REVIEW: Pepsi Max Cherry Blast

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Pepsi Max Cherry Blast

To be honest, I thought Pepsi Max would’ve been discontinued by now. Because it seems every beverage and snack that I love ends up being removed from shelves. I’d list all of the discontinued products, but I’m not in the mood to cry right now.

For those of you not familiar with with Pepsi Max, it’s a sugar-free, zero calorie cola with ginseng extract and nearly twice the caffeine of regular and Diet Pepsi. It’s been around since 2007 and it competes in the same market as Coke Zero, which is the diet colas with black labels market.

Although it’s a diet soda, it tastes different than Diet Pepsi. Pepsi Max is sweetened with aspartame and ace-K, while Diet Pepsi has just aspartame. This difference gives Pepsi Max a less harsh artificial sweetener aftertaste.

It’s a favorite of mine mostly because of the higher caffeine content. A 20-ounce bottle has 115 milligrams of sweet, sweet caffeine.

Although it’s been around for a while, Pepsi Max has had only one new variety in the U.S. market — Pepsi Max Cease Fire. But that changed recently with the introduction of Pepsi Max Cherry Blast. Hey, I just realized the name kind of rhymes. I guess that’s why Pepsi didn’t call it Wild Cherry Pepsi Max. The soda only comes in 16-ounce tall boy cans, is a 7-Eleven exclusive, and I love this soda…aspartame and all.

I’m a fan of Pepsi Wild Cherry and Diet Pepsi Wild Cherry, and their syrupy artificial cherry aroma and flavor. If you’ve never experienced either soda, their cherry flavor is a hypersweet candy version of cherries, but for some it makes them wonder if they’re drinking cough syrup. Even though some folks think it tastes like something from the cold medicine aisle at your local Walgreens or CVS, I love that cherry flavor and it goes extremely well with Pepsi Max.

I. LOVE. PEPSI. MAX. CHERRY. BLAST.

Pepsi Max Cherry Blast Closeup

I’ve purchased five cans of Pepsi Max Cherry Blast over the course of a week. If that’s not love, then I don’t know what is.

Although, to be honest, I think a major reason of why I love this soda so much is because, after drinking enough regular Pepsi Max to fill a few bathtubs over the years, my taste buds have gotten extremely tired of it and they yearned for something different.

As much as I love the flavor and the 92 milligrams of sweet, sweet caffeine in each can of Pepsi Max Cherry Blast, I do wish it was available in other sizes and stores. Also, I wish I knew if it’s a regular flavor or if I should prepare myself emotionally for when it gets discontinued.

(Nutrition Facts – 1 can – 0 calories, 0 grams of fat, 50 milligrams of sodium, 0 grams of carbohydrates, 0 grams of sugar, and 0 grams of protein.)

Item: Pepsi Max Cherry Blast
Purchased Price: 99 cents
Size: 16 oz. can
Purchased at: 7-Eleven
Rating: 9 out of 10
Pros: I love this soda. If you enjoy Diet Pepsi Wild Cherry and want more caffeine, this soda will definitely do. Finally, another Pepsi Max flavor! Has 92 milligrams of sweet, sweet caffeine.
Cons: Non-diet soda drinkers will not like it. Those who think the cherry flavoring tastes like cough syrup will not like it. 7-Eleven exclusive and only available in 16-ounce cans. The possibility that it’ll get discontinued.

FAST FOOD NEWS: Dunkin’ Donuts White Chocolate Raspberry Coffee and Lattes

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Dunkin Donuts new White Chocolate Raspberry Coffee and Lattes

If you have no one to hug this Valentine’s season so you can steal their warmth, let Dunkin’ Donut warm your innards with their new White Chocolate Raspberry Coffee and Lattes. The beverages combine the rich flavor of white chocolate with a sweet and fruity raspberry flavor. The White Chocolate Raspberry Lattes are also sprinkled with a red, pink, and white hearts topping.

Dunkin’ Donuts’ White Chocolate Raspberry Coffee and Lattes are available hot or iced at participating Dunkin’ Donuts restaurants through the end of February.

Dunkin’ has also brought back their Cookie Dough and Brownie Batter heart-shaped donuts for the Valentine’s season. The Cookie Dough Donut features a cookie dough-flavored buttercreme filling and is topped with chocolate dipping icing and chocolate chips. The Brownie Batter Donut is filled with a chocolatey brownie batter-flavored buttercreme filling and topped with chocolate dipping icing and a heart sprinkle mix.

If you’ve tried any of these Dunkin’ Donuts’ menu items, let us know what you think of them in the comments.

(Image via Dunkin’ Donuts.)

PODCAST: The Nosh Show #47 2015 Junk Food and Fast Food Predictions

/ / Podcast

In this episode, we discuss Cheetos Sweetos, Pizza Hut’s Triple Cheese Covered Stuffed Crust Pizza, and a coconut Chips Ahoy cookie. We also reveal our 2015 junk food and fast food predictions.

Listen to the episode RIGHT NOW by using the player below:

You can also download the MP3 file or subscribe to The Nosh Show on iTunes, Stitcher, or via RSS.

Thanks for listening!

SPOTTED ON SHELVES – 1/26/2015

/ / Spotted on Shelves / 4 Comments

Here are some interesting new and limited edition products found on store shelves by us and your fellow readers. If you’ve tried any of the products, share your thoughts about them in the comments.

Russell Stover Big Bite (Hot Cocoa, Cappuccino, and House Blend Coffee)

When you’re looking at these in the store while standing in several layers of clothes to keep you warm. I want you to say in a sarcastic tone, “Thanks, Russell Stover!” (Spotted by Sarah at Walgreens.)

California Pizza Kitchen Limited Edition California Kale with Sausage Pizza

California Pizza Kitchen California Kale with Sausage on California Thin Crust. Oh, it doesn’t say that? Well it should. (Spotted by Marvo at Safeway.)

Cascadian Farm To-Go Pouches (Oats and Honey and Fruit and Nut)

Are these pouches are big enough that I can pour milk into them and eat out of them? (Spotted by Nick at Target.)

Betty Crocker Mashed Potatoes & Chicken Gravy and Mashed Potatoes & Brown Gravy

I can understand not providing milk and butter because of refrigeration. But frickin’ salt? That’s a crock, Betty Crocker! Okay, not really. We all have salt in our kitchen, so it’s not an inconvenience. I just wanted to type, “That’s a crock, Betty Crocker!” (Spotted by Dan at Woodman’s Markets.)

Thank you to all the photo contributors! If you’re out shopping and see an interesting new or limited edition product on the shelf, snap a picture of it, and send us an email ([email protected]) with where you found it and “Spotted” in the subject line. Or reply to us (@theimpulsivebuy) on Twitter with the photo and the hashtag #spotted. If you do so, you might see your picture in our next Spotted on Shelves post.

Also, if you’re wondering if we’ve already covered something, search our Flickr photos to find out.

COMING SOON: Mountain Dew Dew Shine

/ / Coming Soon / 21 Comments

Mountain Dew Dew Shine

Update: We reviewed it! Click here to read our Dew Shine review.

In 2012, Mountain Dew introduced Johnson City Gold, an alcohol-sounding, non-alcoholic beverage. It was a malt and citrus soda that was released in a handful of regions across the country, but didn’t see a nationwide rollout.

Now it appears Mountain Dew is set to release another alcohol-sounding, non-alcoholic beverage — Mountain Dew Dew Shine. Also, much like Johnson City Gold, which paid homage to the birthplace of Mountain Dew soda, Dew Shine seems to honor the origins of Mountain Dew’s name. For those of you not familiar with alcohol slang, Mountain Dew was originally slang for moonshine.

According to the label, Dew Shine has a “clear citrus Dew flavor” and is made with real sugar. The label also features Willie the Hillbilly, the original Mountain Dew mascot, and “It’ll Tickle Yore Innards”, the original Mountain Dew slogan. The blog MtnDewKid was fortunate enough to receive samples and has a review of the beverage.

Mountain Dew Dew Shine is expected to be available in late March.

(Thanks to Richard at MtnDewKid.com for the photo and hat tip to Hayden for letting us know about it.)

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