Not Exactly Food...

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Yeah, I know. It's not exactly about food but it's just so damn funny. Food doesn't get any more fresh than this.

What Great Syrups Are Made Of

No reviews about chocolate drinks for today. I want to share something I saw at the supermarket. It's a box of red, luscious raspberries. That fruit is normally grown in countries with cold climates so obviously it is nowhere to be found in this tropical country. As an imported good, it carries a hefty price tag and it can be bought in A-market areas. I found this in a grocery in Makati City.

I love raspberry in its processed form like syrups, candies and fruit ice cream. The mildly sweet taste of this produce makes it a great additive or flavoring. The fruity essence of raspberry syrup complements the bitterness of drinks such as coffee and black tea. As for its raw fruit form I still have yet to try it, though. I bet it will pack a strong citrus taste, which is absent in its processed form.

I'm not entirely sure about the existence of raspberries grown in the Philippines. In Baguio, I saw a boxes of blueberries but they are only sold in small quantities. Probably the farmers there are in the verge of perfecting the cultivation of berries. Hopefully there will be locally-grown raspberries in the future instead of just strawberries. And speaking of strawberries, check out this box of fat suckers I found in the same grocery.

Nestle Premium (and a Glimps of My Fridge)

Welcome to... my fridge. As you can see I tend to try out a lot of beverages in the market from coffees to vodkas (see background). But for now, I'll be reviewing Nestle's Chocolate Pleasure. For starters, it is a commercial-grade chocolate drink, meaning it is readily available in supermarkets. This type of ready-to-drink beverage is trickier to keep around the house compared to its dehydrated, powder counterparts. It needs constant refrigeration and has a shorter shelf life so watch out for those expiration dates.

As for the taste, it has a very creamy texture. The drink is composed of more milk than chocolate. But I guess that is no mystery. After all, the product's name is Nestle Premium Dairy. It has a moderately sweet chocolate aroma. The kind of scent reminiscent of Magnolia's Chocolait. The aftertaste of the drink is similar to that of milk, instead of the usual bitter-sweet essence. However, after consuming an entire serving, it leaves my lips and throat quite dry. I have no idea what causes that effect and I'm not sure if it only happens to me. It could be the rich dairy ingredient but I cannot be certain.

Signature Chocolate - Starbucks

As you may have already noticed, I've been blogging a lot about chocolate drinks. I'm actually in search of the ideal cocoa beverage. One that has real chocolate taste yet at the same time has the perfect balance of creaminess and sweetness. Now, the Signature Chocolate of Starbucks is under the spotlight.

The first noticeable characteristic was its strong bitter-sweet cocoa taste. I strongly believe that the beverage was not tainted with sugar or any dairy products. Sure, it has whipped cream on top but it did not compromise the original flavor. The chocolate was so pure that I felt like I was drinking a water-diluted Hershey Cocoa Powder Mix, the type used for baking. I'll give Starbucks major credit for the authentic cocoa taste but the lack of milk and creamer leaves the texture of the beverage thin. The richness of its overall flavor did not meet my expectations. As for the price, the product gives you more value for your money. At Php 115 for a tall cup, it certainly beats the small-sized drink of Cafe Xocolat, which also has the same price.

September has passed...

The month in which I promised to blog about food items has come to an end. But I've enjoyed creating reviews so much that I have decided to continue this hobby. So from now on, expect more food reviews on Random Talk. It will be the main theme of by blog but don't worry. I will still post rants and raves of whatever I find under the sun from time to time.