August 16: Steaz

Yes, another new beverage in the household. We're always in the market for the next best "healthier" alternative to soda pop. So, this time around it is Steaz. It's marketed as a sparkling green tea "made from the finest natural ingredients in the world". Funny, it still has 23g of sugar per serving, though. So, while it may be "natural", it's still very sweet; something we were hoping to keep around 10-15 grams. Don't get me wrong, I love sugar as much as the next guy; probably quite a bit more than the next guy. But, I've made a commitment to cut back on my pop intake, as my wife is convinced that an over-abundance of sugar leads to several different health ailments, including pancreatic cancer. I don't know whether or not that is fact, but I made a commitment. Anyway, Steaz is organic, reinforcing their "all-natural ingredient" pledge, and also available in a regular or low-calorie version. They have 4 flavors from which to choose: raspberry (which we tried), lemon-lime, root beer and orange flavors. The taste? Well, it's more like a fruit juice than a tea, but still refreshing when you need something cool to quench your thirst. Though not a long-term pop alternative, I still think I'd buy another 4-pack of Steaz to have on hand on a warm day. I guess 23g of sugar is still better than the 49g I'd get in a Coke.