Zest: Our Mandarina Festival ¡Olé!

Zow!

As part of our citrus celebration, we selected several mandarin tangerine drinks to sample from Mexico. Here is what we found:

Casera Mandarina
This bottle of mandarina or mandarin tangerine drink is distributed by S. Garay&Co. LLC of Chula Vista, CA.  In Spanish, "casera" can mean either landlady, or homemade. We vote for "homemade." Though it contains no fruit juice, it claims to contain some natural flavors. Ingredients are: carbonated water, high fructose corn syrup, sugar, citric acid, vegetable gum, natural flavors, yellow 5, yellow 6, red 40, sodium citrate, and sodium benzoate (as preservative).

4  Fizzlebo-Bizzle: It is a little too carbonated for my taste, but still has a good flavor.

4  Sarsparilla Sam: That hit the flavor of “mandarina” spot on. ¡Que bueno!

4  Popa Pop: Sure, it’s on the carbonated side, but it is still good!

Barrilitos Mandarina

Barrilitos was established in 1938. This drink contains carbonated water, high fructose corn syrup, citric acid, sodium benzoate (to protect taste), modified food starch, natural and artificial flavors, glycerol ester of rosin, brominated vegetable oil, yellow 6, red 40.

.5  Fizzlebo-Bizzle: Tastes a bit like lime salt.

.5 Sarsparilla Sam: This is a "no go" for me. What's brominated vegetable oil?

.5 Popa Pop: Tastes like carbonated powdered orange drink.

Jarritos Mandarina

Contents: carbonated water, sugar, citric acid, natural flavors, sodium benzoate (as preservative), yellow 6, red 40.

2.5 Fizzlebo-Bizzle: I’m thinking melted orange popsicle.

3 Sarsparilla Sam: Not overpowering. I like Jarritos

3 Popa Pop: I thought it was sparkling and refreshing. I love tangerine. I would definitely purchase this again.