Jamba - 3 Reviews

If you ask any of the three Thirsty Dudes, strawberries are awesome. If you inquire again with the same three dudes they will tell you that bananas are garbage. It's really weird the first time you approach them, no matter what you ask they reply about strawberries, the second about bananas. Someone could ask, “Do you know what time it is?” and they would be told, “Strawberries are awesome.” Science has finally broken their brains. So much in fact they have started writing in the third person.

This drink is supposed to taste like strawberry banana, but in reality tastes more like an apple drink with a bit of banana flavoring in it, and even less strawberry. I was able to drink more of it than any other banana-based drink I've ever tried, but it still wasn't great. It was also lightly carbonated, even though sparkling water is not listed in the ingredients or anywhere on the can. I found that odd.

In the end this was a bit better than I expected, but I still found it not very appealing. If it had a real banana flavor I would have given it higher marks for all you savages out there who like that garbage fruit, but as it stands I just can't do it.

There are certainly apples in this can. No doubt about that. They at one time might have been great apples, too. The cream of the crop. Then science and nutrition and kids had to come into the equation and mess it all up like they always do. Have you ever had a pure apple juice that was too sweet? Nope. Mother Nature has bred apple juice to be just right all the time. Now you take a drink like this which is essentially apple juice with sugar in it, somehow manage to sell it as an energy drink when everyone knows that sugar is not really "energy" as it is a temporary shot in the arm, and market it as such. You can taste the green apples and you are excited. Then follows the first quasi-offensive, more bittering Stevia taste I've ever had and unnecessary carbonation. What was wrong with apple juice that you had to do this to it? Nestle, you should be ashamed of yourself. You ruined a good thing.

Pep? I'm full of it. Piss and vinegar? Likewise. Hater of energy drinks? This guy. To come across a juice that is an all-natural energy drink kind of intrigued me. I bought it, took a sip, and pondered...why don't all energy drinks taste like this? Why do all energy drinks taste like someone cracked open a case of Smarties, mortar and pestled them, poured them into some already disgusting drink, and called it a day? Oh, you're surprised that I know what a mortar and pestle is? I'm also full of surprises.

This drink was more of a puree than a juice or an energy drink. For that, it was actually pretty nice. I like a nice, thick drink anyhow. The flavor wasn't bad, either. Fruity up front, and since it was Stevia, just a little sweet afterward.

All in all, I would say this was a success for Nestle and I hope that Jamba is more available to the general public. I'm not an energy drink convert, but this is cleverly disguised.