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Adelholzener (organic) soft drinks tested – Don't you think we always end up drinking the same thing to quench our thirst? At least that's how it is for me, and – admittedly – even when I'm out at a restaurant, at home it's usually either water, a Coke Zero (…yes, I know…) or maybe some homemade lemonade. It's pretty much the same at home: water or tea. Browsing the shelves of beverage stores and trying something new? – I rarely do that. To break out of this "humans are creatures of habit" pattern, I did just that and discovered the new Adelholzener range, or rather, the four new varieties. Of course, I was already familiar with the brand, partly because I really enjoy their mineral water for its softness. In fact, I think you can definitely taste the difference between mineral waters if you haven't already ruined your taste buds with too much spice, salt, or sweetness. Anyway, I discovered Adelholzener and gave it a try.

Adelholzener Organic Lemonades and Soft Drinks – the New

Four varieties caught my eye, so I grabbed one of each in 0.5-liter PET bottles. I should mention beforehand that I don't drink juices, sodas, or sugary drinks very often, partly because I tend to eat quite a lot and then prefer a neutral-tasting beverage or wine with it. As a thirst quencher, for when I'm out and about, or with a snack – ideal for me and therefore worth a try. So, in my shopping basket (or rather, under my arm) ended up two bottles each of the new "Organic Lemonade" and "Orange," as well as the new "Adelholzener Cherry" and "Adelholzener Orange Pink Grapefruit." All four varieties have been available in reusable bottles in stores since January 2017. Loaded down with the bottles, I headed home to taste them. But before we get into the details, a little background information about Adelholzener. You don't really know what's behind it, let alone where Adelholzen is located, do you?

Who is behind Adelholzener

Adelholzener is a company with a distinctly social focus. The Adelholzener Alpine springs, from which the water is sourced, are located in Bad Adelholzen – not too far from Lake Chiemsee. There, they produce medicinal water, mineral water, and soft drinks under the Adelholzener and Active O2 brands (you're probably familiar with the Active O2 PET bottles in various fruit flavors with colorful caps on store shelves). The Adelholzener springs themselves belong to the Congregation of the Sisters of Mercy – who also operate hospitals and nursing homes – and the company's profits are used to finance the religious order's social projects. Social responsibility and business practices are therefore top priorities.

Test and review of the four Adelholzener organic lemonades and soft drinks

That's about Adelholzener itself. Back to my four varieties. First, I ventured to try the two organic lemonades. Lemon and orange are traditional flavors for lemonades, but what's new is the particularly high juice content and the use of purely organic ingredients. A natural, not-too-strong, or even slightly tart sweetness with an intense flavor immediately struck me when tasting the lemon lemonade, number one. Contrary to what one might expect from the word "organic," there's absolutely no "eco-friendly" feel to it when drinking or tasting it, and both the lemon and the splash of orange juice are clearly discernible alongside the pure Adelholzener mineral water. The predominant flavor of the organic lemonade is, of course, the fresh lemon taste, underscored by a subtle orangey sweetness and vitamin C. The same, or rather the opposite, flavor profile is present in the Adelholzener organic "Orange" lemonade: an intense and fruity orange flavor, also not too sweet, but not bland either. It contains 91% T3T juice, plus a good splash of lemon juice. What I liked about both organic lemonades was that a) they are noticeably different in taste, b) they are not too sweet, and c) they quench thirst extremely quickly without feeling heavy in the stomach. Sticky and overly sweet juices, drinks, and sodas often give me a similar feeling to "eating too much." This is cleverly avoided through the thoughtful balancing of the individual ingredients, resulting in one, or rather four, refreshing thirst quenchers.

After the two organic lemonades, I'd had my fill of fruit for the time being and postponed the tasting of Adelholzener Cherry and Orange Pink Grapefruit until the next day. As expected, the next day arrived quickly, and so I tackled what I now know to be my favorite: Adelholzener Cherry. Firstly, I'm a huge cherry fan, and secondly, this variety immediately won me over with its taste. Why? In my opinion, this drink strikes the perfect balance between sweetness and tartness. 6% sour cherry juice and Adelholzener mineral water combine to create a successful and not-too-sweet fruit flavor that doesn't overpower the pure cherry taste. Another great thing: very little carbonation, making it ideal for quickly quenching your thirst on the go. I don't like things too fizzy, and I also don't like it when you have to stop drinking after every other sip because of the high carbonation to avoid upsetting your stomach and esophagus. Adelholzener Cherry has a berry-like, light, slightly sweet and tart flavor that's carefree. An added bonus: thanks to the reduced sugar content, the drink has only 20 kcal per 100 milliliters – admittedly more than pure water, but still within acceptable limits.

Adelholzener Bio Limonaden u Saftschorlen

The four new varieties in the Adelholzener family.

Least of my cup of tea, but a must-try for any grapefruit fan, is the fourth variety, "Orange Pink Grapefruit." This exotic blend combines sun-sweet oranges with the tart freshness of pink grapefruit. The story behind this Adelholzener variety is quite amusing. Grapefruits only exist because an orange and a pomelo accidentally crossed in 1750 on Barbados in the Caribbean – and the grapefruit, sweet and tart at the same time, was born. It's no wonder it's known today as the "Queen of Citrus Fruits," boasting a high vitamin C content. Personally, I find the drink a bit too acidic, and despite the added orange sweetness, I still prefer my new favorite, Adelholzener Cherry. If you prefer something a little more tart, you could try Adelholzener Orange Pink Grapefruit, which has a 121% fruit juice content and a similarly low carbonation level. One thing all four varieties share is a lively character, a talent for quickly quenching thirst, and a beautiful play of colors.

Conclusion and key facts

I'll definitely treat myself to two or three of these flavors every now and then. My personal ranking is Adelholzener Cherry in first place, followed by the Adelholzener organic lemonades – first Orange, then Lemon. Adelholzener Orange Pink Grapefruit comes in fourth. You can buy all the flavors in stores (Adelholzener Cherry and Orange Pink Grapefruit for €0.62 each plus deposit, and the two organic lemonades for €0.77 each plus deposit). Enjoy trying them!

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