Better Libations | Healthy Drink Reviews

Aroma: The jasmine wafting from this drink easily catches your attention as you prepare to take a sip. The softer vanilla undertones are also detectable, and they serve to round out this fragrance quite well.

Taste: Firstly, (I’ve noticed this with all the flavors), the water itself tastes pure and has no trace of that bottled water or mineral water taste that I have come to despise.
That said, wow. I’ve never had a jasmine-infused beverage before, but let me tell you, it’s an amazing experience. You can actually taste the flower blossoms. It’s like a bouquet of deliciously sweet smelling flowers…but in your mouth. That’s the only way I can describe it. Let me lay it down for you this way: if you like seeking out new and interesting flavors, you have to try this.

Price: $2.00/bottle when purchased in a case of 12 – available through their online store. At first I thought this a bit pricey, but then I realized it includes free shipping, which can be a bear when shipping heavy beverages.

Ingredients: purified water, honey, extracts of vanilla beans and jasmine blossoms

Other Comments: It’s almost creepy how well these guys matched our drink submission requirements and our overall mission. They’re a small independent company that hasn’t yet been gobbled up by one of the big boys (as far as I can tell). They’re locally distributed in New York City and Philadelphia markets, but they are available nationwide through their website. They have a hard-core distaste for high fructose corn syrup and anything artificial. They have a passion for healthy living. And they make some of the most interesting natural drink flavors that I’ve ever seen. (I’m a chef, so I got all giddy when I read about their different herb and spice-based flavors). The herb selections aren’t all arbitrary, either. They have an outline of all the herbs on the label which tells you about their individual benefits.
Ayala is the name of the woman who created these drinks, and not surprisingly she is a cook and a doctor (a pediatrician, to be exact). Evidently she was looking for an alternative to sugar-laden and artificially flavored beverages. A clip from their site: “Americans are getting heavier—in fact, two-thirds of us are overweight or obese. We simply consume many more calories than we need, and a significant amount of those extra calories comes from sugar and high fructose corn syrup.” Boom! Short and sweet.

Overall: Here again Ayala’s has succeeded in making a tasty drink with no sweeteners, fillers, or artificial crap. As noted on the other Ayala’s reviews, I am quite impressed with the company’s efforts to be green, which along with their focus on health earns them extra points. Jasmine vanilla is one of the most interesting and unique flavors that I have tried from Ayala’s or from anywhere, and I like it quite a bit. Five stars for taste, originality, nutrition, concept and company.

Rating: 5/5 stars.

-Danithius

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5-Star Reviews, Ayala's Herbal Water

Aroma: The lemon peel really shines through at first whiff, and is followed by deeper ginger overtones. It smells very fresh.

Taste: Firstly, (I’ve noticed this with all the flavors), the water itself tastes pure and has no trace of that bottled water or mineral water taste that I have come to despise. This flavor is very well balanced between the two main ingredients – at first you get a nice refreshing splash of lemon flavor, then right after you swallow the spicier ginger flavor comes out to play. I must say, I enjoyed the whole experience quite a bit.

Price: $2.00/bottle when purchased in a case of 12 – available through their online store. At first I thought this a bit pricey, but then I realized it includes free shipping, which can be a bear when shipping heavy beverages.

Ingredients: purified water, extracts of lemon peel and ginger root, natural herbal flavor

Other Comments: It’s almost creepy how well these guys matched our drink submission requirements and our overall mission. They’re a small independent company that hasn’t yet been gobbled up by one of the big boys (as far as I can tell). They’re locally distributed in New York City and Philadelphia markets, but they are available nationwide through their website. They have a hard-core distaste for high fructose corn syrup and anything artificial. They have a passion for healthy living. And they make some of the most interesting natural drink flavors that I’ve ever seen. (I’m a chef, so I got all giddy when I read about their different herb and spice-based flavors). The herb selections aren’t all arbitrary, either. They have an outline of all the herbs on the label which tells you about their individual benefits.
Ayala is the name of the woman who created these drinks, and not surprisingly she is a cook and a doctor (a pediatrician, to be exact). Evidently she was looking for an alternative to sugar-laden and artificially flavored beverages. A clip from their site: “Americans are getting heavier—in fact, two-thirds of us are overweight or obese. We simply consume many more calories than we need, and a significant amount of those extra calories comes from sugar and high fructose corn syrup.” Boom! Short and sweet.

Overall: Here again Ayala’s has succeeded in making a tasty drink with no sweeteners, fillers, or artificial crap. As noted on the other Ayala’s reviews, I am quite impressed with the company’s efforts to be green, which along with their focus on health earns them extra points. I found this flavor quite refreshing, and enjoyed every second of drinking it. The best part is, it won’t make you hate yourself in the morning. You can drink this to your heart’s content and will only be the better for it.

Rating: 5/5 stars.

-Danithius

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5-Star Reviews, Ayala's Herbal Water

Aroma: When you inhale deeply you can smell the orange peel mixed with some floral scent I can’t quite put my finger on. Maybe the honey plays into this mystery scent as well, although there isn’t even enough to make a gram of sugar.

Taste: Firstly, (I’ve noticed this with all the flavors), the water itself tastes pure and has no trace of that bottled water or mineral water taste that I have come to despise. As noted in the aroma section, there is more at play in this drink than just cinnamon and orange peel. It has a sweet, flowery flavor with that in fact largely overshadows the other ingredients. It is a fine flavor, but personally I would prefer a stronger, spicier cinnamon-orange kick.

Price: $2.00/bottle when purchased in a case of 12 – available through their online store. At first I thought this a bit pricey, but then I realized it includes free shipping, which can be a bear when shipping heavy beverages.

Ingredients: purified water, honey, extracts of orange peels and flowers, extracts of cinnamon bark, natural herbal flavor

Other Comments: It’s almost creepy how well these guys matched our drink submission requirements and our overall mission. They’re a small independent company that hasn’t yet been gobbled up by one of the big boys (as far as I can tell). They’re locally distributed in New York City and Philadelphia markets, but they are available nationwide through their website. They have a hard-core distaste for high fructose corn syrup and anything artificial. They have a passion for healthy living. And they make some of the most interesting natural drink flavors that I’ve ever seen. (I’m a chef, so I got all giddy when I read about their different herb and spice-based flavors). The herb selections aren’t all arbitrary, either. They have an outline of all the herbs on the label which tells you about their individual benefits.
Ayala is the name of the woman who created these drinks, and not surprisingly she is a cook and a doctor (a pediatrician, to be exact). Evidently she was looking for an alternative to sugar-laden and artificially flavored beverages. A clip from their site: “Americans are getting heavier—in fact, two-thirds of us are overweight or obese. We simply consume many more calories than we need, and a significant amount of those extra calories comes from sugar and high fructose corn syrup.” Boom! Short and sweet.

Overall: Here again Ayala’s has succeeded in making a tasty drink with no sweeteners, fillers, or artificial crap. As noted on the other Ayala’s reviews, I am quite impressed with the company’s efforts to be green, which along with their focus on health earns them extra points.
However, with this particular flavor I was expecting a more spot-on cinnamon orange taste. It’s a fine flavor as it is, but I would consider renaming it so people won’t be surprised. And for this reason I am docking off .5 points from an otherwise five-star product.

Rating: 4.5/5 stars.

-Danithius

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4-Star Reviews, Ayala's Herbal Water

Aroma: A deeply herbal scent consisting mainly of the lemongrass, lavender and thyme.

Taste: Firstly, (I’ve noticed this with all the flavors), the water itself tastes pure and has no trace of that bottled water or mineral water taste that I have come to despise. This flavor is deep and complex, with each of the four individual tastes playing its part. The thyme and lavender make for an especially interesting combination- kind of a sweet but down-to-earth flavor that holds my interest well. The herb taste is fresh but never overpowering or bitter, and it lingers in your mouth after the water is gone.

Price: $2.00/bottle when purchased in a case of 12 – available through their online store. At first I thought this a bit pricey, but then I realized it includes free shipping, which can be a bear when shipping heavy beverages.

Ingredients: purified water, extracts from lavender leaves, spearmint leaves, lemon grass, and thyme leaves

Other Comments: It’s almost creepy how well these guys matched our drink submission requirements and our overall mission. They’re a small independent company that hasn’t yet been gobbled up by one of the big boys (as far as I can tell). They’re locally distributed in New York City and Philadelphia markets, but they are available nationwide through their website. They have a hard-core distaste for high fructose corn syrup and anything artificial. They have a passion for healthy living. And they make some of the most interesting natural drink flavors that I’ve ever seen. (I’m a chef, so I got all giddy when I read about their different herb and spice-based flavors). The herb selections aren’t all arbitrary, either. They have an outline of all the herbs on the label which tells you about their individual benefits.
Ayala is the name of the woman who created these drinks, and not surprisingly she is a cook and a doctor (a pediatrician, to be exact). Evidently she was looking for an alternative to sugar-laden and artificially flavored beverages. A clip from their site: “Americans are getting heavier—in fact, two-thirds of us are overweight or obese. We simply consume many more calories than we need, and a significant amount of those extra calories comes from sugar and high fructose corn syrup.” Boom! Short and sweet.

Overall: Here again Ayala’s has succeeded in making a tasty drink with no sweeteners, fillers, or artificial crap. This particular flavor was quite interesting to me. You could sip this drink while contemplating its intricacies on a Sunday afternoon, or you could slam it down after an intense workout session. Either way I think you’ll find what you’re looking for. I am quite impressed with the company’s efforts to be green as well, which along with their focus on health earns them extra points. I don’t hesitate to give this product a full five stars.

Rating: 5/5 stars.

-Danithius

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5-Star Reviews, Ayala's Herbal Water

Aroma: This product has a light herbal scent reminiscent of nice minty chamomile tea.

Taste: Firstly, (I’ve noticed this with all the flavors), the water itself tastes pure and has no trace of that bottled water or mineral water taste that I have come to despise. The lemongrass really shines in this one, followed by minty overtones and a light vanilla finale. The potency of the lemon flavor is nice and refreshing. The herbal intricacies easily rival any tea or other unsweetened drink. And yes, the herbs taste real. It’s refreshing in a world where “grape drink flavor” and the flavor of actual grapes are two concepts that are completely separate and foreign from each other.

Price: $2.00/bottle when purchased in a case of 12 – available through their online store. At first I thought this a bit pricey, but then I realized it includes free shipping, which can be a bear when shipping heavy beverages.

Ingredients: purified water, extracts from vanilla beans, lemongrass, and spearmint leaves

Other Comments: It’s almost creepy how well these guys matched our drink submission requirements and our overall mission. They’re a small independent company that hasn’t yet been gobbled up by one of the big boys (as far as I can tell). They’re locally distributed in New York City and Philadelphia markets, but they are available nationwide through their website. They have a hard-core distaste for high fructose corn syrup and anything artificial. They have a passion for healthy living. And they make some of the most interesting natural drink flavors that I’ve ever seen. (I’m a chef, so I got all giddy when I read about their different herb and spice-based flavors). The herb selections aren’t all arbitrary, either. They have an outline of all the herbs on the label which tells you about their individual benefits.
Ayala is the name of the woman who created these drinks, and not surprisingly she is a cook and a doctor (a pediatrician, to be exact). Evidently she was looking for an alternative to sugar-laden and artificially flavored beverages. A clip from their site: “Americans are getting heavier—in fact, two-thirds of us are overweight or obese. We simply consume many more calories than we need, and a significant amount of those extra calories comes from sugar and high fructose corn syrup.” Boom! Short and sweet.

Overall: Here again Ayala’s has succeeded in making a tasty drink with no sweeteners, fillers, or artificial crap. It’s simple, yet I still don’t feel as though I could whip one of these up at home for a sixteenth of the price. (See MetroMint). I am quite impressed with the company’s efforts to be green as well, which earns them extra points. I don’t hesitate to give this product a full five stars.

Rating: 5/5 stars.

-Danithius

***Review Rebuttal!***
When Sir Danithius first told me about this, I was skeptical about the flavor. Thankfully, I was wrong. Although I couldn’t detect the vanilla, that very well may be due to an oncoming cold. Besides that, it tastes great, clean water with the aroma and taste of pleasant herbs. I dig it.

-WiseGuise

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5-Star Reviews, Ayala's Herbal Water

Aroma: This product has a very nice herbal scent. The cardamom is the most pronounced, and it blends perfectly with the hints of clove and cinnamon. For those of you that don’t know (I even had to head to the spice cabinet for a refresher), cardamom has a very mild ginger-like aroma to it, and goes quite well with spices like nutmeg, allspice, ginger, and of course cloves and cinnamon.

Taste: Firstly, one thing on the water itself. It tastes pure, and has no trace of that bottled water or mineral water taste that I have come to despise. That scored some points right off the bat. The herbal flavor itself is quite pleasant and it lingers in your mouth for a good while, making your breath feel all nice and clean. (Herbs were some of the first breath fresheners, after all.) The potency of the flavors is just right and the herbal intricacies rival any tea or other unsweetened drink. The best part is: the herbs taste real. I’m tired of people scientifically fiddling around with my drink flavors until they’re virtually unrecognizable. This tastes like there were actually cloves and cinnamon sticks floating in the bottle at some point.

Price: $2.00 bottle when purchased in a case of 12 – available through their online store. At first I thought this a bit pricey, but then I realized it includes free shipping, which can be a bear when shipping heavy drinks.

Ingredients: purified water, honey, extracts from cloves, cardamom seeds, and cinnamon bark.

Other Comments: It’s almost creepy how well these guys matched our drink submission requirements and our overall mission. They’re a small independent company that hasn’t yet been gobbled up by one of the big boys (as far as I can tell). They’re locally distributed in New York City and Philadelphia markets, but they are available nationwide through their website. They have a hard-core distaste for high fructose corn syrup and anything artificial. They have a passion for healthy living. And they make some of the most interesting natural drink flavors that I’ve ever seen. (I’m a chef, so I got all giddy when I read about their different herb and spice-based flavors). The herb selections aren’t all arbitrary, either. They have an outline of all the herbs on the label which tells you about their individual benefits.
Ayala is the name of the woman who created these drinks, and not surprisingly she is a cook and a doctor (a pediatrician, to be exact). Evidently she was looking for an alternative to sugar-laden and artificially flavored beverages. A clip from their site: “Americans are getting heavier—in fact, two-thirds of us are overweight or obese. We simply consume many more calories than we need, and a significant amount of those extra calories comes from sugar and high fructose corn syrup.” Boom! Short and sweet.

Overall: Here Ayala’s has succeeded in making a tasty drink with no sweeteners, fillers, or artificial crap. It’s simple, yet I still don’t feel as though I could whip one of these up at home for a sixteenth of the price. (See MetroMint). I am impressed with the company as well, which earns them extra points. I see no reason not to give this product a full five stars.

Rating: 5/5 stars.

-Danithius

***Review Rebuttal!***
Once again Ayala’s has scored with this one. I found the herb scents pleasantly strong, but not in taste, which is excellent, since cinnamon can overwhelm the palate. The faint sweetness of the honey also made me quite happy. This is one of my favorites of theirs. I wish I had a case of this stuff, I would drink it daily. *hint, hint*

-WiseGuise

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5-Star Reviews, Ayala's Herbal Water