July 26, 2012
Purple Stuff Classic Grape
Energy drinks are all the rage nowadays, with everybody looking for different ways to keep themselves awake and alert. What many people don't know, however, is that there's a beverage out there that has the exact opposite effect of an energy drink. At first it was the name that caught my attention; but eventually I found out that Purple Stuff is supposed to reduce stress and anxiety. It contains ingredients such as rose hips and valerian root to put you in a happy and relaxed mood. While there are a few flavor variants, I decided to single out Classic Grape for this review. It has a pleasant grape flavor that goes down smooth while staying crisp and refreshing. There's a slight medicinal tinge to it, but it's nothing that detracts from the overall taste. And while I can't speak for everybody, I can say that I definitely felt a bit more sleepy after drinking this. If you ever feel the need to calm your nerves or loosen up, seek out this somewhat elusive beverage. Even if you're not necessarily wanting to chill out, I'd still recommend giving this great-tasting soda a try.
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Pepsi Next Paradise Mango
If you haven’t tried Pepsi Next yet, you really should. It tastes almost exactly like regular Pepsi and has only 60 calories per 12-ounce serving. You should also try Pepsi Next Paradise Mango. Before drinking it for the first time recently, I would never have guessed that I would like it. The combination of flavors – cola and mango – just doesn’t seem like it would work. But, the two flavors actually go very well together. The mango flavor is surprisingly pleasant (it doesn’t taste artificial or unnatural) and is a nice complement to the familiar Pepsi cola flavor. It’s a refreshing taste that is perfect for hot summer days. Alas, it appears that Pepsi Next Paradise Mango will only be available for a limited time. Get some while you can.
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July 15, 2012
Taco Bell Cantina Chicken Burrito
Many people (including myself) consider Taco Bell to be the go-to place when it comes to finding food that is both cheap and filling. With the introduction of the Cantina Bell menu, you can't help but feel like this is a radical change for the fast food company. Could it be possible to find more "gourmet" options coming from a place criticized for recycling the same 5 ingredients over and over again? I decided to find out by ordering the new Cantina Burrito, which is said to contain cilantro rice, black beans, roasted corn and pepper salsa, and much more. On the outside it was a bit unimpressive, as it looked like a standard Grilled Stuft Burrito. But everything changed once I took my first bite. Immediately I was introduced to the taste of plump and sweet corn kernels. Generous cuts of lettuce added a nice bit of crunch and freshened everything up. The guacamole was rich and seasoned well, and the rice was nice and fluffy- although the taste of cilantro was all but absent. I could go on continuing to describe each individual aspect of the burrito, but suffice it to say, I was quite shocked. I could've never imagined enjoying a burrito of this quality at a Taco Bell. Although this wasn't the best burrito I've ever had, I will definitely be trying it again. Congrats to Taco Bell for successfully breathing new life into an age-old formula.
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July 14, 2012
Starbucks Caramel Macchiato Ice Cream
I’m not a coffee drinker. I just never developed a taste for the stuff. But, I like the flavor of coffee in food (tiramisu and ice cream, for example). I wasn’t prepared, however, for the intense coffee flavor of Starbucks Caramel Macchiato ice cream. The first bite was a bit overpowering, to be honest. I honestly didn’t know if I was going to be able to eat it. However, I’m not one to give up easily so I kept eating. A couple more bites into it and I realized that not only was it a strong coffee flavor, but it was a very good coffee flavor (at least as far as this coffee novice could tell). I kept eating and enjoyed it more and more with each bite. The ice cream is actually a mix of coffee ice cream, vanilla ice cream, and ribbons of caramel. The flavor the vanilla ice cream was simply overwhelmed by the intense flavor of the coffee ice cream. There was a good amount of caramel, but the caramel flavor was mostly obscured by the coffee flavor. If you are a coffee drinker, you will probably enjoy this ice cream. And even if you aren’t a coffee drinker, you should give it a try. If you are looking for coffee ice cream that is well balanced and has a subtle coffee flavor, you'll want to look elsewhere.
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