Shirakiku Pineapple

Another bottle of Japanese ramune. If this is the first of these you've seen then check out the first post about this particular brand and bottle style at the link here. There are a few other posts on ramune you can explore by using the article "tags" at the bottom of each post.

I was looking forward to trying this drink because I've liked many previous ramune beverages from the Shirakiku line-up, but this one is strange. It smells more like a melon flavored drink. Indeed, there is also a touch of melon in the flavor as well as that of apple juice. But it doesn't invoke any sense of pineapple to me. I'm not saying it is necessarily bad, but it's just not very crisp, no very carbonated and not like pineapple. I can't recommend it, but if you're curious, try it.

World Market Pomegranate

This bottle of Pomegranate soda is the third World Market beverage to appear here. There really isn't a history to discuss as these are a line of private label sodas created by the World Market stores.

The drink itself has a rich cranberry coloring to it and smells like fresh fruit. It's carbonation is even but slight. It's taste is like cranberry and lime juice. I say this because it's a deep fruit pulp flavor but quite tart with a lime-like aftertaste. It's also a very natural product as no chemicals are included as ingredients. It's an interesting flavor but I usually prefer pomegranate mixed with other flavors. Because of it's pucker inducing nature I, personally, would only drink this in small amounts.

Sioux City Birch Beer

In 1987, White Rock Beverages, who had already been producing spring water and soft drinks since the 1800's, created the Sioux City line of sodas with a western theme. Although the bottle says Sioux City, which is located in Iowa, White Rock Beverages hails from New York.

Wow, what an aroma. Opening this bottle unleashes the scent of cinnamon and peppermint. It is only lightly carbonated but it's very refreshing. Although a birch beer should taste more like root beer, so I'm not sure how it ended up tasting this way, but it is nice and brings to mind a Lifesavers breath mint. In my opinion you should grab a 4-bottle pack to try.

Topo Sabores Orange

Topo Sabores is a Mexican made soda under the umbrella of the Topo Chico company that began in 1895 to bottle mineral waters. The late 1800's were the hey day of consumer use of "healing waters" before people understood what was in the mineral springs being ingested and/or bathed in. The company was also the first Mexican bottler of Coca-Cola, though it is unknown when they began making their own brand of sodas under the name of Topo Sabores.

It carries a sugary orange aroma like that of orange-flavored Smarties. The bottle is thick and carries a considerable heft, which I like. The taste immediately reminds me of cheap orange popscicles as a kid during the summer. It seems a bit odd though that they would use cane sugar, rather than corn syrup, but then include so many chemicals in the ingredients. Maybe high-fructose corn syrup isn't as cheap in Mexico? All in all, it isn't bad but I'd like for them to increase the carbonation just a bit. If you're interested, this brand can be found in many grocery store ethnic food sections here in the states.

Jones Soda Blue Bubblegum

Another incarnation from Jones Soda. Jones has been around since 1987 and you can read more on them at this post.

This particular blend comes in an unholy bright blue color more reminiscent of a sports drink than a soda. It is well carbonated and does smell of bubblegum. If I had closed my eyes I might have thought a piece of Bazooka Joe's was under my nose. Unfortunately this does not taste as much like bubblegum as it smells. The bubblegum flavor disapates quickly and I'm left with a slightly chemical taste in my mouth and taste buds that feel the slightest bit numb. Once again Jones misses the mark in my opinion. I have to assume that their user-submitted bottle and print ad photos are the only thing selling these sodas from Jones. Better luck next time.