Coca-Cola Peach

Now I know that I posted about Coca-Cola's Georgia Peach on this previous post, but this can doesn't specifically appear to be labeled as "Georgia Peach" so it could be different. The fact that this can is from China also piqued my interest. The scent from the can is like that of ripe peach skins. I don't think it smells a bit like cola. Upon tasting it, I think it does indeed taste different than the Coca-Cola Georgia Peach mentioned earlier. In fact I taste no cola from this soda. The bottle of Georgia Peach was a blend of peach and cola flavors. This can tastes only of peach soda. As I can't read the text, perhaps it was only meant to be a plain peach soda. However, when you slap Coca-Cola on something there's a bit of expectation of cola even though it hasn't stopped Mountain Dew from creating all manner of flavors that have nothing to do with the traditional Mountain Dew flavor. But if I were to judge this merely as a peach soda, it isn't bad. I've often been surprised by peach flavored sodas as I don't particular enjoy eating peaches.

Coca-Cola Strawberry

This can is from Coca-Cola, imported from China. The sound of the can opening sounds like it has the expected level of carbonation and it releases a sweet strawberry scent, maybe even a bit like Twizzlers. So, I don't taste any cola in this beverage. I think this is meant to specifically be a strawberry soda from Coca-Cola because I'm just not picking up any hints of cola in it. The strawberry taste is like fresh fruit up front but I find the the aftertaste is more like that strawberry pie filling jelly they sell in a bag at the supermarket. 

Fanta Watermelon

I came across this can in the refrigerator of a foreign foods market. I couldn't read it, but the style was clearly Fanta. Despite the incredibly tiny text on the English language label, my guess as to the origins appear to be confirmed. It looks as though this flavor is from China. In previous posts I've mentioned how Fanta has many flavors that are regional in nature, not offered in other countries or sometimes even regions of the same country. 

The soda has a pinkish-red color but I smell nothing from the top of the can. A first sip makes me reel a little. The taste is very pungent, much more so than the Japanese watermelon ramune I tasted just a short while ago. This has Fanta's candy-like fruit flavoring all over it. Its made with high-fructose corn syrup as is typical for countries where Fanta can get away with it in place of real sugar. If you really dig watermelon or you want a watermelon hard candy in a can to drink this is for you.

Cherry China Cola

The China Cola brand is an interesting blended soda, in that they blend traditional herbs into their drinks. This is their Cherry Cola offering, my previous entry on regular China Cola can be seen here. 

The herbal ingredients give it a spicy scent. Strangely, it almost seems as if the herbal qualities of their cherry cola are stronger than that of their regular cola. I like to think I have a pretty sensitive palate but I cannot seem to find any hint of cherry within this drink. That isn't to say this is a bad soda, but expect a herbal tone with a spiciness like that of nutmeg and cinnamon. That aura makes it a pretty good choice for fall because of the use of nutmeg, cinnamon and ginger in many autumnal baked goods. Give it a try if you see it. 

China Cola

China Cola was developed by the Hangzhou Wahaha Group of Hangzhou, China in 1998. Hangzhou Wahaha focuses on the food and beverage industry and China Cola takes third in market share in China behind Coca-Cola and Pepsi. In China the product is sold as "Future Cola" and uses a nationalist marketing campaign by naming it "The Chinese people's own cola". In America, China Cola is a licensed product of Reed's, Inc., which makes several beverages of its own. The bottle seen here to the left shows a bit of an asian theme. In China, where the copyright laws are more lax the packaging resembles that of Coca-Cola.

There is no sudden release of carbonation when opening a bottle of China Cola but you can still feel the effervescence in your mouth. Unlike some colas this drink has a rather light cola aroma. Upon first taste I find it to have a pleasing cola flavor with a very light herbal finish. There is no herbal after-taste but you will be able to taste it in the finish as it passes the rear of the tongue when you swallow. Among the cane sugar, this cola also contains an interesting variety of ingredients including: szechuan peony root, cassia bark, malaysian vanilla, oil of lemon, lime and orange, nutmeg, cloves, licorice, and cardamon. The herbal finish I mentioned earlier definitely tastes of nutmeg and cloves of which I am so familiar with due to my penchant for pumpkin pie. The list of included herbs were, according to Reed's, chosen for "their effect on digestion and the liver". In researching the ingredients it appears that peony root is believed to relax muscles, cleanse the blood and act as an emotional stabilizer. Cassia is a cinnamon tree, and may have some effects on blood sugar. In traditional Chinese medicine, cassia is considered one of the fifty fundamental herbs. Cardamon, also called cardamom, is of the ginger family and used as an antiseptic, antispasmodic, and digestive among other things. Nutmeg is often used to lower blood pressure or soothe stomach aches and generally to detox the body. Nutmeg is often used as an analgesic and is believed to prevent blood clots. Overall, I'm a fan of this drink's distinct flavor. It isn't overpowering but more "flowery", a good blend. I would definitely suggest trying some if you have a chance.

In the future I will be reviewing Cherry China Cola.