Olipop Ginger Lemon Sparkling Tonic: A sparkling tonic designed to support digestive health, this ginger lemon soda has a solid ginger flavor that's pleasantly spiced and acidic. There aren't many other drinks I've had that taste quite like it. I wish it were a little fizzier, and it does have a alternative-sweetner aftertaste because it uses Stevia. Otherwise, I think it's a unique offering for those that are open to low-calorie, low-sugar options with a new spin. 3.5/5.0
recommended drinks pic olipop ginger lemonade sparkling tonic 3.5
Olipop Strawberry Vanilla Sparkling Tonic: This alternative beverage is not calorie (35) or sugar free (3g) but incorporates lots of unexpected alternative ingredients like kudzu root, elm bark, and Jerusalem artichoke, along with vanilla bean and strawberry essence. Their marketing describes this as beneficial "prebiotics, plant fiber, and botanicals" to support your digestive health. I didn't really care so much about the ingredients and was mostly drawn to the nicely designed packaging and flavor combinations I naturally gravita... (read more) 3.5/5.0
recommended pic drinks olipop strawberry vanila sparkling tonic 3.5
Trader Joe’s Spicy mango lemonade: I wasn’t quite expecting this spicy mango lemonade to be as spicy as it is, thinking it would be more fruity with a small chili-spiked aftertaste, but this is definitely not a drink to gulp down as you might normally with a thirst-quenching glass of lemonade. The heat is pretty upfront, stemming from a mix of jalapeño and cayenne, but if you like spicy drinks, I can see how this can be a refreshing take. You can definitely taste the mango too. Kudos to Trader Joe’s for not diluting the ta... (read more) 3.0/5.0
drinks traderjoes spicy mango lemonade 3.0
Mooala Strawberry Banana Milk: This brand of organic nut-free milk uses bananas, strawberries, and sunflower seeds to achieve a milky, thick consistency not unlike regular dairy milk. It doesn't taste anything like Nesquik strawberry milk syrup, but it felt like a product a health-conscious parent would buy their kid in place of Nesquik. I didn't find it overly sweet, and the strawberry banana flavor is pleasantly creamy, like a very light fruit smoothie. I'd try other products from this brand! Purchased at PCC. 3.5/5.0
recommended drinks PCC mooala strawberry banana milk 3.5
Trader Joe's Pumpkin Pie Spiced Ginger Brew: While a seasonal pumpkin pie TJ's item is understandably out of place in the middle of Spring, I was lucky to get to try this item many months after it was on the shelves because a friend saved it for when I returned to the states. Being outside of the US last fall meant I missed the hit-or-miss frenzy of pumpkin flavored things at Trader Joe's. This bottle of pumpkin-pie spiced ginger brew looks substantial but actually only contains two servings and contains no actual pumpkin; instead, i... (read more) 3.5/5.0
recommended drinks traderjoes pumpkin pie spiced ginger brew 3.5
Uchi Cafe Strawberry milk with tapioca and pulp: Japanese convenience stores had a wide variety of coffee beverages to chose from; one surprising offering is their packaged tea and milk drinks containing tapioca, often available in the same refrigerated section as the coffee. They come with an expandable bubble tea straw and contain boba-like spheres more akin to popping boba than chewy fresh boba. The snap of the popping boba, though, was more satisfying than I expected. Kind of like a cross between kefir, with a slightly tangy / sour ... (read more) 3.0/5.0
lawson drinks japanese uchicafe strawberry milk tapioca pulp 3.0