Summit Tropical Waves Pineapple & Starfruit Energy Drink Review

A Summit drink from discount grocer Aldi without the "Gridlock" branding? What is the world coming to? I appreciate these budget soft drinks though, drinking a fair few myself, but the can here has all the visual verve of an Easter basket with its soft, pastel-esque colors. Couple with stock imagery and way too much text, and you have an energy drink that is all-too obviously store brand.

The golden elixir pours out without carbonation, my eyes and ears sorely missing the sight and sound of all those little bubbles working to escape its aquatic trapping. My tongue, crestfallen by the absence of effervescence, perked up somewhat once the flat fluid flopped upon- I am a pushover for pineapple after all. And Summit here comes about as close to replicating the crunchy yellow flesh of the brightly colored tropical produce that is possible with potent potables. Sucralose sweetens alone and struggles to replicate honest carbohydrates all on its lonesome; a bit of backup from ace-k, or perhaps a few grams of actual sugar maybe, could have helped balance out the dimensionless saccharinity we do have. But by itself? It pushes all its chips forward and honeys aggressively, challenged only by a tartness that would have mother nature herself green with envy. As for the star fruit, the acidity of its less exotic friend totally smothers any chance the shaped crop has at influencing the flavor for much of the experience. Its only opportunity is right as the climax begins and the other tastes collapse, a bit of indistinct fruitiness just barely able to poke through the harsh sweet and sour profile. I did not hate this, but my body would pick just about any other pineapple potation before nabbing this twelve ounce can.

With 200 milligrams of my namesake stimulant, I am happy to report that Aldi is finally making an actual attempt at putting the "energy" in "energy drink." The three hour long buzz is not exactly spectacular, and the ingredient cocktail is otherwise very familiar, with taurine, vitamins and guarana, but the effort alone puts a caffeinated smile on my face. The rest of the drink? Not so much.

Go Girl Pomegranate Star Fruit Energy Drink Review

Pomegranate Star Fruit is the last Go Girl to review, a line who has certainly had its flaws over the course of four drinks. This is the fifth and easily the most intriguing variety, giving the unknown fruit some appreciated top billing. Its can though, despite its rather pretty colour, is blandly binate and far too relaxed for it to convey any sense of energy.

The eight grams of sugar allow decent believability on the first sip, something that is uncommonly abrupt and tastes unfortunately little of the coveted carambola flavour guaranteed by the can. Thankfully the pomegranate taste is smoother than most applications, and the star fruit does sprinkle some of its own attributes after the former's apex. Its naturally humble idiosyncrasies give each mouthful a deeply circuitous finish, a complexion reminiscent of kiwis, Granny Smith apples, and lemon. Things are slightly tart but appropriate for the flavours we taste, and the effervescence refreshingly lightens and livens what could have been a plodding experience. The asymmetricality between the two fruits is indubitably a missed opportunity, but it is at least a pleasant twelve ounces.

The caffeine content here is suspiciously seventy five milligrams, more than the last two varieties but unequal to the 100mg of some flavours. The kick was rather weak and lasted some time less than two hours. Each can also contains: taurine, B vitamins, and a gentle hunger retardant. All in all, Go Girl Pomegranate Star Fruit is nice to the tongue, but not so to either your eyes or caffeine addition.

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