Quick Hits: Jones GABA Drinks
We like Jones Soda. They make fun flavors, use cane sugar, and have sent us their Holiday Packs before. So when we heard about their new series of focus + clarity drinks with neurotransmitters, we were excited and curious. As their FAQ page says, they aren’t using synthetics, but a natural form of GABA, gamma-aminobutyric acid. In fact, it’s odd and interesting enough that we’ll quote directly: each drink contains 150mg of “PharmaGABA, an all-natural form of GABA produced from Lactobacillus hilgardii, the same bacteria used to ferment vegetables for the traditional Korean dish kimchi.”
If that doesn’t make you thirsty, maybe the anticipated results will. Again, from their page: “athletes who took GABA supplements before exercising had lower blood pressure, body temperature, and heart rates. Students who took GABA before tests experienced less anxiety and stress than students not on GABA. Their test scores were higher, too.” Maybe coffee has met it’s match?
We only had a bottle of each flavor though, so didn’t feel like we’d be able to properly judge actual athletic performance. It did make watching sports a bit calmer though, and one reviewer definitely beat their record at the bowling alley. No, what we were most concerned about was taste, really. Available in four flavors, all four contain tea- black tea for the Lemon Honey and Grapefruit interestingly, while white tea factors in the Fuji-Apple and the Nectarine. We liked the mild Lemon Honey as a nice alternative to most other drinks, a peppier version of bottled tea that proved popular among testers. The Green Apple smacked a bit of the Jones Soda, but was lighter and had 12% fruit juice. None of the flavors was bad, though the Grapefruit received the most mixed comments. At upwards of $2.50 for a 12-ounce can, it’s a bit pricey. But for those seeking an alternative to caffeine and energy drinks, Jones GABA is an interesting (and tasty) way to go. We aren’t throwing out our coffee yet though!
