OCEAN SPRAY: Product Review

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I have been selected to trial and provide my review on Ocean Spray’ new additional added to their Low Sugar range of fruit drinks  The Low Sugar Cranberry Fruit Drink.  While I was skeptical about actually trying the product as I don’t like Cranberry Juice, Cranberry Sauce or even Cranberry Cocktail mix, I thought I will go ahead anyway and all I can do it provide my feedback on the product.

Bottle

As a part of my new years resolution to get myself healthier a key part of that is to reduce the amount of soft drinks I consume and to increase my water intake, and let me tell you – unless water is ice cold I just can’t handle water  So the idea of this being a healthier alternative to soft drink, actually 10 calories per serve and sweetened with Stevia, being a natural sweetener as opposed to artificial sweetener had my interests pegged. I compared the nutritional panel from the Low Sugar Cranberry Drink, Long life apple juice and coke

Labels

Just a small difference *cough cough* This product has 5 calories per 100 ml in comparison to the apple juice of 47 calories per 100ml and Coke with 43 calories per 100ml.  Given than an average glass of juice or coke is well over 100ml that is a lot of calories going into my body that I don’t even consider.

So I was excited to taste, pour myself a glass and quiet frankly spat it out again.  Not the best start, I then thought I will try again this time I will have the juice chilled.  So after it has been in the fridge for a couple hours and I serve poured over ice with a sliced fresh strawberry in my glass I cautiously tried again.

On ice

Um hello..where has this drink been all my life!! With the right balance of fruitness, sweetness and bitterness when ice cold this drink was so delicious and so very refreshing as well. I was pleasantly surprised.

 

I then wondered what other innovative ways I could use this Cranberry drink.  I know that C4Kers have recently been asking on #membermondays for breakfast smoothies which have always been a struggle for me given that the density and quantity of milk included in a smoothie just doesn’t agree with me. I had a stroke of genius and thought I would try a breakfast smoothie using the Low Sugar Cranberry Drink as a base.

Berry Oat Smoothie

Ocean Spray Berry Oat Smoothie

  • 3/4 cup Ocean Spray Low Sugar Cranberry Drink
  • 3/4 cup frozen raspberries
  • 1/2 cup ground rolled oats
  • 1/4 cup natural yoghurt
  • 1 tablespoon honey

Place all ingredients into a bullet style blenders and blitz until smooth and creamy.

 

Did I say I had a stroke of genius, I sure did alright. For me this smoothie was the perfect balance between texture, flavour and substance.  I can see this being a daily regular, especially on work days where I can blend it up and have in the car on my way to work.

 

So since I was having so much luck with successful drinks, I thought I will stick with the drinks and since today is Valentines Day and the Low Sugar Cranberry Drink is the perfect colour for a bit of lurveeee, I thought with dinner tonight I will serve up a selection of different drink mixes to the table.  While I tried them all and will definitely have them all again my favourite was definitely the Cosmo…now I just need to get myself to the shops to buy myself a fancy martini style cocktail glass for complete perfection.

 

Cosmo

Cosmo

  • 30ml vodka
  • 15ml cointreu
  • Juice from 1/2 lime
  • 45ml Low Sugar Cranberry Drink

Place all ingredients into a cocktail shaker filled with ice and mix well

 

Cranberry Slushie

Cranberry Slushie

  • 30ml vodka
  • 120ml Low Sugar Cranberry Drink
  • 120ml Lemonade
  • 6 ice cubes

Place all ingredients into a bullet style blender and blitz until you have a perfect slushie consistency.  Serve with a slice of lemon or a fresh strawberry

 

Fruit Punch

Cranberry Punch

  • 1/2 cup Low Sugar Cranberry Drink
  • 1/2 cup Mineral Water
  • 1 teaspoon brown lime cordial
  • Fresh lemon and strawberry slices for serving

Combine ingredients with a quick stir and serve over ice.

 

While as a part of this product trial I have been supplied with 3 x 1.5 litre bottles, which one has already completely drunk in a couple days, I will definitely be buying this drink again.  Such a great and healthy alternative to fruit juices and soft drinks for people, like me, who need a little bit of help drinking water or just like a bit of extra flavour in their drinks.

For more information about Ocean Spray and their entire product range, please click here to be directed to their website.