Crystal Geyser Cranberry Black Cherry

Aroma: The first scent to jump out and greet you is the grape juice, followed by hints of black cherry, and maybe some cranberry. It has a bit of a sour lemony twinge to it. A very deep scent.

Taste: Sweet and fruity with a lightly tart finish. I expected the cranberry, black cherry, and lemon to have a little more bite, but I found that it had been defanged more than I'd like. It is an upstanding flavor, just not what I'd expect from a drink that has cranberry as the first word of its title.

Price: $0.69 at local health food store, nationally distributed.

Ingredients: pure juice from grape, cranberry, black cherry and lemon juice concentrates, sparkling water, natural flavors, citric acid, and the following B-complex vitamins: niacinamide and vitamin B12.

Other Comments: This drink is sweetened only with fruit juice, and can be a great alternative to soda. It does have a good amount of sugar, with this particular flavor clocking in at about 33 g for one 12 oz bottle. Still, one that's about 6 g less than your average can of Coke. As far as I can see, the company is still independent.

Overall: The price is right, the taste is good, and they use real juice. It is carbonated and you do have to watch the sugar, but overall I am pleased with this drink. This is superior to regular soda in all the ways that count, and you'll be much better off turning to a beverage like this when you want a sweet treat. It can also be used to wean HFCS-hungry kids off of the Coke-bottle.

Rating: 4.0/5 stars.

-Danithius

Metromint: Chocolatemint Water

Aroma: This has a nice minty scent that is backed a solid chocolate overtone.

Taste: The cocoa essence in this drink is awesome. My hat is off to them; they really nailed the chocolate flavor without adding any sweeteners whatsoever. The smooth chocolate balances well with the mint flavor to give you a stellar beverage - it's very refreshing, and could possibly even satisfy a sweet tooth.

Price: $1.29 at a local health food store. Available at stores nationwide and online.

Ingredients: Purified water, mint, cocoa essence.

Other Comments: Metromint has a site that matches its products' crisp, hip image quite well. Not surprisingly, one of the founders has a background in fashion and design. (The bottle just screams "Fashionable!", which also leaves this product's users wide open to gags about being 'metro'- sexual. Hey, I'm comfortable with my beverage preferences.) Metromint is keen on going green.

Overall: I had to grit my teeth on the other Metromint reviews because of the prideful chef side of me - it's hard for me to give a high rating to something that I feel could be whipped up in my own kitchen for 1/12th of the price. Well, they have taken the necessary next step to impress the pants off of me. The chocolate flavor really adds a new level to their brand. The other flavors are refreshing, but I can really see the Chocolatemint being used as a tasty alternative to soda by people in the 'real world'.

Rating: 5/5 stars.

-Danithius