San Pellegrino l'Aranciata Amara

Made by: San Pellegrino SpA

Origin: Italy

Imported into the UK by: Nestle Waters UK Ltd





The San Pellegrino spring is located in the town of San Pellegrino Terme, North of Bergamo, in the province of Lombardy, Italy. The official spring water bottling company was formed in 1899, and diversified into sparkling soft drinks as early as 1932. An Amara or bitter version of the orangeade was launched in 1949, to mark the company's 50th Anniversary.

The Amara is an intense, matt orange colour with yellow highlights, fading out to a clear watery rim at the very edge of the glass. There is a fine sediment of orange fruit in suspension, and the drink is steadily sparkling when poured out.

The primary aromas on the nose are warm and juicy; here we have freshly sliced Navel oranges with a drop or two or Grand Marnier. As the drink opens up in the glass the impression is much fuller, one of whole oranges: Zest, flesh, pips, even leaves...a whole orange grove. A sharper note suggests grapefruit.

'Amara' translates as 'bitter', and on the palate this really delivers. From an initial burst of mouthfilling, ripe orange flavour with a fresh acidity, there follows a long, controlled transformation to bitterness. The zesty bitter taste sensation, derived in part from Quinine (Chinona tree bark extract), is similar to the experience of eating Kumquats.

There is a lovely flavour concentration here, entirely refreshing and helped no doubt by the high juice content at 15.6%.

Amara is a uniquely invigorating, enlivening drink, and leaves a mouthwatering sensation behind. Within the overall balance, the palate is both stimulated by the acidity levels (felt on the sides of the tongue), and by the extraordinary bitterness (felt at the back of the tongue). The long finish is to be savoured.

Packaging claims: New formula with 30% more orange juice, no preservatives, no artificial colourings

Ingredients: Water, orange juice (15.6%), glucose-fructose syrup, sugar, carbon dioxide, acidity regulator citric acid, natural aromas, Chinona extract

Price: Should be about £0.80-£0.90 for a 330ml can, available from Italian delicatessens, specialist retailers and online

Bundaberg Ginger Beer

Made by: Bundaberg Brewed Drinks P/L

Origin: Australia

Imported into the UK by: Bundaberg Brewed Drinks UK Pty Ltd





Bundaberg Brewed Drinks have been making traditional soft drinks using natural ingredients since 1960. They are based in the town of Bundaberg, Queensland, Australia. Due to overwhelming popular demand we present our review of perhaps their most well known product, the Bundaberg Ginger Beer...

This is a pale, cloudy off white colour. When poured out the drink is gently sparkling, translucent and with a light yellow tint to the colour.

The aroma is fresh, up front and citrussy at first, with a distinct lemon barley theme. The warmth of ginger follows some way behind. This is quite subtle and restrained for a ginger based drink, appetising and with a moist gingercake sweetness.

On to the palate, where citrus flavours (lemon and orange) and the light-medium body make a fresh, fluid impression. The ginger notes arrive in fine understated style, with a controlled force, and without the raw burn or aggression found in some ginger beers.

There is a long finish to this, with rolling ginger now and a subdued pepper bite, recalling more sweet fruit than fiery spice. As with its stablemate, this is a soft drink that clearly demonstrates what can be done with a dedication to quality ingredients and deft handling.

Packaging claims: Naturally brewed to be better, always cloudy, full of real ginger pieces, traditionally brewed, the natural flavours of ginger

Ingredients: Carbonated water, cane sugar, ginger root, natural flavours, acid (citric acid), yeast, preservatives (E211, E202), antioxidant (E300)

Price: Should be about £1.40-£1.50 for a 340ml glass bottle, available from Waitrose and selected supermarkets, and specialist retailers

Vita Coco 100% pure Coconut Water

Made by: Paraipaba Agroindustrial Ltda. (for All Market Inc.)

Origin: Brazil

Imported into the UK by: Marigold Health Foods Ltd




The rising tide of interest in coconut water, the natural juice of young (green) coconuts, has become something of a media phenomenon in the USA of late. Coconut Water is already a well-established health and hydration drink in Asia, Central and South America. We decided to find out what all the fuss is about...

Vita Coco is a pale, off white colour. The drink is still, translucent and contains a small amount of fine coconut particles floating in suspension.

The aromas on the nose are fairly challenging: Tropical fish tanks, warm pondweed, and a whiff of ripe Brie cheese all come to mind. There is something vegetal at work here, that carries a damp and 'closed' quality.

Moving to the taste, Vita Coco is at once fresh, softly textured, with a roundness on the palate and a delicate 'salty sweet' flavour. There is a nutty, green husk flavour next (reminds me of sugar cane or aloe vera) followed by a late burst of soft young coconut meat.

This drink has a long, satisfying aftertaste during which the experience takes shape, and the promise of having just drunk from a freshly opened coconut finally comes into focus.


Packaging claims: Like sticking a straw in a coconut, hydrate naturally, more electrolytes than leading sports drinks with 15 times the potassium, has more potassium than two bananas, 100% natural, the beauty of one ingredient

Ingredients: Natural Coconut Water

Price: Should be about £1.70 for a 330ml Tetra Pack carton, available from Selfridges & Co and health food stores

Bundaberg Lemon Lime & Bitters

Made by: Bundaberg Brewed Drinks P/L

Origin: Australia

Imported into the UK by: Bundaberg Brewed Drinks UK Pty Ltd

This sparkling soft drink is a pale pink colour, clear and bright, with fine bubbles that rise steadily to the surface from various points in the glass.

On the nose a deep lime aroma: Key lime pie, dusted with allspice, plus notes of ginger and quinine. This is very appetising. As with many lemon & lime drinks, the lemon struggles to compete with its more delicate freshness.

On the palate a juicy and nicely concentrated lime flavour, followed by soft cinnamon. Persistent, mouthwatering and with a lovely tart balance...this is refreshing stuff. The bitters flavours add a spicy dimension: Cloved orange, ginger and quinine. They bring a light bitterness with them, perfectly balanced between the sugar and citrus. The cinnamon note that made an early appearance now lingers on the finish.

Packaging claims: Naturally brewed to be better, crafted from real lemons and limes, [naturally brewed] from real herbs and tropical spices

Ingredients: Carbonated water, cane sugar, lime juice from concentrate (6.3%), bitters brew (4.8%) (water, cane sugar, tropical spices, gentian root, yeast), lemon juice from concentrate (0.8%), acid (citric acid), antioxidant (E300), flavour, colour (E120), preservatives (E211, E220)

Price: Should be about £1.40-£1.50 for a 340ml glass bottle, available from Waitrose and selected supermarkets, and specialist retailers

Itsu Limeflower/ Zesty Orange Vitamin Water

Made by: Made under license

Origin: UK

This still Itsu drink is a pale lemon yellow colour, with a light green hue. The colour fades to a clear watery rim around the edge of the glass.

The aromas are very light and fleeting, lead by a citrus note. There is a glimpse of acacia, a trace of honey...the impression is of a heavily diluted cordial.

This is confirmed on the palate, with flavours that are dilute and ephemeral, unable to express themselves before disappearing. There was only time to detect a warm grassy note and a drop of orange oil, before water washes the palate clean and the drink ends in a short finish.

Packaging claims: Vitamin enriched water, zero fat and less than 60 calories, contains 50% of your RDA (vitamin & minerals), suitable for vegetarians

Ingredients: Still water, fruit extract, citric acid, bitter orange peel infusion, limeflower infusion, natural flavouring, minerals (zinc citrate deydrate, potassium iodide), vitamins (C, B3, B5, B6, B12, folic acid), natural colour (safflower and carrot)

Price: £1.50 for a 500ml PET bottle, available from branches of Itsu across London

San Pellegrino Chino

Made by: San Pellegrino SpA

Origin: Italy

Imported into the UK by: Nestle Waters UK Ltd

Chinotto is a sparkling Italian soft drink named after the small, bitter citrus fruit of the Myrtle-leaved orange tree. The tree is believed to have originated in China, hence the name. Today Chinotto fruit is mostly cultivated in Italy, where the peel extract is an essential ingredient in Italian Bitters ('Amari'); alcoholic liqueurs drunk either as a digestif or an aperitif. San Pellegrino claim to have formulated the first Chinotto soft drink in 1932, today marketed under the brand name of Chino.

Sparkling Chino is a dark chestnut brown colour, clear and intense. When poured out, fine pinhead bubbles can be observed rising from various points in the glass.

On the nose this is sweetly spiced and strikingly aromatic: Allspice, cloved orange, with rooty and woody scents all combining to create a spice cake impression.

Opening with a fruity caramel, cola flavour on the palate, a long and controlled progression of sweet to bitter follows. Flavours of spice cake and ginger at first, cassia and clove, then black cherry, fig and toffee. Subtle notes of liquorice and menthol emerge to add further points of interest along the gently bitter, persistent finish.

Chino is an absorbing taste experience, and a soft drink to really savour. If you like this or think this sounds appealing then look up our review of Bitter KAS.

Packaging claims: None

Ingredients: Water, glucose-fructose syrup, sugar, carbon dioxide, colour E150d, aromas, acidifier citric acid, chinotto extract, acidity regulator sodium citrate, salt, antioxidant L-ascorbic acid

Price: Should be about £1.00 for a 330ml can, available from specialist outlets like italian foodstores and delicatessens

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