Michelle Obama and Stephen Curry teamed up to create PLEZi, a line of hydration drinks. If you were ever unsure that we almost definitely slid into some alternate timeline a few years back, then just let that sentence set in.
So, what’s the deal with PLEZi drinks? Former First Lady Michelle Obama has this to say, “While water is always the best, PLEZi is a great option for those moments where you want something else. Our drinks not only significantly reduce sugar and sodium, they include more nutrients than other leading options—and they’re delicious, too!”
What Should We Try Next?
According to the brand, PLEZi (which comes from the Haitian Creole word for “fun” or “joy”) has half the sugar and double the electrolytes of leading hydration drink brands. Each bottle also packs 500 mg of potassium and 100% of your daily recommended vitamin C. Plus, PLEZi drinks are made without any added sugar, no artificial sweeteners, and no high fructose corn syrup.
Bonus: Each bottle features an illustration of a lightly anthropomorphized animal that is Robin Hood Fox-level attractive. If you grew up in the ‘70s, ‘80s, or ‘90s, you know what I’m talking about.
But how do Steph Curry and Michelle Obama’s hydration drinks taste? Read on for reviews of each flavor currently available.
Pros: So many orange-mango drinks end up tasting like sweet, vaguely tropical punch. But this one really does taste like a true mix of orange and mango. It’s balanced and rich and super flavorful, which is shocking considering that it has less sugar than other hydration drinks. It tastes so much better than so many hydration drinks out there—and it tastes unique. It’s not just another take on Gatorade or Powerade. It’s very much its own thing.
Cons: While it does taste like orange and mango, it doesn’t taste like fresh orange and mango. It still has a bit of a melted popsicle flavor. If you’re looking for fresh juice, drink fresh juice. This is a hydration drink and it still tastes like one.
Pros: This smells like a classic, cherry-forward fruit punch. The flavor, on the other hand, is not what I was expecting. It tastes nothing like Hawaiian Punch or any other lip-stainingly-red fruit punch—which can be either a pro or a con depending on your tastes. It tastes more like tart cherry juice-spiked apple juice. It’s pleasant enough to drink. But it’s not tropical punch.
Cons: If you don’t like the idea of tart, ever-so-slightly salty apple juice, you probably won’t love this PLEZi flavor. I won’t be seeking it out, but if someone handed me a bottle, I’d still finish it.
Pros: Forget that this is supposed to be lemon lime flavored. Once again, this PLEZi flavor tastes more like apple juice than anything else. But I like this lime-spiked apple juice better than PLEZi Tropical Punch’s cherry-spiked apple juice. It’s tangy and tart and has more of a salty flavor than the others. If you like sweet stuff, grab the Orange Mango. But if you’re looking for a tart hydration drink, this could be the one for you.
Cons: If you were hoping for that classic Gatorade Lemon Lime flavor, you are going to be super duper disappointed. I expected this PLEZi flavor to taste like watered down Crystal Light or something similar. But it really has more in common with Mott’s apple juice than it does any sort of lemonade.
Justine Sterling is the editor-in-chief of Sporked. She has been writing about food and beverages for well over a decade and is an avid at-home cook and snacker. Don’t worry, she’s not a food snob. Sure, she loves a fresh-shucked oyster. But she also will leap at whatever new product Reese’s releases and loves a Tostitos Hint of Lime, even if there is no actual lime in the ingredients.
Thoughts? Questions? Complete disagreement? Leave a comment!
Thoughts? Questions? Complete disagreement? Leave a comment!