I don't think it's over exaggerating to say that Anthony is addicted to coke - but at least it's the carbonated variety! He can easily get through two big bottles a day so we long ago switched from the usual names to Aldi's own for everyday consumption, but we still splurge a little on branded soft drinks at the weekend. Mostly because that's when I have a glass or two. ;)
It goes without saying that we were both psyched to be given the opportunity to review Karma Cola.
Karma Cola - #DrinkNoEvil
Based in New Zealand, the first batch of Karma Cola was bottled back in 2012 and has been available in the UK since 2015. They sum their approach up as:
LEAVE A BETTER TASTE IN YOUR MOUTH.
We believe what you drink should not only taste good, it should be good for the land, good for the people who grown the ingredients and as good for you as a fizzy drink can be.
Lofty aims for a soft drinks company, but Karma Cola really do put their money where their mouth is. As winner of the 2014 World's Fairest Trader award, they pump funding back into the communities they source their organic ingredients (all passed by The Soil Association) from, either directly or through ethical sourcing. In Sierra Leone, the home of Karma Cola's cola nuts, the people of Boma have been able to make improvements to local infrastructure, education and sanitation as a result of the 3p given from the sale of every bottle - some £50,000 between 2012 and 2015.
In addition to being better for your conscience, Karma Cola is better for your body. Their full list of ingredients is printed on the label of every bottle, and the absence of typical fizzy drink ingredients like phosphoric acid and high fructose corn syrup is really refreshing to see.
Karma Cola - Taste the Justice
Karma Cola comes in 330ml glass bottles with a screw cap which is a little thing, but... The label designs - in fact, all the graphic design associated with the brand - are really cool, so I was pleased I would be able to reuse the bottles before they made their way into the recycling. With the eco and cool credentials covered , it was time to move on to the taste test! First up was the flagship Karma Cola.
The cola was very sweet, and reminded me more of Pepsi than Coca Cola. For the diet conscious, it did fine on the calorie front; 141 to 140 in the same serving of Coca Cola. It was nice, but we both agreed it needed to be served chilled - and would probably have been better with ice to help dilute the sweetness a little. Our verdict: 4/5.
The lemonade was lovely, not too sweet - and not too sharp either. Calorie wise it performed well too, at 132kcal compared to c. 155kcal in a can of Ben Shaws Cloudy Lemonade. We gave this one 5/5.
I absolutely love the design on this bottle and, as Anthony doesn't like ginger ale, I got it all to myself. I didn't feel too guilty either; at 139kcal per bottle it's a little more calorific than say, Schweppes, but not by much. This one was just beautiful, really refreshing and, although we're scoring out of five, my verdict was 6/5!
Karma Cola - Check it Out!
Karma Cola is available from various ethical online stores, and on the shelves at Waitrose for £1.59 a bottle. You can also get it while out and about at all the restaurants, cafes, etc, listed HERE. Find out more about the brand at www.karmacola.co.uk.
You can keep up to date with Karma Cola via:
For more of my reviews, click the picture below:
I drink cola a lot will have to see if I can find this brand nearby.
ReplyDeleteHopefully they'll start stocking in more places over the next few months. x
DeleteI love coke but have cut down a lot since getting pregnant.
ReplyDeleteAll I wanted to drink when I was pregnant was orange juice - just the thought is off putting now! x
DeleteI've not heard of this brand before. It's nice to see some more ethical brands entering the market.
ReplyDeleteIt really is, especially when you consider the practices of some of the big name brands. x
DeleteThe only fizzy drink (apart from ale) that I truly love is Dandelion and Burdock but I do like your descriptions of these. I think I'll give them a shot. Ta!
ReplyDeleteI love Dandelion and Burdock - you've got me craving it now! :)
DeleteI've never tasted them but would love to try. Plus I love the look of the bottles :)
ReplyDeleteThe bottle designs are so cool! x
DeleteI have never heard of Karma Cola before. I love the designs of the bottles though, they look so fun xx
ReplyDeleteThey're really cool, are't they? :D
DeleteI'd be interested to try these. I love diet coke, but sometimes I think there must be a better way.
ReplyDeleteThey're really worth checking out, they make a fab treat. x
DeleteUnfortunately I cannot drink coke because I can't have caffeine but I remember being addicted to the stuff when I was at uni!
ReplyDeleteI think diet coke was all that got me through finals!
DeleteI used to drink alot of diet coke but now the only fizzy drink we have on occasions is rootbeer or organic non alcoholic stuff we get from costco. I do love the bottle designs they are fab and that they are fair traders. Marie x
ReplyDeleteI've been trying to cut back on it, and just have a couple of glasses at the weekend normally in place of anything alcoholic. It's still not good for me, I know, but at least it doesn't give me a hangover! :)
DeleteThese sound great. I've never heard of these before. I don't drink fizzy pop but if I did this is something I'd be interested in x
ReplyDeleteIt's nice to see something different in the sector. x
DeleteI haven't hared about this brand before, but would be really excited to try! Thank you for sharing x
ReplyDeleteHope you get a chance to try it out :)
DeleteNot a brand I have heard of but love the bottles
ReplyDeleteAll their branding is fab x
DeleteI love the look of this product!
ReplyDeleteI think I would buy it just for the bottles alone,
but the tastiness and calorie content is such a bonus! :D
I need to find these! Thank you for sharing.
Sarah xx
www.whimsicalmumblings.co.uk
I know, I've got one of the bottles on my desk now with a flower in it! :)
DeleteIve never heard of Karma cola but I love the sound of the Lemonade x
ReplyDeleteIt's really tasty :)
DeleteLooks very nice! Love the bottles! xx
ReplyDelete#picknmix
They're so cool!
DeleteOooooooh these look fab. I wouldn't want to throw them fab bottles away thou.
ReplyDeleteI know - they're so pretty! x
DeleteThese sound - and look - lovely! I'll have to see if I can get my hands on some.
ReplyDeleteI've kept the one bottle on my desk as a little vase, lol. x
DeleteOoh I've not seen these before. I was actually wondering the other day if it's possible to be addicted to coke (the carbonated kind) it's the one thing I struggle to give up. Thanks for linking to #PickNMix
ReplyDelete:D I think it must be, it's my only explanation for Anthony's obsession with it! x
DeleteI am on the list to review these too and I can't wait. I go through phases where I drink loads of pepsi max or nine at all. The graphics are brilliant on these aren't they! #liml
ReplyDeleteThey taste great, and the graphics are fab. They sent a magazine style info booklet too which was really interesting. x
DeleteI adored the lemon one it was so tangy!
ReplyDeleteIt was nice! :D
DeleteOoh wow I'd love to try these I'm a fizzy addict too! I'd buy this just for the bottles - proper works of art!! Thanks for linking up xx
ReplyDelete#FriYAYLinky
They're gorgeous, aren't they?? I was so impressed when I opened the box!
DeleteIt's great to see that there is a healthier alternative to coke, produced by a smaller company. I really resent paying money for Coke, but will keep an eye out for this. The bottles are excellent :-)
ReplyDeleteThe bottles are really cool, aren't they?
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