My apologies for putting this review up so late after we completed the Popcast. We try and have them up within a few days after recording, but with the holidays, and all, I got behind. Wait a second… why am I apologizing? I’m a Jerk! Today I hold in my hand a beverage with an erupting volcano on the front, Reed’s Natural Energy Elixir. I’ll tell you right now that I’m excited to drink this for a couple of reasons. Reason one is that it’s from Reed’s, and they very rarely steer us in the wrong direction. The second reason is that this beverage holds the title of an elixir. I wish there were more elixirs on the market.
Since this is an energy drink you would assume it has a chemical taste. Well had you listened to the Popcast you’d know that it does not, and that can be attributed to its long list of natural ingredients. Here’s the list that they put on the side of the can, with each of their benefits.
Ginger – powerful antioxidant, increases metabolism, elevates mood, improves digestion and nutrition absorption.
Green Tea – rich in epigallacatechin gallate (EGCG) a powerful antioxidant, a natural source of caffeine, lowers bad cholesterol.
Ginseng – a powerful adaptogen that counters stress and increases endurance.
Goji – Himalayan longevity secret with powerful antioxidants, counters aging, and increases resistance to disease.
Açaí – a rainforest super fruit packed with antioxidants, energy, and nutrition
Camu Camu – a rainforest super fruit with the highest concentration of vitamin C on any plant, antioxidant, mood balancing, antidepressant.
Jiaogulan – called the immortality herb, a powerful adaptogen that increases the body’s resistance to stress.
L-Theanine – an amino acid that creates a sense of relaxation and alertness similar to meditation.
B Vitamins – essential nutrients that help counteract stressful living.
With this being my second can of Reed’s Natural Energy Elixir, I am sure I will achieve strenght, and immortality with the above ingredients. I will overpower Mike (since he foolishly only had one can) and become the lone Soda Jerk. Being a Soda Jerk is a lot like being a Highlander… except real. Let’s move on shall we.
After I crack open the top, I immediately get the strong smell of ginger, with a hint of honey. It’s not exactly an inviting odor to me, but it doesn’t scare me away either. It is nice to have such a powerful aroma coming off the top of a drink though; it means that each sip will more than likely be flavorful. Let’s drink.
As stated earlier, this drink doesn’t have the chemical taste of other energy beverages. In fact if you look at the ingredient list as you drink, you can pick out the individual flavors. You can taste the honey, the lemon/lime… this elixir has a complicated set of flavors if you look for it. Ginger root is still the strongest flavor in the can, and it’s pretty well documented that I don’t like the burning sensation ginger produces when consumed, and Reed’s Natural Energy Elixir is a culprit as well. I will say that it doesn’t have the burn of a ginger beer, and it’s tolerable by my own standards. Since we judge all beverages the same, I will say that as sodas go it’s just alright. On a second note, this drink does work well at giving you energy. I don't feel jittery after trying it, just much more aware of what's going on around me. The score won’t reflect how good of an energy drink it is, and let me tell you it’s a good one.
~A
