the reason for the delay between the last taste test and this one (holidays notwithstanding) has to do with the size, scope, and ambition of this particular project. we've done durian, we've done aquavit with pickled herring and beer, but all of those things are fairly easily obtained. for this installment i wanted to take you all along on a liquid voyage across countries, continents, "dimensions not only of sight and of sound, but of mind" as rod serling would say. i wanted to take you to places in the heart.
to that end, i've assembled a staggering barrage of weird drinks from across this beautiful city of memphis (and in one instance, shipped special by my folks from the frozen tundra of west central wisconsin) and will be endeavoring to taste them all, and report back to you on the effects. what's the lineup, one asks?
cockta, apparently the middle eastern version of coke, available at the mediterranean grocery store on park ave
mong lee shan pearl soybean drink with tapioca ball, from dear old viet hoa on cleveland
an "ace" brand energy drink, procured from big lots on summer (cost: 60 cents)
something called pony malta, also from viet hoa
an abali yogurt soda from the mediterranean grocery store
carabao energy drink, from viet hoa as well
an unidentifiable brand lychee flavored soda, also from viet hoa
caravelle mandarin orange float (with sacs!) from viet hoa
yeo's soursop juice drink (jugo de guanabana) from viet hoa
frank's kraut juice, graciously shipped down from the old country for me by my dear mother
a can of DRAAAAANK!!!!!, the "anti-energy" beverage, which regular readers and close personal friends know i already love and adore, procured from a "pure" gas station on summer ave
and last but not least, a bottle of bawls high caffeine guarana beverage, from an anonymous little convenience store on summer ave
so there you have it. oh dear god why taste test #3: cockta, bawls and everything in between.
there are a few ringers in there but by and large i've never had most of this shit before so we'll be experiencing it together. i can't promise i can get through all this stuff in one sitting, or two, or a week or even a month, but rest assured dear readers with god as my witness i will not stop until i have consumed every last drop of these delightfully eccentric beverages, and taken photos of the faces that i make and written snarky comments and shared it all here, with you, because i love you all and i have to suffer to show you that, for some reason.
i can hear some of you saying "oh well that's all well and good but he's probably just going to take a sip and dump it out if he doesn't like it" to which i would respond of course "bite me" and pledge solemnly to consume each beverage in its entirely, preferably as fast as i can. the whole can of drank, all the yogurt soda, yes even the kraut juice...down the hatch. and you can bear witness to it all, if you want. if not i'm still going to do it anyway so you might as well check it out, might be good for a chuckle or two. i'll be back shortly with section a: cockta. hope to see you all there
your pal
d
