Metromint: Orange Mint

Aroma: The scent of orange essence practically leaps out of the bottle, followed right behind by minty overtones.

Taste: Now it's the mint's turn to shine. As soon it enters your mouth, your tongue is bathed in cool minty goodness. Upon swallowing, the twinge of orange flavor graces the back of your tongue and leaves a pleasant aftertaste. The water itself tastes pure and is unobtrusive, unlike some other bottled waters. There are no sweeteners whatsoever, so this is a very crisp, simple taste.

Price: $.99 (on sale) at a local grocer. Usually priced at over $1.50. Available at stores nationwide and online.

Ingredients: Purified water, mint, orange 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 also keen on going green.

Overall: Having such a simple product (no sweeteners, only three ingredients) can be a double-edged sword. Health-wise, it's great. The taste is just fine. But it also makes me hesitate to buy it, because I have a feeling that I could make this at home with some mint and orange essences for about ten cents per bottle. Frankly, I think that with the product's premium pricing you're paying for a big slice of image. I picture this drink as something you would take to a board meeting in a Manhattan highrise or perhaps pass out to your rich clients while you discuss their investment options. Still, the price is by no means prohibitive; it's quite competitive with other soft drinks. As such, I do buy it occasionally, and I must say it really hits the spot after an intense workout or just on a hot day. I rated it for what it is: Minty flavored water. (That will make you look cool).

Rating: 4/5 stars.

-Danithius

Guayakí Yerba Mate: Pure Endurance Citrus Stamina Blend

Aroma : The olfactory clout of the Yerba Mate strikes you upon cracking the seal, a distinct, herby bouquet with a hint of ginseng, mixed with an orangey citrus that wants to make a home in your nasal cavity.

Taste : The initial taste is a mildy sweet, tangy citrus flavor (that would be the tangerine, orange and acerola), followed by the wild flavor of Yerba Mate. For the uninitiated, this comes as a surprise. It is an audacious, herbal, tea-like, and almost bitter taste, sweeping away the sweetness of the cane sugar and leaving your tongue cottony after swallowing. It is quite the experience.

Price : $2.09 at Good Earth, also available at many health-food stores nationwide, or order online.

Ingredients : An Infusion of: (Purified Water, *Guayakí Yerba Mate, *Siberian Ginseng Root), *Evaporated Cane Juice, *Tangerine Fruit Juice Concentrate, *Acerola puree, *Yerba Mate Extract, *Manioc Root Starch, *Orange Natural Flavor, Original Himalayan Crystal Salt, Citric Acid (* Indicates a Certified Organic Ingredient).

Other Comments : It is quite refreshing to see a company so committed to the environment; Guayakí’s well-designed website makes note of their efforts which include using solar energy, bio-fueled vehicles, and renewable organic ingredients.

Overall : This is an antioxidant- and energy-rich drink that is a welcome alternative to the Energy Drink craze, most of which are filled with HFCS, carbonation, and unhealthy levels of unnaturally derived supplements. That being said, a beverage that surprises you each time you sip it and leaves your mouth feeling dry may not be for everyone, despite its benefits.

Rating : 3.5/5 stars.

-WiseGuise

Tazo Brambleberry

Aroma: This "herbal infusion" has a strong scent of honey. Oddly enough, there isn't any in it. Behind that aroma (probably coming from the apple and blackberry juices) is the faintest hint of the herbal blend, most notably cinnamon and peppermint.

Taste: This is an interesting combination of juice and herbal flavor, but the intricate accents of the herbs are largely lost in the potency of the marion (black) berry juice. The cinnamon and peppermint flavors do manage to rise up and get your attention every once and a while, but the juice is definitely the power-hitter in this one. And it looks like that's what it was made to be - it says on the label it's a "lively, full-bodied mouthful of sweet (juices)". I didn't read that part before tasting, so I was just expecting a lighter, more herb-centric flavor. The juice itself is quite tasty, and it lingers at the back of your throat for a good while to make sure you're doing OK. Now that's service.

Price: $1.45 at a local grocer. Available at stores nationwide.

Ingredients: An infusion of (water, hibiscus, cinnamon, peppermint, lemongrass, rosehips, orange peel, and natural lemon essence), cane sugar, concentrated apple and marion blackberry juices, natural flavors, and citric acid.

Other Comments: Wow, Tazo seems to be a little... how would you say it...full of themselves? There are TAZO-isms littered all over the label in every available place. I couldn't get halfway around the bottle without rolling my eyes at least twice. A sampling:

"Shake this bottle before opening to mix the real herbal tea inside in a swirling, joyous dance."

OK, I'm all for creative liberties in label making, but then look at this:

"TAZO BRAMBLEBERRY is (description of juices)... infused with hibiscus, cinnamon, and a pinch of amusement at the endless wonders in life".

Okaaaaay...
And another:

"Tazo is an enticing source of wonder, inspiration & antioxidants."

Come on, I know drink companies have to create a brand image for themselves, but this is getting a little crazy, don't you think? This is to the point of asking me to build a shrine to TAZO in my house. That better be some damn good tea.

Overall: If you drink it as a juice (which is how I rated it below), you'll probably be happy with it. If you drink it as a tea, you'll be a little disappointed. And if you're looking for a soft drink that guide you in the way of the Tao, evidently this is the one.

Rating: 3.5/5 stars.

-Danithius

***Review Rebuttal!***
The first scent I recognized was cinnamon, then the lemongrass and berry essences, but only got a faint hint of a honey smell.
This fantastic blend of apple, blackberry, and cinnamon conquered my taste buds in one fell swoop, leaving only a faint sour-berry taste that was not at all unpleasant.
Cinnamon can easily overwhelm the flavor of any beverage it is ‘infused’ with, but this one plays very nicely with its fellow ingredients, compliments rather than overtaking the flavors.
Overall, this is one of the best blended berry juices I have drank in a long time, and I believe I will be savoring this beverage again in the very near future.

Rating : 4/5 stars.

-WiseGuise