From now until Sunday, May 15, it’s Frappuccino Happy Hour! That means when you purchase a frappuccino between 3 – 5pm, it’s only half price.

Hello! What a deal! Also, check out their selection of flavors.

Flavor it up (Regular, Light, or Creme)

Caramel
Chai
Coffee
Mocha
Coconut
Java Chip
Mocha Coconut
Vanilla Bean
Vanilla
Strawberry
White Chocolate Mocha
Raspberry
Hazelnut
Cinnamon Dolce
Green Tea
Peppermint
Toffee Nut
Double Chocolaty Chip

Milk it up

Whole, 2%, Nonfat, or Soy

Coffee it up

Extra Coffee, Decaf, or Add Espresso

Top it off

Whipped Cream
Caramel Drizzle
Mocha Drizzle
Coconut Flakes

My husband and I were having lunch at Delica, the Japanese deli in San Francisco’s Ferry Building, when we reached for something to quench our thirst. The Ito En Blueberry Green Tea immediately jumped off the shelf and into my hands. Wow, I’ve never seen iced blueberry green tea anywhere else before!

On the first sip, it was like heaven! The sweet, refreshing blueberry taste gently caresses your tongue, with a mild hint of green tea. And it’s made with all natural ingredients, a plus in my book. This is definitely my new favorite drink.

Afterward, we were on the hunt to find another place to buy this delectable drink. After all, we weren’t going to pay $2.50 to buy it from Delica all the time.

The next week, we found Ito En Blueberry Green Tea at 2 Japanese dollar stores – Daiso in Serramonte Mall (Daly City) and Ichibankan in Tanforan Mall (San Bruno). It’s only $1.29 at Ichibankan, which is the best deal.

There are also other flavors like apple, peach, and mango. I’ve only tried apple, which is good, but the blueberry flavor is still the best.

You can also find the Ito En Blueberry Green Tea at Amazon.com. They sell the 16.9 oz. teas in cases of 12 and it includes Free Super Saver Shipping on orders of $25 or more. The blueberry green tea is also eligible for Amazon.com’s Subscribe and Save program. It’s where you can sign up to have this item automatically delivered to you at regular intervals at a discounted price. So worth it and no tax either.

I was sent this assortment of Bossa Nova Superfruit juices to review. After seeing these juices in the refrigerated section of Mollie Stones and Whole Foods, I was super-excited to try these superfruit juices.

When I hear the name Bossa Nova, I immediately think of the quick, bustling beat resonating from my Casio electronic keyboard.

What makes Bossa Nova Superfruit juices different? They are all natural, feature one superfruit per flavor, and don’t contain white sugar. Instead, Bossa Nova uses low glycemic agave nectar to sweeten their juices, to give you more sustained energy. Plus, they don’t add caffeine or stimulants like other acai juices I have seen.

One look at the vibrant colors of these juices and you know that they are loaded with antioxidants. The design of the bottles are not only ergonomic, feeling good in your hands, but make them stand out in a crowd of other competing juices. Although Bossa Nova juices at one time were housed in glass bottles, they are now stored in plastic containers.

Bossa Nova Superfruit Flavors: (from left to right in the photo above)

Acai the Original – This juice tastes like blueberry juice, sweet with a berry finish. Acai is high in anthocyanin, a powerful anti-inflammatory phytonutrient that helps maintain a healthy cardiovascular system and protect against free radicals. In the past few years, Acai has become quite popular in many drinks because it tastes good and has more antioxidants than blueberries and pomegranates.

Goji Berry with Tart Cherry – Goji berry and tart cherry make a tart tasting combination that I can’t get used to. I prefer more sweet tasting juices since I have a sweet tooth. But if you like more tart tasting foods, you’ll like this flavor. Goji berry is high in carotenoid and great for vision health, immunity support. Goji berry is also a Chinese medicinal herb used to re-balance the body.

Mangosteen with Dragonfruit - This Bossa Nova flavor reminds me of sweet Hawaiian guava juice. The color looks just like guava juice as well as the pulpy consistency. This Mangosteen with Dragonfruit is my favorite of all the Bossa Nova juices. Mangosteen is high in xanthone with anti-inflammatory, anti-aging, and body balancing properties. Like goji berry, it has been used in Chinese medicine for thousands of years.

Acerola with Red Peach – This flavor tastes more peachy and slightly tart. It has a thick, peachy pulp texture. Acerola is high in Vitamin C, which boosts immunity. It also has 20 times the vitamin C of oranges with about half the sugar, plus flavonoids and micronutrients.

Acai with Blueberry - Acai and blueberry tastes so similar they are often blended together for juices. This juice tastes just like blueberry juice, sweet and lush.

Acerola with Mango - Sweet with citris notes, this flavor is very likeable.

Where to buy:

In the San Francisco Bay Area, you can find Bossa Nova Superfruit juices at Whole Foods, Mollie Stones, Andronico’s, and Safeway. Or find stores in your area: http://www.bossausa.com/flash/

Last year, I discovered delicious yet nutritious Alo Drink at the Fancy Food Show. This all natural health drink now has new flavors from Asian fruits blended with aloe vera juice. And yes, you can drink aloe vera which is a clear liquid. Think “juice” not lotion.

Full disclosure: They sent me a case of Alo drinks to review. I won’t lie. I was quite “Elated” to receive a case of 12 Alo drinks, 3 of each flavor – Allure, Appeal, Enrich, and Elated.

I absolutely love Alo drinks because it’s all natural, with bits of juicy aloe pulp. Although the drinks only contain 25% aloe vera juice, they can be quite potent. Aloe vera has an abundance of vitamins and minerals, amino acids, and agents that may be anti-inflammatory and anti-microbial. It also helps improve your digestion and is cleansing.

If you’re drinking this for the first time, I recommend drinking it slowly to see how your body reacts. I usually drink a half bottle at a time. You’ll definitely notice your body working differently.

Here’s a rundown on the flavors:

Allure - (Aloe, Mangosteen, and Mango) Allure tastes the fruitiest of them all. What is Mangosteen? Mangosteen is like a giant lychee, juicy and sweet. I had the opportunity to try Mangosteen when I was in Vancouver B.C. years ago.

Appeal - (Aloe, Pomelo, Pink Grapefruit, and Lemon) Appeal has a more mellow flavor with hints of grapefruit and lemon. It tastes almost like 7up or Sprite.What is Pomelo? I liken it to a giant grapefruit.

Enrich – (Aloe, Pomegranate, and Cranberry) Enrich has the most intense flavor. It’s like fruit punch but not as sweet. The pomegranate flavor takes the lead followed by a hint of cranberry.

Elated - (Aloe and Olive Leaf Tea) Elated debuted last year at the show. They have now re-formulated it. To be honest, I didn’t notice the difference. Olive Leaf has more antioxidants than green tea. Out of all of the flavors, this one is the most mellow.

Exposed – (Aloe and Honey)

Where to Buy:

Allure – 12 pack

Appeal – 12 pack

Exposed – 12 pack

There were so many cold drinks but the one that stood out to me was Alo drink. This refreshing drink is made with real aloe vera extract with aloe pulp, not from aloe gel or powder like other brands. Aloe vera contains vitamins, minerals, and essential fatty acids, which help to improve your skin, hair, and digestion. Alo’s flavors include Exposed (aloe), Awaken (aloe + wheatgrass), Elated (aloe + olive leaf), Enliven (aloe + 12 fruits and vegetables). Alo is based in South San Francisco. You can find their products in Panaderia Y Mercado Hernandez, a Mexican supermarket on Grand Ave. in South San Francisco, and KukJe Korean Supermarket in Daly City. Alo drink is so good that my husband and I regularly buy this. They come in 2 sizes, the 16.9 fl. oz. ($1.59) and the 50.7 fl. oz. ($2.99). As you can see, the bigger size is more economical.

An interesting product at the show was J & D’s Baconnaise, which is a bacon-flavored mayonnaise. I would describe it as “man-food” because my husband loves this. He puts it on almost everything like crackers and chips, but there are more possibilities here. At the Baconnaise booth, my husband commented that Baconnaise would be perfect for the SuperBowl and they gave us a jar to take home and even a Baconnaise chapstick. =) Thanks, J & D!

O.N.E. (One Natural Experience) coconut water was at the Fancy Food Show again, this time with more exciting flavors like Amazon Acai, Coffee Fruit, and Cashew Fruit. If you are looking for something to replace your usual soda, this is it. O.N.E. cocount water is all natural, made from young green coconuts, has five essential electrolytes (calcium, potassium, phosphorous, magnesium and sodium), and more potassium than a banana. Coconut water is also great for aiding in detoxification. If you have ever tried to open a coconut, you’ll know that this product is a much more convenient way to drink coconut water. Buy O.N.E. Coconut Water on Amazon and get free shipping.

Popping Boba is a brand new product, distributed by Union City-based Sogo USA, for the boba or bubble tea (tapioca pearl) market. Wow, once I bit into these tiny juice-filled, tapioca balls, it was like an explosion of flavor in my mouth! All I can say is, look out for Popping Boba in your local bubble tea shop.

North Dakota-based Flax USA featured a wide range of flax products like cold-milled flax, roasted flax seeds (which are addictive), FlaxyCat (flax for cats), FlaxyDog (flax for dogs). Flax is rich in dietary fiber, high in essential omega 3 fatty acids, alpha-linoleni acid (ALA), and high in vitamins and mineral.

We got to meet Ina Garten of Barefoot Contessa again. She wouldn’t let us stand next to her, behind the counter, so that’s why she looks so little compared to me and my friend. Are we that intimidating? Here is the picture of us meeting Ina Garten at the Fancy Food Show 2007. She has a new line of soaps and lotions.