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REVIEW – Crystal Pepsi

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August 29, 2016 | Post a Comment
Crystal Pepsi Bottle
Cup of Crystal Pepsi

I don't drink a lot of soda (or pop), and in general, I usually prefer Coke and Sprite over Pepsi and Sierra Mist, but I still tried out some Crystal Pepsi that my boyfriend and I found at Fry's (Kroger).

I didn't have any Crystal Pepsi in the '90s and don't really remember it coming out (but I didn't really drink sodas in the '90s, and I was fairly young).

I haven't had Pepsi in a while, so my boyfriend and I tried the Crystal Pepsi along with regular Pepsi. The taste of the Crystal Pepsi is hard to describe. It tasted similar to Pepsi, but not quite the same... like when you have the dream that you're in your own house, but it's not really your house and some things are different.

It seemed to have a more watery taste or something compared with regular Pepsi to me. My boyfriend thought it tasted just like regular Pepsi, except with a bright finish similar to Sprite (and without the limey taste).

We later found that sodium citrate and sodium benzoate are found in both Sprite and Crystal Pepsi... so my boyfriend is now convinced he has a new super power: being able to detect the taste of those two ingredients.

My boyfriend and I also left a little bit of the Crystal Pepsi and regular Pepsi in the fridge, and the regular Pepsi definitely went flat faster, or at least tasted flatter than the Crystal Pepsi after the same amount of time.

We also compared the nutrition and ingredients of a regular Pepsi with Crystal Pepsi.

The main differences were:

  • Crystal Pepsi has sodium benzoate, sodium citrate, and gum arabic as ingredients. Regular Pepsi does not.
  • Regular Pepsi has 55 mg of sodium per 20 oz bottle. Crystal Pepsi has 90 mg of sodium per 20 oz bottle.
  • Regular Pepsi also lists caramel color and sugar as ingredients, and Crystal Pepsi does not.

    • Everything else appears about the same:

  • Both 20 oz bottles have 250 calories, 69 g of carbs/sugar, and 63 mg caffeine content.
  • The same remaining ingredients: carbonated water, phosphoric acid, caffeine, citric acid, and natural flavor
  • And they both have same statement that they are "partially produced with genetically engineering"! 😛

    • Nutrition Facts: Regular Pepsi vs Crystal Pepsi
    Nutrition Facts for one 20 fl oz bottle: Regular Pepsi vs. Crystal Pepsi

    Overall, it tasted fine to me and fairly close to regular Pepsi. It wasn't bad at all. My boyfriend also liked it and preferred the Crystal Pepsi over regular Pepsi.

    Overall Rating:
    Good
    Food: Crystal Pepsi
    Source: Fry's Food & Drug Store (Kroger), Tucson, AZ
    Price: $1.00 (on sale!)
    Rating: Good
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    REVIEW – Bumble Bee Seared Ahi Tuna (Frozen)

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    June 30, 2016 | Post a Comment
    Box of Bumble Bee Superfresh Seared Ahi Tuna
    Sushi Quality Bumble Bee Superfresh Seared Ahi Tuna

    My boyfriend and I just noticed Costco had this frozen "sushi quality" seared ahi tuna a few weeks ago. We both like raw ahi tuna in sushi so these seemed like a good find for us, and we snatched it up!

    The package from Costco came in four sealed portions, and it was very easy to prepare: just take it out of the vacuum pack, and thaw it in the refrigerator! However, the instructions said to thaw it in the refrigerator for three hours, which we did... and it was still really frozen. In fact, it was still partially frozen after about 5-6 hours of sitting in the fridge... so we ended up thawing it for an extra hour in room temperature the first time. The next time we had it, we thawed it closer to eight hours in the refrigerator.

    We were very happy to find this because it tasted deeelicious! It was seared on the outside with a nice seasoning: a good combination of pepper and soy sauce. It had an overall smooth, savory taste. It also didn't have a strong sour taste that ahi tuna sometimes has. One portion comes pre-sliced in about twelve small slices, which was good for the two of us to share as a side.

    Unfortunately, when we went back to Costco last week, we weren't able to find it again.. but it looks like some Safeway stores in our area carry it.. so we will try finding it there next!

    Overall Rating:
    Delicious
    Food: BumbleBee SuperFresh Seared Ahi Tuna (Frozen)
    Source: Costco, Tucson, AZ
    Rating: Delicious
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    REVIEW – Bob Evans Original Mashed Potatoes

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    June 8, 2016 | Post a Comment
    ox of Bob Evans Original Mashed Potatoes
    Bob Evans Original Mashed Potatoes microwaved

    We've seen these refrigerated Bob Evans mashed potatoes at Fry's (Kroger) for a while and decided to try some. They were pretty easy to warm up using the microwave instructions.

    The mashed potatoes were whipped, smooth, and creamy... a very tasty side! They had a rich and buttery taste (or according to the ingredients: buttery and margarine-y) and were a perfect complement to the pork we grilled.

    They may not be very healthy, but if you need some quick and easy buttered mashed potatoes, these taste delicious! 😛

    Overall Rating:
    Delicious
    Food: Bob Evans Original Mashed Potatoes
    Source: Fry's Food & Drug Store (Kroger), Tucson, AZ
    Rating: Delicious
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