Pop Goes the Fizzy Drink

Britain has several of their own sodas (or "fizzy drinks" as they sometimes call them). I set out to taste as many as I could with some willing volunteers. Here are the results. 

Irn-Bru (pronounced "iron brew") is the number one selling soda in Scotland

Mary: Smells like orange cream soda
Kate: Tastes like fizzy cough syrup. A little too medicinal for me. 
Pamela: Not too much orange flavor. I wouldn't go out of my way to buy it.
Sara: I really like it, it tastes like dessert. This would be great with ice cream as an Iron Bru Float.
Rachael: I don't really like it. 

Who would buy it: Sara

Vimto Fizzy was first produced in 1908 as a health tonic. Contains grapes, raspberries, blackcurrants, and a secret ingredient.

Mary: I really like it. It reminds me of a melted popsicle. 
Kate: I wish it was a little more tart. The secret ingredient must be well kept because I can't tell what it is. It reminds me of a party punch. 
Pamela: I love the color but it smells like berry medicine. I like it. Not too sweet.
Sara: It tastes like candy.
Rachael: I like it but I'd rather drink a Coke. 

Who would buy it: Pamela, Mary would buy it as a dessert, and Kate would drink it if it was offered at a party. 

Dandelion and Burdock was originally consumed as a type of light mead in the Middle Ages but is now a soft drink. 

Mary: It smells and tastes like Jaegermeister without the burning kick.
Kate: I get a weak black licorice flavor from it. 
Pamela: It smells like Robitussin and looks like alcohol. It tastes like beer and liquor mixed together. 
Sara: It tasted like Halls...menthol Halls.
Rachael: It tastes like annis seed and herbs. I like it. 

Who would buy it: Rachael 

 Apple Tango is a fruit flavored soft drink sold in the UK, Ireland, Sweden, Norway, and Hungary.

Mary: It is really sweet, but I really like it. I think a kid would love this. Would be good mixed with Sprite.
Kate: It seems like something I'd like because I like green apples. It looks like champagne and smells like apple cider. It is sweeter than sparkling juice. I wish it was more tart. I couldn't drink a whole can. 
Pamela: I like it.
Sara: It looks classy and is super sweet. 
Rachael: I'd drink a whole can.

Who would buy it: Pamela and Rachael

Tizer (pronounced "tie-zer") is a red colored soft drink only sold in the UK. The name comes from "Tizer the Appetizer."

Mary: Is there ginger in it? The color would prevent me from buying it. This would be great for a sore throat. 
Kate: I like this one. It tastes like 7-Up with a hint of fruit. The look of the can isn't helping their marketing campaign.
Sara: What makes it red? It tastes like ginger ale and cherry. 
Rachael: It has a bit of a kick like ginger beer but much more tame.

Who would buy it: Mary, Pamela would buy if it was pronounced "tizzer," Kate, and Sara would drink it mixed with whiskey.

 Ribena* (pronounced "rye-bean-ah") was originally distributed by the British government as a Vitamin C substitute for children during World War II. 

Mary: It tastes like V-8 Splash.
Kate: It doesn't taste sweet after all the carbonated drinks. I swear there is a vegetable in here, a green leaf of some sort.
Pamela: Oh, there is a tomato in this somewhere. A Beet? Spinach?
Sara: The gals at work add a splash of this to their water.
Rachael: I kind of like it. 

Who would buy it: Mary, Rachael, Pamela would dilute it, Kate would try another flavor, and Sara would drink it if it was offered to her but wouldn't buy it.

Lucozade Energy is a carbonated energy drink that was created in 1927 as a source of energy for those sick with common illnesses. 

Mary: This is not the kind I've had before. It tastes like Red Bull diluted in fizzy water.
Kate: Ugh, there is a really weird aftertaste. Like bad fizzy Gatorade and bitter. 
Pamela: I do not care for the smell of it...or the taste. 
Sara: It is like Kool Aid without sugar. A friend of mine said her mom gave this to her when she was sick. 
Rachael: This is terrible.

Who would buy it: No one.

Lilt is manufactured by Coca Cola but is only sold in the UK, Ireland, Gibraltar, and the Seychelles. 

Mary: It reminds me of a Capri Sun with more sugar.
Kate: It smells like Squirt...tastes like Squirt with pineapple. This would be refreshing on a hot day. 
Pamela: Like a creamy Sprite.
Sara: You could make a fancy mimosa out of this.
Rachael: I like it. I like that the pineapple isn't overpowering. 

Who would buy it: Kate, Mary, Pamela, Rachael, and Sara would take it if it was offered to her.

 Cawston Press Rhubarb is sparkling juice of rhubarb and apple.

Mary: I love this.
Kate: Oh, I like this. I love the rhubarb, it doesn't taste artificial. If you could put this in a crust it would be the best pie ever. 
Pamela: I don't have words...I don't like it at all.
Sara: It tastes like Christmas.
Rachael: The rhubarb is the perfect thing to add to an apple soda.

Who would buy it: Kate, Mary, Rachael, and Sara would take one if offered.

Cawston Press Elderflower Lemonade is like lemon lime soda with Elderflower (a drink made from elderberries).

Mary: I have a love/hate relationship with it. I think I would buy it because I know it would take me a long time to drink. I think this would also be good diluted with Sprite.
Kate: It smells pretty but I feel like I'm drinking perfume. Flower flavors need to be used sparingly. It is too much in a 12 ounce can.
Pamela: I love the smell but I hate the taste. 
Sara: I like it. I would actually buy it!
Rachael: I don't like anything that tastes like flowers, including this.

Who would buy it: Sara and Mary

 Ginger Beer was created in the 1800s as an alcoholic beverage. Now it is a carbonated soda but it is still brewed and fermented and uses real ginger. 

Mary: I love it. 
Kate: I like this because it actually reminds me of ginger root. I really taste the earthy flavor. This would be super good with Chinese food. 
Pamela: It is smoother than Ginger Ale and with vanilla. I could buy this in bulk. 
Sara: It is burning my throat. I don't like it. Tastes too gingery. Like when I eat sushi with ginger. 
Rachael: I love it. I love that it is spicier and more flavorful than Ginger Ale. 

Who would buy it: Rachael, Mary, Kate, Pamela, but Sara would turn down even a free can. 

At the end of the taste test, I had everyone say what their new favorites were of all the sodas we tried. 

Mary: Cawston Press Rhubarb, Ribena, and Ginger Beer
Kate: Cawston Press Rhubarb and Ginger Beer

Pamela: Tizer and Ginger Beer

Sara: Irn-Bru for dessert and Cawston Press Elderflower Lemonade for a refreshing drink

Rachael: Ginger Beer and Tilt

Later on that evening Pamela's husband, Josh, tasted the leftover sodas and ranked them (from left to right). He had quite a different perspective than most of us, so it was interesting to get his input, too. 

*We tasted regular Ribena for this because we couldn't find Ribena Spark, which is the carbonated version. I went to over 20 stores and never saw it.