Jelly Belly Gourmet Soda: French Vanilla

Of the Jelly Belly soda lineup, French Vanilla is really the only flavor that qualifies as a traditional CSD, both in flavor and positioning. To that end, we see little benefit from the Jelly Belly brand, with the name French Vanilla likely conjuring up something other than jelly beans in the mind of the buyer. Still, this sugar sweetened product is good, with a sweet vanilla flavor and a crisp finish. It’s nice to see at least one flavor not loaded with bright coloring and that, paired with the product’s enjoyable flavor, makes this something that one could consume on a semi regular basis. Packaging is relatively clean and very straightforward, with the unmistakable look of a premium CSD. They haven’t put too much on the front panel, leaving it largely clutter free and appealing to the eye. On the back, we like that the visual method they’ve used to call attention to the drink’s caloric content (there’s a hard-to-miss circle, alongside badges to denote that it’s caffeine free and uses natural flavors), although labeling a single serve non-resealable bottle as 1.5 servings is dubious at best. Overall, it tastes and looks nice, but, despite the use of the Jelly Belly brand, we think that this a niche brand.