My Search For a New Drink

Since I’ve given up sweeteners, both artificial and processed sugars, I have been on the hunt for a new drink, or really drinks, to replace my iced tea obsession. I got lots of suggestions from my friends. So I went out and gathered samples to try.

While I was at fresh market buying the teas I was told were good without additional sweet I walked by the cold drinks Refrigerator. Since I was thirsty at that moment I opted to buy two different flavored waters. I usually hate paying for water other than what I pay right out of the tap. I dislike the waste both on money and in packaging.

I got a cherry flavored Hint water which I drank right away. It was good. 0 calories. A little sweet and the cherry was not artificial tasting. I wasn’t bowled over. I also bought something called Shine water I brought that one home.

I made hibiscus blueberry tea from the Republic of tea. Expensive compared to my Costco size of Lipton – .33¢ a tea bag compared to .003¢ a tea bag. I liked the hibiscus, but didn’t love it. I also got some uber expensive Kushiro tea. Don’t even get me started about that one. It should come with a masseuse since it is Spa worthy. Yummy, but not sweet tooth satisfying.

I went way down market and got two flavored seltzer’s at Trader Joe’s. Good for just hydration, but still do not beat my old way of drinking iced tea.

Today I had Mah Jongg and I drank my Lipton with lime, no sweet. It’s fine, just barley fine. After a construction meeting at church I really needed a new drink I remembered the Shine water in my fridge I had bought at the Fresh Market. It was strawberry lemon flavored and had 20 calories. I could live with that.

I filled a glass with crushed ice and tried to open the bottle. Usually I am able to open any bottle, but not this one. I got out my grandmothers jar opening tool. It took a minute, I actually considered going back to the store to have them open it, and then the cap budged and gave way.

The water was a beautiful pink color so it actually looked like a cocktail. I took a sip and … TAA DAA it was nirvana. I loved it. It was just sweet enough to feel like a treat, but not like I was cheating on my husband.

Now I am going to have to try the other flavors. It is too expensive to make up the 80 Oz of liquid I drink a day, but one every other day seems like it could satisfy me when I am pining for a sweet ‘n low laced iced tea.