Foodie Fridays: I Review Emergency Super Orange and Rain Republic Chocolate
Disclaimer: Products in reviews were either purchased by the author or obtained as free samples.
Emergen-C Super Orange Flavored Fizzy Drink Mix
Emergen-C is a drinkable vitamin C supplement that you make fizzy by simply adding water. It contains no artificial colors, it actually contains orange juice powder and the raw ingredients are certified GMO-free. Having said that, the first ingredient is fructose and when you go down the ingredient list, you’ll find tapioca maltodextrine and glycine used as additional sweetners. I am also not sure I want to drink silica or cysteine hydrochloride on regular basis. I’m also a bit suspicious of something called “natural orange flavors“. Is that stuff actually orange, or just natural flavors that taste like orange?
The beet coloring is beautiful and natural looking. Unfortunately, the Super Orange drink mix left me disenchanted in spite of its good looks. Imagine the lovechild of Tang and a toned-down Alka Seltzer, and you’ll have a pretty good idea of the taste. I am not sure that the fizziness did anything to enhance the flavor.
Each glass of Emergen-C Super Orange Flavored Fizzy Drink Mix has 1000 milligrams of vitamin C. This is not necessarily a good thing since the recommended daily intake of vitamin C lies somewhere between 45 and 400 milligrams. Too much vitamin C may cause digestive problems that you probably won’t enjoy.
If you like flavored sugar water, hate pills, cannot stand to eat fruits and vegetables and have a thing for fizzy drinks, then Emergen-C might be for you. Personally, I’d rather get my vitamin C from fruits, teas and veggies. It’s cheaper and a lot tastier.
If you want to try a free sample of Emergen-C, do what I did and visit http://www.emergenc.com/.
Rain Republic Chocolate
I bought a bunch of Rain Republic chocolate bars from Woot not to long ago, and I wanted to share my experience with them with all of you. Rain Republic is made with single-origin and slave-free Guatemalan cocoa beans, and unlike most bars, they are actually manufactured in the country of origin. Each two ounce bar is wrapped in mylar and presented in a cardboard box. If you value ecology over packaging, you will hate the excess. However, if you want a really fresh product, Rain Republic will not disappoint.
These lovely pesticide and chemical free bars unleash a lovely aroma when removed from the mylar. Unfortunately, the portion squares seem too big for those of us who want a tiny after dinner taste. I had to cut the squares in thirds, which of course, was rather inconvenient. The chocolate used for these bars is not made using the Dutch process method which makes for a different taste experience than the one found in most commercial chocolate. By using heat and a hydraulic press to separate the beans from the fat, Rain Republic delivers a slightly harsher but more intense flavor that’s reveals the true nature of chocolate. Evaporated cane sugar, also sourced from Guatemala adds a subdued molasses flavor.
The Rain Republic dark chocolate bar lacked the kind of subtlety I enjoy for straight eating. It was too much cocoa and not enough chocolate. However, the smoky oak flavor suggests that this bar might be an amazing pairing for a tannin-rich Cabernet Sauvignon, which I imagine would enhance its coffee notes and neutralize some of the bitterness. This dark bar dazzles when used as a substitute for semi-sweet baking chocolate. It melts readily and smoothly, and its acidic intensity is a perfect counter for the sweetness of treats like brownies, chocolate chip cookies, fondues and more.
Rain Republic’s dark milk chocolate with cinnamon bars are graceful and absolutely addictive by themselves. The version with almond was mildly disappointing since the almonds seemed small and sparse. The plain version of the dark milk chocolate with cinnamon bars proved to be incredibly enjoyable. Its flavor and texture was very reminiscent of the Mexican chocolate I used to eat in my childhood. The cinnamon and vanilla seemed incredibly well balanced. In spite of their high cocoa content, both bars were delightfully sweet and approachable.
I happily recommend these all three of these bars to chocolate fans who care about good taste and great ethics. Learn more about Rain Republic by visiting http://rainrepublic.com/.
A smart review. I’d like to try that Emergen-C Drink mix. Such a catchy name, I guess. Hmm. But I wouldn’t want to drink that everyday and let it serve as my regular vitamin C supplement, like you, I still want mine to come from natural, as in natural resources and vitamin C tablets. Thanks!
Glad you enjoyed it, Angel. If you like sweet, you’ll love it.