Organic Sparkling Lemonade

Made by: Whole Earth Foods

Origin: UK








The second drink in the Whole Earth series is a sparkling lemonade. This is a pale, bright lemon yellow colour. It is slightly cloudy (translucent) and gently carbonated, with the bubbles rising steadily when the drink is poured out.

The nose carries the sweet aroma of fresh, ripe lemons: juicy and direct. There is also a more concentrated note of lemon oil, and a sprinkling of powdered sugar.

Flavours on the palate are light by comparison (read well diluted), with a touch of sugar and lime adding to the lemons to create a sherbetty appeal. The overall impression is understated and pleasant, easy drinking and well balanced, without the citrus tang found elsewhere. Short finish.

Packaging claims: Soil Association Organic, no artificial colours, preservatives or flavours, suitable for Vegetarians and Vegans, Vegetarian Society Approved, produced to strict organic standards, as this drink is made from natural ingredients it may contains a slight sediment

Ingredients: Sparkling water, organic apple juice from concentrate (15%), organic agave syrup, organic lemon juice from concentrate (4%), natural lemon flavouring

Price: Should be about £0.80 for a 330ml can, from branches of Asda, health and wholefood stores and specialist cafes

Feelgood Drinks Co. Apple & Blueberry Juice Drink

Made by: Feel Good Drinks Co.

Origin: UK








This still juice drink is a matt red-brown colour, flecked with purple. The aromas of the various fruit juices used produce an interesting result on the nose: Tomatoes and cherries with a drop of menthol. There is a suggestion of earthy blueberries, and a leafy note (think of hedgerows). The sweetness of purple grape and apple juices can also be detected.

On the palate there is plenty of dark, earthy blueberry fruit, and a brambly style develops. A taste of prune juice follows, together with sweet spices now like a fuit compote, and an unusual minty tang adds another point of interest before the short, clean finish.

This is well balanced and flavourful for a juice drink.

Packaging claims: Mixed fruit juice drink, no artificial nasties, fruit not sugar

Ingredients: Fruit juice from concentrate (reduced colour apple 75%, orange 8.7%, grape 5.6%, apple 5.1%, blueberry 0.5%), spring water, natural flavours, natural colours, fruit and plant extract, natural stabiliser; carob

Price: Should be about £1.20 for a 400ml PET bottle, widely available

Ginseng Bird's Nest Drink- Rabbit Brand

Made by: Yeow Seng (Shark's Fin) Pte Ltd

Origin: Singapore

Imported into the UK: tbc






Bird's nest is a Chinese delicacy and is harvested from swiftlet nesting sites in Borneo, Sumatra and other parts of Indonesia. Swiftlets traditionally make their nests on cave walls using strands of hardened saliva, which they weave into nests. The nests are graded according to colour and nutritional value and can fetch up to $10,000 per kilo.

Bird's nest drink is a pale yellow colour with a bright appearance. It is non-sparkling and contains small particles of bird's nest and ginseng in suspension.

The aroma is quite unique and manages to combine ripe banana and vanilla with wet bonfire ashes, rubber and charcoal.

As with the aroma, on the palate the flavour is unique and quite challenging. What starts as sweet banana and vanilla quickly turns burnt, ashy, rubbery and progressively more bitter. There is an earthy, potato note that points towards the ginseng, and a bittersweet sensation lingers in the aftertaste.

Packaging claims: Geniune bird's nest with ginseng, no colouring, serve hot or cold

Ingredients: Water, rock sugar, bird's nest, ginseng

Price: Should be about £1.00 for a 245ml can, from oriental food stores and other specialist retailers