Crystal Light Pure (Mixed Berry) Drink Mix Review

Crystal Light Pure is the low calorie "naturally" sweetened alternative to the other Crystal Light drink mixes, which are normally sweetened with aspartame & acesulfame K. I've had mixed feeling about the different flavors of Crystal Light Pure that I've tried so far - I didn't like the Tropical Blend, and thought the Lemonade was okay - but not without some tweaking. This week, I tried the Crystal Light Pure Mixed Berry to see if there was finally a variety that I would enjoy.

NUTRITION FACTS
Serving Size: 1/2 packet (5 grams)
Calories: 15
Total Fat: 0%
Saturated Fat: 0%
Sodium: 10 mg, < 1%
Carbohydrates: 4 grams
Fiber: 0%
Sugars: 3 grams
Protein: 0 grams

I have to say that this is short on any sort of berry flavor and long on the characteristic tart, citric acid taste ... but it was okay to drink, and maybe the best of the 3 Crystal Light Pure flavors that I've tried so far. A 1/2 packet serving of Crystal Light Pure Mixed Berry Drink Mix provides only 15 calories from 3 grams of sugars. The sweeteners used are sugar and rebiana (Truvia brand sweetener).

The ingredients are sugar, citric acid, malic acid, maltodextrin, calcium lactate, contains less than 2% of raspberry juice solids, natural flavors, rebiana (Truvia brand sweetener), potassium citrate, magnesium oxide, sodium citrate, dried radish, black currant, and apple juices (for color). The suggested retail price is $3.29 for a box with 7 packs - but I received samples for review.

Although I thought the taste wasn't horrible, I probably will not be buying this in the future. My favorite Crystal Light products are the mocktails (Appletini (Review), Margarita (Review) & Mojito (Review)).

{Website: Crystal Light Pure}

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Crystal Light Peach Iced Tea Review

I LOVE the summer and I love hot temperatures. One of my favorite things to do is set up in a nice shady spot with a drink and a good book. That's exactly what was on my mind after putting in some long hours a few days week. I had a Crystal Light drink to review - Crystal Light Peach Iced Tea (thanks to my advertising network, Glam Media), and I was almost finished with the AMAZING book, Kindred by Octavia Butler.

NUTRITION FACTS
Serving Size: 8 ounces
Calories: 5
Total Fat: 0%
Saturated Fat: 0%
Sodium: 15 mg, 1%
Carbohydrates: 1 grams
Fiber: 0%
Sugars: 0 grams
Protein: 0 grams

This low calorie peach iced tea was just the thing for a hot summer day. The flavor is spot on - sweet, peachy and not too tart. One packet makes a tall glass, or 16.9 ounces, and I ended up using a few packets and making a pitcher for the afternoon. I haven't looked back Luckily, each 8 ounce serving of Crystal Light Peach Iced Tea (half of one packet), provides only 5 calories.

The sweeteners used are aspartame and acesulfame K, and it also contains a few artificial colors - Red 40 Lake, Red 40, Yellow 6 Lake, Yellow 5, Blue 1 Lake and Blue 1 - why so many Crystal Light?!

A box with 10 packs cost $2.19 at my local grocery store, but as I said before, I received samples for review. The Crystal Light Peach Iced Tea flavor was really delightful. I would buy this in the future, and although I do drink a lot of water thanks to working out more, I don't think I could live without having some flavored drinks a few times a week. Plus, if you're trying to currently kick the soda habit, check out the Crystal Light "Flavor over Fizz" Challenge Facebook page - prizes await!

And the book I was reading - Kindred - so good - reading about slavery is not easy for me since my not-too-distant ancestors were on the wrong end of the whip - but Octavia Butler managed to make an interesting and moving story - with a science fiction twist.

{Website: Crystal Light Iced Tea}

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Crystal Light Mocktails {Giveaway}

Crystal Light as generously agreed to hook up TEN i{ate}A{pie}.net readers with Crystal Light "Mocktails". We've reviewed the Appletini, Margarita and Mojito, my personal favorite.

To enter: Leave a comment on ANY review - or here on this giveaway saying "I want to try this" by Friday, June 17, 2011 (11:59 PM EST). That's it!!!!

///*** Update: Winners selected and announced ***////

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Crystal Light Margarita Review

After enjoying a pitcher of Crystal Light Appletini the other day, I decided to try another "mocktail" flavor, Crystal Light Margarita.

NUTRITION FACTS
Serving Size: 1/8th packet
Calories: 5
Total Fat: 0%
Saturated Fat: 0%
Sodium: 0%
Carbohydrates: 0 grams
Fiber: 0%
Sugar: 0 grams
Protein: 0 grams

After a long day of work, I sat out in the back yard - good book in hand (Dime Store Magic), and a glass of this non-alcoholic margarita. The husband was a grilling and I was a chilling! Well, my neighbors must have smelled something good because before you know it, there was a party, and more Margaritas had to be made - a good indication that this was a hit! It's not as tart as the Crystal Light Appletini, but it's still just tart enough ... and those who made it an alcoholic beverage also seemed to think highly of it.

The sweeteners used are aspartame and acesulfame K, and a container of Crystal Light Margarita (which has 5 packets) costs $2.99. I think I prefer this to the Appletini only because it's a little less sour, but I do like both, and I would certainly buy it occasionally - I drink a lot of water but every few days I have to have a beverage with a little flavor (other than wine).

These mocktails are only available for a limited time, so let me know if you've tried them and what you think!

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Crystal Light Appletini Review

Crystal Light put out some limited edition sugar-free (and alcohol free) cocktails, aka "Mocktails", just in time for summer. Have you seen Crystal Light Margarita, Mojito or Appletini yet? I received a few samples to review, and first up was the Appletini.

NUTRITION FACTS
Serving Size: 1/8th packet
Calories: 5
Total Fat: 0%
Saturated Fat: 0%
Sodium: 0%
Carbohydrates: 0 grams
Fiber: 0%
Sugar: 0 grams
Protein: 0 grams

I followed the package directions and emptied the contents of a packet into a pitcher and added 8 glasses of water, and then poured it into a glass with crushed ice. Well, if you've ever had Crystal Light, you knew to expect a tart flavor and it's also strongly "green apple" flavored. I really liked it ... and if you choose to make a real appletini with this (meaning add vodka), it's pretty darn good too.

A serving of Crystal Light Appletini (1/8th of the packet or about 1 cup of drink) provides 5 calories. The sweeteners used are aspartame and acesulfame K, plus the ingredients list also contains citric acid, maltodextrin, natural flavor, modified cornstarch, and less than 2% of magnesium oxide, yellow 5 and blue 1.

A container of Crystal Light Appletini (which has 5 packets) costs $2.99. If you don't mind drinking beverages sweetened with aspartame (and personally I don't drink them very often), and if you like drinks more on the tart side, then this is for you. Oh - and of course, it can be used to make a lower calorie mixed drink, like regular appletinis or apple sours ... not that Crystal Light advertises such a use, but that's what someone in my household used it for - not naming names, but pointing at the hubby.

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Crystal Light Pure Lemonade Naturally Sweetened Drink Mix Review

Crystal Light Pure is a low calorie drink mix that has no artificial sweeteners, flavors or preservatives. The Lemonade is sweetened with a combination of sugar and rebiana (Truvia brand sweetener).

NUTRITION FACTS
Serving Size: 1/2 packet (5 grams)
Calories: 15
Total Fat: 0%
Saturated Fat: 0%
Sodium: 15 mg, 1%
Carbohydrates: 4 grams
Fiber: 0%
Sugars: 3 grams
Protein: 0 grams

I followed the directions on the packaging and added 2 cups of water to a packet of Crystal Light Pure Lemonade. After shaking vigorously, the result was a very tart flavor of lemonade, but I much preferred this to Crystal Light Pure Tropical Blend. In my mind, this was a good starting point, but needed tweaking. Ironically I added a pack of Splenda and a little more water and got something that made my taste buds more happy. But - adding Splenda defeats the purpose of an "naturally sweetened" drink mix, but just adding less water didn't work for me.

A 1/2 packet serving of Crystal Light Pure Lemonade provides only 15 calories from 3 grams of sugars. The ingredients are sugar, citric acid, maltodextrin, calcium lactate, contains less than 2% of natural flavors, rebiana (Truvia brand sweetener), sodium citrate, magnesium oxide, oleoresin turmeric (for color).

The suggested retail price is $3.29 for a box with 7 packs and I would buy this again - knowing that I'll be adding a little more sugar (increase calories) or Splenda.

{Website: Crystal Light Pure}

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