EYL Drinks

Product Type:Functional: Recovery and Hangover; Container: 5.5 oz can
BevNET Review: Billed as a “true daily defense booster”, EYL’s Debug has been enhanced with vitamins and antioxidants. It’s sweetened with stevia and flavored with black tea, red tea, coconut concentrate, and natural flavors, the product has a decidedly functional flavor with mild undertones of tea. There’s also a hefty note of sweetener aftertaste to the finish. Despite listing “water” as the main ingredient, it appears to be lightly carbonated, making it drink very much like an energy drink. All in all, it’s a pretty rough-tasting product, with more tea and less stevia needed. Functionally, the product’s “defense booster” formulation features vitamins in the form of vitamin A, B vitamins, vitamin C, and vitamin E. They’ve also added rice bran, a bevy of herbal ingredients, garlic, and cayenne. What’s missing is something that explains how this cocktail of functional ingredients qualifies it as a daily defense booster, especially when higher levels of vitamins can be found in other products. In addition, we think that selling something that’s marketed as a “daily defense booster” is going to be a tough sell as its function doesn’t offer an immediate, tangible benefit. Packaging is a 5.5 oz. can, which, while certainly unique, is going to make for a tough sell against larger format products. Plus, its visual presentation is tough on the eyes, with the two-line vertical logo requiring the consumer to turn the can to read it. Overall, flavor and visual improvements would definitely be helpful.Reviewed on: 5/26/2010

Product Type:Functional: Relaxation Drink; Container: 5.5 oz can
BevNET Review: Of the two products from EYL, Decompress is the clear winner, both in terms of flavor and the marketability of its function. Starting with the flavor, the product has a mellow tea-like flavor, with notes of the functional ingredients and stevia sweetener at the finish. It’s a very drinkable product, especially in comparison to competing de-stress or relaxation products. Functionally, the product relies on a proprietary blend of L-theanine, GABA, valerian root, ashwaganda extract, added vitamins, and several other herbal ingredients. These ingredients, paired with the soothing flavor, make for something that feels credible as a de-stress product. Packaging is a 5.5 oz. can, which, despite being from the same company, bears little visual resemblance to its counterpart, “Debug.” Given our feelings about Debug’s design, we don’t think that’s a bad thing, especially with this product having a much easier to read front panel. The front panel icons are easier to read and, at least in the case of the all natural and zero calorie icons, add value to the product. Otherwise, the design could use some polish, with the swirl and type treatment giving the product’s design and unfinished feeling. Overall, it’s a good start that, with some tweaks, could be a much better product. Reviewed on: 5/26/2010