Ayala's Lavender Mint Lemongrass Thyme

Aroma: A deeply herbal scent consisting mainly of the lemongrass, lavender and thyme.

Taste: Firstly, (I've noticed this with all the flavors), the water itself tastes pure and has no trace of that bottled water or mineral water taste that I have come to despise. This flavor is deep and complex, with each of the four individual tastes playing its part. The thyme and lavender make for an especially interesting combination- kind of a sweet but down-to-earth flavor that holds my interest well. The herb taste is fresh but never overpowering or bitter, and it lingers in your mouth after the water is gone.

Price: $2.00/bottle when purchased in a case of 12 - available through their online store. At first I thought this a bit pricey, but then I realized it includes free shipping, which can be a bear when shipping heavy beverages.

Ingredients: purified water, extracts from lavender leaves, spearmint leaves, lemon grass, and thyme leaves

Other Comments: It's almost creepy how well these guys matched our drink submission requirements and our overall mission. They're a small independent company that hasn't yet been gobbled up by one of the big boys (as far as I can tell). They're locally distributed in New York City and Philadelphia markets, but they are available nationwide through their website. They have a hard-core distaste for high fructose corn syrup and anything artificial. They have a passion for healthy living. And they make some of the most interesting natural drink flavors that I've ever seen. (I'm a chef, so I got all giddy when I read about their different herb and spice-based flavors). The herb selections aren't all arbitrary, either. They have an outline of all the herbs on the label which tells you about their individual benefits.
Ayala is the name of the woman who created these drinks, and not surprisingly she is a cook and a doctor (a pediatrician, to be exact). Evidently she was looking for an alternative to sugar-laden and artificially flavored beverages. A clip from their site: "Americans are getting heavier—in fact, two-thirds of us are overweight or obese. We simply consume many more calories than we need, and a significant amount of those extra calories comes from sugar and high fructose corn syrup." Boom! Short and sweet.

Overall: Here again Ayala's has succeeded in making a tasty drink with no sweeteners, fillers, or artificial crap. This particular flavor was quite interesting to me. You could sip this drink while contemplating its intricacies on a Sunday afternoon, or you could slam it down after an intense workout session. Either way I think you'll find what you're looking for. I am quite impressed with the company's efforts to be green as well, which along with their focus on health earns them extra points. I don't hesitate to give this product a full five stars.

Rating: 5/5 stars.

-Danithius