Infused OWater

By this point, I have had many disappointing flavor-infused waters. Sometimes the flavoring is worth the extra effort, but I usually feel when drinking an infusion that I would really just rather have plain water. Owater, however, is a slight exception.

The first big difference about Owater is that it is sweetened (with pure cane sugar, I believe). Typically, infused waters are not, and many would argue that that is the point of an infused water beverage. I would certainly not argue with those people about it; I agree. But the mild sweetness in the Owater really just made the drink a lot more enticing overall. The sweetening helps to bring out the very natural taste of the fruit flavorings, and keeps them from combining into an obtruse amalgamation of flavors that leaves a bitter aftertaste in one's mouth (a problem that I frequently have with this sort of beverage).

I picked this up at Big Lots, and the flavor selection was limited to this one (pineapple, orange, blueberry), but I found it to be quite tasty. It was refreshing and different in an industry segment of largely similar and nondescript products, and stands out as a much more viable option for those looking for a healthy, light beverage that still has a bit of taste. Seeing as I got this one at Big Lots, I'm not sure of the retail price of individual units, but I would imagine that the prices are competitive. If so, this one is definitely worth your money.

As an added note, the company has changed their bottles, labels, and flavors recently (hence this older one ending up at Big Lots), so those who go looking for this should do some research first to familiarize themselves with the new look, so as not to pass over it in a store. The company also sells an unsweetened version of the beverage, as well, if that is one's preference.

Verdict: Recommended

Purchased: Big Lots [Columbia, SC]
Size: 17 fl. oz. [502 mL]
Price: $0.70 [Discounted]

R.W. Knudsen Sparkling Essence

I love cucumber. Sometimes. Although it is delicious, sometimes cucumber can be a little...untoward. Last night, for example, I got a burrito from Moe's and as I went through the line with all of the extra toppings, I sighted some cucumber slices in one of the bins. I inquisitively asked for some on my burrito, and upon settling in at a table and taking a bite of my experimental, tortilla-wrapped dinner, I immediately regretted it. The mixture of guacamole and fresh cucumber combined together into a taste of what can easily be described as a sushi burrito. It tasted like a California roll, and it was not great.

The point of this story, of course, is that there are some places that cucumber just do not belong. Inside of this can is one of them. I have had cucumber waters before and been able to palette them, but I've never been inspired to drink them of my own accord. The varieties that I have tried before were not carbonated, however, and I must say that the carbonation only hurts the beverage. There is something about the faint bitterness of the carbonation (which I typically love) and the deep basic (by which I mean the opposite of acidic) flavor of the cucumber that do not interact very well. They result in a weird, fluctuating flavor that does not take very well to the palette and does not go down smoothly. If you must try a cucumber water, I recommend going for something that is not carbonated, or is at least mixed with another flavor.

Verdict: Not recommended

Purchased: Food Lion (Columbia, SC)

Size: 10.5 fl. oz. (311 mL)

Price: $4.99 (4 Pack)

Zico 100% Pure Coconut Water

This is coconut water. And they're not joking. It's pretty bad. It's salty going in and has the vague hint of baby powder in the aftertaste. I bought this at GNC because the packaging caught my eye and I thought it sounded interesting. It's intended for runners, as it is supposed to offer more immediate hydration than water, but I don't know if putting up with the taste would be worth it. And the lima-citron flavoring only makes things worse. It was like a cheap attempt to mask the very harsh taste of the coconut fluid, and only resulted in adding insult to injury. Unless you are a hardcore runner desperately looking for something for rapid hydration (it was fairly successful on that front), definitely pass this one up.

Verdict: Not recommended

Metromint: Lemonmint Water

I've been drinking Metromint for a while now (several years), and am just now getting around to writing a review of one of their flavors, but let me say this: Metromint is one of my favorite beverages. I honestly feel that the only thing higher on the list is Perrier. 

Anyway, about the beverage. Metromint is a simple drink, as it is just water and mint. The ingredients for the lemonmint variety, for example, are: purified water, lemon essence, and mint. Simple as that. Now, I am a huge fan of using natural ingredients in beverages (I think that they almost universally taste better that way), so this is a big positive for me. 

Lemonmint is probably my favorite of the Metromint varieties, as I love both lemon and spearmint, and they have mixed the two perfectly. Neither flavor overtakes the other, and they mingle together in a harmony that can only be described as superb. The beverage is outstandingly refreshing (such is usually the case with water), and is best served at the lowest possible temperature that you can manage while still retaining its liquid form.

Metromint can typically be found in most health/organic food stores. All of the flavors are excellent, but if you can only try one, I recommend the lemonmint as a good starting point.

Verdict: Highly recommended