It’s good to know that maple syrup is considered a hearty ingredient, like almonds and pumpkin seeds. (Spotted by Robbie at Walmart.)
If you’re out shopping and see new products, snap a picture of them, and send them in via an email ([email protected]) with where you found them and “Spotted” in the subject line. Also, if you want to send in photos and are wondering if we’ve already covered something or if they’re new, don’t worry about it. Let us worry about it.
Come on, Barbie, let’s go Oli…pop. (Spotted by Sarah R at Sprouts.)
If you’re out shopping and see new products, snap a picture of them, and send them in via an email ([email protected]) with where you found them and “Spotted” in the subject line. Also, if you want to send in photos and are wondering if we’ve already covered something or if they’re new, don’t worry about it. Let us worry about it.
Oh, hey!!! New Reign Storm flavors!!! Let’s get caffeinated!!! Whoa!!! Too many exclamation points! Maybe I’m already too caffeinated!
This year’s lot features Strawberry Apricot, Mango, Citrus Zest, and Guava Strawberry. They come in the same 12-ounce slim cans as all other Reign Storm varieties and feature “clean energy,” which means the 200 milligrams of caffeine are provided by plant sources like green coffee beans, green tea extract, ginseng, guarana, and guayusa. They also have zero sugar and no artificial preservatives, flavors, or colors.
Much like the original Reign Storm varieties, there isn’t a bad tasting one in this bunch. But if you’re staring at all of these new ones at the store and only want to buy one, let me be your energy drink sommelier and recommend getting the Mango or Guava Strawberry. The former has a sweet tropicalness that shouts mango in my head. It nails the fruit’s flavor, and I’m glad it wasn’t paired with another to take away some of the spotlight. Guava Strawberry had a perfect balance between the two flavors, and it was berry berry good. Although that isn’t surprising since Monster did a great job with its Ultra Strawberry Dreams, which I thought had a slight guava flavor.
Great, but not quite as great as the two above was Citrus Zest. After tasting it and looking at the grapefruit on its can, I can’t help but think this tastes similar to the Monster Ultra Ruby Red Fantasy that came out earlier this year. Although I thought the grapefruit stood out a bit more with this. And, finally we come to Strawberry Apricot, which I enjoyed as much as Citrus Zest. The balance was like 60 percent strawberry and 40 percent apricot, and it made for a tasty energy drink, which again is not surprising because of how well Monster does strawberry.
Much like Monster’s Ultra line, I didn’t notice the artificial sweeteners in these, which are sucralose, acesulfame potassium, and erythritol. I had somewhat of an issue with the sweeteners coming through when I covered the original flavors, but I didn’t experience it with these.
Reign Storm Energy Drinks are like Monster Ultra with benefits. They have the same great taste, and similar flavors, as the Ultra line, but also have more caffeine and ingredients that help accelerate metabolism, provide immunity support, and help support hair and skin health. But I really wish they came in 16-ounce cans so that I could have more caffeine, more helpful vitamins, and more tasty liquid to drink.
DISCLOSURE: I received free product samples from Monster. Doing so did not influence my review.
Purchased Price: FREE
Size: 12 fl oz cans
Purchased at: Received from Monster
Rating: 8 out of 10 (Mango and Guava Strawberry), 7 out of 10 (Citrus Zest and Strawberry Apricot)
Nutrition Facts: (1 can) 10 calories, 0 grams of fat, 280 milligrams of sodium, 5 grams of carbohydrates, 0 grams of sugar, 2 grams of erythritol, 0 grams of protein,.
Here are some interesting new products found on store shelves by your fellow readers. If you’ve tried any of them, share your thoughts in the comments.
(Spotted by Amanda Y at Walmart.)
(Spotted by Robbie at Walmart.)
(Spotted by Amanda Y at Walmart.)
(Spotted by Amanda Y at Walmart.)
(Spotted by Amanda Y at Target.)
(Spotted by Robbie at QuikTrip.)
(Spotted by Amanda Y at Walmart.)
(Spotted by Sarah R at Sprouts.)
(Spotted by Amanda Y at Walmart.)
(Spotted by Sarah R at Sprouts.)
If you’re out shopping and see new products, snap a picture of them, and send them in via an email ([email protected]) with where you found them and “Spotted” in the subject line. Also, if you want to send in photos and are wondering if we’ve already covered something or if they’re new, don’t worry about it. Let us worry about it.
Smoky Chipotle Chicken – Rice topped with bell peppers, fire roasted red onions, black beans, grilled white meat chicken, savory cheese blend, and a smoky Chipotle Cholula Sauce.
Smoky Chipotle Veggie – Rice topped with bell peppers, fire-roasted corn and red onions, black beans, savory cheese blend, and a smoky Chipotle Cholula Sauce.
Salsa Verde Chicken – Rice topped with bell peppers, fire-roasted red onions, black beans, grilled white meat chicken, savory cheese blend, and a Salsa Verde Cholula Sauce.
Chili Lime Pork Carnitas – Rice topped with bell peppers, fire-roasted red onions, black beans, seasoned pulled pork, savory cheese blend, and a Chili Lime
Cholula Sauce.
(Spotted by Robbie at H-E-B.)
If you’re out shopping and see new products, snap a picture of them, and send them in via an email ([email protected]) with where you found them and “Spotted” in the subject line. Also, if you want to send in photos and are wondering if we’ve already covered something or if they’re new, don’t worry about it. Let us worry about it.