Cinnabon Lattes - Mocha Latte

I'm a bit of an insomniac and just started a job that gets me up really early. Now in previous posts, I've mentioned my saving-energy-grace known as Redline, and aside from one passing Chevron gas station/mini-mart, I've only been able to find them in 7-Elevens. So in my ever-tired weekday mornings, I've tried to stop by a 7-Eleven on the way to work to grab a breakfast bar and a Redline.

On one morning, I walked in the door and immediately headed down the first aisle to the wall of cooler doors and low and behold I pass the coffee drinks... and there looking at me through the glass door within its taunting can is the lovely drink this post is about.

The folks at Cinnabon have created drinks (which I believe they sell at their kiosk wherever you happen to find them). Now, like Starbucks, they seem to have broadened their horizons, creating goodies you can buy in the grocery store (or in this case, 7-Eleven) instead of trekking to their place to buy their yummy drinks.

I bought one (they had only two flavors available: Mocha Latte and Espresso Cream... I went for the Mocha!) and with my Redline and breakfast bar, headed on out to work. Between getting their and lunch, I tried my Cinnabon Mocha Latte.

Quite yummy, must I say. It was tasty and pleasant. In all honesty, it reminded me of the Starbucks fair of Frappucino goodness, but there was something slightly different tasting about Cinnabon mocha versus Starbucks mocha. I think I would have to say that I like them both... I favor the Cinnabon mocha. From what I can recall, it was sweet without being too sweet. It just tasted better.

The drink went down smooth, it didn't upset my stomach, and was (as I have previously stated) tasty.

Would I try it again?: Oh yeah, I think so. Besides, there are three other yummy flavors out there that I'm curious about trying.

http://www.cinnabonlattes.com/

Clamato Tortilla Chips

Oh yes... yes... the foulness of the world has reached new heights, ladies and gentlemen.

So a month or so ago, I was headed out of town to spend the day with friends. I stopped off at a gas station mini-mart to grab an energy drink, some water, and some snacks for the road (I think I was PMS'ing and craving salty goodness). I usually pick up some of the TGIFridays chips, but this little blue bag in the midst of other plain white ones... well, curiosity got the better of me so I bought it (not without buying other snacks since there is always a chance of non-enjoyment of other snacks... so that's what you do - or *I* do - I get at least ONE snack I know I'll enjoy and get something else as well that I might like... nothing wrong with extra snacks, my friend).

Well, I went on my friend excursion and ended up not eating the chips. I took them home and after a few days, I saw them in the kitchen on the snacks shelf and thought, "Hey, I might as well try these."

My friends... listen to me... JUST SAY NO TO CLAMATO TORTILLA CHIPS!

I held the bag... I opened the bag... and I picked a chip... I put that chip in my mouth... and I made myself finish chewing and swallowed. Oh goodness. Not good. Admittedly I ate a total of two chips to make sure, but really... one was enough. How the FUCK can you make a chip taste exactly like the drink? I think the only time I've had Clamato was mixed with Puccin (did I spell that right?), and for some reason my tastebuds didn't gag. The chips, however... after the two, I tossed the bag in the trash.

They don't even LOOK a tasty color. YUCK!

Would I try it again?: Hell no!

http://www.taquitos.net/snacks.php?snack_code=3328

Bossa Nova Acai Juice

Now I'm strictly a pomegranate gal, myself, but like this blog states, I like trying new things.

In all honesty, I have tried acai-fruit juice before... but as I had observed before about how pomegranate becoming the next IN-fruit (before it was the cranberry I believe with its anti-oxidant madness), now... it's the acai berry.

And this post brings to you... BOSSA NOVA ACAI FRUIT JUICE.

What is açai? Açai (ah-sci-ee) is a rainforest berry - a small, dark purple fruit that grows on palm trees on the floodplains of the Amazon basin. Recent scientific study has earned it the enviable title of “world’s healthiest fruit” in part, because it is likely to be the world’s highest antioxidant fruit.
~courtesy of the Bossa Nova website - FAQ section

Now, in looking at the bottles, I'm forced to think of POM (pomegranate juice, straight and mixed with other flavors). Bossa Nova is doing the same thing. There is straight up acai-juice... then there are mixes (I only tried mango and raspberry). I have to say that even though I enjoy me some acai-juice, I love me my POM better. (And you get to keep the snazzy glass the drinks come in... I have a nice collection.)

Acai-juice is tart... and purple... and yummy... but I still like pomegranate more.

Would I try it again?: Yeah, of course. It's still good juice, but it just wouldn't be my first choice.

http://www.bossausa.com/

Vosges Chocolate - Mo's Bacon Bar

So last night was me and my friends's monthly drink night (August's drink - mai tai's... oh Captain Jack Sparrow, this is where all the rum has gone).

During the evening's festivities, Kathy and Alithea had been snacking on some sweet potato chips and were commenting on the sweet and salty aspect of the snack making it addictive and so appealing. There were references to another snack to what I thought I had heard "bacon", but I wasn't sure.

Sure enough, that IS what I heard.

Kathy had gone with some friends up to Oregon to see a friend of ours graduate college. Upon someone asking her what she wanted as a gift, the graduate (Erin) said "chocolate" - so the gift giver (Janise) decided to buy her an array of chocolate.

One of which was a chocolate bacon bar.

Yes kids, you heard mommy correctly.

In case you can't read the picture attached to this post, let me translate. It says Vosges Haut Chocolat - exotic candy bar - Mo's Bacon Bar: applewood smoked bacon, Alderwood smoked salt, deep milk chocolate, 41% cacao.

Kathy had brought some home with her... just a little bit, but it melted a little in her car, so she had stuck it in the freezer. We all tried it, and let me say... it was REALLY good. It was so good, I wanted more than I actually had. I wanted a whole bar to myself.

Neither flavor was overwhelming or overpowering the other - the flavors complimented each other very nicely.

Looking on the website, they have other 'exotic' chocolate bars that I'm interested in trying - hell, I think ALL of them (especially since I saw the movie "Chocolat"... the Red Fire bar looks really tempting to me).

Would I try it again?: If you didn't get the inferred "Hell yeah" from reading the post, I will clarify this last with an absolute HELL YEAH I'd try it again. I want to eat the website, that's how yummy all the stuff looks on it.

http://www.vosgeschocolate.com/

Monster Energy Drink - Green

At the lovely gas station down the street from the Togo's I used to go to for lunch, I was craving any sort of 'something' that would help get me through the day and wake my ass up. Usually I drink AMP or Redline... or even a Starbucks Espresso Shot, but unfortunately they did not have any. Instead from the selection of energy drinks that they had, I chose Monster - since I never had it and was curious... and because it looked the least threatening.

Now I have to say right now that I was going to use a simple picture of the can, but seeing as my review of this drink is not favorable, I thought I'd make the picture a little more pleasant on the eyes since the drink was not pleasant on my palate. And I even made the picture bigger to make up for how much I 'disliked' this drink.

I thought the lady in the picture had a nice figure, but now I realize that even this picture agrees that Monster is ass juice.

Now with all energy drinks, they are best served cold. I waited until I got back to the office to crack it open and start chugging. It was still cold, but oh my heavens... the TASTE!!! Now, it wasn't as vile as the Upshot, but it was definitely FAR WORSE than the good old fashioned Redline. It was so icky, I didn't even finish the can. (Yeah, but you finish the Upshot. Sure I did, but that was due to a momentary lapse in higher brain activity... and I couldn't let Kathy suffer alone. We shared in our stupidity together... with cappucino cookie chasers.) A co-worker said, "The blue is better." And my reply was something along the lines of, "As if I'm putting another can of this shit to my lips regardless of what color or flavor it is."

Would I try it again? I would sooner drink a smoothie made from tapioca, liver and gizzard.

http://www.monsterenergy.com/

Hansen's Green Tea Soda - Pomegranite

During a Safeway trip with Chris, we strolled down the beverages aisle for him to get some Pepsi, me some 7Up, and us a flat of water.

That's when I noticed the new Hansen's drinks. (I like me some Hansen's.) Also what caught my eye was that it was not only green tea... but pomegranite. I will try anything pomegranite - food of the Underworld is yummy!)

They come in four packs and four flavors: green tea, ginger, pomegranite, and Tangerine. (They even had Diet Pomegranite which is just wrong. I mean, come on now. Diet Juice of the Underworld? Hello?!)

Being a soda, it's carbonated (those sensitive to the bubbles, prepare for impending burpage). There was a distinct presence of green tea and just a sweet/tart hint of pomegranite. No one flavor dominated the beverage which is good. Certain flavors can do that, and it takes away from the enjoyment of whatever you're eating/drinking. (For me olives and blueberries have the tendency to take over whatever dish they are in if added to excess.)

All in all, I find this drink to be quite refreshing and yummy. I'm curious to see what the other flavors taste like (not so much the ginger, but my friend Alithea LOVES ginger... I'll try it with her and see what she thinks).

Would I try it again? Hell yeah! When I get paid again, and we go to the store, I shall get me another four pack. The only negative I can say about this drink is that it doesn't come in larger quanities.

http://www.hansens.com/products/products.php?subcat=20&color=soda

5 Gum (by Wrigley - for teens)

So recently I went to the San Diego Comic-Con with my friend Kathy. On the home, we made a pit stop at her parents' place (so we might actually sleep in actual beds and not have to answer to an alarm or a six-foot redheaded crack fraggle looming over us so early in the morning.

After having a yummy lunch (yes, we slept in that late) and packed the car with tidbits Kathy got from her parents, we headed to a gas station to top of my tank before our long trek home, and while the gas was a-pumpin', we stopped off inside the mini-mart for snacks and beverage-y goodness. When I brought my items to the cashier, I saw these interesting packages of what was apparently gum. What caught my eye, aside from the black packaging and the giant number 5 on them, were the names of the flavors.

Now normally when you get gum, you get flavors that range from the relatively normal (like peppermint or cinnamon) to things that sound almost like gibberish and plucked straight out of the Wonkaverse.

The names of these flavors: cobalt, rain, and flare.

I almost placed the back of my wrist to my forehead in dramatic, sarcastic response.

This is GUM people. I welcome Wonkaverse names over... these.

Upon searching the internet, apparently the gum is put out by Wrigley and focused toward teens who, per an article I read, chew "one-third of the gum sold in the U.S.". It's supposed to appeal to the five senses - hence the name.

My reaction to each gum?

• Cobalt - this is peppermint, bright blue in color, and tastes just like any usual pepperminty gum.
• Rain - this is spearmint, they claim it 'tingles', but really it's just bright green with a nice spearminty flavor.
• Flare - ah yes, the cinnamon. Well, it's red. (Kind of obvious there, wasn't it?) I don't really care for this flavor. It starts off fine... nice and cinnamony like it should be, but like with some cinnamon gums, the flavor aftertaste after having been chewed for a while (not really a long while for me either) starts to get this taste, and I can't really describe it well. It borders on rubbery, mediciney, and just downright not good.

Would I try it again? Not the cinnamon. The flavor morphs into this other flavor that I personally do NOT care for. The cobalt/peppermint and the rain/spearmint taste just dandy and actually have long-lasting (good) flavor. They need to work on the cinnamon. I mean, these are the people that put out Big Red. Couldn't they make it taste more like that?

http://promomagazine.com/news/wrigley_targets_teens_5_gum_031907/
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/5_%28gum%29

Basils Bavarian Bakery Premium Cookies with Cappuccino and Chocolate Chips

The last post... those lovely cookies I spoke of that took the nasty energy drink aftertaste out of my mouth?

Well THESE are them.

Currently, I am temp'ing at a place where I'm doing collections for them. It's an all right gig, but unlike the last place I temp'd at, these guys don't provide drinks and snacks for free. Instead they have vending machines: one soda and one snacks.

These lovely little creatures called out to me the other day. They were cookies... so of course, being fluent in cookie-ese, I listened. Everyday I passed by the machine... and everyday they yelled for my attention. Trying to be a good girl who desperately wants to lose some weight and inches off my mid-section, I acknowledged them, said hello... even stopped to chat for a bit (you know, just to be nice).

Eventually I gave in.

Now let me say right up front that I'm very wary when it comes to vending machines. I always wonder how often they've been maintained, how old the stuff in the machine actually is... what actually AM I eating?

Well, let me just say that the cookies were wonderful. They weren't old, but they were a brand I'd never heard of before or had never seen in stores. Granted, I only shop at Safeway and the like, but still. In any case, the cookies are wonderful, and I have been tempted to get them again, but my waist, common sense, and lack of motivation to excercise as much as I should holds me back.

But yes, they were quite yummy. Sweet but not too sweet. They weren't chewy (which I normally like in a cookie), but they weren't crisp like a potato chip. And they were bite-size which made snacking on them while working easy and wonderful. (Makes the day go by better when you've got yummy snacks that make you happy and distract you from actually being at the office.)

Would I try it again? Hell yeah. Now if they could just create a diet that involved eating yummy junk food while you still lose weight, I'd be even happier.

http://www.discountcoffee.com/cookie_cappuccino.htm

UPSHOT Energy Shot

So recently my friend Kathy and I drove to San Diego for the annual comic book convention. To start off our journey, we stopped off at a gas station to fuel up. While filling up my tank, we stepped into the mini-mart of the station, we each got an energy drink, and since my PMS was screaming at me, I ended up getting three 99-cent bags of salty chip goodness. When I finally got to the front of the line, I saw an array of the little bottles of energy drinks - one shot deals. I thought I'd get one since I'd always been curious about them. Kathy got one, too. We decided on the pink one (which CLAIMS to be Fruit flavored).

So on the freeway we went, and Kathy was waiting for me to drink mine so we could 'shoot' them together. I opted to wait for a straightaway to open mine, and by the time we hit Interstate 5, it was time.

Now, I realize that I have expressed that the Redline energy drink is evil... but no, I have found something FAR worse.

It's as if the smaller the bottle, the worse the aftertaste.

Oh for the love of nasty... this little drink is so gross that I think the only way it would give you energy is to keep you awake long enough to either find a way to get the vile taste out of your mouth or to seek out the bastard who made the shit and have him/her die a horribly slow and painful death.

We opened the bottle and downed a quick sip and immediately made faces of disgust. With most energy drinks, it has that residual caffine aftertaste that's lingering effects depends on which drink you've just consumed. Usually, at least for me, that taste lingers toward the back of my throat and can usually be chased away with a quick chug of water. This concoction, however, is far worse than any other drink labeled as an energy drink.

The first sip right away was gross. Swallowing was even more so. The disgusting taste lingered after the first sip and gradually made its way toward the front of our mouths, down our tongues. Hoping it was a matter of just getting used to it, we tried it again and didn't get very far. It got worse with each drink. Being stupid sports of the whole venture, we drank all of what was in our respective bottles and quickly after swallowing the funktastic juice of whatever evil overlord conjured it up, made the appropriate faces to display what words could not.

Even the words I type here don't do its foulness justice.

Now, at the time, we had just discussed how energy drinks are best served cold, and these were luke warm after having been on display on the counter at the register. I was thinking perhaps they'd taste better if they were cold. I think perhaps at first Kathy was willing to agree with me, but then later, upon retrospect, she said no... there was nothing that would make that grossness taste any better.

Upon my own retrospect, yeah... I'd have to agree.

The only thing that helped take the taste away were some cookies I got from work that day. (Thank the heavens for those cookies!!!)

Would I try it again? I think a HELL NO! would suffice. Granted, I'm all for what others think of this blasted concoction of putrescence... having other willing victims... er, I mean volunteers try the brew-that-shall-not-be-named and share their stories?... I'm all for it. But me? I'm SO done.

http://www.energyfiend.com/caffeine-content/upshot

Redline Energy Drink

Oh the joys of evil... in a can.

Actually, would you call it a can? I guess it's a little bottle... a squishy little blue bottle... filled with EVIL!

Okay... storytime!

So one night my best friend/roommate Chris and I decided to catch a midnight showing of some movie (the title of which escapes me at the moment), and we ended going home first... and on the way stopping by a 7-Eleven and looked at energy drinks. Chris wanted the one that had the most caffine in it (since he hadn't slept well the night before and was running off fumes). He ended up getting a bottle of Redline... I think because it "looked good" (and he was probably tired of looking). So he paid for the bottle (I declined the offer for one since I was fine... at the time). So we went home (I think so he could shower after a long day of work and before the movie). While waiting for him, I got tired and lazy and blah. So on the way back to the theatre, we stopped off at the same 7-Eleven and purchased me a Redline. We found a place to park and toasted to us surviving our new drink and gulped it down the hatches.

Now I must say, the direction suggest for first timers to drink like half of it at first and then the rest later or something like that. Nah, we shot it down (or at least as much as we could take before, you know, having to breathe.)

It smelled a little like Kool-Aid... and looked like Kool-Aid (tropical punch). It was sweet going down, but after you swallow, the aftertaste... oh for the love bad aftertaste! It was all that caffine. It coated the back of my tongue and the beginning of my throat. (Chris bought a Pepsi upon my suggestion for a chaser of some kind in case the Redline tasted like crap. Needless to say that we partook of said Pepsi, but for me, I could still taste the Redline... although fainter, I could still taste it.)

We went to the movie (since I can't recall the movie at the moment, I'm going to assume that since it was most definitely NOT Battlefield Earth, we had fun), and then went home... where Chris wound down a bit and then buggered off to sleep while I, the insomniac as well as odd reactions to certain meds, was still awake and had even more issues getting to bed and then getting up the next day.

Redline is, for me, a reliable source of "wake the fuck up - you have no choice in the matter" when I need it. On the bottle it says "the utlimate energy rush" as well as "fat incinerator". I cannot see myself drinking that in combination of going to the gym and working out. The taste alone would drive me nuts.

I have only found these lovely little blue bottles of death at 7-Elevens where they have bred into other flavors and colors (such as Green Apple - which is clear, and Grape - which I believe is also clear). Of those three, the original is best.

Chris mentioned a newer uber-butch one... that we're both hesitant to try ever since we read some possible "side effects" that can occur after too much constant consumption of Redline. (Perhaps I'll find some for my road trip next week. Could prove for happy times... or psychedelic 'the car is flying, I don't care what the cop behind us says' possible trip to the emergency room road trip happy times.)

Wow! I have no idea where that came from. Try saying THAT ten times real fast.

Would I try it again? I would, and I do... whenever I need that fatal pick-me-up. I just wouldn't suggest more than one in at least a 12-hour period. Wow!

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Redline_%28drink%29

Bubble Yum - Hershey's Chocolate and Sour Apple Berry

Another day, another weird thing.

So I was feeling a little down and groggy today (I'm talking energy levels here, folks) so on the way back from lunch today, I thought I'd stop by someplace and pick up an energy drink or something to try and get my energy back up so I could finish the work day. I ended up stopping by a 76-gas station where among the small grab-bag of things that I bought, I saw at the gum rack (I ALWAYS check out the gum rack) new flavors of Bubble Yum.

Now the first one that caught my attention was Sour Apple Berry. I love sour candies... mostly sour gummies... so of course, this flavor made me curious. Next to it was the Hershey's chocolate Bubble Yum.

Needless to say, I bought them both.

I didn't try the Sour Apple Berry until I was leaving the office for the day. I had planned to drive by my friend's (and ex-co-worker's) new place of business. While at a red light, I popped a piece in my mouth. Trying to unwrap it was a task in itself. I'm not sure if it was the gum, the fact that I left both packs in the car when the weather started to warm, or a combination of both... but the gum did not want to leave the wrapper willingly. Eventually I got it out and as soon as it hit my tongue... WOW! Yeah, sour is an understatement.

Now I should say that there are all kinds of sours... like the sugar-free energy drink I talked about before. THAT was a BAD sour. THIS gum is a GOOD sour. It was SO good, it took me a while to get into it in order to get a chew out of it. You know how you eat a hot piece of food, and you just work it around your mouth praying that it'll cool down enough to actually chew it? Well, this was a similar case except it was just so damn sour. I loved it. The sucky thing is when I actually got to chewing it, the flavor didn't last long. It was all WHAM! in the beginning, and then fell through on long-lasting flavor.

Later on I tried a piece of the chocolate gum. Now, I had my reservations. I have seen companies try to make chocolate-flavored various things, and they've all scared me. But this? This was good. (I can see all your shock and awe.) No really, it was good. The gum came relatively easily out of the wrapper, and when I put the gum in my mouth, it tasted of chocolated... not chocolated covered gum or gummy, waxy chocolate. It was tasty chocolate that I could chew... and blow bubbles with (although I must say THAT was weird seeing myself in the mirror blowing chocolate bubbles... go ahead - make your own jokes, kids.) What I was most impressed with was the flavor actually lasted a while. Not like the sour flavor, the chocolate lasted. It was awesome.

Would I try it again? Hm, the sour flavor is good for sucking on if you like sour candy. Just put a piece in your mouth, flatten it against the roof of your mouth with your tongue and savor the sourness. The flavor will last longer that way. I may buy a pack again down the line (once I'm eventually done with the one that I have) just to sate that sour/tart craving. As for the chocolate, yeah, I'd probably buy it again. I was impressed with the taste. It would be lovely if they made a sugarless version (since I love sugarless Bubble Yum best), but for now, the regular chocolate flavor will do.

http://www.hersheys.com/products/details/bubbleyum.asp

Eat Natural

The yummiest of my recent taste adventures takes the form of Eat Natural Bars. They are pretty much your traditional granola-type bars but are made of all natural ingredients and are good for you.

Not much can be said of these tasty treats. Due to money constraints and holding back on the impulse buying (translation: I didn't want to buy my initial desire to have one of each flavor)... so I bought the two that most appealed to me.

Fruit & Nut Bar and Almond & Apricot Bar (Yoghurt Coated).

The Fruit & Nut Bar was yummy. I had that as a snack a few days ago instead of eating chips or whatever else I could scrounge together in the house. It was exactly what the description said - fruit (apricots and peaches) and nuts (Brazil nuts, almonds, Sultanas, and hazelnuts). Of course there are other things like puffed rice, honey and glucose syrup... but that's it. Pretty yummy for me.

The Almond & Apricot Bar was just as yummy. What's in this one you may ask? Well, there's obviously almonds, apricots, and yogurt. There's also the puffed rice, honey and glucose syrup. There's also some coconut. All stuff I like.

Both bars were sweet, but not too sweet and just the right size/serving to healthily tide me over until official mealtime.

The other bars listed on the website that they make sounds just as yummy as the ones I've tried. They have seasonal recipes such as the blueberry, pistachio and yogurt bar. Now usually blueberries, in my opinion, have the tendency to dominate whatever they're in. I don't hate blueberries. I will eat them, but I feel you just can't put too many into what you're making unless you want the whole thing to taste like blueberries. I like pistachios (not the ice cream though). Yogurt - I love yogurt. There are other bits in it like peaches and honey and Brazil nuts, so I'm at least willing to try it.

Their other new seasonal recipe is Pear, Pecan, Ginger and Dark Chocolate. Hm, not a huge fan of ginger, but it's mixed altogether with everything else... and there are peanuts, cashews and coconut in it... so sounds good to me so far.

There also seems to be a breakfast mix... looks like a trail mix that comes in a small tub. That looks good, too.

Would I try it again? Most definitely. Now I just have to find the other stuff they offer since I don't think Safeway had everything that the list sited. I'll most likely get lucky at a Whole Foods or maybe a Trader Joe's.

http://www.eatnaturalstore.com/splash.jsp

Sweet Leaf Tea

Another drink I recently tried was a tea made by the "Sweet Leaf Tea" company. I again found it in one of my excursions to Safeway.

My flavor of choice for this experiment? Hibiscus Tea (a 16-ounce bottle).

Those that know me know that I love my tea sweetened, and I should have known better than to actually drink something that says "sugar free", but I've had experiences where just because it's sugar free doesn't mean that it's not sweet or good. So I tried it.

Um, no.

My mouth was not happy with what I was making it drink. Now, that's not to say that it wasn't good. It was... but oh good gravy was it bland. I mean, there was flavor in the mix, but it tasted dulled to me. Nothing popped out. Nothing stood out and made me take notice of the drink to say "Hey, I'm new and tasty... DRINK ME!"

I sipped it, nearly drank half of it, trying to force myself past my initial "no, I don't like it" phase. (You know when you initially try something at first, and you think it sucks but after a while it kind of grows on you... like a fungus?) Nope. Still not having it.

What I *might* be having some of, though, is the drink recipes that the website offered. They sound pretty good.

Would I try it again? Like with the Hi-Ball Energy Drink... I may perhaps, somewhere FAR in my future, give it a go again. For now, I'm quite content to try something else instead although the tea in some boozey-concoction form does appeal to my curiosity.

http://www.sweetleaftea.com/

Hi-Ball Energy Drink: Wild Berry

So one day while perusing the aisles of my local Safeway, I stopped by the 'healthy' section (which I've been known to visit during everytime I shop there), and I saw the new addition to the drink selection there... the Hi-Ball Energy drink. They didn't have very many flavors available at the time, and I was feeling adventurous, so I bought one. I chose the 'wild berry' flavor thinking it was the most promising and went about my shopping extravaganza.

The drink sat in my refrigerator for a couple days. It was an energy drink after all, and I wasn't in need of 'energy' at the time. Eventually during the weekend I thought I needed a late afternoon/early evening pick me up and thought I have that Hi-Ball in the fridge.

Now let me just state for the record that I have had MANY energy drinks in my day, and most of them have, after consumption, resulted in my face contorting in such a fashion... it would make those old "bitter beer face" commercials pale in comparison.

This drink tops the list in hideous face-making.

For the love of all things pucker-licious!!!

I'm not sure really what I was expecting. I mean, the bottle and packaging alone made me think of the good ol' days of Fifth Avenue and New York Seltzer drinks - small, clear and compact. AND it was supposed to be sugar free. To quote the product: No sugar. No carbs. Naturally flavored. No artificial colors. No artificial sweetners. Only 10 calories.

I like sour and tart things, but this almost made my face an innie. All energy drinks are to be consumed COLD (makes the nasty taste of most of them much better to tolerate.) Alas, this one cold was not good or even tolerable. It needed vodka or tequila or perhaps even a cheeseburger chaser to make my palate happy.

The first thing I noticed was the bubbles. Bubbles are good. I like bubbles.

THEN came the tart... and when I say tart, I mean my eyes sucked into their sockets, my eardrums imploded, and I think I heard Jesus Christ scream "Damn!"

The last thing I tasted was the flavor... you remember, the 'wild berry'? I tasted a faint hint of that mixed in with that caffine aftertaste which made my tastebuds scream bloody murder.

Would I try it again? Not likely. Perhaps I'll take a chance on a different flavor somewhere in my future, but for now, the experience didn't leave me with a very "second chance" feeling.

http://www.hiballer.com/

Lipton Brisk Green Tea - Green Apple

When I first started at my current temp-gig, I started eating lunch at a Togo's a few minutes away. Down the street from the Togo's is a gas station where I had planned on stopping by and getting some Gatorade or water, etc.

That's when I saw the Lipton Brisk bottle.

I like Nestea and Lipton sweetened raspberry iced tea so when I saw the new tea, I thought, "Yay!" Green tea? Even better. I liked a peach tea that I had a while back, so I thought I'd give it a shot.

It wasn't until I got it back to the office that I noticed it was Green Apple. Still, I like green apple so why not?

Needless to say, the taste was brisk. I like most (if not all) things green tea. They're tasty.

The green apple tea was a nice sweet, slightly bitter taste (more sweet though, which I liked). It was refreshing and cool for the summer heat. According to the site, they also have raspberry, but I haven't seen it yet. I've only seen in SoCal, and when I mentioned it to my brother who lives down there, he thought it was weird we didn't have it up here in the Bay Area.

They sell it in cans although I prefer it bottles. I've seen the fridge-friendly cases at Safeway... maybe I'll buy some next time we do a grocery run.

Would I try it again? Hell yeah! I like tea, and it's very rare that I find one that I REALLY like. Hopefully it'll be around for a while so I can fully appreciate all its yummy-ness before it eventually disappears (as are all cool things that I like/find are want to do) and makes me sad.

http://www.liptonbrisk.com/home/