Trader Joe’s Triple Espresso Mocha
Price: $1.29
Serving: 8 fl. oz. (236 mL)
Calories: 130 per serving
Fat: 4%, 2.5g
Cholesterol: 0%, 0mg
Sodium: 3%, 80mg
Protein: 2g
Carbohydrates: 8%, 24g
Fiber: 0%, 0g
Sugar: 19g
Trader Joe says: Three shots of espresso and cocoa
Abi says: Before I ever drank coffee, I drank bottle Starbucks Frappuccinos. Only in vanilla. Only in a bottle. Why? Because they were on the meal plan at school, a meal plan that carried only Pepsi products, and thus no Diet Coke. So, I drank one Vanilla Frappuccino every morning for approximately 2 weeks before my body began rejecting all milk-heavy forms of beverages.
Hello, self-diagnosed lactose intolerance.
When I saw these Trader Joe’s espresso drinks in my Silicon Valley store, my first thought was “What a rip-off of the Starbucks DoubleShot.” My second thought was “Oh, well that’s Trader Joe’s recipe for success: similar things for lower prices.” and my third and final thought before putting this item in my basket was “I hope this doesn’t make me sick.”
And it doesn’t. Make me sick, that is. Instead, it is a sweet and creamy blend of milk, cocoa, sugar, and espresso. It is a nice mid-afternoon substitute for a bowl of ice cream and a great way to treat myself for getting through beta-testing that should be done by a machine, not me.
Thanks Trader Joe’s, for making your own, slightly cheaper version of a Starbucks product that I can drink without feeling like I have morning sickness.
Filed Under Trader Joe's, Chocolate, United States, Milk, Coffee, High Fructose Corn Syrup Free, Coffee, Four Stars
Stonyfield Farm Organic Peach Smoothie
Price: $1.69
Serving: 10oz., 1 bottle
Servings Per Container: 1
Calories: 240 per serving
Fat: 5%, 3g
Cholesterol: 3%, 10mg
Sodium: 6%, 140mg
Protein: 20%, 10g
Carbohydrates: 14%, 42g
Fiber: 8%, 2g
Sugar: 40g
Phosphorus: 30%
Calcium: 40%
Weight Watchers Points: 5 points
Stonyfield Farm says: Every delicious sip of this incredibly smooth and refreshing drink delivers all of the natural benefits of our yogurts - calcium, protein, dietary fiber and six live active cultures. Now that’s a toast to your health. Cheers!
We say: Luscious summery peaches are the perfect complement to the creamy sweetness of yogurt. Not that yogurt needs a ‘complement’ per se, just that sometimes you need a little something to go along with the yogurt and really, who wants to glug down a bottle of vanilla anyways? Is it really that satisfying?
Stonyfield is still pleasantly pesticide and hormone free, making their yogurt with all organic ingredients. That’s why I’m still confused by the use of added (albeit natural) coloring in such terrific product. And that’s why I just sent them this letter:
Dear Stonyfield Folks,
We at Imbibable.com love your yogurt smoothies. They are quite fantastic. However, they are also colored with added, unnecessary ingredients. We know that the stuff isn’t bad for us, but we also know that peaches don’t make yogurt bright yellow/orange and raspberries don’t make yogurt a shocking pink. The smoothies come in opaque bottles, so it isn’t as though people are making purchase decisions based on the colors. Would you ever consider getting rid of the beet juice?
Sincerely,
Abi Jones
Editor, Imbibable.com
I hope they get back to me sooner rather than later because it really is quite frightening to look into a bottle of peach yogurt smoothie and see an otherwordly glow emanating from deep within. Orange coloring ≠ thinking highly of this line of smoothies.
Filed Under Probiotic Bacteria, Stonyfield Farms, Peach, United States, Smoothies, High Fructose Corn Syrup Free, All Natural, Organic, Three Stars
Port City Java Lemonade
Price: $3.50
Serving: 16oz.
Calories: 140 per serving
Fat: 0%, 0.3g
Cholesterol: 0%, 0mg
Sodium: 0%, 7mg
Protein: 0.3g
Carbohydrates: 11%, 33.9g
Fiber: 2%, 0.4g
Weight Watchers Points: 3 points
Port City Java says: You won’t believe how this one is made. Apples and lemons, all-natural.
Abi says: For the last couple of weeks, Washington, DC has experienced some of the most glorious autumn weather imaginable. While I loved such a delightful send-off, wearing shorts in October felt a bit amiss. And avoiding coffee in the morning because, hello - freaking hot - also meant that I arrived at work sans-caffeine buzz. It was great to go for evening walks in little more than a sun dress, but during the day it was evident that warm days ≠ gorgeous fall foliage.
All of this insane weather has me craving summery foods and beverages. I’m not ready for root vegetables and pumpkins! Give me sno cones, hot dogs, lemonade, and cold beer! Basically, I want to live in a baseball game. And that baseball-game inhabiting self just about drooled when I saw approximately 18 people drinking tall, icy glasses of lemonade outside of the Eastern Market Port City Java.
“Ah!” I thought with glee “That’s just what I need! Lemonade!” Yes, my mind is that exclamatory.
While my friend Lisa checked out one of the myriad clothing sellers, I braved the line in anticipation of a tartly sugarrific expression of the last days of summer. And then waited some more for them to make my lemonade. And after about 5 minutes I started thinking “Where the hell is my lemonade already?”
“One lemonade on the bar!” called the person who could only be described as ‘The Juicer.’ I took one look at the bar and thought “That cannot possibly be my lemonade.” Scroll back up the page and take a look at it: opaquely cloudy, decidedly non-yellow, and definitely not containing a lemon wedge.
“Is this the lemonade?” I asked the barrista, who assured that yes, it was indeed the lemonade. I took an exploratory sip, worrying that I was about to experience a horrific meeting of dairy and unknown orangey fruits, when the taste of fantastically tart lemon zipped across my tongue. This was lemonade. Real lemonade. Really good lemonade.
I have a feeling that this drink consists solely of apple cider and lemons. From that sentence you might think that I didn’t like the drink. But then you would be wrong. It is everything you’d expect from that fresh-squeezed stuff you pay big bucks for at a ballgame, but instead of using sugar, or (God forbid!) high fructose corn syrup, Port City Java uses apples and lemons.
I don’t know exactly how they do it, but this drink it magical.
Filed Under Vegan, United States, Port City Java, Lemonade, Five Stars, All Natural, Juice, Fat Free, High Fructose Corn Syrup Free
Royal Ginger Root Pineapple Ginger Natural Beverage Drink
Price: $1.69
Serving: 13.69oz., 1 bottle
Servings Per Container: 1
Calories: 210
Fat: 1%, 0.5g
Cholesterol: 0%, 0mg
Sodium: 0%, 10mg
Protein: 2g
Carbohydrates: 17%, 50g
Fiber: 4%, 1g
Sugar: 38g
Vitamin C: 280%
Weight Watchers Points: 4 points
Judean Drinks says: Ginger Root is a pure ginger drink that contains only the freshest, most natural ingredients. A refreshing and versatile beverage that can soothe scorching hot temperatures or cold wintry days.
Kate says: 100% Natural Royal Ginger Root Natural Beverage Drink Pineapple Ginger is a bit redundant. Couldn’t JudeanDrinks call it 100% Natural Royal Ginger Root and Pineapple Drink? I recommend cutting out one of the naturals and one of the gingers. I also would like someone to explain to me the difference between a beverage and a drink. I use these words interchangeably.
Name issues aside, this is an intense drink. I believe the blurb on the bottle saying that it “can soothe scorching hot temperatures or cold wintry days.” It is a cool and refreshing, but the ginger is so strong that I experienced a burning sensation. The ginger overpowers the pineapple, but there is still a slight pineapple flavor. I don’t think this drink is for everyone, but I like it. I drank the single serving 388g bottle over three days because it is so intense, but a 4 ounces a day of Pineapple Ginger made me feel healthy and energized.
Filed Under United States, Pineapple, Ginger, Vegan, Fat Free, High Fructose Corn Syrup Free, All Natural, Juice, Three Stars
Odwalla B Berrier Juice Drink
Price: $2.50 (on sale)
Serving: 8oz., 1/2 bottle
Servings Per Container: 2
Calories: 120 per serving
Fat: 0%, 0g
Cholesterol: 0%, 0mg
Sodium: 1%, 15mg
Protein: 0g
Carbohydrates: 30%, 10g
Fiber: 0%, 0g
Sugar: 27g
Vitamin B: 25%
Weight Watchers Points: 4 points per bottle
Odwalla says: We’ve splashed a dazzling fountain of fruits and B vitamins into this cool, thirst-busting concoction. Cranberries, limes and raspberries make a quenching cascade of tart sweetness, while hard-working vitamins B6 and B12 do the heavy lifting. These B vitamins are essential partners in the conversion of carbohydrates and amino acids into glucose, which supplies energy for your fabulous day.
We say: The full name of this product is “B Berrier® • Cranberry-Lime-Raspberry Fruit Juice Drink Blend” Yeah, with the registered trademark deal and all. Because you have to watch out for people that will steal lame drink names.
I picked up this Odwalla gem at my local bakery. It was 90 degrees outside and I was going to have a doughnut if it killed me. However, I would abstain from coffee and needed a suitable substitute, one able to withstand the rigors of a humid DC morning. Have I mentioned that it was hot enough to cause grievous injury (or even death) to any living being trapped within a non-airconditioned environment? Well, it was.
The Odwalla B Berrier Cranberry-Lime-Raspberry drink performed admirably. It is a cranberry cocktail on steroids, pumping itself up with the sweetness of raspberry and the tang of lime. After one swig I thought “Dang, I wish this didn’t cost $4.00 per bottle. Otherwise I’d drink it every day.” And then after the second swig I turned to the ingredients label and realized that this drink comes with a lethal amount of sugar. Sure, it seems safe at just 27 grams for some fruit juice cocktail. Until you realize that’s for just half the bottle. That’s right, this little 24% juice drink contains 54 grams of sugar.
Yikes.
I’ll keep this beverage in mind for the occasional treat, perhaps using it to make some utterly delightful cocktails.
Filed Under United States, Lime, Raspberry, Odwalla, Vegan, Cranberry, High Fructose Corn Syrup Free, Fat Free, Juice Cocktails, Four Stars
-
-
About
Imbibable.com is the world's most comprehensive source of beverage reviews. We hope that the above sentence will be true by early 2009.
-
Beverage Types
-
Beverage Flavors
-
Other Review Blogs
Imbibable Recycles
