Limited Edition Foods

It’s never too late to look back at where you have been, especially when you are trying to map out where you are going.  Before we delve into the hot new limited edition trends that are on the way in 2008, let’s take a look back at some of the limited edition sodas and limited edition energy drinks we got to taste in during 2007.

The Pepsi Ice Cucumber took Japan by storm early last summer, where it sold out in less than two weeks, and Diet Dr. Pepper created some excitement in the U.S. in December with its limited edition Chocolate Cherry Diet Dr. Pepper.  Meanwhile Jones Soda never failed to disappoint with its seasonal limited editions such as the Halloween and holiday sodas, or occasional surprises such as a soda that tastes like dirt.

Energy drinks saw more and more celebrity endorsements, such as the Jeff Gordon limited edition that came out last summer, and the autographed cans that Red Bull put in the market place in the fall.  The most revered limited edition energy drink of the year, however, was connected with a fictional celebrity known as The Master Chief and a little game called Halo 3.  Mountain Dew’s limited edition Game Fuel did not taste that great, but it had so much caffeine it gave people headaches … just the thing that their target market likes to hear.

So thanks for all the memories, and the sugar, 2007 … and here’s to more limited edition drinks in 2008.

Intrigued by Jones Soda’s Chanukah Soda pack, but worried it may clash with the Christmas tree in your living room?  No worries, Jones Soda is an equal opportunity limited edition soda source. 

Their 2007 Christmas Pack includes four flavors: sugar plum soda, egg nog soda, Christmas Tree soda, and Christmas Ham soda.  Like the Chanukah sodas, all four flavors are certified kosher, even the Christmas ham version.

The Christmas Pack comes with a "very cool stocking stuffer" and like its Jewish counterpart is caffeine free.  At least $10,000 from the sales of the Christmas Packs will be donated to Toys for Tots which strives to provide hope and happiness to needy children.

You can purchase the Christmas Pack for $12.99 at jonessoda.com, or as a combo with the Chanukah Pack for $21.98 for both flavors.  The combo is the perfect host gift for that nice interfaith gay couple down the street, who always throws the best holiday party!

Each holiday the Jones Soda Company releases its unique holiday flavor packs, filled with limited edition sodas like no other.

The 2007 Chanukah pack comes with four flavors, all designed to imitate the taste of traditional Jewish Chanukah foods: chocolate coin soda, apple sauce soda, latke soda, and jelly doughnut soda.  Well, the last one may not be quite as traditional as the others but it sounds interesting nonetheless.

The packs also come with a "fully functional dreidel" and are "certified kosher."  The sodas are all caffeine free, and a portion of the sales of the packs will be donated to Vitamin Angels.  The company promises the charity will receive a minimum of $10,000 from the Chanukah pack sales, which will help fight malnutrition and childhood blindness worldwide by providing nutritional supplements and health education to communities that are medically underserved or at risk.

The packs can be purchased for $12.99 each at jonessoda.com.

Dr. Pepper has issued a new sweet limited edition version of its classic diet soda, which hit store shelves in late November. The beverage is called Cherry Chocolate Diet Dr. Pepper, and several consumers have reported that it tastes just like the chocolate covered cherries that are popular in homes during the holiday season.

“Cherry Chocolate Diet Dr Pepper is the perfect indulgence for the holidays … zero calories, zero carbs, zero guilt, and all the flavor of Dr Pepper,” said Andrew Springate, vice president of marketing for Cadbury Schwepps American Beverages which is responsible for the drink. “Based on consumer response, we expect Cherry Chocolate Diet Dr Pepper will have a strong and devoted following.”

Cherry Chocolate Diet Dr. Pepper is being promoted by a You Tube video and viral marketing campaign that has spawned some controversy. Inspiring hope for everybody who has ever put something out on You Tube hoping it will lead to an endorsement deal, Tay Zonday’s viral video sensation from last Spring has been reworked into an ad for Dr. Pepper’s new limited edition flavor. The inevitable claims of selling out predictably followed, as well as a spike in the ongoing debate about the divide between commerce and entertainment on the Internet.

If you have tried Cherry Chocolate Diet Dr. Pepper, let us know what you think. If you liked it, here is some good news: Trendhunter Magazine is predicting this is the first of several chocolate-flavored sodas which are set to be introduced into the market in the coming year.

Specialty tea brewer Lupicia has introduced a series of limited edition holiday teas just in time for the holiday shopping season. 

These are not your mother’s teas, but rather sophisticated teas infused with complicated and exotic flavors.  The White Christmas blend is a black tea flavored with white chocolate and apricot, while the Champagne Rose is flavored with strawberries and champagne flavors. 

The company seems to see its teas as a potential replacement for cocktails for friends and relatives who do not drink.  Lupicia recommends serving its grape-obsessed Muscat tea instead of a dessert wine, or creating a punch out of the Christmas Wreath blend which is flavored with apples, cranberries, and cinnamon.

The gift packs can be purchased online or at one of Lupicia’s California retail locations, where they will be wrapped in origami paper.  If you prefer to get a more traditional flavor, Lupicia will sell you that too and will even sell you a special holiday-themed label for your tea tin.

Red Bull Energy Drink introduced a limited edition version this month, which comes in a HUGE 16.9 ounce can and bears the signature of various sports superstars.

Special thanks to the Cleveland Leader for the photo and the scoop on the new can.  The paper reports that Shaun White, the Olympic snowboarder who became a household name during the last Winter Olympics, is among the athletes who are participating in the promotion. 

Other signatures include a plethora of folks who are not household names but who have devoted followings among fans of the XGames and related extreme sports competitions.  Additional athletes include cyclist Travis Pastrana, skateboarder Ryan Sheckler, surfer Andy Irons, his brother and fellow surfer Bruce Irons, Kevin Robinson, skier Tanner Hall, volleyball player Amanda Beard, dancer Crazy Legs (of the Rock Steady Crew, a group that was recently featured on Dancing with the Stars), motorcycle racer Nicky Hayden, NASCAR driver Brian Vickers, and windsurfing legend Robby Naish.  Juan Pablo Angel and Josmer "Jozy" Altidore are both members of Red Bull’s soccer/football team, the New York Red Devils, and are also featured on the signature cans.

In other Red Bull news, the company recently opened an art exhibit in Chicago called "The Art of The Can" that features various artists’ creations using Red Bull cans.  All of that should help detract from the news of a recent United Kingdom study showing that people with heart problems should avoid energy drinks like Red Bull, which have been shown to increase blood pressure and heart rates to potentially dangerous levels.

Thanks to Christine O’Kelly of SelfMadeChick.com for her comment on IttyBittyBiz tipping me off to this limited edition version of Bawls Energy Drink.

This discovery also revealed many other amazing facts, such as the fact that there is something called a National Professional Paintball League and Bawls is its Official Soft Drink.  The little spikes on the bottle are meant to keep your sweaty paws grasped to your Bawls in combat.  Paintball: it’s not just for weekends anymore.

Bawls is a vicious energy drink with even more caffeine than the headache-inducing Mountain Dew Game Fuel, so consume with caution.  According to the Bawls web site, one bottle of Bawls will give you as much bounce as seven cups of coffee … which is certainly an efficient method for consuming caffeine, but also one that could lead to heart problems.  Even the Bawls web site warns against consuming too much Bawls, which every marketing person knows is an indication that something is not quite right here.

Nevertheless, unless you have high blood pressure one bottle of Bawls probably isn’t going to kill you.  So if you are curious and/or a paintball fan then feel free to enjoy a limited edition paintbottle of Bawls.

Usually we don’t focus on limited edition packaging at Limited Edition Foods, preferring to focus on limited editions that both to change the substance of the food products themselves.

However, these lovely limited edition bottles from Evian forced us to make an exception.

Designed by famous fashion name Christian Lacroix, the bottles are this year’s seasonal offering by Evian which offers a limited edition bottle every November for the holiday season. The 2007 seasonal is an exceptionally gorgeous limited edition with a winder wonderland theme, and according to high end blog Luxery Launches they will be available in grocery stores, restaurants, and hotels starting in mid-November.

The smaller bottle will sell for $6 to $10, while the price for the larger ice queen will be anyone’s guess. It is rumored that less than one hundred bottles were created, and the starting price will be over $1,000 … if you hear a confirmed price, please let me know! Or if you can’t find the ice princess, you can always try water from Evian’s new Palace Bottle which is designed to be an elegant carafe.

Jones Soda has a new limited edition flavor pack with a bottle that literally tastes like Dirt. And another that tastes like Sports Creme. And another that tastes like Natural Field Turf. And best of all, one that tastes like Perspiration. Or if none of those sound appetizing, there is the berry flavored Sweet Victory.

The sodas were created to celebrate the company’s love of football and particularly of the Seattle Seahawks.

“Throughout their career, the average NFL player will spend 2 years of their life in the gym, eat 3 pounds of dirt and perspire 10,000 gallons of sweat. These players must withstand incredibly tough conditions to be ready for every game, which is why we thought we’d bring the fans the full experience in a bottle,” says Peter van Stolk, President & C.E.O of Jones Soda. “Now, you can enjoy all the sweat and dirt an NFL player experiences, along with the ultimate taste of Sweet Victory.”

While the sodas were technically only available the last week of September, limited quantities are still available — with some searching — online. Other sodas are available through October in more traditional flavors but featuring Seattle Seahawks players Deion Branch and Walter Jones. A third packaging option features Seattle Seahawks quarterback Matt Hasselbeck, husband of The View host Elisabeth Hasselbeck.

Jones Soda is known for creating unusual limited edition flavors. They currently have another limited edition pack on the market for Halloween, featuring Black Cat Licorice and other interesting flavors for your upcoming costume party.

Jones Soda, Seattle Seahawks, soda, Deion Branch, Walter Jones, NFL, football, perspiration, dirt, Matt Hasselbeck, Elisabeth Hasselbeck

The Cleveland Leader is reporting that the limited edition sodas from Jones Soda Co. are out! These Halloween sodas have become something of an October tradition, with the Candy Corn version being the annual seasonal centerpiece of the four unusual flavors. Other fun flavors for 2007 include Monster Mojito (just add rum!) and Black Cat Licorice (not sure what you would mix that with, but it sounds interesting).

The sodas are usually available in four packs at Target and other select stores nationwide.

limited edition, Jones Soda, Halloween, mojito, licorice, Cleveland