Product Review: Celestial Seasonings Zingers to Go

It seems, these days, that every one is trying to find ways to cut sugar out of their diet, or at least to lower their intake. The thing is, artificial sweeteners aren't good for you either. That's right, even Splenda isn't all it's cracked up to be- see articles by fellow CPs here and here. Like everyone else, I'm trying to find a way to lower calories and increase nutrition. It's not easy with a busy schedule and a miniscule budget.

Probably the quickest way to reduce calories is by cutting out soda and fruit juice. But for the least amount of calories, you're stuck with plain water, home brewed tea and coffee, and artificially sweetened beverages. Right? Not so, Grasshopper.

Celestial Seasonings has individual flavor packets available similar to that of Crystal Light, Kool-aid and 4C, with one exception. Celestial Seasonings uses a natural sweetener. Stevia.

Stevia is a South American herb that is 30 times sweeter than sugar in its natural state, and up to 300 times sweeter than sugar when used as an extract. It is packed with fiber (in natural form) and other health benefits such as antibacterial agents and in preventing tooth decay. It also has no calories. You won't find it outside of the tea aisle and supplement aisle because the FDA has no control over herbs, but the Celestial Seasoning's Zinger's To Go is actually individual herbal tea mixes. It's currently available in four flavors: Tangerine Orange Wave, Blueberry Splash, Wild Berry Chill, and Peach Delight.

But how does it taste? Well, I love it. For example, the Tangerine Orange Wave tastes much like Tang, though a little less sweet. The Blueberry Splash has a strong blueberry flavor, which is unlike many other blueberry flavored products that I've tried in the past. While the peach tastes very good, and smells strongly of peach, the flavor is considerably less intense. It's probably the plainest of the four flavors available. The Wild Berry Chill is actually a bit sweeter than the other flavors, but definitely has a strong berry taste. And best of all, the powder dissolves completely leaving you with the smooth texture of plain water, but more flavor than most fruit flavored drinks. Remember that this is all subjective, as it's my experience that I'm writing about, but two of the three people that I've introduced to Celestial Seasoning's Zinger's To Go prefer it over the other products they've tried, and the third likes it equally.

Each box contains 10 packets of Zingers To Go, and each packet can be used for 16oz (two cups) of water. My local grocery store carries them for $2.54 a box, though many people have difficulty finding them. Amazon carries Zingers To Go for as little as $3 plus shipping. It's a small price to pay for your health.