REVIEW: Sprite Chill Mango Citrus

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Brrr. It's Sprite Chill Mango Citrus

As I’ve espoused many times over the years now, on this very platform and in the world at large, I love flavored soda. Why settle for Coke when you can add cherry and vanilla? Dr Pepper is fine, but when you add strawberries and cream, it’s even finer.

I have, however, not found this to be the case with Sprite. First, I should probably note that I am an irregular consumer of Sprite. I don’t dislike it, I just don’t often choose it when there is soda to be chosen. I have to be in a decidedly Sprite-y mood.

And when it comes to flavored Sprite, my experiences have ranged from unremarkable (the Chill Strawberry Kiwi kind) to unenjoyable (I know people love it, but the Winter Spice Cranberry is too sour), to downright unpleasant (the original Sprite Chill—cherry lime—tastes like bad breath to me; I don’t know how else to describe it). So it was with no small measure of trepidation that I approached this bottle of new Sprite Chill: Mango Citrus.

Twisting the cap, I was met with a strong mango scent — so far, so good. The first sip is very Sprite-forward, but immediately after, you get a nice blast of mango with just the teeniest hint of citrus (I’m wondering if this was the “Chill”? I seem to recall the “Chill” being almost minty on the Cherry Lime version, but it has been a while.)

Sprite Chill Mango Citrus looks, unsurprisingly, like Sprite

The flavoring was subdued, and if I could make a change, it would be to incorporate a little more mango flavor. (The citrus level was fine, and I think if it were any more amplified, you’d lose even more of the mango, which is the true star.) It reminded me of the mango flavoring that was in Pepsi Mango, which, until I tried this Sprite, I’d honestly forgotten about. And that’s sad, because Pepsi Mango was really, really great.

My only beef is that I can only find the full sugar version, even though I know Sprite makes a zero sugar variety. That’ll keep me from buying this full sugar version again, honestly. But if you’re a sugared drink connoisseur, it’s absolutely worth checking out.

Purchased Price: $2.79
Size: 20 fl oz bottle
Purchased at: Walmart
Rating: 8 out of 10
Nutrition Facts: (20 oz) 240 calories, 0 grams of fat, 100 milligrams of sodium, 64 grams of carbohydrates, 64 grams of sugar, and 0 grams of protein.

REVIEW: Dirty Mountain Dew

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Three cans of Dirty Mountain Dew

After all the thousands of milligrams of caffeine that Mountain Dew has given me over the years, which has helped me cram for final exams, write reviews about stuff like cheese-flavored ramen, and binge watch as much as I can during free trials for streaming services, I can’t believe I’m about to do Mountain Dew dirty. Do the Dew Dewrty, if you will.

On paper, combining Mountain Dew with cream flavor sounds Dewlightful, but Dirty Mountain Dew is unDewhelming. And if it weren’t for the caffeine I depend on to stay focused while jumping down YouTube rabbit holes of self-improvement videos about the book Atomic Habits, the remaining cans would probably end up in the back of the pantry closet, next to a set of half-full 1980s McCormick spice bottles with the green lids and labels that have been gathering dust for decades.

I’ve purchased and made my fair share of dirty sodas over the years, and this ready-to-drink Dirty Mountain Dew doesn’t hit me the same way my own creations or the ones I overpaid for do. It’s sweet, citrusy, and a little sour, but that cream flavor comes off a little strange. Rather than enhancing the citrus, it feels more like a hindrance, making the soda taste less like Mountain Dew and more like a dirty Sprite, 7UP, or Starry. That doesn’t sound like a terrible thing, but I want to Do the Dew, not Settle for Sprite, 7UP, or Starry.

Dirty Mountain Dew does look like the water on Degobah.

With that said, the soda has a key lime pie vibe to it and it’s not horrible, which makes it sound like a winner. But, again, there’s something about that cream flavor that makes everything feel and taste slightly off. There is a smoothness to the soda that makes it easy to drink, since there’s not a lot of carbonation that you’d get from a regular Mountain Dew. However, I wouldn’t say that equates to some kind of creaminess. Then, at the end, the cream flavor leaves an odd aftertaste and a mouthfeel that coats the tongue and lingers longer than it should.

Instead of this Dirty Mountain Dew, you’re better off buying creamer or whatever dairy or non-dairy floats your boat, and doing your own Dirty Dew.

The Mountain Dew Universe (MDU) is expansive enough that I imagine there are plans for other Dirty Mountain Dew flavors. But before any of them make their Dewbut, I’d recommend cleaning up that cream flavor first.

Purchased Price: $6.67
Size: 12 fl oz cans/12-pack
Purchased at: Walmart
Rating: 5 out of 10
Nutrition Facts: (1 can) 160 calories, 0 grams of fat, 40 milligrams of sodium, 44 grams of total carbohydrates, 44 grams of total sugars (includes 44 grams of added sugars), 0 grams of protein, and 54 milligrams of caffeine.

REVIEW: Mr Pibb Thrillin’ Vanilla

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Mr Pibb Thrillin’ Vanilla bottle

I love Mr Pibb. Okay, or to be more precise, I loved Mr. Pibb. You know. 25 years ago, when it was Mr. Pibb. And then it became Pibb Xtra, and I loved that, too. I never noticed a flavor change when the rebranding occurred, but there are hardcore Pibb Purists who will tell you there absolutely was a distinct formula reconfiguration, and the original was either 1) way better than the newer version or 2) a horrific tragedy.

Again, I didn’t notice.

But now Mr Pibb is back from witness protection, or wherever he was, and Pibb Xtra has been relegated to that Great Soda Graveyard in the Sky. The new Mr Pibb is less “spicy” and has more caffeine. It also — much to my sadness — tastes almost indistinguishable from its primary competition, regular Dr Pepper. That’s right — I’m now firmly in the “Mr Pibb tastes noticeably different than Pibb Xtra, and Pibb Xtra is much better” camp.

It's "Kickin'" cherry, and don't you forget it.

The other thing Mr Pibb is bringing with him? New flavor profiles. For the first time ever, the “Kickin’” cherry cola (the bottle now touts its kickiness as opposed to its spiciness) is now available in “Punchin’ Peach” and “Thrillin’ Vanilla.” So if you get the peach flavor, you’re getting a punching, kicking cherry soda. Violently delicious! Anyway, I got the Vanilla kind because that’s the only one they had at QuikTrip.

Mr Pibb Thrillin’ Vanilla sitting on a desk.

The vanilla flavor is much milder than the vanilla I taste in Dr Pepper & Cream Soda. It wasn’t bad, by any means, just understated. The Mr Pibb taste was front and center, so your enjoyment of this product will probably depend on how much you like the flavor of the reintroduction. Because — as previously stated — I don’t like the new/old version compared to Pibb Xtra, I didn’t really find myself liking Thrillin’ Vanilla, either. Instead, I’m just saddened by what could have been. A vanilla (or peach) infused Pibb Xtra would have been absolutely divine. But as it stands, I won’t be sad to see this one go.

Purchased Price: $2.79
Size: 20 fl oz bottle
Purchased at: QuikTrip
Rating: 5 out of 10
Nutrition Facts: (20 oz) 240 calories, 0 grams of fat, 60 milligrams of sodium, 66 grams of carbohydrates, 66 grams of sugar, and 0 grams of protein.

Dr Pepper Tic Tac Review

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Dr Pepper Tic Tac container

It took well over a century, but the good Doctor Pepper has finally released his iconic twenty-three flavored elixir in pill form.

That’s right, the long-awaited third flavor in the Soda Tic Tac trilogy is Dr Pepper. I was a fan of the Coke one, but hated the Sprite. If we’re just going off the drinks themselves, I like Dr Pepper better than both of ’em, so needless to say, I had high hopes for this collab.

Said hopes were… mostly met.

Dr Pepper Tic Tac's Dr Pepper color

There’s no debating that these are Dr Pepper just from the smell and sight of them. They have the familiar cherry-ish waft of the fizzy drink, and to quote the late great Bugs Bunny, “What a maroon.”

We miss you every day, Bugs. Hope you made it to the great Albuquerque in the sky. If only you said, “What’s up, Doc?” to an actual doctor more often.

But enough about real doctors, do these “mints” taste like actual Dr Pepper? Yes! And no!?

They do, but it’s not as uncanny (or unbottley if you prefer) as Dr Pepper collabs usually are. The candy shell has a vague cherry/cola sweetness, but once that’s gone and the mint turns white and gritty, it just tastes like a really watered-down Dr Pepper knockoff. Dare I say Mr. Pibbian – a far less educated soda.

Dr Pepper Tic Tac in a bowl

I was ready to say these tasted just like cherry Bottle Caps, but I ultimately landed on a particular black cherry soda. They remind me of a drink made by an old med school colleague of Dr Pepper’s — Dr. Brown’s Black Cherry. He’s not as celebrated, but still makes a solid pop.

So, I really like the flavor for about eight seconds, and then I only kinda like it. It reminds me of the delicious sweetness you get from Tic Tacs’ pill cousin, Advil, before you suck on them for too long and they just end up tasting like bitter medicine. That’s how you’re supposed to eat those, right?

Dr Pepper Tic Tac with actual Dr Pepper

With all that said, there’s a kicker here. A saving grace. These Tic Tacs have a fizzing sensation. Have you ever had Zotz, or similar fizzing candy? It’s like those on a much smaller scale, but still noticeable. I honestly don’t think every mint fizzes, only a couple per “sip,” but it adds a fun and creative element to the eating experience.

The fizzing actually made me incredibly thirsty, which might be a stroke of genius brand synergy now that I think about it.

I imagine most Dr Pepper fans will enjoy these just fine, but I’m still not sure they serve much of a purpose. They’re “mints” that don’t freshen your mouth, and not a top-tier “sucking candy.” They’re also not a candy that sucks, and the fizzing is undeniably fun, so I guess that still makes them worth a try. Nothing wrong with a twist on two old classics.

I’m still here for any and all Dr Pepper collabs moving forward. In fact, I have an open pack of Dr Pepper Peeps slowly maturing in the cabinet, and I can’t wait til they get to their maximum staleness to indulge. If only they came in bunny form to honor our old friend, Bugs.

Purchased Price: $4.52
Size: 3.4 Fl. Oz.
Purchased at: Walmart
Rating: 6 out of 10
Nutrition Facts: (1 Mint) 0 calories, 0 grams of fat, 0 milligrams of sodium,0 grams of total carbohydrates, for some reason they don’t even bother mentioning sugar, 0 grams of protein.

REVIEW: Pepsi Prebiotic Colas

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Pepsi Prebiotic Colas cans

I watched one video about beans on Instagram, and now my feed has bean thrown into fiber video purgatory. But I’m glad that happened because I do need to consume more fiber. Americans, on average, consume only about half of the recommended daily fiber intake of 20 to 25 grams. Thankfully, there is a growing market of prebiotic and probiotic beverages to help. Brands like Poppi and Olipop have been around for years, but Pepsi has now entered the chat with a prebiotic cola line.

It’s currently available in two flavors: Original Pepsi and Cherry Vanilla. Each can provides three grams of fiber sourced from corn soluble fiber. Three grams might not sound like a lot, and truthfully, it isn’t — but when most people are lucky to hit half their daily fiber goal, every little bit counts. Beyond the fiber, Pepsi Prebiotic Cola is low in sugar and calories, and sweetened with cane sugar and stevia rather than artificial sweeteners. Oh, there’s also 38 milligrams of caffeine.

Pepsi Prebiotic Colas regular

Pepsi Prebiotic Colas Cherry Vanilla

As someone who has tried plenty of prebiotic sodas, I was genuinely curious how these would stack up against the established players, and I came away pleasantly surprised. With Poppi and Olipop, there’s a certain quality to them that subtly signals “this is a prebiotic soda.” With these colas, that’s absent. While they don’t taste exactly like classic Pepsi or regular Wild Cherry Pepsi, they do somewhat remind me of their Pepsi Zero Sugar counterparts, which I’m a fan of. Although their flavor is a tad toned down compared to the previously mentioned zero-sugar cola. Surprisingly, my tongue didn’t notice the stevia, which I suspect might’ve been masked by cane sugar.

Now, three grams of fiber is admittedly modest. Olipop, for example, packs around six to nine grams per can — hitting roughly 20 to 30 percent of your daily value — and I’d be lying if I said I didn’t wish Pepsi could match that. But I’d also guess that pushing the fiber content that high might come at a cost to the taste, so it’s probably a reasonable trade-off. However, these Pepsi Prebiotic Colas do offer a price that makes Poppi and Oilpop’s prices eye-popping. I paid a little over nine dollars for an eight-pack, which works out to just over a dollar a can. That’s half the price of the previously mentioned brands.

Pepsi Prebiotic Colas in glasses

Some of you might be saying I should get my fiber from fruit, vegetables, legumes, and whole grains, and of course, those are the best options. However, I don’t see anything wrong with sneaking a little extra fiber into my day with something that tastes better than other prebiotic/probiotic colas and is also cheaper. Much like fiber videos in my Instagram feed, I have a feeling these are going to keep showing up in my life — and I’m completely fine with that.

Purchased Price: $9.19
Size: 8-pack/12 fl oz cans
Rating: 8 out of 10
Nutrition Facts: (1 can) 30 calories, 0 grams of fat, 35 milligrams of sodium, 6 grams of carbohydrates, 3 grams of fiber, 5 grams of sugar (including 5 grams of added sugar), 0 grams of protein, and 38 milligrams of caffeine.

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