Product Review: DRINK maple
I don’t write many food and beverage reviews on my site, but if I run across something new or unique that might appeal to my audience, I don’t hesitate. I recently got a case of maple water from the folks over at DRINK maple and thought I would give it a try and share my thoughts. Maple water is not necessarily a new thing, but with the recent success of coconut water, the opportunity seems ripe for similar water alternatives.
I am primarily a water guy. I will occasionally pick up a sports drink to mix it up, but water is my bread and butter (especially during and after physical activity). While water serves the purpose for me on most days, sometimes I like to mix it up with something with a bit more flavor along with some added nutrients to aide the replenishment process. I am not a huge fan of coconut water, mostly because of the taste, so I decided to take this opportunity to give maple water a try. Let’s get into my thoughts!
Taste
I was most curious about this. DRINK maple is very clear that their product is straight from the tree. With that being said, I didn’t know if it would have an overly sappy taste or texture. These were my preconceived notions, but honestly, having never tried maple water before I didn’t know what to expect. All in all, I was pleasantly surprised. What I liked most about it was that it had a very clean taste, similar to that of spring water. In addition, it had a slight sugary taste with a hint of maple, but wasn’t overbearing at all. It was just enough to provide me with the different taste that I was looking for without being over the top.
Pros
- Organic and all natural. This will resonate with a good number of people. Many athletes are being extra sensitive these days about what we put into our bodies. With trust and transparency also being an issue with many nutrition companies, people are looking toward more natural sources. If you look at the side of the bottle, the DRINK maple product has one ingredient, Organic Maple Water…you can’t get more natural than that.
- More than water. Maple water is rich in many nutrients and electrolytes, primarily Potassium and Manganese. We all know the benefits of potassium as an electrolyte to promote proper muscle performance (the reason so many of us eat bananas by the case). Manganese is one that most people may not be as familiar with, but it contributes to healthy bone and connective tissue development. It is hard to argue that both of these are super beneficial to runners and athletes.
- DRINK maple as a company is in it more much more than money. If you look at the side of their bottle, each bottle sold supplies 200 gallons of clean water to people in developing nations. This is a product that you can make you feel good not just physically, but socially too.
- Half the sugar of its main competing product, coconut water (more if you consider that many coconut water brands have started adding flavoring too), and tastes better too in my humble opinion.
Cons
- It can be pricy at a cost of about $3 for a 12 oz. bottle, so that means this isn’t going to be for everyone. With that being said, I think it all comes down to a matter of personal priorities. The production process of extracting directly from a tree is both seasonal and costly, but if your priorities are to get your nutrients and hydration through natural sources and from a company that is socially responsible, then the cost is much more justifiable.
- For those that are buying this as a way of being natural may be bothered that it comes in a plastic bottle (although recyclable). Luckily, they have an 8 oz. size that comes in a paper carton, which is my preference. Hopefully, they will package in a larger carton size in the future.
Who Should Try It?
Like I mentioned earlier, maple water may not be for everyone. I would say that there are a number of people that may want to give it a try. If you drink coconut water because you aren’t aware of alternatives, but can’t stand the taste, then you should try this. If you are more like me and drink mostly water, but want an alternative option that is full of nutrients and electrolytes without added sugar and chemicals, you should also give it a try. You also don’t have to drink it all day every day, so if you are a bit cash strapped, I think you can still gain benefits from having one or two a week. In any case, I have become mildly addicted to it and think it is worth a try!
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