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/
Thursday, October 20, 2011
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.
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.
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.
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.
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.
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.
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.
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.
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.
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.
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.)
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.)
Find Them on the Web
Living With Bloodlust
The regular package
Their current special edition of Bloog - Tiger Blood Energy Potion!
http://www.facebook.com/bloodpotion
@harcoslabs
Living With Bloodlust
The regular package
Their current special edition of Bloog - Tiger Blood Energy Potion!
http://www.facebook.com/bloodpotion
@harcoslabs
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.
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