caffeine provide a kick and there is a whole electrolyte blend - Trisodium Citrate Dihydrate, Potassium Chloride, and Sodium Chloride . . . wait, that's just more salt (!) - that seems to do what it promises. Surprisingly, there are no carbohydrates or sugars in the Scivation Xtend Go Blue Raspberry Dietary Supplement, so it could be more problematic for people on low-carb diets, diabetics, etc.

On the ingredient front, Xtend Go Blue Raspberry is basically a combination of elements with natural and artificial flavors added to it. And FD&C Blue Lake #1, a dye to make it blue. There are allergy warnings for dairy, soy, wheat, peanuts, eggs, shellfish, almonds and other tree nuts, fish, sulfites and corn, so this supplement is not vegan-compliant, Kosher, or for those who need a gluten-free diet.

Storage/Clean-up

Xtend Go Blue Raspberry comes in a plastic canister, which is resealable. The canister has a wide mouth, but if any of the powder gets on a surface, it may be easily wiped or brushed off. Once it is reconstituted, the Xtend Go Blue Raspberry becomes a bright pale blue beverage. Keeping it from staining light fabrics might be a feat; consult a fabric guide for the best way to get it out.

Overall

So, Scivation Xtend Go Blue Raspberry Dietary Supplement did actually energize, but whether is promotes actual muscle growth or not requires a commitment to the product that its flavor cannot justify.

For other energy drinks and dietary supplements, please check out my reviews of:
AeroShot Energy Green Apple
Gatorade Prime Fuel Bar Chocolate Chip Energy Bars
BSN Syntha-6 Protein Crisp Chocolate Crunch Bars

2/10

For other food reviews, please visit my Food Review Index Page for an organized listing!

© 2017 W.L. Swarts. May not be reprinted without permission.
| | |

Ineffective And Gross-Tasting, Green Apple AeroShot Energy Aerodynamic Energy Shot Is Not Worth The Expense

The Good: None that I can find
The Bad: Tastes absolutely gross, Did not work for more than an hour, Expensive.
The Basics: AeroShot Green Apple is an utter failure at keeping me awake, though I did get riled up from its awful taste.


Tonight, I decided to do a little experiment. My wife got me some AeroShot Energy Aerodynamic Energy Shots and I figured the perfect time to test it was tonight on the way home from my screening of The Hobbit: An Unexpected Journey (reviewed here!). I had not tried an aerodynamic energy shot before. This is a powdered energy supplement and I figured after a long movie and a drive through the dark, there was no better time to try the Green Apple AeroShot Energy Aerodynamic Energy Shot.

Sadly, it did not work.

Last night, I had plenty of sleep, but after hours in the dark, I was predictably tired when I finally used the Green Apple AeroShot. It only pepped me up for an hour.

Basics

AeroShot is a concentrated energy shot, an inhalant, designed primarily for keeping people awake and alert, usually when they are on a long drive. AeroShot Green Apple comes in a .01 oz. plastic inhaler that small and smooth. The 2” tall, 11/16” wide ovaloid cylinder is filled with a white powder that is the actual Green Apple AeroShot. AeroShot is produced by AeroDesigns and has the inhaler sealed in a metallic packet. The .01 oz. inhaler bottle is a single serving.

Ease Of Preparation

AeroShot is an inhalant in a small inhaler; preparation is as easy as opening the envelope, removing the canister and pulling it open. Then, simply inhale or swallow to ingest the flavored powder. Then, push it back together and throw away the canister.

Taste

The Green Apple AeroShot smells like green apple, at least from its container. The outside of the container smells like green apple.

Breathing in or swallowing the Green Apple AeroShot, one is rewarded with the taste of ass. This has a severe, medicinal flavor, with not even a hint of Green Apple. This leaves an awful dry and sour taste in the mouth.

Interestingly, an hour after I first ingested the Green Apple AeroShot, I sneezed and the resulting drip in the back of my throat did actually taste like sour green apples.

Nutrition

As an energy shot, AeroShot Green Apple is designed to provide an energy boost by pumping the consumer full of caffeine and B vitamins. With 100% of the RDA of Niacin, Vitamin B6, and Vitamin B12, along with 100mg of caffeine, the Green Apple AeroShot does not add anything of nutritional significance to one’s diet.

Nutritionally, AeroShot Green Apple is terrible. It is primarily composed of natural apple flavor, monk fruit extract and sodium bicarbonate. It contains no fruit juice, so it is unsurprising that the flavor is so weak on apple taste. It has no fat and no carbs or other nutritional benefits or detractions.

Storage/Clean-up

AeroShot Green Apple comes in a plastic canister sealed in a plastic envelops. The packet my wife picked up two days ago did not have an expiration date on it, but one assumes if it remains sealed and dry it remains viable indefinitely.

This powder is bright white but, unless it gets wet, it should not stain and ought to brush right off.

Overall

AeroShot Green Apple energy shots are an expensive way to stay awake at, for, at best, an hour. There are better ways.

For other energy drinks, please check out my reviews of:
6 Hour Power
The Simpsons Flaming Moe Energy Drink
Powerade Fruit Punch

1/10

For other food reviews, please visit my index page for a complete listing by clicking here!

© 2012 W.L. Swarts. May not be reprinted without permission.
| | |

Utterly Worthless, Grape 6 Hour Power Energy Shots Should Be Avoided!

The Good: None that I can find
The Bad: Tastes absolutely gross, Simply did not work, Expensive.
The Basics: 6 Hour Power Grape is an utter failure, which is baffling, but has been my experience.


Recently, I made a “day” trip to Northern Michigan from Upstate New York in order to visit my wife, who is working there for the summer. Given that my smart plan to drive through the night depended, in part, on my getting real sleep during the day before my journey and that did not really happen, I broke down and for the first time in my many, many travels, I bought one of the energy shots sold at gas stations. I bought the NVE Pharmaceuticals Very Berry 6 Hour Energy Shot (reviewed here!) and it gave me the boost I needed to keep me awake the last three hours of my trip there. Because of that, I decided on the way out of Michigan to stock up and I bought a few two-packs of 6 Hour Energy Shots for the drive home. One of them was a two-pack (the Stacker 2) of 6 Hour Power Grape energy shots.

And it was utterly worthless.

Seriously, I nearly died on the road on my way home because the Grape flavor shot did not work. Reasoning that it might have been ineffective because I had been awake for thirty hours when I took it on the way home and that I had eaten some Taco Bell food prior to taking the energy shot, I avoided panning the product.

Until today.

This morning, after getting my usual six hours of sleep, I was feeling a little sluggish and when I went into work, I noticed I was having trouble focusing on my monitor and my work. After half an hour of fighting that feeling, I took the Grape 6 Hour Power Energy Shot I have been carrying around for the last two weeks.

When I awoke from the three hour nap that I unexpectedly took, I decided it was time to rip this product a new one.

Basics

6 Hour Power is a concentrated energy beverage, designed primarily for keeping people awake and alert, usually when they are on a long drive. 6 Hour Power Grape comes in a 2 fl. oz. plastic bottle that small and smooth. The #1 recyclable bottle is filled with the translucent purple liquid that is Grape 6 Hour Power. 6 Hour Power is produced by NVE Pharmaceuticals. The 2 oz. bottle is a single serving.

Ease Of Preparation

6 Hour Power is a liquid in a small 2 oz. bottle; preparation is as easy as opening a plastic bottle. 6 Hour Power has a plastic cap that easily twists off and can be put back on in order to reseal it.

Taste

6 Hour Power Grape actually smells just like melted grape popsicles. The scent is distinctive and sweeter than actual grapes, but it is an enjoyable scent nonetheless.

Sadly, the taste is nothing like grapes. Sour and bitter, the closes the Grape 6 Hour Power gets is a medicinal aftertaste that brought back repressed childhood memories of throwing up hours after having Robitussen Cough Medication. Thanks for that memory, 6 Hour Power! This flavor is bitter and sour and defines “foul tasting.” It leaves a dry, acidic, medicinal aftertaste in the mouth and it is even worse than the Very Berry flavor, putting it in the top five worst things I have ever tasted in my life. Wait, I just burped; that taste now makes it into the top 3!

Nutrition

As an energy drink, 6 Hour Power Grape is designed to provide an energy boost by pumping the consumer full of B vitamins and enzymes that break down fat into simple carbohydrates. While it claims to energize for six hours, both times I have used the Grape flavor, it has utterly failed me (which leaves me baffled because it seems like it would be the same formula as the Very Berry flavor that actually worked).

Nutritionally, 6 Hour Power Grape is terrible. It is primarily composed of filtered water, the energy blend (proprietary), Vitamin B6 and Vitamin B12. It contains no fruit juice, so it is unsurprising that the flavor is so weak on berry taste. It has no fat and no carbs. Still, there is 10 mg of sodium in each serving. There is also 8333% of the RDA of Vitamin B12 and 2000% of Vitamin B6!

Storage/Clean-up

6 Hour Power Grape comes in a plastic bottle and it keeps for quite a while. The two-pack I bought two weeks ago had an expiration date of March 28, 2016. Stored in a cool place, it ought to be fine at least until its expiration date (whatwith it being mostly vitamins).

This drink is a clear purple color, but if it gets on light fabrics it will certainly stain them. Consult a care guide for your clothes, though I suspect only the lightest clothes would need bleach to get this out. Still, the drink wipes off surfaces easily with a cloth, assuming they are impermeable.

Overall

6 Hour Power Grape energy shots are an absolute waste of money that taste horrible and do not deliver the promised effect.

For other energy drinks, please check out my reviews of:
Celestial Seasonings Fast Lane Tea
The Simpsons Flaming Moe Energy Drink
Powerade Fruit Punch

0/10

For other food reviews, please visit my index page for a complete listing by clicking here!

© 2012 W.L. Swarts. May not be reprinted without permission.
| | |

Worth It In A Pinch, 6 Hour Power Very Berry Energy Shots Worked!

The Good: Actually worked
The Bad: Tastes absolutely gross
The Basics: 6 Hour Power Very Berry actually kept me alive on my recent Michigan trip, so it’s impossible for me to complain about it.


I never expected to do an energy shot. Despite driving long distances a lot in my life, I had never even been tempted to buy one of the over-priced concentrated energy drinks that I see at gas stations everywhere. However, making a day trip to and from New York to Northern Michigan – which meant driving through two nights – I needed a boost. When I got to Michigan and found myself fading, I decided not to rely upon only coffee for a change. I picked up a two-pack (the Stacker 2) of 6 Hour Power Very Berry energy shots.

For the last three hours of my trip to Michigan – having been awake for more than 24 hours prior, the 6 Hour Power Very Berry actually worked.

Basics

6 Hour Power is a concentrated energy beverage, designed primarily for keeping people awake and alert, usually when they are on a long drive. 6 Hour Power Very Berry comes in a 2 fl. oz. plastic bottle that small and smooth. The #1 recyclable bottle is filled with the translucent pink liquid that is Very Berry 6 Hour Power. 6 Hour Power is produced by NVE Pharmaceuticals. The 2 oz. bottle is a single serving.

Ease Of Preparation

6 Hour Power is a liquid in a small 2 oz. bottle; preparation is as easy as opening a plastic bottle. 6 Hour Power has a plastic cap that easily twists off and can be put back on in order to reseal it.

Taste

6 Hour Power Very Berry actually smells very fruity. Opening the opaque bottle, one is greeted to a scent reminiscent of raspberries, apples and blackberries.

Unfortunately, it tastes like ass. The taste alone is enough to wake one up. While the first millisecond of its presence on the tongue might be vaguely reminiscent of berries, it almost instantly transforms in the mouth to a taste that it bitter and sour and in every way disgusting. It leaves a dry, acidic aftertaste and it is foul. Easily one of the worst tasting things I have ever put in my mouth.

Nutrition

As an energy drink, 6 Hour Power Very Berry is designed to provide an energy boost by pumping the consumer full of B vitamins and enzymes that break down fat into simple carbohydrates. While it claims to energize for six hours, I found that it kept me awake and alert for three hours before I could have fallen asleep (if I wanted to).

Nutritionally, 6 Hour Power Very Berry is terrible. It is primarily composed of filtered water, the energy blend (proprietary), Vitamin B6 and Vitamin B12. It contains no fruit juice, so it is unsurprising that the flavor is so weak on berry taste. It has no fat and no carbs. Still, there is 10 mg of sodium in each serving. There is also 8333% of the RDA of Vitamin B12 and 2000% of Vitamin B6!

Storage/Clean-up

6 Hour Power Very Berry comes in a plastic bottle and it keeps for quite a while. The two-pack I bought last week had an expiration date of March 14, 2016. Stored in a cool place, it ought to be fine at least until its expiration date (whatwith it being mostly vitamins).

This drink is a clear pink color, but if it gets on light fabrics it might stain them. Consult a care guide for your clothes, though I suspect only the lightest clothes would need bleach to get this out. Still, the drink wipes off surfaces easily with a cloth, assuming they are impermeable.

Overall

6 Hour Power Very Berry energy shots might not last a full six hours, but it did keep me awake at least three hours needed to get safely where I was going. That more than made it worth the $3.99 for two, though I would never recommend using these drinks in any sort of continual fashion.

For other energy drinks, please check out my reviews of:
Celestial Seasonings Fast Lane Tea
The Simpsons Flaming Moe Energy Drink
Powerade Fruit Punch

6/10

For other food reviews, please visit my index page for a complete listing by clicking here!

© 2012 W.L. Swarts. May not be reprinted without permission.
| | |

The Flaming Moe Energy Drink Is Nothing Special In An Energy Drink!

The Good: Has just enough in it to energize the consumer
The Bad: Makes one gassy, Taste is nothing to write home about.
The Basics: The Flaming Moe Energy Drink could be pretty much any energy drink . . . and it is unpalatable.


One of the nice things about being a reviewer is that it has afforded me with a great opportunity to learn about myself. I, for example, have learned over the course of reviewing several different energy drinks, that I am not a fan of energy drinks as a general rule. I started reviewing energy drinks when I was excited to discover Duff, the fictional beer from The Simpsons had been canned up as an energy drink (that review is here!). Now, I end the energy drink reviews pretty much where I started as I have a Flaming Moe to review.

Anyone who watched The Simpsons in its early years is likely to know what a Flaming Moe is. The Flaming Moe is the concoction Homer came up with and Moe made famous. For a while, it made Moe’s bar into the drinking destination before Homer exposed him as a fraud by revealing his secret ingredient before Moe could sell the recipie. Now it is an energy drink by Boston America corporation, a novelty food company whose line has expanded to energy drinks.

The Flaming Moe energy drink is not an alcoholic beverage and it is likely to be the closest thing fans of The Simpsons get to the drink, at least in the United States. The Flaming Moe energy drink is what it is: it's a pretty disgusting energy drink which is designed to get fans of The Simpsons to spend money on the merchandise. This mediocre drink is trading on the hope that there are enough fans of The Simpsons willing to try it. I was not impressed by it at all, though the Flaming Moe Energy drink did wake me up when I needed an afternoon charge.

Basics

The Flaming Moe Energy Drink is an energy drink in the tradition of Red Bull, a carbonated beverage designed to liven up one's nervous system through a combination of herbs, caffeine, taurine (seriously, you don't want to know) and sugar. Unlike a sports drink which is targeted to replace specific nutrients the body loses while working out, energy drinks are intended to provide quick energy and focus for the mind. The Flaming Moe Energy Drink comes in an 8.4 fl. oz. aluminum can. This is a typical drink can and it is opened with the usual metal tab which gives the consumer access to the beverage.

The 8.4 oz. can is a single serving of Flaming Moe Energy drink and it is very easy to drink it down in a single sitting.

Ease Of Preparation

Flaming Moe Energy Drink is a liquid in the 8.4 oz. can which has Moe holding a Flaming Moe from The Simpsons on it. This can fits in nicely with other energy drinks designed for gamers, with their bright labels and recognizable iconography. Preparation is as easy as opening the metal can and drinking it. I recommend refrigerating the can first as this drink is even more disgusting at room temperature or warm.

Taste

The Flaming Moe Energy Drink has a strong citrus smell to it, like sweet oranges. When chilled, the smell of the metal can is overcome by the orange aroma, but not for terribly long.

On the tongue, the taste is initially sweet and flavored like the orange that it smells like. The light taste of orange soda, however, does not endure for more than a few seconds before the beverage takes a turn toward the putrid. The Flaming Moe’s initial sweetness and actual flavor of orange quickly turns sour and slightly bitter, enough to make one’s lips pucker and this is an unpleasant drink to swallow as a result. There is nothing in the drink that connotes heat, spice or fire. This is just dry and sour, with a taste that is very close to unsweetened orange juice and Red Bull.

The taste was so bad that it made it almost impossible for me to finish even a single serving. It gets no better as it reaches room temperature. In fact, as the Flaming Moe gets warm, it loses the hint of the citrus flavor and ends up settling exclusively on a flavor that is sour (my mind keeps wanting me to use the word “oily” in describing the warm Flaming Moe, but I am unsure why).

Nutrition

As an energy drink, Flaming Moe Energy Drink is made primarily of filtered carbonated water, high fructose corn syrup and citric acid. Before a litany of preservatives and colors, Flaming Moe Energy Drink is noted to contain 1000 mg of Taurine, 120 mg caffeine, 50 mg Inositol, 25 mg each of Guarana extract and panax ginseng extract. All of these ingredients create a sense of alertness in the consumer that is actual, not just a sales tactic. When I was getting a little hazy at work, drinking this beverage actually cleared things up for me, and not just because I was gagging and shaking my head!

Nutritionally, the Flaming Moe Energy Drink is nothing one wants to try to live off of. In addition to getting your heart running, the Flaming Moe Energy Drink will probably promote cavity development with its 28 grams of sugar. As well, there is 170 mg (7% RDA) of sodium in each serving. There is also 50% of the RDA of vitamins B3,6, and 12 and 25% of the RDA of B5. At least theFlaming Moe Energy Drink is fat free!

Storage/Clean-up

The Flaming Moe Energy Drink comes in an aluminum can and I have no idea what the shelf life is supposed to be. It tasted disgusting, but not rancid, so I assume it was okay.

This drink is a translucent orange color, but if it gets on light fabrics it will certainly stain them. Consult a care guide for your clothes, though I suspect light clothes would need bleach to get this out. Still, the drink wipes off surfaces easily with a cloth, assuming they are impermeable.

Overall

The Flaming Moe Energy Drink is too gross to recommend; there are other energy drinks that are far less unpleasant to consume!

For other energy drinks, please check out my reviews of:
Powerade Fruit Punch
Celestial Seasonings Fast Lane Tea
Powerade Mountain Blast

3.5/10

For other food and drink reviews, please visit my or my index page on the subject!

© 2012 W.L. Swarts. May not be reprinted without permission.
| | |

Better Than The Other, O.N.E. Active Cranberry Grapefruit Coconut Water Might Be Mild, But It’s Not Bad!

The Good: Generally nutritious, Comparatively inexpensive, Tastes all right
The Bad: I’m not wild about the lack of environmentally conscientious packaging, Not as nutritious as I thought it would be, Not strongly fruity.
The Basics: O.N.E. Active Coconut Water Cranberry Grapefruit might well be the only energy drink I have had that didn’t make me want to drink something else when I was done with it!


When I first tried one of O.N.E. Active’s Coconut Waters (reviewed here!), I had a pretty negative experience. Yeah, it was terrible. The beverage was salty, anything but fruit flavored or delicious and I came very close to swearing off the health drinks. But, my wife picked up their Cranberry Grapefruit Coconut Water at the same time as the first one, so I felt I had to give it a try. My wife does a lot of nice things for me when it comes to my reviewing and I show her I appreciate it by actually consuming whatever she gets me!

Fortunately, O.N.E. Active Cranberry Grapefruit Coconut Water is vastly better than the brand’s other flavor and it is one that has just enough going for it to recommend.

Basics

O.N.E. Active Coconut Water is a health or energy drink, a type of beverage designed primarily for sports participants to quickly replace nutrients the body loses while working out. O.N.E. Active Coconut Water Cranberry Grapefruit comes in a 16.9 fl. oz. cardboard carton that is bulky to the grip. Contoured slightly to fit a wide grip, the carton is filled with the translucent purple liquid that is Cranberry Grapefruit O.N.E. Active Coconut Water.

The 16.9 fl. oz. carton is intended as a single serving and it quenches the thirst long before the full carton is gone!

Ease Of Preparation

O.N.E. Active Coconut Water is a liquid in the 16.9 fl. oz. carton, so preparation is as easy as opening a bottle. Shake the carton up and then open it. O.N.E. Active Coconut Water has a plastic cap that easily twists off and can be put back on in order to reseal it. It is important to note that this is supposed to be refrigerated after it is opened, so quality of the beverage may degrade if it is left out at room temperature or in summer heat after the bottle is open.

Taste

O.N.E. Active Coconut Water Cranberry Grapefruit smells delightfully like citrus fruits. The grapefruit scent is very inviting to one who loves grapefruit (as I am!).

Those expecting the Cranberry Grapefruit to be sour have another thing coming! O.N.E. Active Coconut Water Cranberry Grapefruit is neither sweet, nor sour, nor especially fruity. Instead, there is a slightly tart taste that chases a salty primary flavor. While not as salty as other energy drinks I have tried, the dominant flavors in the Cranberry Grapefruit are watery, salty and slightly sour. There is nothing particularly fruity to make me excited about this drink, but on the plus side, it does not taste bad. Unlike other drinks of its kind, this does not have a noticeable aftertaste and it actually does leave me feeling refreshed, with my thirst quenched!

The closest analogy I have for the taste of this is seriously diluted lemonade.

Nutrition

As a health or energy drink, O.N.E. Active Coconut Water Cranberry Grapefruit is designed to replenish electrolytes quickly. This particular beverage does have a decent amount of potassium, magnesium and socium, but little else in the way of nutrients. It does, however, make the consumer feel refreshed and truly energized. This might be the first time for a non-Red Bull type drink to have that type of effect on me!

Nutritionally, O.N.E. Active Coconut Water Cranberry Grapefruit is mediocre. It is primarily composed of coconut water, water, and citric acid. It contains natural flavors of cranberries and grapefruit, which explains why the taste is not richly flavored like them. That said, it is not the worst beverage one can drink as it has no fat and only 8 grams of sugar. Still, there is 130 mg (5% RDA) of sodium in each serving. The drink is surprisingly devoid of vitamins, but has 25 mg. magnesium.

Storage/Clean-up

O.N.E. Active Coconut Water Cranberry Grapefruit comes in a cardboard carton and it keeps for a few months. The carton my wife purchased for me the first week in January expired early on February 3, 2012. Stored in a cool place, it ought to be fine at least until its expiration date.

This drink is a light purple color, but if it gets on light fabrics it will certainly stain them. Consult a care guide for your clothes, though I suspect light clothes would need bleach to get this out. Still, the drink wipes off surfaces easily with a cloth, assuming they are impermeable.

Overall

O.N.E. Active Coconut Water Cranberry Grapefruit is an actually-enjoyable energy drink that is well worth picking up. Considering my wife and I found it at Big Lots for only fifty cents a carton, this may well be a great energy drink for those looking for a less pricy alternative to Gatorade!

For other ready-to-drink beverages, please check out my reviews of:
Bolthouse Protein Plus Chocolate
Powerade Mountain Blast
The Simpsons Duff Energy Drink

6.5/10

For other beverage reviews, please check out my index page for an organized listing!

© 2012 W.L. Swarts. May not be reprinted without permission.
| | |

An Unpleasant Health Drink, O.N.E. Active Grape Berry Coconut Water Fails To Sell Me On The Concept.

The Good: Generally nutritious, Comparatively inexpensive
The Bad: Salty taste, Not a thirst quencher, I’m not wild about the lack of environmentally conscientious packaging, Tastes bad, Not as nutritious as I thought it would be.
The Basics: More salty and sour than flavorful or fruity, O.N.E. Active Coconut Water Grape Berry is an unpleasant energy or health drink.


Health drinks are not going to get any slack from me. I love things that taste good and if they are good for me, huzzah! I’ll gladly drink a health beverage if it actually does what it claims in terms of being healthy and offering my body nutrients it otherwise is not getting. But if the beverage claims to be healthy, is objectively not exceptionally healthy, and then tastes bad, I see no reason to champion it.

That is where I come down on O.N.E. Active Grape Berry Coconut Water. This was sold to me on being a healthy beverage – there are actually hot chocolates that I’ve gotten more nutrients out of! – and it tastes absolutely terrible. It made it easy to not recommend.

Basics

O.N.E. Active Coconut Water is a health or energy drink, a type of beverage designed primarily for sports participants to quickly replace nutrients the body loses while working out. O.N.E. Active Coconut Water Grape Berry comes in a 16.9 fl. oz. cardboard carton that is bulky to the grip. Contoured slightly to fit a wide grip,not to slip, the carton is filled with the translucent purple liquid that is Grape Berry O.N.E. Active Coconut Water.

The 16.9 fl. oz. carton is intended as a single serving, though I had a difficult time stomaching a whole carton of the beverage which is designed to restore electrolytes.

Ease Of Preparation

O.N.E. Active Coconut Water is a liquid in the 16.9 fl. oz. carton, so preparation is as easy as opening a bottle. Shake the carton up and then open it. O.N.E. Active Coconut Water has a plastic cap that easily twists off and can be put back on in order to reseal it. It is important to note that this is supposed to be refrigerated after it is opened, so quality of the beverage may degrade if it is left out at room temperature or in summer heat after the bottle is open.

Taste

O.N.E. Active Coconut Water Grape Berry smells exactly like is claims to, like grape juice or mildly like berries. There is not even a hint of coconut scent in the aroma that comes from this cardboard container.

Unfortunately, grape is not the dominant flavor of O.N.E. Active Coconut Water Grape Berry. The dominant flavor is actually salt. This has a liquid salt flavor instantly reminiscent of Gatorade or other energy drinks. Not at all thirst quenching, this is not at all sweet and hardly fruity at all. Instead, the grape and raspberry flavors that the drink possesses (it’s supposed to be – based upon the picture on the container – strawberries and cherries I am tasting, but it tastes like raspberries with the grapes!) chases the salty flavor. There is no coconut flavor to this drink at all.

O.N.E. Active Coconut Water Grape Berry bears a very strong aftertaste. This drink has a very dry aftertaste that is anything but refreshing. To be fair, twenty minutes after my final sip, I licked my lips and tasted a faint coconut flavor that was not at all bad.

Nutrition

As a health or energy drink, O.N.E. Active Coconut Water Grape Berry is designed to replenish electrolytes quickly. This particular beverage does have a decent amount of potassium, magnesium and socium, but little else in the way of nutrients. Moreover, it does nothing that makes the consumer feel refreshed or energized. In fact, I've no proof that the drink actually restores electrolytes at an accelerated rate, only the assertion on the carton that that is what the drink does. I did not feel more energized after drinking it!

Nutritionally, O.N.E. Active Coconut Water Grape Berry is mediocre. It is primarily composed of coconut water, water, and citric acid. It contains grape juice concentrate mostly for color, so it is unsurprising that it is not rich in a variety of vitamins. However, it is not the worst beverage one can drink as it has no fat and only 8 grams of sugar. Still, there is 130 mg (5% RDA) of sodium in each serving. The drink is surprisingly devoid of vitamins, but has 25 mg. potassium.

Storage/Clean-up

O.N.E. Active Coconut Water Grape Berry comes in a cardboard carton and it keeps for a few months. The carton my wife purchased for me the first week in January expired early on February 4, 2012. Stored in a cool place, it ought to be fine at least until its expiration date.

This drink is a light purple color, but if it gets on light fabrics it will certainly stain them. Consult a care guide for your clothes, though I suspect light clothes would need bleach to get this out. Still, the drink wipes off surfaces easily with a cloth, assuming they are impermeable.

Overall

O.N.E. Active Coconut Water Grape Berry could have gotten away with its gross taste if it actually was a healthy health drink. The fact that I can pick up a carton for fifty cents does not justify a lousy taste with dubious health benefits. I would rather pay a little more and get a lot more out of it, like I do with the Bolthouse drinks. As it is, O.N.E. Active Grape Berry Coconut Water was a seriously disappointing introduction for me to this brand.

For other ready-to-drink beverages, please check out my reviews of:
Bolthouse Perfectly Protein Vanilla Chai Tea
Powerade Fruit Punch
The Simpsons Duff Energy Drink

3.5/10

For other beverage reviews, please check out my index page for an organized listing!

© 2012 W.L. Swarts. May not be reprinted without permission.
| | |

Leaving Me Unimpressed, Fruit Punch Sport Beans Fizzle.

Fruit Punch Sport Jelly Belly Jelly Beans - 48 pack bulk
Click to buy directly from Jelly Belly!

The Good: Does not taste bad
The Bad: Only fifteen beans in a pack, Environmentally irresponsible packaging, Indistinct taste, Does not energize well.
The Basics: The Fruit Punch Jelly Belly Sport Beans seem to have less of an impact than the other Sport Beans, making them less worth buying.


As I have made my way through the newer flavors of Jelly Belly jelly beans, I have found myself pleasantly surprised by some of the new creations, like the Jelly Bean Dips. I have even been surprised by some of the flavors of Jelly Belly Sport Beans. So, it was with an open mind that I tried the Fruit Punch flavored Jelly Belly Sport Beans. In fact, more than any of the other flavors I have tried thus far, the biggest strike against this Sport Bean is that it does not seem to live up to the energizing promise of the line. Instead, these beans left me feeling as lethargic or unenergetic on both occasions I tried them, making them a tough sell to the energy drink crowd Jelly Belly is courting with these beans.

For those who might never have had Jelly Belly jelly beans, these are easily the best jelly beans on the planet, packing a lot of flavor into a very small size. Unlike most jelly beans which are only vaguely flavored and are more based on colors, Jelly Belly jelly beans have a wide variety of actual flavors, like the Cocktail Classics Assortment, Candy Corn, Lemon Lime Sport Beans, or their signature flavor Buttered Popcorn.

Basics

Fruit Punch is a flavor of Jelly Belly Sport Beans jelly beans. The Sport Beans jelly beans are approximately three-quarters inches long by one-half inch wide and they are roughly bean-shaped. These are bigger than the usual Jelly Belly jelly beans.

Fruit Punch flavored Jelly Belly's are available only in 1 oz. plastic packages which are terrible for the environment. The packages contain fifteen beans and they appear to be very consistent pack to pack.

Fruit Punch flavored Sport Bean Jelly Bellys are remarkably easy to recognize and distinguish from other Jelly Bellys as well, though they are fairly close to the Berry Sport Beans in their coloring. They are a translucent red color that is a sickly red, closer to a light purple or mauve. This is fairly close, especially in low lighting, to the purple Berry Sport Beans.


Ease Of Preparation

These are jelly beans, not reenergizing using magic! Preparing them is as easy as opening the packet, and popping the beans into your mouth. In the case of the envelope, which is resealable, the jelly beans may be consumed all at once or over several days with no adverse effects to the freshness. It is highly recommended by the packaging that one consume these with water.

Taste

The Fruit Punch Jelly Belly Sport Beans do not have a strong scent, though they have a vaguely fruity aroma that hints at the flavor.

The Fruit Punch flavor is fruity with no distinct flavor. It has a dominantly cherry flavor with a slightly sweet aftertaste. The fruit flavor finishes with a dry taste that is not at all salty, unlike the other Sport Beans. There is a slightly watery flavor to this bean as well, making it less robust than the Berry Sport Bean, for example. The cherry flavor that is most prevalent is mixed with other fruit flavors, none of which are distinct enough to put a name to, though I'd guess "pear" if I had to add any others.

But regardless, the Fruit Punch flavor is pretty bland and not distinctly any fruit.

Nutrition

Again, these are jelly beans, but they are intended to be an energy snack supplement and the fact that they did not work for me on multiple occasions makes it easy for me to not recommend this particular flavor. Even so, Fruit Punch Sport Beans are actually a legitimate source of nutrition. These are an energy supplement, so they are loaded with calories (100 in the 15 beans) and nutrients like potassium and sodium, which are lost during heavy exercise. A serving is listed as 1 oz. (15 beans), which means that in a single serving, there are 100 calories.

The thing is, Jelly Belly jelly beans are not as bad as they could be in the nutrition area. They have no fat and no protein, but for those who have ever dated a Vegan, these are Vegan compliant because they contain no gelatin! They do, however, have beeswax and for some Vegans that is unacceptable, so know your Vegan. The main ingredients are evaporated cane juice, tapioca syrup and citric acid, so it's not like this is an all-natural food, but they could be far, far worse.


Storage/Clean-up

Sport Bean jelly beans have a shelf life of over one year and because they come in an individual sealed package, they retain their freshness. Kept in a cool, dry place, the beans retain their flavor perfectly.

As for cleanup, unless one allows the Jelly Belly to get hot to the point that the waxy coating on the bean melts, the dyes on these do not bleed or denature, so there is usually no cleanup necessary, not even washing one's hands after eating them (always wash your hands before eating Jelly Bellys, even if you don't have to hand-squeeze these beans). I've never had Fruit Punch Jelly Belly Sport Beans stain anything.

Overall

Fruit Punch Sport Bean Jelly Bellys are indistinct in their flavor and do not energize the way other Jelly Belly Sport Beans did, but they do not taste terrible, which at least keeps them from getting the worst possible marks!

For other Jelly Belly flavors reviewed by me, please check out:
Orange Jelly Bean Dips
Berry Sport Beans
Mint Jelly Bean Dips

3/10

For other food reviews, please visit my index page by clicking here!

© 2011 W.L. Swarts. May not be reprinted without permission.

| | |

Jelly Belly Berry Sport Beans Are The Best Of The Sport Bean Line, Despite The Expense!

Berry Sport Jelly Belly Jelly Beans - 48 pack bulk
Click to buy directly from Jelly Belly!

The Good: Seems to have energizing qualities, Tastes good and very much like berry
The Bad: Only fifteen beans in a pack, Environmentally irresponsible packaging.
The Basics: Jelly Belly Berry Sport Beans taste surprisingly good, but are very expensive for the benefits of the energizing jelly beans.


I just got a new dog. My wife and I took in Myah, an almost four year-old siberian husky that has been draining me. Yesterday, for example, I walked Myah for four hours, which leads me to needing energy. So, when I went through my current stock of Jelly Belly jelly beans, I was excited to find I still had some of the Sport Beans available. I've had limited enjoyment of the Sport Beans, mostly because the jelly beans are less flavorful than most of the Jelly Belly jelly beans. But with the Berry flavor, I found a flavor I could enthusiastically recommend and enjoy, despite the fact that I am not one who traditionally enjoys things like energy drinks.

For those who might never have had Jelly Belly jelly beans, these are easily the best jelly beans on the planet, packing a lot of flavor into a very small size. Unlike most jelly beans which are only vaguely flavored and are more based on colors, Jelly Belly jelly beans have a wide variety of actual flavors, like Plum, Candy Corn, the Sunkist Citrus Assortment, or their signature flavor Buttered Popcorn.

Basics

Berry is a flavor of Jelly Belly Sport Beans jelly beans. The Sport Beans jelly beans are approximately three-quarters inches long by one-half inch wide and they are roughly bean-shaped. These are bigger than the usual Jelly Belly jelly beans.

Berry flavored Jelly Belly's are available only in 1 oz. plastic packages which are terrible for the environment. The packages contain fifteen beans and they appear to be very consistent pack to pack.

Berry flavored Sport Bean Jelly Bellys are remarkably easy to recognize and distinguish from other Jelly Bellys as well. They are a fairly opaque dark purple color without any markings and are larger than other Jelly Bellys. While there are other purple or pink Sport Beans, these are the darkest purple bean, easily standing apart from the Fruit Punch beans.


Ease Of Preparation

These are jelly beans, not walking a siberian husky through fields, train tracks and canal beds without rest on a five foot leash! Preparing them is as easy as opening the packet, and popping the beans into your mouth. In the case of the envelope, which is resealable, the jelly beans may be consumed all at once or over several days with no adverse effects to the freshness. It is highly recommended by the packaging and this reviewer that one consume these with water.

Taste

One of the surprising aspects of the Berry Sport Beans is that they have no significant aroma. This left me with no impression of what they might taste like before I popped one in my mouth, which is an occasionally alarming way to consume a candy.

Placed on the tongue, the coating of the Berry Sport Bean is waxier than most Jelly Bellys, but the moment the shell was broken (or in the case of one of the beans I tried subsequently, melted), the Sport Bean exploded with a fruity flavor that was appropriately defined as "berry." One moment, the flavor was closer to a blueberry, the next more like a raspberry, but the flavor was always consistently in the berry family when it was tasting like fruit. Like most of the Sport Beans, there is a dry and almost salty flavor to the Berry Sport Bean, though with this bean it is closer to dry than salty, so the fruit flavor remains dominant the whole time.

This is one of the better Sport Beans because it does not dry the mouth out as much many of the others. The result is a bean that does actually seem to reenergize the consumer.

Nutrition

Again, these are jelly beans, but they are intended to be an energy snack supplement and this is all that saves them from the bowels advising readers avoid them in my book. Sport Beans are actually a legitimate source of nutrition. These are an energy supplement, so they are loaded with calories (100 in the 15 beans) and nutrients like potassium and sodium, which are lost during heavy exercise. A serving is listed as 1 oz. (15 beans), which means that in a single serving, there are 100 calories.

The thing is, Jelly Belly jelly beans are not as bad as they could be in the nutrition area. They have no fat and no protein, but for those who have ever dated a Vegan, these are Vegan compliant because they contain no gelatin! They do, however, have beeswax and for some Vegans that is unacceptable, so know your Vegan. The main ingredients are evaporated cane juice, tapioca syrup and citric acid, so it's not like this is an all-natural food, but they could be far, far worse.


Storage/Clean-up

Sport Bean jelly beans have a shelf life of over one year and because they come in an individual sealed package, they retain their freshness. Kept in a cool, dry place, the beans retain their flavor perfectly.

As for cleanup, unless one allows the Jelly Belly to get hot to the point that the waxy coating on the bean melts, the dyes on these do not bleed or denature, so there is usually no cleanup necessary, not even washing one's hands after eating them (always wash your hands before eating Jelly Bellys, even if you don't have to hand-squeeze these beans). I've never had Berry Jelly Belly Sport Beans stain anything.

Overall

Berry Sport Bean Jelly Bellys taste very good and they reenergized me after my long walks with Myah. These work, as well as taste good. I'm still not wild about the fact that Jelly Belly does not have a decent bulk package for the Sport Beans and I'd like a more affordable, more environmentally responsible method of getting the Berry Sport Beans than the fifteen-piece pack.

For other Jelly Belly flavors reviewed by me, please check out:
Mint Jelly Bean Dips
Lemon Lime Sport Beans
Cocktail Classics Assortment

8/10

For other food reviews, please visit my index page by clicking here!

© 2011 W.L. Swarts. May not be reprinted without permission.


| | |

Arguably The Best Jelly Belly Sport Bean: Lemon Lime Sport Beans Are Actually Good.

Lemon Lime Sport Jelly Belly Jelly Beans - 48 pack bulk
Click to buy directly from Jelly Belly!

The Good: Seems to have energizing qualities, Tastes good
The Bad: Only fifteen beans in a pack, Environmentally irresponsible packaging.
The Basics: One I can actually recommend, Jelly Belly Lemon Lime Sport Beans taste surprisingly good and seem to actually energize like they claim.


As I await a box of new flavors of Jelly Bellys, I had run out of Jelly Belly jelly beans to review. Mentioning this during a day when my wife and I were doing computer work, she presented me with a stash of Sport Beans from Jelly Belly that she had been holding onto. Previously, I had only had the Orange Sport Beans (reviewed here!) and they had not left me at all impressed. So, when she gave me a bag of Lemon Lime Jelly Belly Sport Beans it was pretty clear to me that she was just trying to help me with my reviews. Fortunately, the Lemon Lime Jelly Belly Sport Beans are actually pretty tasty, so this was a decent surprise gift!

For those who might never have had Jelly Belly jelly beans, these are easily the best jelly beans on the planet, packing a lot of flavor into a very small size. Unlike most jelly beans which are only vaguely flavored and are more based on colors, Jelly Belly jelly beans have a wide variety of actual flavors, like Sunkist Citrus Assortment, Candy Corn, Bubble Gum, or their signature flavor Buttered Popcorn.

Basics

Lemon Lime is a flavor of Jelly Belly Sport Beans jelly beans. The Sport Beans jelly beans are approximately three-quarters inches long by one-half inch wide and they are roughly bean-shaped. These are bigger than the usual Jelly Belly jelly beans.

Lemon Lime flavored Jelly Belly's are available only in 1 oz. plastic packages which are terrible for the environment. The packages contain fifteen beans and they appear to be very consistent pack to pack.

Lemon Lime flavored Sport Bean Jelly Bellys are remarkably easy to recognize and distinguish from other Jelly Bellys as well. They are a translucent yellow color without any markings and are larger than other Jelly Bellys. They are the only yellow colored Sport Beans.


Ease Of Preparation

These are jelly beans, not running a marathon in high heels! Preparing them is as easy as opening the packet, and popping the beans into your mouth. In the case of the envelope, which is resealable, the jelly beans may be consumed all at once or over several days with no adverse effects to the freshness. It is highly recommended by the packaging and this reviewer that one consume these with water.

Taste

Lemon Lime is a surprisingly good Jelly Belly in terms of taste. This Sport Bean does not seem to have an aroma, so there is no preparation for the consumer as to how it will taste.

Lemon Lime Sport Bean jelly beans tastes like lemon. The lemon taste is strong and when the lime taste kicks in it is more in the aftertaste. The flavor is sour and sweet and embodies both fruit flavors astonishingly well. Like other Sport Beans, the Lemon Lime has a slightly salty aftertaste that cuts the Lemon Lime Sport Beans well. The flavor is true to both fruits, which is a nice contrast with the vaguely citrus and more salty Orange beans.

Nutrition

Again, these are jelly beans, but they are intended to be an energy snack supplement and this is all that saves them from the bowels advising readers avoid them in my book. Sport Beans are actually a legitimate source of nutrition. These are an energy supplement, so they are loaded with calories (100 in the 15 beans) and nutrients like potassium and sodium, which are lost during heavy exercise. A serving is listed as 1 oz. (15 beans), which means that in a single serving, there are 100 calories.

The thing is, Jelly Belly jelly beans are not as bad as they could be in the nutrition area. They have no fat and no protein, but for those who have ever dated a Vegan, these are Vegan compliant because they contain no gelatin! They do, however, have beeswax and for some Vegans that is unacceptable, so know your Vegan. The main ingredients are evaporated cane juice, tapioca syrup and lemon juice from lemon puree, so it's not like this is an all-natural food, but they could be far, far worse.


Storage/Clean-up

Sport Bean jelly beans have a shelf life of over one year and because they come in an individual sealed package, they retain their freshness. Kept in a cool, dry place, the beans retain their flavor perfectly.

As for cleanup, unless one allows the Jelly Belly to get hot to the point that the waxy coating on the bean melts, the dyes on these do not bleed or denature, so there is usually no cleanup necessary, not even washing one's hands after eating them (always wash your hands before eating Jelly Bellys, even if you don't have to hand-squeeze these beans). I've never had Lemon Lime Jelly Belly Sport Beans stain anything.

Overall

Lemon Lime Sport Bean Jelly Bellys taste surprisingly good and they seem to do what they claim to. So, if you're into sports and want to avoid sports drinks in favor of jelly beans and water, this is a good way to go. Actually, they were flavorful enough that I enjoyed them without the energy replenishing implications of them and were it not for the environmental impact of packaging, these would be even better.

For other Jelly Belly flavors reviewed by me, please check out:
Cocktail Classics Assortment
Plum
Sour Assortment

7/10

For other food reviews, please visit my index page by clicking here!

© 2011 W.L. Swarts. May not be reprinted without permission.

| | |

Trendy, Flavorful, And Unimpressive: Powerade Fruit Punch Leaves Me Underwhelmed.

The Good: Tastes all right
The Bad: Does not seem to DO anything, Expensive, Doesn't taste quite like anything.
The Basics: An unimpressive beverage, Powerade Fruit Punch does not taste like any particular fruit, does not refresh consumers and costs a lot to not do much!


With my rather significant arsenal of beverage reviews (still growing as I move the reviews into this blog!), I feel I have both a reputation and authority for consistently finding good things for people to drink (in the nonalcoholic realm). For a long time, I did not have reason to review sports drinks, though lately I have reviewed the Duff Energy Drink (click here for that review!) and the Powerade Mountain Blast (click here for that review!). It has been years since I ran and when it comes to the swimming my wife and I do, we seem fine with the exercise so long as we have water afterward to drink. We've never needed a sports drink to get the most out of our bodies or our exercise.

Last year, during our annual cross-country odyssey to the Las Vegas Star Trek convention, we began experiencing a load of new things that I have since reviewed. Unfortunately, as we traveled West, we found ourselves trying some less successful culinary experiences. One of them was Powerade Fruit Punch, a beverage we partook of while visiting my wife's friends in Michigan. While we were graciously put up by one of her friends, there was little in the house to drink outside filtered water. Eager for something different, my wife cracked open a Powerade Fruit Punch and shortly thereafter, she handed it to me.

I was not impressed. . . in any way.

Basics

Powerade is a sports drink, a type of beverage designed primarily for sports participants to quickly replace nutrients the body loses while working out. Powerade Fruit Punch comes in a 32 oz. (that's fluid ounces) plastic bottle that is bulky to the grip. Contoured not to slip, the #1 recyclable bottle is filled with the translucent red liquid that is Fruit Punch Powerade. Powerade is produced by the Coca Cola Company in their effort to compete with more established sports drinks, like Gatorade.

The 32 oz. bottle is intended to give consumers four servings, though the eight oz. serving size seems unrealistically small to me.

Ease Of Preparation

Powerade is a liquid in the 32 oz. bottle (I've not yet found a powdered version, but it would not surprise me if it was in the works to hit the marketplace in an upcoming quarter). So, preparation is as easy as opening a plastic bottle. Powerade has a plastic cap that easily twists off and can be put back on in order to reseal it. It is important to note that this is supposed to be refrigerated after it is opened, so quality of the beverage may degrade if it is left out at room temperature after the bottle is open.

Taste

Powerade Fruit Punch is surprisingly aromatic for a sports drink. Opening the bottle and actually inhaling the bouquet reveals a lush, fruity scent. The dominant scent is that of cherries, which makes sense because the beverage is colored red like cherry juice.

It is worth noting, despite my not being wild about Powerade Fruit Punch, that the drink still tastes better than any Gatorade product I have ever tried. Still, Powerade Fruit Punch is remarkably indistinct in its taste. Tasting most like watered-down Kool-Aid fruit punch, Powerade Fruit Punch is salty and watery more than sweet and fruity. There is not a single distinct fruit taste that I could pick out of the drink, though the closest fruit analogy I could make is that this is a mix of cherry, strawberry and sour apples. But more than anything that resembles a blend of fruit tastes, the drink tastes watery and slightly salty.

As well, Powerade Fruit Punch bears a punch, in the form of its aftertaste. This drink has a very dry aftertaste that is anything but refreshing.

Nutrition

As a sports drink, Powerade Fruit Punch is designed to replenish sodium, potassium, calcium and magnesium quickly. This might restore electrolytes, but it does nothing that makes the consumer feel refreshed or energized. In fact, I've no proof that the drink actually restores electrolytes at an accelerated rate, only the assertion on the bottle that that is what the drink does.

Nutritionally, Powerade Fruit Punch is mediocre. It is primarily composed of water, high fructose corn syrup, and citric acid. It contains no fruit juice, so it is unsurprising that it is not rich in a variety of vitamins. However, it is not the worst beverage one can drink (though there are some fairly chemical-sounding elements in the ingredient list) as it has no fat and only 14 grams of sugar. Still, there is 100 mg (4% RDA) of sodium in each serving. There is also 10% of the RDA of three different B vitamins and 25 mg. potassium.

Storage/Clean-up

Powerade Fruit Punch comes in a plastic bottle and it keeps almost a year (our host said she bought it months ago and the expiration date was March 22, 2010. Stored in a cool place, it ought to be fine at least until its expiration date (whatwith having all sorts of preservatives).

This drink is a clear red color, but if it gets on light fabrics it will certainly stain them. Consult a care guide for your clothes, though I suspect light clothes would need bleach to get this out. Still, the drink wipes off surfaces easily with a cloth, assuming they are impermeable.

Overall

I was unimpressed by Powerade Fruit Punch. It did not quench my thirst, it did not taste wonderful and having drunk some after swimming for half an hour, it left me feeling no more ready to take on the tasks of the rest of the day than I did before. I suspect most people will find this to be an overpriced beverage that is not worth their time, money, or consumption.

For other beverages, please check out my reviews of:
Saphara White Tea With Schinzara
Lipton tea
Swiss Miss Dark Chocolate Sensation Hot Cocoa

4/10

For other food reviews, please visit my index page for a complete listing by clicking here!

© 2010, 2009 W.L. Swarts. May not be reprinted without permission.


| | |

A Generally Gross Tasting Drink, Powerade Mountain Blast May Replenish The Body, But...

The Good: Seems to do what it promises for hydration
The Bad: Salty taste, Not a thirst quencher, Proportionately expensive (economically and environmentally)
The Basics: With a fairly vile taste, Powerade Mountain Blast leaves me gagging more than refreshed or feeling like I'm stocking up on electrolytes.


It is amusing to me what sticks with me and I take a while to get around to reviewing. Last summer, my wife and I visited Michigan and I tried a lot of different things, some of which I reviewed at the time. Others, like the Powerade Mountain Blast beverage, it was only be recently re-encountering that it occurred to me I ought to review it! I am not generally into the energy drinks, even when they are catchy like the Duff Energy Drink (click here for my review!). Even so, I recall generally liking the Powerade Mountain Blast. Unfortunately, having retasted the Mountain Blast, I am convinced Coca Cola (which owns Powerade) either changed their formula radically or my palate has matured dramatically in the past year!

Basics

Powerade is a sports drink, a type of beverage designed primarily for sports participants to quickly replace nutrients the body loses while working out. Powerade Mountain Blast comes in a 32 oz. (fluid ounces) plastic bottle that is bulky to the grip. Contoured not to slip, the #1 recyclable bottle is filled with the translucent blue liquid that is Mountain Blast Powerade. Powerade is produced by the Coca Cola Company in their effort to compete with more established sports drinks, like Gatorade.

The 32 oz. bottle is intended to give consumers four servings, though the eight oz. serving size seems unrealistically small. Having recently had this while out at the beach, it was ridiculously easy to go through this after an hour swim!

Ease Of Preparation

Powerade is a liquid in the 32 oz. bottle (I've not yet found a powdered version, but it would not surprise me if it is available elsewhere). Preparation is as easy as opening a plastic bottle. Powerade has a plastic cap that easily twists off and can be put back on in order to reseal it. It is important to note that this is supposed to be refrigerated after it is opened, so quality of the beverage may degrade if it is left out at room temperature or in summer heat after the bottle is open.

Taste

Powerade Mountain Blast has a very neutral bouquet. The blue liquid smells more like chemicals than it does like fruit of any sort. One usually assumes that a blue liquid is supposed to be blue raspberry flavor, but I didn't get that from the aroma of the Mountain Blast Powerade.

Powerade Mountain Blast is remarkably indistinct in its taste. This flavor tastes unlike any known fruit and tastes like how it smells, vaguely like chemicals and minerals. Powerade Mountain Blast is salty and watery more than sweet and fruity. There is not a single distinct fruit taste that I could pick out of the drink, though the closest fruit analogy I could make is that this is like a watered down version of a blue raspberry icee after salt has been added to it. But more than anything that resembles a blend of fruit tastes, the drink tastes watery and slightly salty.

As well, Powerade Mountain Blast bears a very strong aftertaste. This drink has a very dry aftertaste that is anything but refreshing.

Nutrition

As a sports drink, Powerade Mountain Blast is designed to replenish sodium, potassium, calcium and magnesium quickly. This might restore electrolytes, but it does nothing that makes the consumer feel refreshed or energized. In fact, I've no proof that the drink actually restores electrolytes at an accelerated rate, only the assertion on the bottle that that is what the drink does.

Nutritionally, Powerade Mountain Blast is mediocre. It is primarily composed of water, high fructose corn syrup, and citric acid. It contains no fruit juice, so it is unsurprising that it is not rich in a variety of vitamins. However, it is not the worst beverage one can drink (though there are some fairly chemical-sounding elements in the ingredient list) as it has no fat and only 14 grams of sugar. Still, there is 100 mg (4% RDA) of sodium in each serving. There is also 10% of the RDA of three different B vitamins and 25 mg. potassium.

Storage/Clean-up

Powerade Mountain Blast comes in a plastic bottle and it keeps almost a year. The one I had at the beach expired early in 2011. Stored in a cool place, it ought to be fine at least until its expiration date (whatwith having all sorts of preservatives).

This drink is a clear blue color, but if it gets on light fabrics it will certainly stain them. Consult a care guide for your clothes, though I suspect light clothes would need bleach to get this out. Still, the drink wipes off surfaces easily with a cloth, assuming they are impermeable.

Overall

I was unimpressed by Powerade Mountain Blast and actually grossed out some by its salty taste and dry aftertaste. There are better ways to get electrolytes restored than this awkward and undelicious beverage.

For other beverages, please check out my reviews of:
Stash Double Bergamot Earl Grey tea
Bigelow Sweet Dreams tea
Celestial Seasonings Candy Cane Lane tea

4/10

For other beverage reviews, please check out my index page for an organized listing!

© 2010 W.L. Swarts. May not be reprinted without permission.


| | |