Jeff's Orange Dream Soda

I normally wouldn't consider an orange cream soda as being unique, but Jeff's Orange Dream Soda isn't your ordinary orange cream soda. Jeff's Orange Dream is an egg cream soda and among its ingredients are milk and cream. While most sodas are fat-free, Jeff's Orange Dream is not, though it contains a mere 1 gram of fat.

So what exactly is an egg cream soda? Egg cream sodas were invented in Brooklyn, New York and contained neither eggs nor cream, but are similar to ice cream sodas. A traditional egg cream relied on a mixture of three ingredients: chocolate syrup, seltzer and whole milk. You can check out a video here to see how to make your own egg cream soda.


While traditional egg creams do not contain cream, Jeff's Orange Dream does, and as you can see from the photo, this soda is thick and creamy. The carbonation was almost non-existent but I was hoping for something a little fizzier. The consistency is a little thick which made the soda more filling and less refreshing. It felt more like eating dessert than drinking a soda. Despite this, the orange cream flavor is pretty delicious. I just didn't have a desire to drink another. It's a unique and tasty soda, but not something I'd want to drink all the time.
Overall grade: B+

Jelly Belly Sour Cherry Soda

It's no secret that I love Jelly Bellies, so when I spotted Jelly Belly Soda at a nearby Walgreens, I knew I had to try it. Sour Cherry was the only flavor at the time, but they have since added Green Apple and Lemon Drop. And according to this website there are ten flavors total, including french vanilla, crushed pineapple and juicy pear! I can't wait to try them all!


Starting with the Sour Cherry flavor, there are two adjectives to describe this soda: sour and cherry. Eating sour candy is one thing, but drinking sour soda is another. Let's just say that it's unique, and one must love sour flavored things in order to enjoy this soda. The good news is that it absolutely tastes just like the sour cherry jelly belly, which is good news for the other flavors I want to try. This wasn't a detestable soda, just something I wouldn't want to drink all the time.
Overall Grade: B

Julmust

Julmust is a Swedish soft drink served and consumed traditionally around Christmastime. I found this at Gene's Sausage Shop & Delicatessen in Lincoln Square, Chicago. Gene's is a unique deli and grocery store that specializes in European treats and delicacies. Hence the Swedish soda.


I didn't really know what to expect from a Swedish Christmastime soda, but Julmust was pleasantly tasty. Julmust tastes a little like Dr. Pepper, but it's not as sweet and not as fizzy. Because of the mild carbonation, it's also smoother going down. Julmust is made with hops and malt extracts, so it may seem that alcohol is present, but since it is not fermented, it contains no alcohol. Overall, Julmust is a refreshing soda that offers a unique combination of spices, and despite being a "Christmas soda", it can be enjoyed all year round.
Overall Grade: B