Evolution Fresh

Product Type:Juice: Smoothie; Container:
BevNET Review: Evolution’s approach to this drink is to blend superfruits and protein into one – and it works quite well. Inside this bottle is a hefty dose of acai, which has been cut with apple, mango, and banana as well as water, evaporated cane juice, whey protein, and an emulsifier. It tastes pretty fresh, although realistically the acai has traveled pretty far by the time it reaches store shelves in the US, so we’re not sure how much that factors into this product. Otherwise, the flavor is good, especially the mix of acai, mango, and banana flavors. The apple, on the other hand, we could live without, especially since it overpowers the other flavors during the finish. Ultimately, we’d like to see more in the way of acai flavor and less of the apple. On the protein front, this product has 14g of protein per bottle, which certainly makes it a credible mainstream protein drink. However, the 480 calories per bottle might be a turn off to someone who is just looking for an acai drink. Packaging looks a bit different than the other fruit-oriented designs, instead using a tribal style illustration that features a small basket of what appear to be acai berries. A different approach is fine by us, especially when it adds some personality to the product. However, the drink doesn’t exactly whet the appetite the way that some of the other flavors do.

Product Type:Juice: Smoothie; Container:
BevNET Review: At 14g of protein per bottle, Banilla is probably closer to a protein shake than anything else. That’s not a bad thing, especially since the flavor of this product is quite addictive and the nutrition panel is chock full of good stuff. As far as the flavor goes, this product has a base of soy milk, banana, apple, and coconut milk flavors. It has a mild amount of sweetness and an extremely smooth body. The flavor almost borders on having an oatmeal like note to it, although there’s no oat products in the drink. There’s a light touch of banana to the mix and a hint of vanilla flavoring, with a somewhat thick body that gives this drink some substance. Speaking of substance, this product has 380 calories, 14g of protein, and loads of vitamins and minerals – so it’s definitely not lacking on that front. That being said, this is likely a drink that one might use as a meal replacement or as a post workout product – and it’s certainly a great choice for that. Packaging looks like the other Evolution flavors, but the name “Banilla” is a bit more creative than the naming convention used for most of the other flavors that we sampled. Overall, this is one of the more unique concoctions in the Evolution lineup -- and one of the best executed as well.

Product Type:Juice: Fruit Juice; Container:
BevNET Review: If there was ever a bottle of orange that deserved to be labeled “fresh squeezed,” then this is it. The flavor is almost spot on with what you’d get from squeezing Valencia oranges – tart, sweet, and a good amount of pulp. It’s an absolutely refreshing product, which is, unlike the mainstream brands that focus on extending shelf life, all about delivering the highest quality product. Packaging definitely emits a vibe of quality, with minimal elements on the front panel and cleanly designed illustrations throughout. Overall, this is possibly the best bottled OJ there is.

Product Type:Juice: Fruit Juice; Container:
BevNET Review: Inside this bottle is nothing more than 100 percent pomegranate juice. It’s flash pasteurized which leaves it with a very fresh tasting flavor, almost to the point where you might mistake it for the real thing. The shelf life is short (they actually brag about this on the label – quality over shelf life), but the flavor is bold, with a strong note of tartness followed by a light level of sweetness. Again, it’s all the result of nature, not flavorings and formulations, so it’s definitely something you should try if you’ve ever tried competing pomegranate drinks. You certainly won’t be disappointed. On the outside, this product’s brand and package design definitely emit a vibe of freshness. They’ve kept it pretty simple, with the front panel consisting of large images of a pomegranate, a logo, and a very small amount of text. That seems like a smart way to go – this drink really doesn’t need much in the way of an explanation. And once consumers try it, we don’t think they’ll ever go back to the alternatives.

Product Type:Juice: Juice Drink; Container:
BevNET Review: Oddly enough, Evolution offers both an Organic Carrot and a “conventional” Carrot variety. From a flavor point of view, there’s certainly no difference, so we’re taking at this variety instead of the other. Inside the bottle, you’ve got cold pressed juice made from 2 pounds of carrots, with flash pasteurization making it able to have any sort of shelf life. Still, the flavor is extremely fresh, with a noticeable vegetable taste and only a touch of natural sweetness to the drink. Really, if you like carrots or carrot juice, you’ll probably love this product. Otherwise, probably not, which will certainly limit the market appeal for a straight carrot juice product. Packaging is spot on, with an awesome looking package that is appetizing and very pleasing to the eye. By using illustrations, the product has a wholesome, handmade feeling which accurately portrays what’s inside the bottle. Overall, one of our favorite products in the line.

Product Type:Juice: Smoothie; Container:
BevNET Review: Evolution’s Planetary Berry variety is a 98 percent juice mixture that’s made with apple, pomegranate, mango, blueberry, goji, and acai juices or purees. This product is also one of the only varieties that has added sugar (evaporated cane juice), which, when paired with the combination of juices used, tastes a bit more processed than some of the other varieties. It’s still an enjoyable product, but then again, we’d probably reach for a Sambazon if we were seeking a super fruit drink that’s at this price point. In terms of what you’ll find inside this bottle, there’s a moderately sweet mix of fruit flavors, which includes notes of apple, mango, blueberry and acai, with the other flavors more or less lost in the mix. There’s also some slight grit, which is likely fruit skin, followed by another note of apple to the finish. On the outside, the product looks somewhat similar to the pomegranate flavor, especially since the image of the pomegranate takes up almost half of the space allotted to the fruit images. Overall, this was not one of our favorites.

Product Type:Juice: Smoothie; Container:
BevNET Review: Named for the fact that the product has 30g of protein per bottle, this product has very pleasant flavor and loads of nutrition. Made with 93 percent juice, including orange, pineapple, apple, banana, and mango, there’s a decidedly tropical taste to the drink. There’s also a note of coconut, which gives way to the gritty protein base to the product. Assuming you don’t mind the grit – and if you’re the type of person that appreciates 30g of protein, you probably don’t – the product is very easy to drink. There’s just the right amount of fruit juice flavor to balance it out, with not any one flavor taking over your palate. Nutritionally, this product has 420 calories per bottle (210 per serving) and, in addition to 30g of protein, is loaded with vitamins and minerals (too many to list, in fact). On the outside, you’ve got a standard smoothie bottle that’s been decorated with a design that’s clean and appealing. Fruit images, minimal text, and a nice looking Evolution logo accurately set the tone for what’s inside the bottle – a well executed, fresh tasting product.

Product Type:Juice: Smoothie; Container:
BevNET Review: Every fresh juice and smoothie line needs to have a “Super Green” in its lineup and Evolution is certainly no different in that respect. In their edition, they’ve blended orange juice, mango, apple juice, pineapple juice, raspberries, spriulina, chlorella, blue green algae, wheat grass, barley grass, and dulse. Like the other drinks, they use minimal flash pasteurization, which keeps the drink having a less processed, fresher taste than some of the mainstream smoothie varieties. Each one of the fruit flavors is distinguishable from the mix, which is certainly a plus, while the addition of wheat grass gives the product an earthy note. It’s got a nice yin and yang thing going on, with just the right balance of fruit and earthy vegetable like flavor, which should ultimately satisfy anyone who enjoys a good juice drink but feels like they need a little something more than just satisfying the palate. And there’s a lot of good stuff in this drink, including protein, beta carotene, amino acids, iron, calcium, and potassium. The bottle is a 16 oz. smoothie bottle, which has been given a nicely decorated label that features a nice looking illustration and only the bare minimum in the way of text. Between the image of grass and the bright green fluid, it’s probably not the most appetizing looking product, but it’s a look that the target consumer will certainly understand and enjoy. Overall, a nicely executed, fresh tasting product.

Product Type:Juice: Smoothie; Container:
BevNET Review: Looking at the label, which features an image of a pineapple, an orange, and a mango and a name and tagline that are seemingly trying to sell you on this being a preventative drink, we honestly weren’t sure what we’d find inside this bottle. Fortunately, the fruit mix, which includes the three previously listed fruits as well as apple and Echinacea juice, tastes quite good, a somewhat tropical flavor that tastes like souped-up orange juice. Thanks to the addition of pineapple and mango, the product is a little less tart than straight OJ, but much more complex in flavor, which should satisfy the consumer who is looking for something a little more exciting than straight up juice. Of course, Evolution is all about using minimal processing, and this product clearly benefits from it. The shelf life is short, but the quality is extremely close to what you’d get if you made this fresh. Back on the packaging front, we’re left feeling like some better text could be chosen to help more accurately describe the flavor. Otherwise, we’re big fans of this drink.