Inca Kola

Inca Kola is a beverage that I have been looking forward to trying for quite some time. I heard about Inca Kola quite some time ago, but then kind of forgot about it. So, when I unexpectedly came across it at a local grocery store, remembering that I'd been looking for it was a nice surprise. Unfortunately, the taste of the drink was not such a nice surprise.

I didn't really have any expectations going into the beverage other than the assumption that it was cola flavored. Seeing as how the name contains the word cola (or rather, "kola"), I thought that this was a safe assumption, but I was incorrect. Inca Kola barely tastes like cola at all. I'm not sure if the beverage is supposed to taste like cola or not, but the truth of the matter is that it tastes like bubble gum. It is difficult to tell what the company's intentions are with the flavor, as all of their marketing seems concerned only with the fact that the drink is of a grossly artificial yellow hue. The can touts it simply as "the golden carbonated beverage," which gives no indication as to what the consumer is supposed to be tasting. This leads me to believe that the misspelling of "cola" is intentional, much like the common usage of the term "krab" when referring to imitation crab. Also, the color is not so much "golden" as it is "pure Yellow 5," so I don't even know that that part of the description is entirely accurate. There is a slight twinge of cola in the aftertaste, but the bubble gum taste is entirely overwhelming and I think that it may just be coincidental. 

Overall, I found Inca Kola to be a bit of a disappointment. I can see how someone may enjoy the rather unique taste of the beverage, but I did not like it at all, and it is difficult for me to recommend. Unfortunately, Inca Kola comes across to me as not much more than an empty source of sugar and artificial coloring.

Verdict: Not Recommended

Purchased: Publix [Columbia, SC]

Size: 12 fl. oz. [355mL]

Price: $3.99 [Six-pack]