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:

www.perkyjerky.com

@perkyjerky

http://www.facebook.com/perkyjerky

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/

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.

Find Them on the Web

http://www.caffex.com/

http://www.facebook.com/pages/CaffeMallows-Coffee-Marshmallows/128171127250602

http://twitter.com/#!/coffeemallows