I can't remember the last time I had a Pepsi. Or a Coke. I am strictly a water, wine and coffee drinker.
I don't even like soda that much. Soda in the States is full of, pardon my French, crap. As the story goes, our soda will clean the corrosion off a battery. Imagine what it does for your stomach lining?
And I like my stomach lining, thank you very much! So, I stay far away.
But last week I was perusing the aisle of my local TJ Maxx and found these.
image courtesy of oldworldfoods.com
Agrumi Italian Sodas. Where had they been hiding?
Italian soda is made from all natural flavors and/or syrups and blended with seltzer. They are very effervescent and refreshing! Especially in the summer heat.
Agrumi is an Italian word that refers to all things citrus.
So, it would only be fitting that Agrumi is soda that comes in citrus flavors, like lemon, lime, grapefruit and tangerine.
Of course I had to scoff some up and drink them right away. They are fresh and delish. The lemon was just tangy and tart with just enough bubbles and the tangerine was sweet, but not overly so.
You can buy Agrumi here, here here and here.
Coincidentally, yesterday I stumbled across another brand name at Trader Joe's. Villa Italia comes in blood orange or grapefruit and costs only $2.99 a bottle! These are made with carbonated mineral water from Italy.
traderjoesfan.com
And last but not least, Cost Plus has their own line of Italian Soda. Imported right from Italy in the classic citrus flavors, lemon and blood orange and a special flavor..pomegranate! At only $1.99 a bottle these are a steal. Sign me up!
courtesy of Cost Plus World Market
So, I can no longer say that I am not a soda drinker. I am however, an Italian Soda drinker. And with natural flavors and antioxidants in the pomegranate variety, I can also say they are a healthy alternative to the ubiquitous caramel color, preservative laden Diet Crap, oops, ahem, I mean, Diet Coke that Americans love to guzzle.
Which flavor is your favorite?