Weekend Fun ~ Jarritos, a product review

I was asked to do a product review recently- for Jarritos, a popular Mexican soft drink brand. 
Now, my blog readers will remember that I don't often do reviews; and those who know me well, also know that soda would probably be one of the last things that I would normally consider for a review.
But, whether it was the heat (this summer has been particularly brutal in my part of Texas), thirst, or perhaps just the thought of surprising my girls with a fun taste test, I said yes to the kind Chloe's offer.   

In her email, Chloe shared the following info.:
Jarritos:
More than sixty years ago, Jarritos was introduced as Mexico’s first national soft drink. Today, Jarritos is the leading brand in the US in the Mexican soft drink category and has become a Mexican cultural icon. Whether it is the distinctive glass bottle or the 11 unique and great fruit flavors, Jarritos can be found throughout the US in major and independent grocery stores, Mexican restaurants, taquerias, catering trucks and convenience stores. Jarritos flavors are a reflection of Mexico in its array of traditional Mexican flavors made with 100% natural sugar including: Tamarind, Mandarin, Fruit Punch, Jamaica, Lime, Toronja, Guava, Pineapple, Strawberry, Mango, and Mexican Cola.







One evening we came home to find a rather heavy box on the doorstep.  You should have seen my girls' reaction when they opened the box of Jarritos sodas (and if I could have found the camera at the moment there would be one right here).
 
We sampled the different flavors over the course of a few days.  I had plans to use some of them in ice pops and other Kitchen Adventures, but it just never happened. 

Here are a few of my thoughts about the different flavors:

In a lineup of how they ranked with me according to taste, I chose this order-

Tamarind- My personal favorite, a bit tart; we often make Tamarind water at home.
Jamaica- Made from Hibiscus flowers, it ran a close second to Tamarind.  It is not too sweet and very tasty.  This one would be a good candidate for making punch, I think.
Toronja- Grapefruit, another not-too-sweet variety, and reminded me of Fresca (showing my age much?).
Lime- Nice citrus taste, not too sweet.
Mandarin- Good for those who like orange soda, my girls liked it a lot.
Mango-  This one was very sweet, would probably make really tasty ice pops for the kids (which was my plan that never happened).
Strawberry-  The favorite of my littlest Love, she orders this on the rare occasion she gets soda at our favorite Mexican restaurant.  Sweet, fruity, and very red.
Pineapple-  Another sweet, fruity flavor that was a favorite of the younger girls.  I'd have to dilute it with some juice or sparkling water to cut the sweetness a bit.
Fruit Punch-  Kids seem to love fruit punch, but unless it is punch made with real fruit, I don't care for it.
Guava-  This one was not a favorite of anyone ... but then, we don't like 'real' guava either.  An aquired taste, perhaps? 
Mexican Cola- I put the cola last on my list because I just don't care for cola, but my girls did enjoy it.  One good point about the Jarritos cola is that it doesn't have that 'burning effect' on the throat that many colas seem to have. 

I do like the fact that Jarritos are made with sugar rather than corn syrup, and the ingredient lists are much shorter than most sodas.  So if you are a soft drink fan, I'd suggest you check them out- 
All Things Jarritos – http://www.jarritos.com
This summer you'll find contests, promotions, and prizes on the Jarritos Facebook page, as well.

If you have tried Jarritos, please let me know. 
I'd love to know what your favorite flavor is!