(KRT) – What it is: Recently while shopping at Whole Foods, I stopped by a refrigerated drink case. The case usually holds my favorite Martinelli’s apple juice, plus an assortment of funky foreign sodas, nutrition drinks and a never-ending array of additive-chocked flavored water in pretty bottles. This time, something new caught my eye: MetroMint’s urban, silver metallic label. The ingredient list? Purified water and mint. No calories, carbs, preservatives or sweeteners. Straight out of the “Why didn’t I think of that?” file.
When I took my first sip, a bizarre yet cooling sensation trickled all the way down to my innards. It was like a little trip to the Alps for my mouth.
What it’s all about: The 1-year-old water hybrid now hitting local shelves is simple, chills the mouth like a breeze and provides respite from the more common sickly sweet flavored water options. Cooling, understated and clean, I knew at first swig I’d discovered a sleeper in the flavored water wars.
Plus, MetroMint.com, the water’s hip Web site, boasts that it settles the stomach and aids digestion, benefits for which peppermint is renowned. It even claims a bottle (that’s a 16.9 fl. oz. bottle, for $1.79 a pop) will freshen breath, clear nasal passages and fight stress.
Why we like it: I’m a water snob. Brands like Dasani and Propel pile bottles of clear fruit-ish liquid in drink cases and emphasize they’re “made with real fruit juices.” Their mile-long ingredient lists on the back are crammed with unpronounceable substances.
At work, I’ll stand and stare at the drink machine, silently bemoaning why that bottle of Lipton no-calorie green tea can’t just be … green tea. Some things weren’t meant to be tricked up with extras like sucralose, citric acid or Yellow No 5. And I don’t want to have to brew it myself every time I want something tasty yet natural to drink.
Plain, simple MetroMint has come to my rescue.
Disclosure time: I could be a bit more biased than the average water drinker. I go crack-addict when it comes to body or aromatic products made with peppermint or its healing ingredient, menthol. I frequently slather on Vick’s VapoRub before bed because the fragrance relaxes me, and I keep peppermint foot cream, a menthol inhaler and several minty lip balms on my nightstand. I also like to keep a pitcher of green tea brewed with mint leaves in the fridge.
But even if you’re not quite as obsessive with your menthol usage, you’ll find MetroMint to be a cooling, zero-calorie drink among so many in-your-face flavors in life. I hope it goes into wider distribution soon.
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