Thursday, October 20, 2011

Perky Jerky

Beef Jerky. Caffeine. Together? What could be better?

Packaging:
The metallic looking pouches that it is in is actually larger than I thought one ounce of beef would be in. I assumed it was some small pouch that would barely allow me to taste it, much less get any energy out of it. But for the weight there is actually a lot of meat there. All that to say the pouch was larger than I originally expected. It's about 5" x 7" with the Perky Jerky logo, which looks like the horns of a bull on the front. Under the logo is the description of Invigorating Beef Jerky, and the words below the dark portion of the logo inform us that it is Flavored With Guarana, with a small USDA logo below that in the left hand corner. On the back we have the descriptions from the front of the package repeated, followed by GRAB A JERK AND GO! with the website listed below that. The Nutrition Facts are to the right of that.

Taste:
The taste of Perky Jerky is similar to that of Teriyaki, but with no ginger, and with crushed black peppercorns. It has a sweet and spicy flavor to it because of the brown sugar and pepper. Although it contains soy sauce and one package has 530mg of sodium (22% DV) it doesn't taste too salty. If you don't like sweet beef jerky this isn't for you. But if you do, then you will enjoy the flavor of this. The beef used is also very good quality. It is whole slices, not ground and pressed together. The chewyness of it is excellent and texture as well, what I would expect out of something like Jack Links or some other top quality brand of jerky.

Energy:
For me guarana has never been a source of intense energy. It is usually more of a mild energy that gets me going on a more gradual but noticeable level. I was munching on this while riding down to Nashville in the early morning with my sister. It definitely helped get me alert and awake so I could enjoy the view. I didn't eat the whole package at once. For me jerky is something to be enjoyed slowly and casually, not like an energy drink where you just gulp it down and go. But with the guarana and the action of simply chewing the meat I would say that this got me fairly alert for a good while. On the first bite I could tell it was already giving me some energy.


Overall Impression:
I really enjoy Perky Jerky. The taste alone sold me, with the energy being a plus. The quality is excellent, and the packaging attractive. I'm going to have to give this a 10/10.

Find Them On The Web:

X35 Body Fuel

I don't think I have reviewed a foreign energy drink yet on here. This one hails from the UAE, or United Arab Emirates. It is X35 Body Fuel.

Packaging:
X35 Body Fuel comes in a can similar in shape and size to the Red Bull can. The logo is vertical to the can. Around the top of the can it states that the drink is Taurine free, and that it has "Extracts of Black Seed" which is a common healing remedy in the Middle East. The ingredient list on the back is very detailed, including how much of certain ingredients like caffeine, ginseng, and black seed are included. The ingredients and nutrition facts are in English, as well as French. The beverage is also certified Halal, and Vegan.

Taste:
At first it tastes a little like Red Bull, that citrus berry combination. It finishes slightly sweet tasting, but less intense as Red Bull. It has a very smooth flavor. There is no tart bite to it, just a silky tang. It has Black Seed in it, which according to the Wikipedia article on it is supposed to be bitter. This drink is just the opposite. There is no doubting this is an energy drink, from the smell as you open the can, to the first taste, it has the same characteristics of most other energy drinks, except it is much smoother and easier to drink.

Energy:
I definitely felt more alert after a few swigs of this. This was surprising since the can claims a "high caffeine content" of 30 mg per 100 ml. The can holds 250 ml (just under 8.5 oz) so it only has 75 mg of caffeine per can, which is 5 mg shy of what Red Bull has. So the immediate boost of energy is impressive.

Overall Impression:
I really enjoyed this drink. The energy was fast and fairly long lasting. The taste is actually better than that of Red Bull so it is easier to drink. I am not sure how available they are in the US, but they have contact information on their website where you can request location info.

Find Them on the Web:
http://www.x35energy.com/

Monday, October 3, 2011

CaffeMallows

Caffeinated marshmallows? Oh, yeah!!!!

Packaging
The CaffeMallows are packaged in sets of 3 or 4. The three I am reviewing come in a rectangle plastic box, frosted on the sides and clear on the top and bottom. It gives it quite a nice minimalist look. Each mallow is individually wrapped and labelled inside. The labels are in red/orange tones, the Mocha label being the darkest and the coffee label the lightest. Each label sports the name of the mallow and a lip print logo, as if the packages have been kissed.

Taste
Java: Java Mallows have a great strong coffee flavor, like a double shot espresso (because that's what it has in it!). There is a strong cinnamon and vanilla and caramel combination in the flavor as well, which I really enjoyed. It is sweet, but not syrupy sweet. It has a really good texture, kind of dense, more so than a normal jet puffed marshmallow. I think this gives it a unique quality that you don't get in every day marshmallows.

Coffee: The Coffee Mallow is quite a bit more subtle in flavor than the Java Mallow. It is "Double Coffee". It almost tastes like a normal coffee with creme and sugar. The vanilla, cinnamon, caramel flavor is not as strong in this one as in the Java Mallow. However it is still quite delicious.

Mocha:The Mocha Mallow has a good coffee flavor as well as a rich chocolate flavor. It also adds a different twist to the texture with little bits of chocolate in it as well, or cocoa nibs as in the ingredients.

Energy
Right away I can tell my energy is up quite a bit and I'm feeling more awake after eating one of these. Although I like to cut them into thirds, that way I can have a bit of each one instead of having to wait until I eat another flavor! Each mallow contains 200 mg of caffeine, except the Java Mallow, which contains 280 mg of caffeine. That's a real boost! They really work fast too. The energy keeps me going for about 4 hours or so.

Overall Impression
I really enjoyed CaffeMallows. They have a rich flavor that makes getting caffeinated far more enjoyable than some energy drinks make it! And the energy is fast and long lasting.

Thursday, September 29, 2011

I know I haven't updated in a really long time...

I thought I was back at doing this blog once. But this time I really should finish out all the reviews I had promised to do. Next week I will start cranking out my previous reviews just to get "caught up". I don't know if I will continue the review blog after that or not. Depends on if anyone is interested in what I have to say. I know I haven't been a very good reviewer since I've been on a very long hiatus the last few months.

Saturday, May 14, 2011

Back At It

I'm sure people have noticed that I haven't been posting for a while. I have been working on getting work. I was just accepted for a temporary position at a company. It will be about two months of work, which is excellent. And I feel like I can now try and get back on track with my blog here and getting reviews out. Sorry it's been so quiet here lately because of all that, but mostly I was just too stressed to write anything. I look forward to continuing this blog, hopefully at a more even keel than what it has been. I hope I still have some readers out there interested in what I have to say. I will be getting all my backlogged product reviews out in the coming days. I know they're about three months late, and I appreciate all patience granted me during these last few months.

Plow On Gum

Packaging:
American Version: The package is red with the Plow On logo across it, and various black and white wording.


Russian Version: This package is the same design with the Plow On logo on the front, and almost everything else written on the package is in Russian.

Taste:
American Version: It is Spearmint. It actually reminds me of the taste of Certs or maybe the Wrigley's Spearmint gum. Fairly long lasting flavor.

Russian Version: Tastes sweeter than the American version, and not quite as Spearmint-y. I can't really place the flavor specifically. It is still a good flavor, just vaguely different in some way.


My only problem with both the version of this gum is that the pieces of gum are super hard until you really bite into them to chew them up. I tried cutting a couple pieces in half while trying to sample each, but didn't want the caffeine of each combined in one sitting. I scraped off a bit of the hardened outside, but was unable to cut or bite through it. I can chew it OK but just getting it started is kind of difficult.

Energy:
I got a good instant boost of energy out of this that lasted between 2 to 4 hours from both versions of the gum. I didn't chew the gum that long though. But the energy from it lasted a good while. The energy ingredients include Caffeine - 100 mg, Taurine - 10 mg, Green Tea Extract - 5 mg, and Ginseng - 5 mg. That's a good straightforward energy blend.

Overall Impression:
I really liked Plow On, aside from the initial chewing up the gum to mix the hard outside with the softer inside. The flavor is good as well as the energy. With 5 pieces to a pack, and the equivalent of an energy drink in one piece of gum it is better economy than the gum brands that need two pieces to equal one energy drink. I'm going to give this an 8 just because of the sheer size of the gum, but the flavor and energy are good.

Thursday, March 3, 2011

Blood Energy Potion



Packaging
I love themed packaging. Even though I am not a huge fan of the current vampire craze, I still like the design of this package. It is a 3.4 fl. oz pouch with a twist off cap. It's resealable! Which is great considering it cannot stand up like a can or bottle. I like the way it is designed like a blood donor bag. The bloody fingerprints on the outside are great! It comes with a disclaimer that people's blood is not for drinking but this beverage is for drinking. On the back is the nutritional information and how to prepare it, if you want warm Blood or room temp Blood. I warmed mine under my computer.

Taste 
Blood does not taste like real blood. It has a delightful fruit punch flavor, with a minor iron aftertaste. So it kind of tastes like when you accidentally bite your mouth and you get that sort of iron taste in your mouth. Of course it does have a little over half your % daily value of iron in it, which could be good for someone with an iron deficiency. The fruit punch kind of tasted to me like the fruit punch Starburst candy. It does have a bit of a texture to it, not really super thick, but not super thin and carbonated either. It was kind of odd not having any carbonation, but it does not taste flat.

Energy 
With 80mg of caffeine, I have gotten a decent kick from this drink but it doesn't feel like a long lasting thing. Obviously it is small, so it is similar to the size of an energy shot. It did give me a good boost of energy for a while. The package states it should give about 4 hours of energy. It did great just getting me more awake and in gear for what I was working on. The energy blend contains a total of 880 mg of ingredients, including: D-glucuronolacrone, L-phenylalanine, N-Acetyl L-tyrosine, Glucose, Caffeine (80 mg), and DL-phenylalanine. There is also a 435 mg Proprietary Enzyme Blend of Amylase, Lactase, Cellulase, Lipase, and Protease.

Overall Impression 
I liked Blood almost more than Zombie Blood. The flavor is great. The packaging is amazing. It delivers on the energy. I am going to give this a 10/10. I just wish it came in a larger size because it actually tastes good for an energy "shot" (not really a shot but still smaller than a normal size drink.)

Saturday, February 12, 2011

Love Energy Potion


 
Ever since first seeing what Harcos Labs had to offer with its Mana Energy Potion (which I will also be reviewing in the near future, as well as other Harcos products [including this one], thanks to the generous folks over at Chemical Evolution.) I have enjoyed seeing what they will come up with. This instance is no different. They have a Love Potion for those looking for some energy and romance for Valentine's Day or any other day. I did not test on the "romantic" feelings you are supposed to get from this, I only tested on the basis of "how much energy does it give me". Take a look and see how it performed.

Packaging: Love Energy Potion comes in a small rounded bottle that looks sort of like something you would find in a video game where you get potion power-ups and the like. The bottle is clear with a shrink label on it. The design is a heart with a scroll on top of it overlaying a bunch of arrows lines up behind it in a sort of green color on top, and red below the heart. On the scroll is the name of the drink, Love Energy Potion, in all caps. On the back side of the bottle are the supplemental facts and the barcode and contact information for Harcos Labs.

Taste: This little shot of pink liquid is a great strawberry flavor. It is sweet, but not too sweet. It is sweetened with organic evaporated cane sugar, so it is sweet without being too syrupy. It tastes fruity, and actually took me a minute to place the flavor as being strawberry, but it also reminded me of something like a strawberry pop-tart. There is only 1.69 oz of the beverage, so you do not get to taste it very long, which is kind of a bummer since it tastes so good.

Energy: I got a good amount of energy from this. It is a tiny beverage, but it has 90 mg of caffeine in it, which is plenty to give you a decent jolt of energy to get you going. The energy/love potion blend does not tell how much of each ingredient is in it, but it also contains the usual energy drink ingredients of Taurine and Glucuronolactone, plus an array of other ingredients to make you feel romantic, or something like that. I was able to keep going for 4 hours or so on this, so the energy provided is good.

Overall Impression: This is a great little shot for Valentine's Day, or any day really. It is themed towards love, and is pink. I am not sure how many guys are going to be drinking it, but I do not think the pink-ness of the drink should deter them. It would also be a great gift for guys to get their girlfriend. The people over at Harcos Labs have done a great job with this drink, and I am going to give it a 10/10 for the geek factor and how well it works.

Find Them on the Web:

You can purchase Love Energy Potion at Chemical Evolution's site, here.

Wednesday, February 9, 2011

FeelGood 7 Sleep - Serenity

I, like most people, sometimes have trouble getting to sleep at night. Usually I will drink some Chamomile and Valerian Root tea. That usually does a decent job at helping me get to sleep. Sometimes it does not. FeelGood 7 Serenety, the Sleep blend of the FeelGood 7 lineup has a few different natural sleep remedies in a well balanced shot.

Packaging:
The packaging is similar to that of Euphoria. The bottle is the same size, with a black shrink label with blue highlights indicating it is for nighttime use. It mentions on the side with the bar code on it that is contains Valerian Root.

Taste:
This tastes similar to the energy blend, a berry flavor like that of most energy shots, but slightly less "energy shot" flavor. It felt lighter in texture than Euphoria did.

Energy:
This is an anti-energy, or relaxation type of drink. It has L-Tryptophan, Chamomile Flower, Lemobalm herb, Passionflower vines, Hops flower, L-Theanine, Melatonin, Valerian Root. All of these are natural sleep aids. Within about 20 minutes of drinking it I was starting to really feel drowsy. I went to bed and fell asleep fairly quickly. I woke up a couple of times during the night and just barely noticed the clock before falling back asleep. When I woke up I did not feel the drowsy or anything.

Overall Impression:
I liked this. It helped me get to sleep at a decent hour. I woke up feeling refreshed. It did not give me weird dreams or anything, so that was a plus. I only want to caution those with sensitivity to Valerian Root that this may cause heart palpitations. All in all I am going to give this a 10/10.

 

Saturday, February 5, 2011

FeelGood 7 Energy - Euphoria

FeelGood 7 has a lineup of Energy, Sleep, and Hangover formulas. In this post I will be looking at their Energy drink, Euphoria.

Packaging:
The bottle is a 2 oz plastic bottle with a shrink label on it. It is very simple black with white and red lettering. Next to the bar code on the side is a green tea leaf and the words Green Tea Extract. The tamper proof plastic over the lid is red on the Energy shot.

Taste:
The taste is pretty typical of energy shots. It is sort of a strawberry/cherry/general berry flavor. It does not taste quite as "energy drink-ish" as some energy shots. It definitely tastes better than 5 Hour Energy (I have tried the pomegranate 5 Hour shot, and was not impressed at all by the flavor/texture of the beverage). So while it is still a berry flavor, it is more drinkable than some of the more popular energy shots, which I think will help launch it into the market well. It is made with Green Tea extract which has antioxidants in it.

Energy:
I have had a good sustained energy from this for most of the day. I drank it in the morning around 10am, and by 5pm, and I had only felt less energized for about an hour and a half before that. It really was not a hard crash like some energy drinks. Euphoria does not have sugar in it, as it is sweetened with Sucralose, so there is no sugar crash.

Overall Impression:
I really liked this. It gave me a good amount of energy for the day and kept me going without a crash later on. I would have liked it if they had mixed it up a little on the flavor and made it different than all the other energy shots. Although the berry flavor is familiar, it is still a great tasting shot. I am going to give this a 8/10 just because I would like to see something different with the flavor that will make it jump out a little more from the rest of the market.

Friday, February 4, 2011

Vuka Workout

Here we are for another Vuka review. This is Workout - a Berry Lemonade Rooibos Tea beverage that is lightly carbonated. 

Packaging:
As you probably know by now I really enjoy the Vuka bottles. They are aluminum, with a twist top lid, which has plastic that the lid screws onto so it does not wreck the lid or the bottle. They are reusable! And the colors are amazing. Workout is done in a lovely red color.

Taste:
Vuka Workout is a rooibos tea based drink. Its flavor is Berry Lemonade. This combination goes very well together. The three flavors together complement each other very well. It has a tang from the lemonade, and fruity notes from the berries, with the earthy and flavorful tea. This is a very refreshing and enjoyable flavor.

Energy:
The rooibos tea itself does not have any caffeine, so natural caffeine is added. This has 80mg of natural caffeine added to it. Because this is for working out each serving has 7% DV of sodium, which the other Vuka beverages do not have. The energy is sort of calm but explosive. It did not make me jittery, but kept me going a good while, and gave me the energy for "working out". I put that in quotes because I am not well into any sort of workout routine, but I try to do a little bit of a workout when I think about it. So as far as that goes it did a good job of keeping me energized throughout it and afterward.

Overall Impression:
Workout delivers on the energy, as well as taste. I am giving it a 10/10 because it delivered on the energy, and it tastes great!

Vuka Think

Packaging:
Once again the Vuka resealable aluminum bottle is great because it is recyclable and reusable. Think comes in an amazing metallic royal purple. (If I could paint my car this color I would.)

Taste:
The flavor is Pomegranate Lychee. While I do not recall ever tasting a Lychee, I have tasted pomegranate, and could sort of pick out that flavor. When I opened it up and tasted it I immediately thought that it "tasted purple". Odd? Maybe. But it does. It is a fruity, almost berry like, taste.

Energy:
The caffeine content in this is 80mg. This gives a good amount of energy. Think also has Ginkgo Biloba, Panax Ginseng, and DMAE Bitartrate to aid in memory and concentration. I had a little more increased focus on things I was concentrating on. It is beneficial for office workers or students that need a pick me up that will also help them concentrate on their goals.

Overall Impression:
I really enjoyed Think. The energy lasted as expected, and the flavor is really good. I am going to give it a 10/10 because it tastes great and keeps you going.

Vuka Renew


Looking for a taste of summer on a cold winter day? Vuka Renew is a mango peach energy beverage designed to help you get your focus and get back to you. Here we will take a look and see how well it does.

Packaging:
Renew comes in the Vuka aluminum bottle with resealable screw top lid. The bottle is green, in color and environmentally. It is recyclable, or reusable. They make great water bottles! I love the bright metallic spring green.

Taste:
Renew is a great Mango Peach flavor. The two tastes are so similar and yet have distinct differences. I could distinguish both flavors easily, but they blend so well together. It is a nice refreshing tropical flavor that holds hints of summertime. I really enjoyed this flavor.

Energy:
Renew also has 80mg of caffeine per serving, as well as 1000mg of Taurine. So it gives a good energy kick. It has 50mg Ginseng to help with focus, along with B-Vitamins for focused energy. It really helps keep your focus as you go about your day and getting things done.

Overall Impression:
I really enjoyed the flavor, and the energy and renewing properties definitely held up. I am going to give this a 10/10. I also love the eco-friendly recyclable/reusable bottle!

Find Them on the Web:
http://www.vuka.com/ 
@vukaenergy 
http://www.facebook.com/vuka

Vuka Awaken


This is the first of four Vuka Intelligent Energy drinks that I have tried. Each one has its purpose in your day to day life.

Packaging:
Vuka comes in an aluminum container with a screw on lid. There is even this nifty little plastic part that is on top of the bottle so the metal lid does not connect with the metal bottle, reducing wear and tear on the bottle, and keeping it from leaking like most metal lids to metal bottles do. I will admit that the bottle is one of the things that caught my eye about Vuka. They are shiny aluminum, with the color and type printed directly onto the surface. The Vuka sun design is slick and clean.


Awaken comes in a bright orange bottle. On the back we see a description of the beverage, as well as the ingredients and nutrition facts.

Taste:
Awaken is 50% juice, and while it is overwhelmingly orange, it also has white grape, apple and pear juice. When I opened it there was a refreshing scent of orange. The flavor is just as crisp and refreshing. It does not taste like an energy drink like some other juice/energy drinks out there. The drink itself is a nice opaque orange color so it looks like juice. It is not carbonated at all, so coming straight out of the fridge it is like drinking regular juice.  I really enjoyed the flavor and texture of the drink.

Energy:
It does what it is named. It awakens you for your whole day. I literally was going from morning until evening on this. I decided to forgo coffee in the morning and just grabbed this. I had a high amount of energy, without being jittery, all the way into the late afternoon/early evening. When you drink this you will definitely be awake for your day. It has 160mg of caffeine per serving, which there are two servings in a bottle, but it also has a lot of vitamins, Ginseng Root Extract, White Tea Polyphenols, and Grape Seed Extract which

Overall Impression:
I really enjoyed this flavor, and the energy I got from it. I love the packaging. It is recyclable or reusable. Wash it out and make it a water bottle!

Wednesday, February 2, 2011

Boom Boom

What is Boom Boom? It is Energy You Inhale. There is no caffeine, just essential oils and scents. Does it work. Read on to find out.

Packaging:
Boom Boom is packaged in little tubes, which actually remind me of the Vicks inhalers that my Dad uses for a stuffy nose. If you have ever used one of those you have a good idea of how to use Boom Boom. Just shake it, twist open the package, which is about the same size as a lip balm container, and put the open in in your nostril and inhale.

Taste:
Since this is not consumed, only inhaling scents, I will be looking at the smell/scent of the products. Boom Boom comes in Berry Breeze, Cinna-Mint, and Tropical Rush.

Berry Breeze: Aside from the obvious menthol scent, there are hints of strawberry, and maybe some other berries I cannot pick out. Mostly strawberry scented though.
Cinna-Mint: I can tell this is sort of cinnamon scented, but I also sense a lot of clove scent in it as well, which I particularly enjoy. It kind of reminds me of winter time beverages and foods.
Tropical Rush: This has sort of a Pina Colada scent to it.

Energy:
This does not have any caffeine or anything related in it. It is a menthol and essential oils combination that helps you to be refreshed and restore focus. The menthol helps to open up your nasal passages and helps you breathe better. This combined with the essential oils are like a little kick of aroma therapy, waking you up with a refreshing scent.

Overall Impression:
These are great to carry around in your pocket or purse, or keep in the desk drawer at the office. There are no calories to add on, and nothing to ingest. I think that although there is no caffeine energy, these are great, because they will not make you jittery at all, and they are refreshing, and even help you to breathe a little easier! I am going to have to give these a 10/10, because they work like they say they will.

Thursday, January 27, 2011

The Drink Ink





An energy drink can that you can personalize. That is the idea behind The Drink Ink. Promote your business, event, or whatever, with personalized full shrink sleeves. For this review I had the 8.4 oz energy drink, and the Very Berry and the Lemon Lime 2.4 oz energy shots.

Packaging: All of the containers have excellent quality shrink sleeves on them. The printing is great. Each can was different. The text on the labels is legible, however the Supplement Facts are very tiny, especially on the shot bottles, it is legible. The shrink sleeves fit great. Only one was slightly wrinkled. They are secure, no need to fear them falling off the can or being ripped off very easily.

Taste:
The website says that the 8.4 oz energy drink is based on the most popular one on the market, which we know to be Red Bull. Yes, it tastes similar. It has been a while since I have had a Red Bull but this seemed to taste a little less chemically, and somewhat more berry like. It was good. And I feel that Red Bull type energy drinks are growing on me (yeah, sort of like a fungus.) Seriously, this is a good tasting copy of that.

The Very Berry and Lemon Lime energy shots both taste very clean and crisp. They do not have the chemically strange taste like 5 Hour Energy Drink and other energy shots. The taste coincides well to the name description. The Very Berry tastes like different kinds of berries, and the Lemon Lime is a light tasting citrus flavor. Both have very good taste for being energy shots. You could drink these slow if you wanted to, because the flavor is that enjoyable.

Energy: This energy drink delivers on the energy. It does a good job of keeping you up and going for whatever comes your way. The energy shots kick in quick and keep you going for hours after you drink them.

The 8.4 oz Energy Drink has an energy blend consisting of Taurine 1000 mg, Glucuronolactone 75mg, Caffeine 75mg,  Panax Ginseng Extract 50mg, Guarana Seed Extract 50mg, L-Carnitine 25mg, Inositol 25mg. 

The Energy Shots contain Taurine, Malic Acit, Caffeine, Glucuronolactone, N-Acetyl, L-Tyrosine, L-Phenylalanine. The amounts of each ingredient in the energy blend are not listed.

Overall Impression: I found nothing but win with this batch of samples. This company knows where its at. If you are looking for a way to advertise they will get your name out there, and keep your customers energized as well.

Find Them on the Web:
@TheDrinkInk