V-Fresh Lemongrass drink with Basil seed

Made by: V. Thai Food Product Co Ltd

Origin: Thailand

Imported into the UK by: Manning Impex Ltd





The strain of lemongrass that is most readily consumed in food and drink today is believed to have originated in Malaysia. As well as being a component of soft drink recipes, it is also drunk as a tea. Citral, a chemical component of lemongrass, has been shown to have significant anti-cancer properties. Basil seeds are often added to drinks and desserts in Thailand to add texture, like tapioca. The seeds become gelatinous when added to liquids.

This drink is a bright lemon yellow colour, with a greenish tint. It is non-sparkling, and contains a large number of black basil seeds in suspension.

On the nose a warm, mellow aroma of barley sugar and lemon jelly is inviting. The combination brings to mind sugar-dusted lemon travel sweets. Beneath this there lies a woody, earthy note of lemongrass sticks.

What follows on the palate is broadly consistent, with soft, warm flavours of lemon jelly mix and barley sugar. There is a light oiliness and that earthy, now grassy note stays in the frame. The basil seeds add a light texture (like tapioca pearls), with a bite similar to eating a Kiwi fruit. The drink ends in a short finish.

Packaging claims: No presevatives

Ingredients: Water, lemongrass (15%), basil seed (12.5%), fructose syrup, sugar, colour E102 & E133

Price: Should be about £0.75 for a 290ml glass bottle, available from specialist retaliers , and in and around Chinatown

Organic Sparkling Lemonade

Made by: Whole Earth Foods

Origin: UK








The second drink in the Whole Earth series is a sparkling lemonade. This is a pale, bright lemon yellow colour. It is slightly cloudy (translucent) and gently carbonated, with the bubbles rising steadily when the drink is poured out.

The nose carries the sweet aroma of fresh, ripe lemons: juicy and direct. There is also a more concentrated note of lemon oil, and a sprinkling of powdered sugar.

Flavours on the palate are light by comparison (read well diluted), with a touch of sugar and lime adding to the lemons to create a sherbetty appeal. The overall impression is understated and pleasant, easy drinking and well balanced, without the citrus tang found elsewhere. Short finish.

Packaging claims: Soil Association Organic, no artificial colours, preservatives or flavours, suitable for Vegetarians and Vegans, Vegetarian Society Approved, produced to strict organic standards, as this drink is made from natural ingredients it may contains a slight sediment

Ingredients: Sparkling water, organic apple juice from concentrate (15%), organic agave syrup, organic lemon juice from concentrate (4%), natural lemon flavouring

Price: Should be about £0.80 for a 330ml can, from branches of Asda, health and wholefood stores and specialist cafes

Feelgood Drinks Co. Apple & Blueberry Juice Drink

Made by: Feel Good Drinks Co.

Origin: UK








This still juice drink is a matt red-brown colour, flecked with purple. The aromas of the various fruit juices used produce an interesting result on the nose: Tomatoes and cherries with a drop of menthol. There is a suggestion of earthy blueberries, and a leafy note (think of hedgerows). The sweetness of purple grape and apple juices can also be detected.

On the palate there is plenty of dark, earthy blueberry fruit, and a brambly style develops. A taste of prune juice follows, together with sweet spices now like a fuit compote, and an unusual minty tang adds another point of interest before the short, clean finish.

This is well balanced and flavourful for a juice drink.

Packaging claims: Mixed fruit juice drink, no artificial nasties, fruit not sugar

Ingredients: Fruit juice from concentrate (reduced colour apple 75%, orange 8.7%, grape 5.6%, apple 5.1%, blueberry 0.5%), spring water, natural flavours, natural colours, fruit and plant extract, natural stabiliser; carob

Price: Should be about £1.20 for a 400ml PET bottle, widely available

Ginseng Bird's Nest Drink- Rabbit Brand

Made by: Yeow Seng (Shark's Fin) Pte Ltd

Origin: Singapore

Imported into the UK: tbc






Bird's nest is a Chinese delicacy and is harvested from swiftlet nesting sites in Borneo, Sumatra and other parts of Indonesia. Swiftlets traditionally make their nests on cave walls using strands of hardened saliva, which they weave into nests. The nests are graded according to colour and nutritional value and can fetch up to $10,000 per kilo.

Bird's nest drink is a pale yellow colour with a bright appearance. It is non-sparkling and contains small particles of bird's nest and ginseng in suspension.

The aroma is quite unique and manages to combine ripe banana and vanilla with wet bonfire ashes, rubber and charcoal.

As with the aroma, on the palate the flavour is unique and quite challenging. What starts as sweet banana and vanilla quickly turns burnt, ashy, rubbery and progressively more bitter. There is an earthy, potato note that points towards the ginseng, and a bittersweet sensation lingers in the aftertaste.

Packaging claims: Geniune bird's nest with ginseng, no colouring, serve hot or cold

Ingredients: Water, rock sugar, bird's nest, ginseng

Price: Should be about £1.00 for a 245ml can, from oriental food stores and other specialist retailers

Organic Sparkling Cranberry

Made by: Whole Earth Foods

Origin: UK








This organic juice drink is a clear, pale salmon pink colour. When poured out, a series of fine pinhead bubbles rise steadily from various points in the glass.

There is a striking floral nose to this, quite unexpected but enticing with aromas of rose petal and carnations. A sweeter, more concentrated layer of wine gums and turkish delight lies beneath.

The delicate, balanced flavours on the palate are a delight. The impression is light but satisfying, not dilute. The appetising sour-sweet duet of the cranberry has acquired a distinctive blackcurrant twist here, with a drop of cordial coming through. We also detected an interesting grassy pepper note that may hint at the agave syrup used (the drink's sweetener). Fruit gums appear on the finish: Altogether a very refreshing experience.

Packaging claims: Soil Association Organic, no artificial colours, preservatives or flavours, suitable for Vegetarians and Vegans, Vegetarian Society Approved, produced to strict organic standards, as this drink is made from natural ingredients it may contains a slight sediment

Ingredients: Sparkling water, organic agave syrup, organic cranberry juice from concentrate (4%), organic lemon juice from concentrate (1%), natural flavourings

Price: Should be about £0.80 for a 330ml can, from branches of Asda, health and wholefood stores and specialist cafes

Vitamin Water Multi-V Lemonade (b-zinc)

Made by: Coca-Cola Enterprises Ltd

Origin: UK







This still lemonade drink is a translucent off-white colour, fading to a watery rim around the very edge of the glass. It's appearance is similar to water with an aspirin in solution.

The nose is peculiar, with a lactic aroma at first, like a Calpis (cultured milk) drink. There are more unusual aromas to follow: crushed biscuits, damp walls, papier mache...original! Everything here is subtle and swimming in a well-diluted environment.

The flavours follow suit on the palate, where a faint chalkiness compliments the taste of dilute lemon barley. A flavour of cookie dough emerges with a light citrus tang attached (that Calpis drink again), before everything vanishes in a short finish.

Packaging claims: Still lemon flavour spring water drink with vitamins and minerals

Ingredients: Spring water, fructose, sugar, citric acid, mineral salts (calcium lactate, calcium gluconate, zinc gluconate), flavourings, vitamins (C, niacin, E, pantothenic acid, B6, folic acid, B12), stabilisers (acacia gum, glycerol esters of wood rosins)

Price: Should be about £1.30-£1.50 for a 500ml PET bottle, widely available

Vimto

Made by: Nichols plc (under licence)

Origin: UK








Vimto is a fruit flavoured soft drink that originated in Manchester in 1908. It was formulated by a spice and medicine merchant under the name of 'Vim Tonic', and sold as a health tonic.

Sparkling Vimto is an intense crimson red colour, clear and bright. There is a purple hue that develops towards the rim of the glass.

The nose is aromatic and laden with fruit syrups (strawberry, cherry and blackcurrant). These are smothered in a rich vanilla essence (think of cream soda), and there is a suggestion of Parma Violet sweets. An odd note catches briefly in the throat, not unlike ammonia.

The light, sweet flavours on the palate are broadly consistent with the nose: Red and black fruit syrups, vanilla cream and Parma Violets again. Vimto has a short, sweet finish that echoes of vanilla in the aftertaste.

Packaging claims: Mixed fruit juice drink made with the delicious secret Vimto flavour, a tantalising mix of secret herbs and spices, for the most amazing taste experience you'll ever have

Ingredients: Carbonated water, sucrose, mixed fruit juices from concentrate 3% (grape, blackberry, raspberry), Vimto flavour (including natural extracts of fruits, herbs, barley malt and spices), citric acid, colour (anthocyanins), preservatives (potassium sorbate, sodium benzoate, antioxidant (ascorbic acid)

Price: Should be about £0.70-£0.80 for a 330ml can, widely available