KavaZen Relaxing Experiences

Product Type:Functional: Recovery and Hangover; Container: 10 oz bottle
BevNET Review: Kava Zen is a beverage that's made with 50% juice and sweetened with stevia. The formulation's relaxation capabilities are, as the name suggests, largely based on the use of kava root extract. The flavor of the product has mellow notes of apple and grape (both juices are used in the drink) with a cool note (perhaps from the botanical flavors and stevia) to the finish. There's really no aftertaste from the product, which is certainly nice considering the use of stevia. To summarize the flavor, it has decent taste, but it could use a bit more depth or sweetness. Packaging is a 10 oz bottle, the kind that used to be the mainstay of the juice business. They've used a paper label that's been given a whimsical style design. Unfortunately, it's really hard to read, due to the choice of type treatment and colors. In addition, it doesn't state what the flavor is, which will require a leap of faith from consumers. Overall, this product is decent, but needs more in terms of flavor, packaging, and positioning to succeed in the niche that it's in.Reviewed on: 12/19/2008

Product Type:Functional: Recovery and Hangover; Container: 10 oz bottle
BevNET Review: For a product line whose flagship flavor has only 35 calories, it was surprising to see a "Lite" variety. This one has 15% juice and only 11 calories, which appears to have been achieved by removing the apple juice and upping the level of grape. Unfortunately, this results in a flavor that's quite unpleasant, with a quick note of grape that's followed by a mixture of stevia and herbal flavors. The second part of the flavor takes a while to leave your palate, including in the form of a lingering aftertaste. Ultimately, we don't think that many consumers are going to suffer through this flavor just to get the effects of kava. On the outside, the product has many of the same issues as its counterpart in addition a new problem created by the hard to find placement of the word "lite." Overall, this one needs a lot of work.Reviewed on: 12/19/2008