YumSugar

Would You Eat This Tofurky and Gravy Soda?

YumSugar — Thu, 12 Nov 2009 16:15:15 -0800

To commemorate the upcoming holiday, wacky beverage company Jones Soda Co. is rolling out an unusual seasonal flavor: Tofurky and Gravy soda. The item, based on the famous vegetarian turkey substitute Tofurky, is not only vegan, but it's also sugar-free. Right now, it's included in a limited-edition gift pack for $12.

Source

Pepsi Halloween Cans: Love Them or Hate Them?

partysugar — Sat, 31 Oct 2009 04:00:54 -0700

For Halloween, Pepsi released a special limited-edition costumed can. Instead of the typical jack-o'-lanterns or orange and black theme, however, the soda company simply printed Halloween-related words like boo and ghost on the cans. Have you seen them in stores? What do you think of the design?

Source

Dead Frog Discovered in Diet Pepsi Can

YumSugar — Fri, 04 Sep 2009 13:00:02 -0700

How did a dead frog find its way into a Pepsi can? That's the seminal question at the center of the latest food safety gross-out. Fred and Amy DeNegri, a retired couple from Florida claim they discovered a dead frog in a Pepsi can, and have plans to take legal action.

Fred DeNegri took a sip of a newly opened Diet Pepsi and started gagging. DeNegri emptied the can in his sink, but could tell that a heavy weight remained inside. He shook it until something resembling "pink linguine" slid out, followed by "dark stuff," his wife said. They took pictures and called authorities. It wasn't until the sample went into lab testing that the larger object was identified as a frog or a toad "lacking internal organs," according to the FDA report, which could not conclude whether or not the frog was there before the can had been opened. The FDA conducted an investigation of the Orlando, FL, bottling plant, and found everything in normal condition.

On a recent CNN show, two correspondents discussed the controversy, insinuating that the situation could be a hoax, or even planted by competitor Coke. I'm repulsed by the situation - how could such a large animal find its way into an aluminum soda can? Do you feel for the traumatized couple, or do you see this as another finger-in-the-chili fabrication?

Source: Flickr User qnr

Would You Rather Drink Coke or Pepsi?

partysugar — Sun, 16 Aug 2009 01:30:19 -0700

Source: Flickr Users Tom Coates and merfam

Come Party With Me: High School Graduation - Drinks

partysugar — Thu, 04 Jun 2009 12:50:52 -0700

At a party like a high school graduation that celebrates someone underage, be sure to have a plethora of nonalcoholic drinks on ice. Fill large buckets with canned or bottled sodas, and place pitchers of water - flavored with citrus, cucumber, or mint - on the tables.

Instead of juice, make pomegranate sodas. Their rosy hue and bubbly texture is festive and fun. The recipe calls for a maraschino cherry garnish, but since cherries are in season, set out a bowl of fresh cherries and let guests embellish the sodas themselves. For the recipe, read more.

Pomegranate Soda
From Everyday Food

Ingredients

1 cup sugar
1/2 cup pomegranate juice
Club soda, for serving
Maraschino cherries, for garnish (optional)

Directions

In a small saucepan, combine sugar and juice; bring to a boil over high, stirring until sugar has dissolved. Reduce to a simmer; cook, without stirring, until mixture is syrupy, about 2 minutes. (To store, refrigerate syrup up to 1 week; adjust consistency with water, if necessary.)
To serve: Fill 8 glasses with ice. Pour 2 tablespoons syrup in each glass, and top with club soda. Garnish with cherries, if desired.

Serves 8.

Print recipe with images | without images

SodaStream Soda Maker: Worth Gushing About?

YumSugar — Thu, 16 Apr 2009 09:00:12 -0700

I have a confession to make: if I didn't worry about what my friends and family would say to me, I'd probably drink soda all day, every day - I love it that much. So when I got my hands on SodaStream's Soda Maker, a SkyMall-like contraption that claims to "turn tap water into sparkling water in three seconds," I knew I'd be in for some fizzy fun.According to Soda-Club, the company behind the machine, the SodaStream is more convenient (since you make soda instantly at home) than buying soda, less troublesome (no need to lug soda bottles), healthier (no high-fructose corn syrup), economically sensible, and better for the environment. Did the soda maker stand up to its claims? Find out when you read more.

I received a starter kit ($99.99) with a Fountain Jet Home Soda Maker, a 110-liter carbonator, two carbonating bottles, and an assortment of diet soda flavors and sparkling water essences. Following instructions, I assembled the machine, which requires no electricity, in under 10 minutes. To make soda, you fill a carbonating bottle with water, screw it into the machine, press a button four times to create fizz, and pour in some flavoring.

The soda machine is certainly easy to use, less troublesome to transport, and better for the environment. After the initial cost for the machine, a cup of soda will set you back less than $0.10. As far as taste, however, this is no match for store-bought soda.

The pop flavors (which included diet cola, diet grapefruit, diet cranberry-raspberry, and diet root beer) taste artificial with an odd aftertaste, and the bubbles aren't as fine or long-lasting as canned or bottled soda. "It's like Italian soda meets Crystal Light," a friend lamented. The flavored fruit essence drops taste even less natural. The soda bottles, despite being BPA-free, aren't dishwasher-safe.

If you're a heavy club soda drinker, or frequently make Italian sodas with traditional syrups, then this machine would actually be a good investment for you. But if you're a regular canned Coke drinker, the soda system's syrupy flavors won't likely be the replacement you're hoping for. Have you ever tried SodaStream? Did you come to the same conclusions about it?

View 16 Photos ›

Enjoy a Free 2-Liter Bottle of Diet Dr Pepper

YumSugar — Mon, 02 Feb 2009 11:15:34 -0800

Guns N' Roses isn't releasing another album, but Dr Pepper fans can get themselves a free bottle of soda yet again.

To promote its "Nothing Diet About It" campaign, Dr Pepper is giving away coupons for free 20-ounce bottles and - get this - two-liter bottles of Diet Dr Pepper. Between now and March 31, go to the promotion website to choose your coupon, good for a free bottle through June 30. Hurry, before this deal falls flat!

Source

Taste Test: TeaZazz Sparkling Teas

YumSugar — Fri, 05 Sep 2008 08:05:33 -0700

Lately we've been receiving a lot of tea to try at the office. We've also been witnessing a lot of beverage companies swapping the high-fructose corn syrup in their drinks for pure cane sugar. So it comes as no surprise that the latest rising beverage on the market is TeaZazz, a carbonated tea made with sugar that markets itself as a healthier hybrid soft drink.

TeaZazz comes in four different flavors: original, green tea mint, green tea lemon, and peach. Curious, I tried the first two. To hear what I thought, read more.

When I opened the sparkling teas, they made a fizzy release noise. They were definitely carbonated but tasted about 50 percent less carbonated than a standard can of soda. As for the soda's taste, I liked the flavor of the original tea; it had an authentic black tea taste. I didn't care at all for the green tea mint, however. Carbonated mint tea just didn't go over well with me - I almost felt as though I was drinking fizzy, diluted mouthwash. The drink is made from sugar syrup, but it also contains sucralose, an artificial sweetener, and that too had a discernible taste. Those who loathe diet drinks won't like TeaZazz, either.

Have you seen or tried TeaZazz? I'm curious to hear your thoughts on it.

Coke Testing 100-Flavor Soda Fountains

YumSugar — Thu, 04 Sep 2008 14:00:39 -0700

Good news for you soda fountain lovers: Coca-Cola plans to introduce a machine that dispenses 100 flavors.

The new unit, which will reportedly have a beta launch in early 2009, will remain the same size as an eight-valve soda machine by using highly concentrated ingredients to store more beverages. According to the company, switching in a new drink for the 100-flavor units will be "as easy as changing a print cartridge."

This could take an indecisive fountain drinker's soda-mixing habits to the extreme, or it could have zero impact on a diehard Diet Coke drinker. What do you think of this technology? Is it cool, or does it make a mundane thing unnecessarily complicated?

Source

Would You Rather Drink Soda From the Can or the Bottle?

YumSugar — Sun, 27 Jul 2008 01:30:41 -0700

Recently, a friend told me that she only drinks soda from the bottle, not the can, because it tastes better. I don't drink enough soda to detect a difference, but since then, I've been trying to compare the two to see if there is any variation in taste. I've never tried them side-by-side, but honestly, I think they both taste great.

How about you? Do you think soda from a can tastes different from soda in a bottle?

Source