Marley Mellow Mood Mixed Berry Sparkling Water

There are so many energy waters this summer so I guess shouldn't be so surprised that Marley Mellow Mood has decided to do a sparkling water relaxation drink.

Taste

The super light pink sparkling beverage is super weird tasting. At least at first. The initial taste is this sour, artificially sweetened (erythritol), artificially flavored medley of berries which gets amplified by the carbonated nature of the drink. Once the carbonation dies  you are left with the artificial berry mess that is hard to separate out and focus on individual flavors. Is there raspberry? Maybe? Maybe it is cherry, or maybe it is cranberry. Even the label doesn't say what the mixed berry is actually. 

Not a fan at all.

Performance

There are 80 mg of the relaxation blend, which is more than some of the other flavors that contain 50 mg. So despite its odd flavor, the beverage works...sort of. Each cold, carbonated sip actually pepped me up a little. This would have worked a little better if it was non-carbonated.

Anywaaaays, after a long evening of work involving some more coffee than I am used to, I had to consume this beverage to force myself to sleep. I was feeling the calming effects within 20-30 minutes despite the pep effect each sip had. My eye lids were getting heavy within another 10, but I was starting to feel the struggle with the coffee that was still in my system. I felt parts of my body tremble a bit and cursed myself for having that one coffee so late. Despite the heaviness of my eye lids, it took a lot longer for me to fully calm down and go to sleep than the times I didn't have a late coffee. Curses!!! Still, that's on me and not Marley.

Scores:

Cost - $3.29

Taste - 5/10

Performance - 9/10

Overall - 14/20...probably the least tasty Marley to date

Marley Mellow Mood Bartlett Pear Black Tea Zero Sugar

I bought this new Marley Mellow Mood from a 7-11 for $3.29. Not all carry it, but if you go to a 7-11 at a more public/populated location, you should be able to find it.

Taste

The aroma coming off this beverage is amazing. I don’t know how they did it, but it feels like I am holding and smelling an actual Bartlett pear. Amazing! 

Buuuuuut the aroma is where the amazement stops. The taste takes a different path and the sugar-free nature of it is in your face in every sip. There is a heavy sweetener presence at the start of each sip that stays with you through the sip and well into the aftertaste. A semi-fake sweetened pear note appears half-way through but stays with the sweetener well into the aftertaste. I said semi because at times in the aftertaste it feels like you just had a Bartlett pear.

The black tea tones have been dialled down and make brief appearances towards the end of each sip and in pockets here and there in the aftertaste as a slightly acidic hint.

Performance

This flavour has 80 mg of the relaxation blend and performs somewhere in between the new Marley I had a few weeks ago and the original releases that contained 100 mg. Within 15-20 minutes of taking the first sip I was starting to feel a bit more sluggish and could feel that the desire to sleep would overcome me at some point in the near future. And it did within another 20 minutes. Definitely don’t operate a heavy vehicle if you consumed one of these. Even if you can fight off the desire to sleep, your state will be altered and your reactions will be delayed. 

Pretty good drink if you want to chill or have problems falling asleep.

Scores:

Cost - $3.29

Taste - 7.8/10

Performance - 9/10

Overall - 16.8/20…works as advertised but the flavour would have been much better if it had sugar

Marley Mellow Mood Peach Raspberry Black Tea Relaxation Drink

Marley Mellow Mood is at it again. Just a few weeks ago Marley Beverage released a slew of relaxation drinks and coffee beverages in 7-11 stores in Canada...and I am positive in the US as well. Like the previous Mellow Moods, these ones are tea based, but just contain different flavors.

Taste

The peach raspberry Mellow Mood has a fantastic peach aroma with just a hint of berries and sweet black tea at the back. The tea is very sweet at the start with a blast of peach, but immediately after comes a moderate tart raspberry hit that takes the sweetness down a notch and takes you to the sweet black tea finish. There is a very interesting candy-like sweet peach peak where the flavors meet which adds a unique twist.

The aftertaste is tart and dry at first but some of the sweetness returns and balances it nicely allowing for a lingering fruity note without any downsides.

Performance

I don't know if the blend is different, but I thought the effects were quicker just not as intense as the first one I had many years ago. It took me around 15 minutes to go through half the can and I was already feeling the effects. My eyelids were getting heavy and I was having a bit of trouble focusing on some words. Definitely felt like taking a break from reading and just chilling on the couch or in bed.

After another 20 minutes I was pretty chill and just ready to sleep. The sleep was good, but because of the 450 mL of liquid I had to consume had me waking up in the middle of the night to use the washroom. I wonder if there could be a Marley Mellow Mood relaxation shot.

Scores:
Cost - $3.19
Taste - 9/10
Performance - 8/10

Overall - 17/20...damn delicious and works well

Neuro Sleep Review

Apparently I had already tried and reviewed Neuro Sleep a few years ago but never got around to publish it. I stumbled across an old draft just as I was wrapping up my new review of Neuro Sleep. For kicks, I compared it to what I thought of the beverage a few years ago and things matched up quite nicely. How is that for consistency over the years?

I got the first bottle from a Meijer's in Michigan and the second one from a Target in Buffalo.

Taste

This is a pretty tasty drink which I consumed very quickly thanks to its lack of carbonation. The taste is a blend of a slightly tart tangerine flavours, mango and a bit of peaches. It is not very sweet so at the end of the bottle I didn't have the urge to cleanse my mouth with water, which I think is pretty important for a drink that is supposed to relax you and eventually help you fall asleep...or maybe it is a personal preference to not consume sweet things before bed.

Since there are only 35 calories there is a very obvious diet aftertaste which lingers for some time.

Performance

I started to feel the effects of the drink within 10 minutes of consuming almost all of it at once. At first I started to feel sleepy then my limbs started to get numb and heavy. Oh yeah. This is some strong stuff...at least for me. Within another 10 minutes I was headed for bed and was peacefully flipping through a magazine when my eyelids started to give up on me.

On the other hand, I might have been subconsciously very tired from the Christmas driving (this is obviously part of the first review since it is now April) and this was enough to push me over the edge and pass right out. Share your opinions on this below and let me know if you had ever tried Neuro Sleep and what the effects were.

Scores:
Cost - $2.39
Taste - 9/10
Performance - 9/10

Overall - 18/20...tasty and felt pretty strong

Sleep Ease Relaxation Shot Review

OK, I made it up. It doesn't say "Relaxation Shot" on the label, but I thought it might be the best way to describe this shot.

Taste

My god this shot has the most vile smell I have ever had the misfortune to experience. It is a blend of sweaty socks, sewage and plastic. The initial taste is equally disgusting, however, shortly after a burst of sourness strong enough to defeat the sewage taste comes through and knocks up the taste a few notches. Unfortunately the sourness is very short-lived and the sewage taste returns quickly.

Either this is a bad batch or this shot is the worst-tasting shot I have ever tried.

Performance

Unfortunately I could not finish the shot fearing that this might be a spoiled batch. The most I could drink was about half the little bottle. From the 30 or so mL I consumed, I did feel very relaxed and even a little sleepy. I think this might be a great shot, but the taste is just so vile.

If someone from Stacker is reading this, let me know if this is a bad batch or if the shot tastes like this. Codes on the bottom are L#2, 01/19/16/SLPES.

Scores:
Cost - $2.99
Taste - 0/10
Performance - 5/10 (pure guess)

Overall - 5/20...worst-tasting shot I have ever tried and the first I couldn't finish

Rockstar Relax Review

I love relaxation drinks and I was extremely happy to be able to find Rockstar's version when I made a trip across the border. I wish these were sold in Canada.

Taste

I love non-carbonated drinks. They are very easy to consume and don't make me feel bloated or give me horrible burps (though I do enjoy burping). The taste has a strong guava base with light tropical complimentary notes. The tropical part is a lot like a medley of mild flavours without a specific one coming out on top.

Since it is sugar free there is a bit of sweetener taste which is especially noticeable in the aftertaste. The sweetness builds up over the course of the drink and alongside the dry finish it did make me go for a glass of water when I was done.

Overall the taste is pretty good, but I think there are better tasting anti-energy drinks out there...like Marley.

Effects

The effects are a bit slow and they don't show up until about 20 minutes later and when they do, you are not knocked out right away. I felt mellow and a bit drowsy but not drowsy enough to head for the bed. The effect lasted for...er...at least an hour when I went to bed. The effect was definitely weaker than a Marley, but for those who just need to feel slightly relaxed should try Rockstar's Relax. Those who are seeking something stronger to help them go to sleep should try something else...like a Marley.

Scores:
Cost - $3.49
Taste - 8/10
Effects - 7/10

Overall - 15/20...tastes pretty good, but Marley has a stronger kick

Tonic Calm Health Shot Review

After having tried the Tonic Energy Shot a month ago I went back and got the Calm shot...for $4.50!!!!

Taste

Like the Energy shot, this one is very earthy and slightly bitter. It tastes a lot like an overbrewed chamomile tea with a bit of a lemon and some sugar. I know this doesn't sound great, but I sort of enjoyed the shot since I like bitter teas. 

The finish is dry so I recommend sipping some water after the shot. Though the shot uses cane sugar there is a bit of an artificial sweetener-like taste in the aftertaste. 

Performance

The proprietary blend is 120 mg and there is no melatonin listed...at least not under that name. The first ingredient is L-5 Hydroxytryptophan which, according to Wikipedia, is used for the synthesis of melatonin. Also the ingredient can be purchased over the counter as a sleep aid.

The effects appear within 15 minutes and at first I felt very calm without a loss of focus. I also didn't feel tired or sleepy. The calmness lasted for about an hour and I was back to feeling just normal. 

This is one of the few shots/drinks I have tried that help you calm, but not to the point where you feel the need to take a nap. I think this will be great if you have a stressful job.

Scores:

Cost - $4.50

Taste - 8/10

Performance - 9/10

Overall - 17/20...earthy tasting and calms you down

Dream Water Snoozeberry Blueberry Pomegranate Review

Earlier this year on a layover at LAX I got this shot with a bunch of magazines I was buying...some sort of a promotional thing. Since then it has been sitting on my desk, hidden behind piles of paper and other energy and anti-energy drinks. Tonight I decided to finally try it before it expires...assuming it wasn't already too late.

Taste

The shot tastes like sour berries with just a touch of sweetness which quickly disappears amidst some of the watery character the shot has. The sweetness is mostly in the form of sweetener and lasts well into the aftertaste. The sourness comes from what I believe are the pomegranate flavours, which I think need a bit more definition.

I am a bit surprised how most of the flavours don't really sit on your tongue, they all just roll off as soon as you swallow. The only things that last are the sweet and sour characters...which don't really tell you if you just had something that tasted like berries, or apples, or oranges, or...anything. Perhaps I let the shot sit too long on my desk.

On the other hand, the watery character might be a good idea if this is the last thing you drink before going to bed. Once you are in bed, there are no flavours sitting on your tongue, teasing you to get up and get a snack.

Performance

As per the label I had the shot about half an hour before going to bed. Within 10 minutes I started to feel my eyelids getting heavy, but I didn't feel like sleeping until about another 20 or so minutes. Worked like clockwork...or so I thought. Dream Water did not make me have any exciting dreams or enjoy a long, uninterrupted sleep. I woke up a few hours later and was in an odd, half-awake state - too tired to get up and read, too awake to fall back asleep. This went on for what I thought was eternity...probably 5-10 minutes in the real world, before I fell asleep again.

So this didn't quite work that way I expected it to, or the way it was advertised, but its small volume did not give me the urge to go to the washroom in the middle of the night so that is always a plus. It works well enough to put you to sleep, but it didn't not do it for me.

Scores:
Cost - free sample
Taste - 7/10
Performance - 7/10

Overall - 14/20...small format, works ok to make you fall asleep

Venga Relax Review

It is funny how long it has taken me to track one of these down. Out of all places I managed to find a bottle at a Bulk Barn across town and it cost me $2.59 to try this.

Taste

The taste is a blend of tea and juices with white grape and white tea dominating. The grapefruit flavour is light and does not truly appear until the finish and lasts well into the aftertaste. The orange flavour is rather odd because it reminds me more of tangerines and blood oranges than just plain oranges.

Though I love the blend of flavours and how light, yet defined they are, I think the sweetness is a bit too much for this type of a drink. It is not much compared to other anti-energy/relaxation drinks, but when you have white tea as your basis, every bit of sugar (and sweetener) counts and has a dramatic impact on the flavour. This isn't a deal breaker, but I just thought the drink could do with less.

Performance

Don't expect the same level of performance as a Marley or a Sippin Syrup, but do expect a noticeable effect. I had this drink before going to bed and not too soon after a large cup of earl grey tea. I started to feel the calming effects within about 10 minutes and they were very mellow yet effective at calming me down and making me even just a tiny bit drowsy.

For about 15 minutes I felt calm enough to focus on reading some boring articles I would normally just scan, yet not drowsy so that I entirely skipped them. I think the drink is a pretty decent balance between calmness and that tiny bit of drowsiness which could be enough for some people for an early sleep or even an afternoon nap.

Scores:
Cost - $2.59
Taste - 9.5/10
Performance - 6/10

Overall - 15.5/20...fantastic taste and an OK performance. Just don't expect this to put you to sleep

Marley's Mellow Mood Lite Half Tea Half Lemonade Review

It is finally here - Marley's Half and Half. I was promised a bottle of this drink many months ago by the company, but one never arrived. Nevertheless, I have a bottle and I am excited to try it.

Taste

The first thing I noticed about this drink is how sweet it is. Sure there is an earthy black tea note, but the sweetness overpowers it. The lemonade is a nice touch as it gives the drink a refreshing and sour lemon kick.

Since this is a light drink, there is the typical artificial sweetener taste which is quite pronounced in the initial stages of the aftertaste, but fortunately mellows out after a few minutes ("mellows out", get it).

Though this is an OK tasting Marley, I still prefer the older, original tea flavours which are more mellow, better balanced and just more enjoyable.

Performance

For those who find the regular Marley too strong, this might be the one for you. The drink kicks in within 20 minutes and the effects are a bit dialed back when compared to the regular Marley's. I relaxed a bit and became a tad drowsy, but I didn't quite feel the urge to fall asleep.

I spent my evening watching the Sunday cartoons, which I usually just have playing in the background while I play games or read news. This time I was mellowed out enough to be able to stare at screen without having to read words or pay too much attention. It was kind of nice...or so I thought. At the end of the cartoons, the effects of the drink had passed and I was back to feeling a bit too "not-tired" to be able to go to bed. This on Sunday night is not cool since I feel like crap Monday mornings if I don't get enough sleep. Also, on Mondays, I like to get up early and go to the office much earlier to organize a plan of action to tackle the week's work.

Check out the other Marley's for comparison:

• Berry
• Black Tea
• Green Tea
• Citrus

Scores:
Cost - $2.99 from Hasty Market
Taste - 7.2/10
Performance - 6/10

Overall - 13.2/20...might appeal to some people seeking a bit weaker than the original Marley's

Doctor's Select Downtime Relaxation Shot Review

There are energy energy drinks and there are anti-energy/relaxation drinks. There are energy shots so why not have relaxation shots? Doctor's Select is the shot version of the Doctor's Select Downtime Relaxation beverage, a beverage which I will be reviewing shortly (or a beverage I just reviewed depending on when you are reading this).

I like the energy shot size - not too much liquid and gets the job done quickly. Well, before bed I try not to drink too much since I am too lazy to get up in the middle of the night and go to the washroom, so a shot to get me relaxed and tired will be perfect for me.

Taste

The shot has a very intense, slightly sour berry flavour with an earthy undertone and a sweetener finish...with more of the berry taste. The taste is pretty good and aside from the sweetener finish, which will be part of my mouth until I fall asleep, I rather like the taste.

Since there is no caffeine, there is no bitterness and the only active ingredient flavours are noticed through the earthy tone.

Cannot wait to try the full sized beverage.

Performance

The shot starts to work within 10-15 minutes. It puts you into a relaxed, almost too relaxed to do anything sort of mood. It doesn't quite make you want to fall asleep...not at first, but it definitely makes you a bit tired.

At first I resisted the urge to close my eyes, but soon more of the active ingredients started to kick in and I started to feel helpless. I gave up the fight in another 10 minutes and I relocated to the bed. I bet if it wasn't so late into the night, I could have easily stayed up feeling veeeeeeery relaxed and enjoying some random movie or show on Netflix.

Yeah, this shot works and has an effect similar to most full sized anti-energy drinks, but doesn't make you feel bloated or wake you up in the middle of the night to go use the washroom.

Scores:
Cost - $10.95 for a variety pack
Taste - 9/10
Performance - 9/10

Overall - 18/20...small, works great and tastes great

Sippin Syrup Mellin Review

Friday night, can't fall asleep, have to wake up early to go to an appointment - perfect time to try another one of the Sippin Syrup flavours I recently bought.

Taste

This Sippin Syrup is a little different than the Purple one I had a few days ago. It is lightly carbonated with a very weird earthy tone. This should be tasting like melon, but instead it tastes like berries, tea and mint...with some plastic and medicinal notes.

Some candy sweetness emerges in the finish and starts to build up. Halfway through I wanted to take a sip of water to get rid of the sticky sweetness. The body of the drink itself even feels a bit thicker than most drinks. The earthy tone helps tone it down a bit, but it is just not enough.

I am a bit disappointed after having tried the Purple flavour.

Performance

Works the same as the purple flavour. Half the bottle will calm you down and tire you out shortly, while the whole bottle will weigh those eyelids down and make you crave a pillow and a nice bed...actually any surface you can pass out on.

Like with the Purple flavour, you can fight the urge to sleep, but you might as well give up and enjoy some rest. I recommend half the bottle, or less, if you just feel getting that stress level down a notch and not passing out.

Scores:
Cost - $10.95 for a 6 pack
Taste - 6.8/10
Performance - 9/10

Overall - 15.8/20...not as great tasting as the purple flavour, but it still works great

Sippin Syrup Purple Review

Here it is. I have been looking forward to trying these beverages for well over a year now and I finally acquired a box of all the flavours from Sippin Syrup's website for only $20 (delivery included).

The first thing I noticed was the size of the bottles. On Sippin Syrups' website the bottles look smaller and closer to a shot than a full sized, 473 mL bottle. Half a quart is quite a lot to consume when you want to relax and go to sleep. Every time I consume so much before sleeping, I end up getting up at least once in the middle of the night...after about 30 minutes of tossing and turning trying to fall asleep with a full bladder and the urge to use the washroom. Yes, I am that lazy.

Taste

I decided to start off with what I thought was the original drink - Sippin Syrup Purple. I gave it a quick shake, unscrewed the large cap (I love large caps, it makes it much easier to drink) and BAM, a large quantity of purple, grape smelling stuff started to pour from under the cap. Note to self: Do not shake the other bottles!

With the situation contained I fully opened the bottle and took a swig. Wow, pretty tasty stuff. This tastes like a lightly carbonated grape juice with some berries which give the beverage a tart finish and help cleanse part of your palate. The grape is flavour has a candy-like sweetness which does build up as you drink, but the berry tartness helps keep it down to a tolerable level - very nice touch.

This is a pretty tasty and unique flavour which I think energy drink manufacturers should adopt - grape and tart berries. I like it.

Performance

The calming blend has the standard ingredients - chamomile, valerian root, L-theanine and melatonin, and there are a whole bunch more added for a good measure.

So does it work? Hell yeah, it works. It works better than expected. About halfway through the bottle and 20 minutes after I first started drinking it, I felt very relaxed and borderline sleepy. My eyelids were getting heavy and I even considered stopping drinking this so I didn't completely fall asleep. But I then decided against it.

Twenty minutes later the whole bottle was gone and I was getting pretty tired, so tired I did not even feel like reading so I decided to switch to Netflix and spend the remaining hours of my evening watching TV shows.

You can try to fight the feeling, but it is a losing battle, so I strongly suggest you just give yourself up. As for the "Euphoric Thoughts" advertised on the label, I have yet to experience any.

Overall, I am very pleased with this product and will recommend it to everyone. I would also suggest consuming half the bottle if you want to relax and not fall asleep.

Scores:
Cost - $10.95 for a variety 6 pack
Taste - 9/10
Performance - 10/10

Overall - 19/20...excellent taste, excellent performance

Quick Beverages Sleep Review

It has been a while since I have tried and reviewed an anti-energy beverage so I decided to pick up one of the many sleep aids I found at the local 7-11 "pharmacy" isle. This little shot retails for $3.49 and should be available in most 7-11 at the time of writing this review. I know this for a fact because I have seen it at every 7-11 in the area - about 4 in total.

Also, apologies for the photo. My lightbox was put away for a while, it was late at night and all I had was my phone.

Taste

By the smell of this you would have no idea what it is supposed to taste like. To me it smelled like an old, cheap steeped tea. The kind you get at convenience stores or greasy diners...with some lemon squeezed to try and mask the blandness.

The taste is actually a lot better than the aroma and that's more important. It tastes like a berry tea where one of the berries is wild and gives the entire concoction a nice sour kick which helps not only with the taste, but also with the aftertaste. There is an herbal/woody undertone which gives the shot an enjoyable back and doesn't impact the flavour negatively. Though this is a sugar free shot, there is barely any trace of an artificial sweetener in the aftertaste. Perhaps due to the sourness.

Overall, pretty decent flavour but something should definitely be done about the aroma.

Performance

I consumed the entire bottle just about 20 minutes before going to bed...not to sleep, just to bed with a book. The label recommends the full bottle for a maximum sleep effect or half the bottle for a moderate sleep effect.

The active blend contains 413 mg of valerian root, lemon balm and melatonin - pretty standard ingredients.

The effects are noticeable within about 10 minutes and they start off slowly. The initial effect is very similar to drinking a big mug of chamomile tea - just a relaxed feel. Within another 5 minutes your eyelids start to feel heavy, but you can easily fight the urge to fall asleep. I did for a while, but eventually I gave in and fell asleep.

This is not the strongest drink and though it will make you feel tired and eventually make you sleep, I felt like you can fight off the urge easily and probably stay up until the effects disappear. By comparison, this is a bit stronger than a Marley, but weaker than many other anti-energy drinks available on the market.

Scores:
Cost - $3.49 from 7-11
Taste - 9/10
Performance - 7.7/10

Overall - 16.7/20...great tasting and performing anti-energy shot. Don't consume if you are not planning on sleeping, though

Marley's Mellow Mood Relaxation Beverage Green Tea with Honey Review

So here it is, the fourth and last of the available Marley's Mellow Mood drinks...at least at the local level. I picked this up at a Short Stop convenience store associated with a Shell gas station for $2.49, but I have also previously purchased it at a few Hasty Markets.


Taste

This is definitely my favorite flavour of the bunch. The green tea base makes for a very mellow and smooth beverage that not only quenches the thirst since it is so light, but it is extremely easy to drink. The honey adds some sweetness, which subtle and never really builds up. The honey is especially pronounced in the finish, overpowering the earthy tea notes. There are some additional flavours that take a backseat to the green tea and honey, such as citrus and chamomile.

This flavour fits the name Marley's Mellow Mood the most and I strongly recommend this one to everyone who wants to try Marley's line up.

Performance

This one works just like Marley's black tea and will chill you out completely. I had this bottle at the end of a long day with many cups of coffee, and it almost put me to sleep after mellowing me out within 20 minutes. I was really glad that it only almost put me to sleep, because I was able to spend some time reading news and catching up on things I missed while at work.

Great performance!

Scores:
Cost - $2.49 from Short Stop or Hasty Market
Taste - 9.9/10
Performance - 8.5/10

Overall - 18.4/20...love this taste and love the chill feel

Marley's Mellow Mood Relaxation Beverage Citrus Review

I was finally able to score the last 2 of the 4 current flavours at a gas station. Check the Black Tea and Berry reviews to get up to speed.

Taste

Well, what can one expect from a citrus drink? It tastes like citrus with a slight salty twist and a bit of underlying candy sweetness. There is some lime at the end, but overall, nothing jumps out that makes this citrus flavour amazing. The drink is, of course, carbonated but not carbonated enough to make you constantly burp. I know this review is short, but there is not much else that can be said.

Performance

This drink works fast. I started to feel more relaxed and borderline sleepy within 15 minutes. The effect didn't get stronger with time, but kept me in a very enjoyable state of mind. I could have gone to sleep if I wanted to or I could have stayed up if I wanted to. The choice was mine, but the drink allowed me to choose. It didn't force me like some other anti-energy drinks to go to bed. I like Marley's Mellow Mood drinks and I like this one.

Scores:
Cost - $2.69 from Short Stop/Shell
Taste - 8.5/10
Performance - 8.5/10

Overall - 17/20...tastes like a citrus candy and works like a charm

AriZona RX Stress Herbal Iced Tea Review

Having tried AriZona's natural energy drink last week, I decided to try their relaxation drink this week. I got the bottle from the local Foodland for $1.

Taste

Tastes a lot like the original iced tea, both earthy and sweet, but it does have a slightly bitter finish at the start. After the initial bitterness, a nice, mellow chamomile aftertaste emerges and blends nicely with the rest of the tea flavours. Once you are a few sips deep, the sweetness masks the bitterness nicely. Having said that, the sweetness does build up, which is a bit of a disappointment because when I want to relax with a beverage, I don't want to be in a rush to get to a glass of water and then have to suffer through a bloated period as a result of having consumed a 591 mL beverage and some water on top of that.

Despite the sweetness build up, this is a great tasting AriZona drink with their signature iced tea flavour.

Performance

As expected, this isn't a drink as powerful as other purpose developed anti-energy drinks. Half way through the bottle and 20 minutes later, I started to calm down and experience effects similar to those of drinking a cup of chamomile tea. I was calm, feeling a bit lazy, but not sleepy. The rest of the bottle also didn't put me to sleep or make me sufficiently sleepy, but it did have a very nice calming effect. The one thing I did not like was the sheer volume of this thing - 591 mL before bed or any time you are trying to calm down will send you running for the nearest bathroom.

Scores:
Cost - $1 from Foodland
Taste - 9/10
Performance - 6.5/10

Overall - 15.5/20...great AriZona product that has a very nice calming effect

Marley's Mellow Mood Relaxation Beverage Black Tea Review

This weekend I was fortunate enough to find my favorite Marley's Mellow Mood drink, black tea, at a Hasty Market near where I was. Compared to the berry flavour I reviewed a few weeks ago, this is much better, but does cost an extra $1...partly due to the larger size.

Taste

The moment you pop open that top, the delicious and inviting aroma of peach and passion fruit engulfs you and brings your holding arm closer to your mouth which is already prepared to received the awesome goodness contained in that glass bottle. Though the aroma is peach heavy, the taste is passion fruit heavy with the peach coming in second in the finish. The passion fruit is intense and tangy and results in a very enjoyable initial experience. The black tea blends well with the peach and gives the drink a very mellow and smooth secondary flavour and finish. There is very little of the berry flavour, but who needs that when you have an awesome combination of passion fruit, peach and black tea.

Hands down, this is a very smooth and enjoyable drink before a nap, a deep sleep, or if you just want to relax. The one problem I have with drinking this before sleep is its 473 mL volume, which often times wakes me up in a couple of hours so that I can go and relieve myself.

Performance

Well, this is comparable to the berry flavour, except it is a bit stronger since there are an extra 100 mL. It does mellow you out, but it also creates a much stronger desire to sleep than the smaller, berry, container. If you are strong, you can fight through the urge, but if you want to give in, enjoy a pleasant sleep.

I would still pick this over the berry flavour simply because of its amazing taste.

Scores:
Cost - $2.99 from the Hasty Market
Taste - 9.8/10
Performance - 8.5/10

Overall - 18.3/20...one of the best relaxation beverages which mellows you out without making you want to fall asleep...too much

Firefly Chillout Blackcurrant and Cinnamon Review

On the opposite end of the Firefly drinks I picked up on the weekend, there is the Chill Out flavour, which combines many of the ingredients you find in anti-energy drinks.

Taste

I love blackcurrants, especially in the form of juice. It is even better when there is 45% juice. The taste is tart with a nice minty-like hit at the start. There is also a very nice lemon taste which start to develop nicely towards the end of each sip and lasts well into the aftertaste. The cinnamon taste is weak, which I sort of like because it compliments the rest of the taste rather than dominating it.

Bottom line is, this blackcurrant juice did not disappoint, but this was more than just blackcurrant juice with its lemon, apple and cinnamon notes.

Performance

As mentioned, the active ingredients present in this drink are the same ingredients present in most anti-energy drinks so the drink does work. It kicks in around 15-20 minutes after drinking and the effects are good enough to almost put you to sleep. I say almost because unlike other anti-energy drinks, it is not as strong, but does still works fairly well.

I caution you not to drink this all at once if you are focusing on work as it will slow you down. However, it works great when you just want to relax.

Scores:
Cost - $3.49
Taste - 9.9/10
Performance - 8/10

Overall - 17.9/20...awesome

Marley's Mellow Mood Relaxation Beverage Berry Review

Here is another interesting product to add to my growing anti-energy section. I find it as a bit of a surprise for someone to use Bob Marley's image for a drink, but on the other hand, a relaxation beverage fits his image perfectly. Well, I drink this to you Bob Marley.

Taste

For those who don't know, these drinks actually come in a variety of flavours. I have had the pleasure of trying a couple before writing this review and I can tell you for sure that the tea-based ones are excellent.

The berry one, on the other hand, is more like a soda and even though the label states that it is lightly carbonated, it is not. Not only does it drink like a soda, but it also tastes like one too - it is sweet and the berry flavour is strong, but not well defined. You know it tastes like berries, but it is hard to tell which ones. I was able to detect a bit of raspberries in the aftertaste, and some strawberries at the start, but it all just sort of blends while you are drinking it. Don't take this the wrong way, this does not taste bad, it is just not well defined.

In addition to the berry taste, the relaxation ingredients also have an effect. They give the beverage a bit of an earthy tone which I welcomed very much as it took the sugar edge off...just a little. They are not strong to the point of wrecking your enjoyment, but can definitely be tasted.

I thought the berry flavour was OK, but I much prefer the tea-based ones. I hope to find them again the near future and this time write a review.

Performance

I cracked open this can about a little less than 2 hours before my normal bed time and drank it, while reading some of my RSS feeds, over the course of half an hour. By the end of that half hour, I definitely started to feel something. I was a bit more relaxed and was able to focus on articles and actually read them thoroughly and not just skim them. This focused period was shorter than I wanted it to be and I fell victim to this drink's relaxation effects.

Less than an hour into this drink, I was starting to feel the desire to go to bed early and skip my evening reading time. It was hard, but I fought the urge and stayed up.

Bob Marley's Mellow Mood...you do a pretty good job at mellowing me out. Good job. Just one suggestion, add less sugar for two main reasons - to avoid a sugar rush before bed and to curb the sweetness a bit.

Check out the other Marley's:

• Citrus
• Black Tea
• Green Tea
• Lite - Half Tea Half Lemonade

Scores:
Cost - $1.99 from the Hasty Market
Taste - 7/10
Performance - 7.5/10

Overall - 14.5/20...does what it promises, but it could do it with less sugar