Snapple Elements – Sun

Snapple's trying to cash in on the healthy-drink madness that's sweeping the free world with a series of "elements" drinks, each with it's own distinct blend of supplements to create a particular reaction. For instance, the "Sun" drink, which is also labeled as "Starfruit Orange," is also labeled as "Vibrance," and includes echinacea and beta carotene. Another one is labeled "Strength," another "Stamina," and so on.

Their website lists about 10 different flavors, each with its own element, though they're stretching a bit by calling "Meteor" and "Altitude" elements. I think I get it, though. It's not supposed to be literal. Though it would be cool to have a set of drinks fashioned after the real Periodic Table of Elements. Imagine what Sulfur or Seaborgium or even Ununnilium Snapple would taste like.

I'm not really sure if I have any more vibrance after drinking Sun. Actually since I haven't been able to drink all of it at once, I can't be certain my results are purely scientific. The bottle is a surprisingly large 20 ounces, which would be perfect for Starbucks Frappucinos, but here is just overkill. Because basically what you have is your typical non-juice corn-syrup drink.

They pretty much all taste the same, and this one is no different. It has a little bit of the sharp sweetness of Tang, but none of the pleasing powderyness. Plus a semi-bitter aftertaste that forces you to eat or drink something else (or, worse yet, brush your teeth) to get the flavor out.

And "vibrance" my ass, I'm still tired and only a cup of good old-fashioned coffee or a nap will cure that ailment. Certainly not miniscule traces of echinacea and beta carotene suspended in orange food dye.

Overall, not much to get all excited about, certainly nothing worth the kind of effort and imagination Snapple's marketing executives have attempted to exert. I say "attempted" because it's not really that brilliant a concept to begin with. They should hire me and pay me for my Periodic Table of Elements idea. But only if they put real Molybdenum in Snapple Molybdenum.

Review by Crimedog