Honest CocoaNova

Product Type:Tea: Alternative; Container: 10.1 Glass
BevNET Review: Honest’s Mint Cacao Cocoa Nova is a blend of cocoa, chicory, carob, and peppermint that has been sweetened with cane sugar. Compared with the other two flavors, Mint Cacao has a lighter bodied cocoa flavor, likely the result of the mint cutting the cocoa. For people who like mint or think the other two flavors are too heavy on the cocoa flavor, this is certainly a nice alternative. The sweetness is spot on: it’s hard to miss but it also won’t overwhelm your palate. We’d say the same for the mint flavor, which provides an enjoyable finish. Packaging is the same 10 oz. bottle as the others, but with a conceptual interpretation of a mint leaf on the front of the label. Prime placement of the drink’s calorie count (50 per bottle) is a plus, as are the USDA Organic and Fair Trade logos. Overall, a very well executed product.Reviewed on: 4/13/2011

Product Type:Tea: Alternative; Container: 10.1 oz Glass
BevNET Review: The Mocha Cacao flavor of Honest Cocoa Nova adds another dimension to the lineup: coffee (it also adds a fairly negligible 9mg of caffeine). This product’s “infusion” includes cocoa, coffee, chicory, and carob, which is a more complex tasting blend than is found in the other two flavors. The coffee is mellow, but hard to miss. However, as you drink it, all of the flavors blend nicely together and we’re very fond of this product. Is it a coffee? A tea? A chocolate drink? We’re not quite sure, but whatever it is, this product is very enjoyable. Reviewed on: 4/13/2011

Product Type:Tea: Alternative; Container: 10.1 oz Glass
BevNET Review: The first flavor of Honest Cocoa Nova that we sampled was Cherry Cacao. The USDA Organic and Fair Trade certified product starts off with an “infusion” of cocoa, chicory, and carob, which they’ve flavored with cherry juice and natural flavors. The product is sweetened with organic cane sugar, although only very lightly (13g). For having 50 calories per 10 oz. bottle, this product has a ton of flavor, with indulgent chocolate notes and a balanced sweetness. The cherry provides a nice complement to the mix, while making it reminiscent of chocolate covered cherries. Packaging is a cutesy 10 oz. glass bottle with a very polished looking label. It very much feels like an offshoot of Honest Tea’s core branding, but still manages to have its own identity (you’d never mistake it for one of their teas). Plus, the red accent color makes Cherry Cacao pop out just a bit more than the other two flavors. Overall, it’s both extremely innovative and enjoyable – what more can we ask for.Reviewed on: 4/13/2011