Water (207 reviews)
Pitaya + Coconut Water
Before I even opened this drink the packaging made me fall in love with it. It's so bright and vibrant in a very classy way. The shape of the bottle is also pretty great. I obviously would have preferred a glass bottle, but at least they had the decency to use recycled plastic.
For starters, Pitaya is another name for Dragon Fruit. I learned from the label that the flower of the Dragon Fruit only blooms at night. That's a pretty sweet little nugget of knowledge. I will admit that I was a bit skeptical of this drink because I'm not a fan of coconut water. Every other flavored coconut water I've had tasted like the flavoring fruit had curdled the coconut milk. Pitaya + does not taste like that at all. It reminds me of a juice box I used to drink when I was a kid. Which is strange because those "juice" boxes were filled with so much artificial junk that they were labeled "juice drink." This on the other hand is the picture of healthiness. It's made to keep your digestive system healthy and to cleanse your body of toxins. I strongly believe that they should manufacture these in juice box form for parents to buy their children. I bet the kids would never know the difference, and you would have to keep them away from those school lunches. No matter how delicious those mounds of mashed potatoes and turkey smothered in gravy are, there is no way they are ever remotely healthy for you.
On top of producing a very healthy drink that is also very tasty, Pitaya is also a socially conscious company. The fruit is harvested from farms in Central America where they only hire single mothers from the community (Who they pay well, I might add) to help them care for their families. They are committed to sustainable farming and run one of the only solar powered facilities in Central America. For these things you get two thumbs up from Thirsty Dudes.
- Website
- http://pitayaplus.com/
- Country
- United States
- Sweetener
- Organic Evaporated Sugar Cane Juice
- Rating
- Reviewed By
- Jason Draper on 3/14/2011
- Comments
- View and Leave A Comment
MiO Liquid Water Enhancer Berry Pomegranate
One Christmas, my Mom bought me a case of Kool-Aid. I'm talking recently, like within the last 3 years recently. It had grape, cherry, and fruit punch. They're all great. Who didn't drink it growing up? It's a staple as a kid. Like those Hug barrels that are now like drinking poison. Honestly, if you still drink those, you might have the worst taste in drinks of all time. If someone is having a get together and you drink one for classic times, awesome. Way to have a good time. If you fetch them out and drink one on a Tuesday night because you've had a long day and you don't have kids, you're a dork and need to seriously treat yourself to something better.
I don't know why my Mom got me this stuff. It's in a cabinet at work. There were like 40 powder packets in there and it's taking me an awful long time to finish it. I don't drink one every day and since I've been doing Thirsty Dudes, I haven't had the time. I think it's ever since my mom found this dude called Anthony who sells old dry goods at a fraction of the price. My mom found this dude in some parking lot by my grandma's house and swears by him. I think between April and August, she only buys things like cereal, fruit snacks, granola bars, and all those types of things from him. "Oh, I got it from Anthony!" she exclaims more times than you can imagine. Dude's cheap and she's a lunch lady. It makes perfect sense to me.
So this drink doesn't give me a lot of pomegranate, but it does give me a nice, under-flavored grape Kool-Aid flavor and that I can get behind. I don't need the sugar. Sure, it makes the real thing taste like magic as it makes its way down your gullet, but I'm smart enough to know that drinking Kool-Aid can easily be supplemented with something else. This is a good "something else."
- Website
- http://www.facebook.com/MiO
- Country
- United States
- Sweetener
- Sucralose
- Categories
- Water
- Rating
- Reviewed By
- Mike Literman on 3/24/2011
- Comments
- View and Leave A Comment
San Pellegrino Sparkling Fruit Drink Limonata
I didn't know, but did you know that in Europe, their lemonade is carbonated? Here is the good ol' U.S. of A, we don't carbonate it, nor do we offer the ability to get it. Here, we have it on lockdown. No bubbles or sparkles. Restrictive? I don't know. I think a little variation might be good. For this variation, I need to look no further. This San P is wonderful. I don't like the "original" flavor of San P. It's bitter. This is a little bitter, but a natural fruit bitter, not seltzer water bitter. My mom used to drink that stuff and it used to be gross. This, I feel like I could drink all of the day. It's a great lemon taste with just enough sugar that you don't feel guilty for slaying the whole can, but why should you? You're your own person and you dictate your life and if you want to drink a "whole can" of this in one sitting, hey, that's your nightmare, Jack.
I can't pick a favorite between this and the Aranciata. I do like them both better than the Chinotto, though.
- Website
- http://www.sanpellegrino.com
- Country
- Italy
- Sweetener
- Sugar
- Rating
- Reviewed By
- Mike Literman on 4/7/2011
- Comments
- View and Leave A Comment
MiO Liquid Water Enhancer Fruit Punch
I think that if Jesus was straight edge, he might make fruit punch. Think about it. It's either that or grape juice. Grape juice may be the better choice since "grapes is grapes" but let's play along.
It's hot. It's the desert so you really should have brought more water with you. The poorly designed, worse photocopied brochure you had clearly stated that you should have brought more water. Well now you're in for it. When you think all is lost, you come across a stream. Clean, pure drinking water... is boring after thirteen days and nights. You need something else. You ask around and the only person who can save you is Jesus, the dude two tents over. He said he could turn water to low calorie fruit punch. You kind of cringe as you are not currently on a diet although all the mutton you've been eating has been going straight to your hips and inner thigh area.
"Fine, dude", you say to Jesus, "We'll try your fruit punch. " And with one turnaround from Jesus, some strange squeezing sounds coming from inside his technicolor and Hypercolor dreamcoat which he has borrowed from his college roommate Joey, he presents you with a bowl of fruit punch.
You quickly drink every last drop and you are surprised that it doesn't taste more like diet. You thank Jesus for a change of pace to which he responds, "namasde" and starts making strange squeaking noises under his coat elsewhere.
- Website
- http://www.facebook.com/MiO
- Country
- United States
- Sweetener
- Sucralose
- Categories
- Water
- Rating
- Reviewed By
- Mike Literman on 5/12/2011
- Comments
- View and Leave A Comment
Metromint Good Berry Mint
Mondays I am home. I work for 15 minutes at a time while either feeding or changing or consoling Max. He rules, don't get me wrong, but he is tiring. I always eat quickly. I'm like a cop. Why do cops eat donuts? No, not because it's cliché, but because they need to. How long does it take to make a turkey dinner? Longer than it takes to get a donut and go solve crimes. Pop in, pop out. They have all the assortment in the world. Crueler, bear claw, angel cream and it's lesser, associate brother, Boston cream...the list goes on.
I wish I had a donut. I had to make microwave burritos. A little bit about these burritos; they aren't as old as they taste. They left a strange film on the roof of my mouth, much like Captain Crunch does. I've gotten over the "Oh, Captain Crunch tears the roof of your mouth to shreds." That's old news. Did I get sidetracked? You know that's right.
So I'm eating these burritos and...they...suck. I put a lot of pico de gallo on there, too. I needed to solve this pickle with something. In my fridge, keeping cool, was this Metromint Good Berry Mint. I was excited to see a new flavor and, because of that, I bought it. Isn't that how it works? I seem to think so.
So here I am, trying to disguise the foul grossness of these microwave burritos and anxiously awaiting the new flavors of whatever the heck Good Berry Mint is. First sip...mint. Second sip...mint. Third sip...mint. Excuse me...hello? Fourth sip...mint. Let's read the side of the bottle: raspberry, blueberry, pomegranate, acai, and blackberry. I don't taste any of the berry friends in here. Fifth sip...mint. Is it overpowering? Possibly, but I don't really get any fruit. If I was drinking this next to a Metromint Peppermint, I might be able to taste the difference, but by itself, plain mint.
It's hard to rate something that doesn't taste like what it's supposed to taste like. It's not bad, it's just mint-flavored water, but I don't get what they are trying to sell me.
Wishin' I just bought another Chocolate Mint. That's all I'm saying. No regrets, just wishin'.
EDIT!
So, after the encouragement by MetroMint themselves, I gave it another whirl. They thought that what I had may have been a bad batch or the fact that I drank it when it was cold, combined with the mint, may have hidden the berry. So I got another one, drank it right then and there, and, don't'cha'know, there was that berry critter. It was good. So, word to the wise, if you're going to drink the Good Berry Mint flavor maybe pour it in a glass with some ice or drink it at room temperature because once you get it the way that it's supposed to be got, it's really good.
- Website
- http://www.metromint.com/
- Country
- United States
- Sweetener
- No Sugar Added
- Categories
- Water
- Rating
- Reviewed By
- Mike Literman on 5/16/2011
- Comments
- View and Leave A Comment
Ex Aqua Vitamins Peach Mango
It's become way popular these days for companies to make beverages that are basically a healthier version of Gatorade. The first I knew to do it was Vitamin Water, and I thought they did a great job. That is until I tried the Ex product line. It blows vitamin water out of the....well....water. I don't know if it's just because it's clear, but it feels more like water to me. A nicely sweetened flavored water. It's like someone watered down peach and mango juice and somehow made it so that it doesn't taste watered down. That is a feat in itself. The vitamins in it are just an added bonus. I hope to see these popping up in gas stations around the country.
- Website
- http://www.exdrinks.com
- Country
- United States
- Sweetener
- Fructose, Glucose, Sucrose
- Categories
- Water
- Rating
- Reviewed By
- Jason Draper on 5/23/2011
- Comments
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Coco Water All Natural Pure Coconut Water
In recent times I was strolling down the beach and I saw a coconut fall from a tree. I ran over and snatched that little guys up. I am not a fan of coconut by any means, but when you see something like that fall from a tree how can you pass it up. So there I am carrying this coconut around and a new problem arose. How the hell do you open a coconut to get the juice/water out? I could have tried to smash it on the road, but then all the precious juice would be lost. I didn't have any tools on me to aid in my venture. The solution I came up with was to repeatedly bash it on the corner of a picnic table until it cracked a little and I could pry it apart with my fingers. After about 20 minutes of hitting it against the table I was finally able to get it open. I sent all that time and effort and not counting what spilled I got two small mouthfuls of coconut water. I actually enjoyed it a little. It didn't taste anything like dried coconut, which I believe to be a devil fruit. So there I am with a smashed coconut, juice all over my hands and face with a still mostly empty stomach. I was satisfied. I didn't need a lot. I just wanted a taste and I had a fun time doing it.
This tastes pretty much exactly like the water that I got out of that coconut. The only ingredients in it are coconut water and ascorbic acid. I'm still not a huge fan of coconut, but since I have experience with getting the water right from the source and this tasted exactly the same I felt the need to get it a four. I may not have enjoyed it as much as other beverages, but it is exactly what it claims to be and if someone likes coconut, they are going to love this.
- Website
- http://www.naturalcocowater.com/
- Country
- Thailand
- Sweetener
- No Sugar Added
- Rating
- Reviewed By
- Jason Draper on 5/26/2011
- Comments
- View and Leave A Comment
Hint Unsweetened Essence Water Blackberry
FACT!
Every time Jay, Editor Dan, and myself go to Chili's our number one (numero uno) priority is to get the blackberry tea. It probably trumps the importance of the meal. Now although we don't frequent Chili's as much as we used to, and I don't know why because it's pretty consistently delicious, we still have cravings for that sweet, wonderful blackberry. We haven't done many blackberry related drinks and I don't know why. I feel like if I went into any anonymous forest, the bushes would be laden with that little black dude. That sounds racist. It isn't.
I was pleased to see that Hint released a blackberry. I don't know when. Perhaps I've just overlooked it thinking I had reviewed it before, but I didn't until today. I bought my official "Thirsty Tuesday Taco", my blackberry Hint, and headed outside to have dinner.
As per usual, it was good. It was light, as expected, but every time I have Hint water, I'm surprised at how well they pull it off. It's like they previously used the bottles for a blackberry drink, did a garbage job of cleaning it, and then filled it with water, but it's acceptable. It's so light that I could see people getting mad if they didn't know what to expect. "I thought this was a clear juice. What a bummer." they would exclaim while people who knew what time it was were getting refreshed just two tables over thinking to themselves, "Who's that jerk and what's he complaining about? This stuff is great."
Think of it this way. There is no better drink for you than water. I'll say it. I've drunk hundreds of different drinks in the last year and it's true. This is just water with a tiny bit of blackberry flavoring. It's enhanced water. No one can tell you that water is better than this.
- Website
- http://www.drinkhint.com
- Country
- United States
- Sweetener
- No Sugar Added
- Categories
- Water
- Rating
- Reviewed By
- Mike Literman on 5/31/2011
- Comments
- View and Leave A Comment
Activate Workout Lime
All week I've been gardening. I filled two giant city garbage totes with scraps of ugly rose bush shrapnel, weeds, old perennials that never really came to fruition, and rocks that someone who lived in my house before me thought was a compliment and not just annoying. Have you ever tried to take one thousand small rocks out of dirt? It blows. Today I finished weeding my whole backyard; weed treated and then laid down a layer of weed blocker. My soil is shot and it needed to be tilled like you wouldn't believe. Not to mention that it hasn't rained in a week, which I'm not complaining because I'm living the wettest summer that this city has ever seen. I don't mean that dramatically, I mean that almanatically. I planted peppers, strawberries, brussel sprouts, and as you can see in the picture, a little jelly bean plant. I saw this guy and had to buy it. I don't have the greenest thumb, but with a succulent, you have a bit of give.
So with all of this going on, and me not having a servant that would bring me a cool glass of water, I decided to go through my stock and grab something that would be both quenching and have a purpose. I picked this Activate drink up not too long ago and it was the perfect drink for the day.
Yes, its intended purpose is for workout, but seriously go to a Curves and look around. Would you say that me hand tilling, digging, planting, lifting buckets of dirt, and just general yard work is more or less than putting the treadmill on "turtle" and watching "The View"? More, right? So I don't need to necessarily "workout" to drink this now, do it?
I liked it a lot. It was a good, genuine lime flavor. The Stevia did a great job of letting that shine through. It really was nothing more than a sweetened lime flavored water. It was a bit "from powder" or "from concentrate" but I'm not holding that against them because it was. I saw it. I made it. I liked it.
- Website
- http://www.activatedrinks.com/
- Country
- United States
- Sweetener
- Stevia
- Categories
- Sports/Dietary Supplement, Water
- Rating
- Reviewed By
- Mike Literman on 6/12/2011
- Comments
- View and Leave A Comment
blk. Black Water
Mouth: "Is this supposed to be water?"
Mama Fratelli: "It's wet, ain't it? Drink it!"
These thoughts were the first that came to mind as I saw this bottle in Wegmans today. The bottle of this isn't black, it's clear. The water itself is black. To quote blk.'s website:
"Our proprietary blend of Fulvic Acid (a derivative of plant matter) is mined from an 80 million year old source deep within the earth. Naturally black in color, the formula binds to the molecules of our pure Canadian Spring Water turning it naturally black, with no artificial dyes, coloring, or additives. Fulvic Acid is critical in growth of plant life, helping the transportation and absorption of nutrients. Fulvic Acid's small molecular structure allows for the fast absorption of over 77 different trace minerals and elements, powerful electrolytes, antioxidants, and free radical scavengers."
So yeah, this is black water. Pretty weird huh? I was expecting a sulfur smell upon opening the bottle, but it was just as odorless as normal water. As for taste, I was hoping for a charcoal aftertaste. Was there any? Nope. It sadly tastes just like any other water. It's pretty refreshing, and is good spring water. Unfortunately I don't have the palate to know the difference in different brands of spring water. The one thing that's interesting is that it has 30mg of sodium in the bottle, which I assume is naturally occurring from the minerals in it.
blk.'s tagline is "Enjoy the Dark Side of Water". I can only assume they hope this will be big in the goth community. If this is actually better for you than traditional water like they say it is, I'd drink this over boring clear water everyday.
- Website
- http://www.blkbeverages.com
- Country
- United States
- Sweetener
- No Sugar Added
- Categories
- Water
- Rating
- Reviewed By
- Derek Neuland on 6/14/2011
- Comments
- View and Leave A Comment
