More grape than strawberry (Marks & Spencers Fresh Strawberry Cooler)

Member Name: JT86

Product:	Marks & Spencers Fresh Strawberry Cooler
Date:	16/07/08 (98 review reads)
Rating:

Advantages: Refreshing

Disadvantages: Very little strawberry taste, not cheap

Last time I was in Marks and Spencers food department I noticed they had some new fresh drinks, which were on offer 2 for £3. I chose the Fresh Strawberry Cooler and Pink Lemonade.

I love strawberries, but am not a great fan of smoothies, and it's not often you see strawberry juice drinks for sale.

This drink comes in a 500ml clear plastic bottle, with a plastic screw top. The label is white with red swirls on. It's part of the "Eat Well" range and counts as one of your five a day fruit & veg portions.

The front of the label reads "Made with fresh strawberries and a hint of red grape & apple."

I was disappointed when I read the ingredients. After water which is the main ingredient, red grapes make up 29%, apples 20%, and strawberries a mere 15%, along with ascorbic acid.

So it was no surprise when I opened the bottle and smelled mainly grapes. The juice is watery rather than thick like some fruit juices can be, and a pale red colour. As I took a sip of the juice the predominant taste was that of grapes, with a hint of apple. After it had been in my mouth for a couple of seconds the strawberry taste came through slightly, followed by an aftertaste of, yes, you guessed it, grapes!

I feel conned at having bought a drink made out to be strawberry flavoured, when in fact the main ingredients were grapes and apples. It's not something I'd choose to buy again, especially as it costs £1.99 a bottle.

Nutritional information:
Per 250ml serving-
Energy kJ - 415
Energy kcal - 100
Protein - 0.8g
Carbohydrate - 22.8g
Fat - 0.3g
Fibre - 2.8g

The drink needs to be kept refrigerated, and the bottle should be shaken before drinking.

It costs £1.99 for a 500ml bottle, but can be bought along with another from the range for 2 for £3.

Summary: Wouldn't buy again