Review: Zo-Cal Berry Lemonade

Of the Vuka Zo-Cal flavors that we sampled, Berry Lemonade was the best of the bunch. It utilizes a pretty standard-tasting (at least in terms of the energy drink category) mix of berry and lemon flavors that have been sweetened with stevia. While the carbonation and fruit flavors help cut it somewhat, the stevia aftertaste is a definite issue for this product. Functionally, the “Workout” blend includes natural caffeine (80mg), vitamins (B vitamins), calcium, and electrolytes (potassium, magnesium, and sodium). This seems relatively straightforward, blending elements of an energy drink with those of a sports drink. Packaging is a 16 oz. metal bottle, which has been left largely unpainted. The silver color of the product looks modern and chic, with simple looking graphic elements that leave the product feeling clean and uncluttered. However, there’s nothing about the brand that really jumps out at you, especially with the disconnected text elements that have been placed on the lower portion of front panel. And, most importantly, the flavor name is the final and smallest element. Giving this more visibility would definitely be helpful. Overall, this product is really all about the metal bottle. Otherwise, the flavor and function seem very much run of the mill.