Jumpstart energy is still hanging in there. I found a can of Jumpstart Energy Apple Orchard about a year ago on my trip to Mexico. While this drink out of California, there seems to be a market for Jumpstart in the southwest, as I found another can of this in another tiny gas station in the middle of nowhere Arizona. I was not particularly impressed with my first Jumpstart, but thought that since I might not find this again, I might as well give their other flavor a shot. And I am so glad I did.
Where Apple Orchard tasted like a fake apple soda, this Kiwi Strawberry is just delicious. The buzz in these drinks are still the decent 200mg per can – and with the new packaging I am actually sorry that this drink is so hard to find. There are a couple problems still, but the improvement on the can and the flavor has certainly elevated it beyond the poor review in the past.
Buzz/Nutrition:7
Like the other flavor, this delivers 200mg of caffeine per can, plus the full host of energy ingredients (B vitamins, ginseng, inositol, taurine). THis is just as bad for you as a soda, filled with preservatives, high fructose corn syrup and enough food dye to fill a dozen 6 year old birthday cakes. Still, when the flavor is better, it because easier to drink and when it is consumed more quickly, you get a bigger rush of caffeine and sugar.
Of course the crash was much stronger too. I needed a major dose of protein (and a little nap) to get me over this one. Still, this is nothing spectacular, but no big missteps either.
Taste:8
The flavor of Kiwi Strawberry is amazing! Yes, it was still a gooey soda pop, filled with preservatives and food dye, but it tasted clean and full of flavor – not too sweet and very refreshing. My friend sampled it as well and thought it tasted like Strawberry cream cheese. I can definitely agree. This is a great mix of strawberry and kiwi – providing subtle friut flavors without being overwhelming or oversweet. Jump Start certainly turned my opinions around after cracking this cold can up.
Packaging:8
Gone is the green or green with poorly screened dots. This package is crazy wicked cool! dork purple backgrounds with bold lightning strikes and dark evil fonts running into each other. What failed so miserably as a 1 color tone works like magic on this higher quality multi colored can. I mean, no doubt it is the work of a crazy person, but with all these dark and evil tones it works like Rocky Horror Picture Show. Like watching Dr. Frankenfurter on acid, this can is complely mad, colorful, sinister and very fruity.