February 8, 2010
Phoood Fight!: Pepsi vs. Pepsi Throwback
Pepsi Throwback is Pepsi cola sweetened with real sugar, the way it used to be before the switch to high fructose corn syrup (HFCS) was made. Most soft drink makers currently use HFCS and it is very controversial because of claimed health risks. Despite the possible health risks of HFCS, I wanted to know if Pepsi made with real sugar tasted any different than Pepsi made with HFCS (let’s call it “regular Pepsi”). So, I did a blind taste test of the two. Pepsi Throwback seemed to have slightly less carbonation than regular Pepsi. I don’t know if it really did or this was just an effect of the sweetener used, but I liked it. Because of the reduced carbonation, I thought that Pepsi Throwback was easier to drink and more of the cola flavor came through. The sweetness of Pepsi Throwback was smooth and tasted more natural. Regular Pepsi, on the other hand, seemed to have more carbonation and had a sweetness that was more pronounced than Pepsi Throwback. The differences between the two sodas were pretty subtle, much more so than I expected. So, which one did I prefer? Even though the taste of regular Pepsi was more familiar to me, I preferred Pepsi Throwback because of the slightly more pronounced cola flavor and a more pleasant sweetness. Pepsi Throwback is only supposed to be available for a limited time, so get one while you can.
Winner: Pepsi Throwback
September 4, 2008
Phoood Fight!: Jif vs. Skippy
One of the most hotly debated issues in America has been which peanut butter is better - Jif or Skippy. Families have been torn apart, friendships have been ended, and states have got to battle against other states. OK, I'm exaggerating just a bit. The debate hasn't been quite that intense. In a blind taste test of Jif Extra Crunch versus Skippy SuperChunk, I found that the two are extremely similar in most ways. Both have a great peanut flavor and lots of peanut pieces. Skippy has a creamier texture, and Jif has more and larger peanut pieces. Both of them would make a mighty tasty PB&J sandwich, but my preference of the two is Jif. Compared to Skippy, it has a more pronounced peanut flavor and a texture that I prefer. Interestingly, my grandmother recently told me that she raised her seven children on Jif peanut butter. That may be one of the reasons I prefer it - it's in my genes.
Winner: Jif Extra Crunch
May 3, 2008
Phoood Fight!: Gatorade vs. PowerAde (Lemon-Lime)
This is an epic battle between the original thirst-quenching sports drink, Gatorade, versus a relative newcomer, PowerAde. I chose to compare the lemon-lime variety, mostly because I consider it the “classic” sports drink flavor. In fact, I’m so old that I can remember when the only Gatorade flavor was lemon-lime. After doing some afternoon work in our front yard, I was sweaty and thirsty. Both the Gatorade and PowerAde were very refreshing and really hit the spot. Comparing them side-by-side, I was amazed as how similar they were in color. I was even more surprised at how similar they tasted. Their lemon-lime flavors were virtually identical, but there was a slightly odd aftertaste to the Gatorade. This is nothing new, Gatorade has always tasted this way to me. PowerAde, on the other hand, tasted better from start to finish, with no funky aftertaste at all. This was a very close match, but PowerAde comes out on top for its superior taste.
Winner: PowerAde Lemon-Lime