Guaraná Antarctica

Aroma : The drink has a sweet, almost fermented scent, like a can of mild, fruity beer. This is the work of the guaraná berry, and prodigious amount of sugar (39 grams a can, dang).

Taste : The flavor of guaraná is mild, pleasantly sweet and almost apple-like, stirring memories of more notable apple flavored sodas (Apple Beer, Sidral Mundet), but has a different, berry-like finish. It is quite original and very palate pleasing.

Price : Varies, available in various sizes at various places, particularly at WalMart and prolifically at Mexican/South American restaurants.

Ingredients : Carbonated water, sugar, (E150d ) caramel (color), citric acid, (E211) sodium benzoate (preservative) and (E202) potassium sorbate (preservative), ascorbic acid (antioxidant), guarana extract and natural flavors.

Other Comments : Guaraná Antarctica is owned, oddly enough, by AmBev, a South American beer company, and can be hard to find in the US. In 1999, PepsiCo agreed to begin distribution of said beverage, with the aim to make it a top 10 selling beverage within 5 years. Not sure if that ever happened, but it matters not. Guaraná is noted for having several benefits, aside from its high caffeine content, and is rumored to have aphrodisiacal qualities.

Overall : This is possibly one of the best tasting sodas I have ever put to my lips, quite a welcome change from the cola and citrus sodas dominating the market, and using regular sugar instead of the notorious HFCS earns extra points. I only hesitate to give this a 5 due to the fact it is a carbonated, sugary beverage produced by a large corporation and distributed by another.

Rating : 4.5/5 stars.

-WiseGuise

Metromint: Peppermint

Aroma: The deep, cool scent of peppermint is evident as soon as you open the bottle. Take a big whiff.

Taste: Yep, that's some minty water all right. There are no sweeteners whatsoever, and the water itself tastes pure and is unobtrusive, so there is nothing to get in the way of the minty goodness. The cool flavor lingers on your tongue for a good while.

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

Ingredients: Purified water, mint

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: As I said with the lemon and orange-infused versions, I have a bit of a issue with buying mint water that I could probably make at home for about a dime a bottle. Maybe it's just the prideful chef side of me. But I'm doing my best to suppress that and rate this drink purely on it's merit as a flavored bottled water product, which I must say is quite tasty.

Rating: 4/5 stars.

-Danithius

Metromint: Spearmint

Aroma: The sharp, cool scent of spearmint is evident as soon as you open the bottle.

Taste: Yep, that's minty water all right. There are no sweeteners whatsoever, and the water itself tastes pure and is unobtrusive, so there is nothing to get in the way of the crisp spearmint flavor. The coolness of the mint lingers on your tongue for a good while.

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

Ingredients: Purified water, mint

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: As I said with the lemon and orange infused versions, I have a bit of a issue with buying mint water that I could probably make at home for about a dime a bottle. Maybe it's just the prideful chef side of me. I know, companies have marketing costs, and it takes cash to keep the factory "green", and they have children to feed, blah blah blah. If I am missing some big factor that contributes to the pricing, Metromint, feel free to email me and let me know. (danithius@hotmail.com) It's good for what it is, but I do prefer the more complex flavor of the lemon and orange-mint versions.

Rating: 3.5/5 stars.

-Danithius