NuGrape

NuGrape began in 1906, and was sold in bottles beginning in 1921. Originally established in Atlanta, GA it was purchased by Moxie, later Monarch Beverage Co., in 1968. The National NuGrape Co. building at 794 Ralph McGill Blvd in  Atlanta is now on the National Register of Historic Places and was converted to private apartments in the early 1990's. Monarch sold the brand away to Big Red in 1999.

It may not have an authentic grape flavor, but it's reminiscent of the kind of grape flavored powders and chalky candies you're remember from your youth like Sweettarts. It has a more chemical finish to it though and a light amount of carbonation.

Fentiman's Dandelion & Burdock

Fentiman's is a UK based beverage company that began in 1905. Interestingly it was not started by Thomas Fentiman, rather he provided a loan to a fellow who began making brewed ginger beer and Thomas took ownership when the loan was not repaid. An interesting way to enter the beverage industry. The company was shuttered in the 1960's due to market competition but was renewed by Thomas Fentiman's great-grandson in the 1980's.

Dandelion and Burdock is a brewed botanical drink dating as far back as the 13th century. See the entry on Moxie for more historical information on sodas. These early "soft drinks" were naturally carbonated due to the brewing process of their ingredients and similar to other "antique" sodas was created from various root extracts.

No one that grew up with a yard in America needs to be told what a dandelion is or that we consider it a weed... an unwanted pest in on the lawn our parents would sometimes pay a bounty for us to remove. But did you know that for all our efforts to remove them, it never had to be that way because the dandelion is not a native American plant. It was imported from Europe to be used as a food ingredient and to provide food for honeybees. The leaves of the dandelion are rich in vitamins and minerals and have been used for centuries as a diuretic.

Burdock is a species of thistle, and rather odd looking if I may say so. The flowering heads turn into a sort of cross between the fluffy, seeded dandelion and what looks like the burs produced by sweet gum trees. It was the burs of the burdock plant that inspired the inventor of velcro. Burdock too has been used for centuries as a natural diuretic and blood purifier.

So what flavor am I to expect from my first tasting of this classic beverage? Let's see...  For starters, it has only a light carbonation and a strong smell of licorice from the aniseed included in the ingredients. The best way to describe this drink would be taste of black licorice with the leafy flavor of tea and carbonation of a soda. It's quite unique and a tad strong on flavor. I'm not sure how soda ever became popular with flavors like this, but that's why they have their origins in the pharmacies. I can see how someone would put up with certain flavors if they were told it was good for their health... just look at some of the medicines we consume today. The licorice isn't too bad, but I suppose you'd have to be a tea drinker to enjoy it or perhaps be raised on the stuff. I find it tolerable to sip at, but this is not a drink that will be a regular with me. If you feel brave, try a bottle for the experience.

Dry Juniper

Dry Soda was started in 2005 by Sharelle Klaus after experimenting in her own kitchen. According to the company, "As a food and wine lover, she grew frustrated with the lack of options available to pair with fine meals. Sharelle hoped for a drink that was simple, all-natural, caffeine-free, low in sugar and made with the highest quality ingredients - a beverage that could complement great food or act as a light refreshment on its own."

While this will be my first tasting of one of the Dry Soda brand drinks there is an entirely unique line up of flavors from Dry, with offerings like juniper, cucumber, kumquat, lavender, lemongrass, vanilla bean and rhubarb. The Dry Soda website also lists suggested food pairings for each of its flavors as well as suggested liqueur mixes. They list quail, antipasto, mussels and venison among the food pairings for the juniper soda and suggest mixing with gin (imagine that!) or citron vodka.

As you can see the packaging could not be simpler for this drink. In fact the bottle was difficult to photograph. A juniper is a coniferous member of the cypress family. The berries are used to flavor gin and some sauces and were used by ancient cultures for medicinal properties. I'm not sure what to expect as the bottle lists pine essence on it and I'm not a big fan of gin. It has a very fresh aroma, like being in the mountains in the crisp air and is lightly carbonated. It's a very clean and light flavor like a very watery tonic. A whole serving (12 oz bottle) is only 55 calories, so this might be a good choice for a dieter who still needs soda. As I continue through the bottle I'm amazed that it's not anything like what I was expecting. This flavoring is so light and crisp I can imagine it would have a million possible uses within the food and alcohol communities. So if you're planning an elegant summer dinner party on the patio this might be a good choice for your non-drinking guests.

AJ Stephan's Raspberry Lime Rickey

AJ Stephan's was started in the late '80's by Jeff Rose. The water used in these soda's comes from a New England artesian well and mixed with cane sugar. He supposedly has some 200 family soda recipes on hand but only bottles a fraction of that as there are currently 9 different flavors bottled. I found it very interesting to learn that one of Jeff's daughters majored in chemistry at MIT and assisted in some of the formulations of the drinks.

Aside from the simple labels this bottle sticks out due to the contrast of the red soda and the lime green label. It has a sugary-sweet raspberry aroma. The raspberry flavor is really what you taste the most with this, with just a pinch of lime that really compliments the fruit taste well. Lightly carbonated, this is an excellent summer "dessert" drink.

Shirakiku Ramune Strawberry

The distinctive shape of this bottle is what first drew me to it and even then I had to look closer to determine if it was a soda or not. Ramune is a Japanese soda and is a very popular summer drink. I am interested in trying this, not only for the flavor, but because of the interesting bottle. Called a Codd-neck bottle after it's creator Hiram Codd who designed this style of bottle in the 1870's. The bottle's head has a narrow shape and the pressure from within presses up on a marble inside. Supposedly, this drink can be tricky for new drinkers and even has instructions for proper opening at the top.

After reading the directions a couple of times I was able to open it successfully. You separate a small plastic piece called the "plunger" from the cap and you can easily see the small glass marble in the top holding in the drink from the round opening due to the pressure from within. Placing the lunger over the marble you press down firmly with the palm of the hand until the pressure from within is overcome. The marble remains in the bottle.

This drink has a nice sweet aroma and thankfully tastes closer to a ripe strawberry from a garden than a piece of strawberry candy. I have noticed that most American fruit sodas are closer to the sugary sweetness of candy than the fruit they represent. However, this drink strikes a nice balance and I can imagine I would not get sick to my stomach after drinking a couple of bottles unlike some other sodas. All in all, I rate this drink well, both for it's flavor and the memorable style of the bottle and it's opening.

World Market Blood Orange

With a light balance of carbonation you can take in the wafting aroma of fresh fruit almost as soon as you twist the cap of this beverage. World Market stores sells these private label imported beverages made with its own sparkling water and a blend of actual fruit juices. While this soda is more grapefruit in color it's taste does not disappoint and makes me think of a nice breakfast spread with this citrus blend. From the quality of their bottles and labels to the flavor of their unique drinks I can tell that World Market must care about making a good product. Here's to hoping their other flavors are just as good. If you're near a World Market store pick up one of these pre-chilled bottles near the front of the store to try.

Coco Fizz

Coco Fizz comes from the Durango Soda Company in Durango, CO, which has been operating since 2002. The company makes a line up of various flavors under the name Zuberfizz and also makes the Coco Fizz drink seen here. I am making an assumption here, but due to the Rocky Mountain Chocolate Factory logo on the bottle I gather they helped to create this flavor.

This is a lightly carbonated chocolate drink with a heavenly cocoa aroma upon opening. A quick look at the ingredients shows it is made with cane sugar, but no milk products. I was not sure what to expect with this drink as it is a translucent soda with a color akin to that of an apple cider, unlike a thick creamy looking Yoo-hoo. Oddly, if you let this drink hang on your tongue you can't taste the chocolate, but the flavor appears as you drink it. It is a milk-chocolate taste with creamy tones, but not as terrific as the initial aroma. It is an odd sensation because I am used to chocolate drinks as milk, that is thick, milky and non-carbonated. Several minutes after tasting I still have the after-taste of what I can only liken to the aroma of my younger brother's old Hershey Chocolate teddy bear he had when we were very little that smelled of chocolate no matter what other mess it was covered in... a sort of "chemical chocolate". I won't be adding it to my regular line up, but tasting this is a whole different experience. 

Hotlips Boysenberry

Portland, Oregon based Hotlips pizzerias began in 1984 as a family business. Since 2005 they have also bottled a variety of brewed sodas using cane sugar and regionally grown fruits. Their lineup currently includes flavors such as pear, raspberry, boysenberry, blueberry, black raspberry and apple.  

Because I've never tasted a boysenberry, this will be my first try as well as my first taste of a Hotlips soda. It has a deep smell of dark berry and a sort of stem-like aroma and the carbonation is quite light. This soda has two distinct flavors in it. The first being that of the taste of a dark berry similar to a blackberry which is quite nice. As that taste passes it ends with a stem-like aftertaste which I don't care for. Because I am not familiar with the taste of boysenberries I am not sure if the "stem" flavor I am sensing comes from the berry or the brewing process itself, but I imagine it is the berry. I imagine that a boysenberry flavor is something of an acquired taste. I won't be drinking this one again but will be out to taste their other offerings in the future and I am really looking forward to the pear.