For gits and shiggles I bought several strange sodas yesterday. Among them are:
Cheerwine:[ul]An interesting caffeinated sparkling cherry soda. Sadly, it is imbued with both natural artificial flavoring plus colors. On the up side it comes in a really pretty enameled label bottle. Must be rather popular as it has been around almost 100 years.[/ul]Cool Mountain Green Apple:[ul]I knew this day-glo concoction had nuclear waste for coloring but I’m always eager to find a green apple soda that really tastes like a Granny Smith. This one didn’t so much, but wasn’t so cloying as others I’ve tried.[/ul]Kickapoo Joy Juice:[ul]It even has Lil’ Abner characters on the label so this must be the real thing. Actually, this is the grandpappy of Mountain Dew. Does anyone remember when the Dew had a hillbilly (er, … son of the soil) on the label, as in their old “Yahoo Mountain Dew!” slogan? Instead of the Dew’s orange flavor, Kickapoo Joy juice has a nice grapefruit taste augmented with a dose of caffeine. I may have a new wake up favorite.[/ul]A.J. Stephans Raspberry~Lime Rickey:[ul]Currently undergoing scrutiny as we type this. A bit insipid from being over-sweetened, it still has a good round mouth feel from being made with cane sugar only. All of the others used a combination of corn sweetener and real sugar. Sadly, even though they have managed to avoid the typical lollipop flavor most lime based drinks have, this one still doesn’t have the citrus zest I am searching for. The raspberry has managed to hijack this one’s overall character.[/ul]
Some previously mentioned sodas from other threads:
Vernor’s:[ul]This sterling example of American soda making is now available in glass for the first time in donkey’s ears. I can still remember tasting it for the first time at a friend’s house in Alamo. We’ll neglect to mention that his father went on to marry Sarah Jane Moore (oops, too late). At least the memory of tasting Vernor’s ameliorates the oddness of that particular friendship.[/ul]Limca:[ul]Made for the Subcontinent’s market, I suspect that the lack of overbearing sweetness in this wonderful lime flavored soda is due to the addition of a wee bit of mastic. It is one of the only explanations for the odd-yet-refreshing twang of its finish on the palate. This is one of my favorite new soda flavors and a regular in my beverage lineup at home. Look for it at your local Indian food bazar.[/ul]San Pellegrino Limonatta:[ul]This is one of my most favorite sodas. As an optics engineer I once worked with said, “This soda is unafraid of proclaiming it has taste without being too sweet!” Truth be told, this one has pucker power and is a great example of how a citrus soda should taste. Sadly, the Euro-style mini-bottles are no longer widely available as they have been supplanted by cans. Still, San Pellegrino’s entire line has ten times the character of most Murican pop.[/ul]
So, tell us all about your own favorite oddball sodas and what not.
But my favorite soda is a simple Italian cream soda.
Seltzer water with flavored syrup of your choice (mine runs to almond or hazelnut, usually, although I also like vanilla and a whole passel of other flavors) with some cream thrown in.
And Clearly Canadian with cream added is pretty good, too.
It is only for sale in India, I think, which is a damn shame because I could seriously live on the stuff. Whenever I’m in India, I try and drink as much of it as possible, because not only does it taste like nothing else, it is also apparently good for you.
No cite (unless you include my grandmother), but it’s supposed to clear up stomach upsets. YMMV.
<slight hijack> It’s rather fitting that a poster who apparently eats everything would post to this thread. </slight hijack>
And I’ll scour my local Indian import places for Limca. I’d never heard of it, and maybe it is available only in India. But what the heck…it’s worth a shot.
Not anymore, friend. I can drive two kilometers here in Silicon Valley and buy all the Limca I want. I attribute it to the huge influx of HB-1 visa workers that we have these days. Try and imagine how glad I am to get truly authentic Indian curries for a change.
Do you know if this drink has mastic in it? I don’t think there is the usual ‘ester of wood rosin’ sort of “thickener” being used in this soda. So far, this is the only lime pop I’ve had that is true to its citrus origins. Again, I am obliged to speculate that the mastic may have a settling effect on the old tummy. Anyone out there have a cite for this?
Loneraven, it sounds as if you’re really jonesing for some Limca. If you have a good recipe for tomato and green chile chutney, we might be able to arrange an exchange of hostages. Otherwise there is the crude capitalistic method of sending you a care package in exchange for some of your own regional delicacies.
Say the word.
PS: Sweetpea, er, … Mangetout, it sounds as if you ingested a strawberry Yoo Hoo! to me.
Cheerwine is from here in North Carolina, and you’re right, Zenster, it’s been around awhile. Kinda like Dr. Pepper, but sweeter. The bottle and cap still have the old-style graphics: “It Brings Good Cheer”
Stewart’s Key Lime is another fave of mine, pretty zippy, even if it’s a flourescent green.
Mexican sodas: Sidral Mundet, an apple soda that’s not too sweet, and any brand of tamarind soda.
San Pellegrino sodas are great, too. Their carbonation bubbles seem to be “smaller”, more spicy. I mix tomato juice with San Pellegrino soda water, a bit of maple syrup and a dash of either worchestershire sauce or balsamic vinegar. It sounds odd, but tastes great! Are there any mass-produced tomato sodas?
And, as the opportunity presents itself; does anyone know of any pear sodas in the US? I had them in Europe, and they were wonderful. Awhile back, there was a company, Chapelle, that had a nice one, but I can’t find it now.
I like those Ramune sodas that are sold in many Asian grocery stores here in the USA. They are small glass bottles and are sealed with a glass marble. In order to open the bottle, you must dislodge the marble. They’re pretty tasty too.
Whoa,rostfrei, that stuff sounds cool enough just to buy for the packaging. I might have to find me some, even though I don’t like soda (carbination is not my favorite), although I do enjoy the occasional Jones Cream Soda.
BAD SODA: Sanbitter, I think it’s called. It’s Italian, and it tastes like carbonated cough syrup. It sure does come in a cute little bottle, though.
Envisioning a bottle of Faygo’s self-proclaimed “Redpop” and its intrinsic ability to emit light unaided in a darkened environment led me to consider otherwise about including its mention in this particular thread.