Thursday 27 December 2012

Sodastream Review and Giveaway!

This post is brought to you by NotBlondeHusband. I wish Blogger made it easier to tell who the author of a post was! I love our SodaStream Drinks Maker but NBH is the one with fizzy history.

To me SodaStream conjures up memories of childhood. I never had one but I remember friends who did and I also remember greatly coveting one, although never quite managing to get my parents to succumb and get “busy with the fizzy”. I was slightly worried that admitting to remembering it may show my age but given I also remember when most people in Scotland had fizzy drinks delivered to their door on a milk float so I decided SodaStream is probably the least of my worries.

Despite the fact that I considered it somewhat of a sevnties/ eighties throwback SodaStream never really went away. It’s always been popular in Europe where apparently more than 1 in 5 households in Sweden own a machine, but it seems to have somewhat reappeared in the UK recently, so when we were offered a chance to test one out I was keen not only to right my childhood wrongs but also to see where the growing move back to SodaStream had come from.

Sodastream Drinks Maker
First off I was surprised how easy it is. We tried the “pure” drinks maker. It doesn’t need plugged in, just a work surface to sit on. Initial set up was a doddle and afterwards it’s just a case of screwing on a plastic bottle and pulling a lever. You then add your syrup of choice and hey presto, 1l of fizzy goodness. A 500ml bottle of syrup costs around £3.49 and makes 12 litres, so the savings that can be made on even supermarket own label soft drinks are pretty good.

Aside from fiscally, SodaStream also makes sense environmentally. The bottle used in the machine is reusable, so instead of piling up mountains of empty 2 litre bottles and throwing away drinks cans that we intended to recycle but just never got round to, the SodaStream has reduced the amount of rubbish we create, which can’t be a bad thing.

My main concern about SodaStream was the flavours. When it comes to soft drinks I’m a label whore, supermarket brands are not an option. First time around I remember SodaStream having name brand flavours like Vimto, Tizer and Irn Bru, now it’s all made in house. I needn’t have really worried, the fruit flavours are great and there’s a surprisingly large range of other drinks, clear flavoured waters, natural options and even energy drinks (I found the Red Bull-esque Xstream particularly good). I’m not going to lie though, for me the cola flavours don’t stack up to the name brand equivalents. We started with a sample pack which let us try without buying a full bottle of the syrups. The root beer in particular was a huge success. We’re all root beer fans in our house and as it’s generally imported into the UK it tends to be expensive. £3.49 for 12 litres with SodaStream is a bargain. It’s not hard to find the syrups either. We’ve bought some in both Tesco and Asda, as well as ordering from the full selection on the SodaStream website.

I think the main reason my parents were anti-SodaStream in the eighties was that they were worried that it somewhat relied on a novelty factor, that we’d all be excited to make our own fizzy drink once or twice and then we’d put it in the back of a cupboard and forget about it. So far that’s not been a problem for it: three months on it’s still in the kitchen and we still use it, both for knocking together soft drinks and soda water. In fact we like it so much that I’m pretty sure that it’s a permanent feature.

The SodaStream Drinks Makers are available to buy at most major grocery stores or online via the SodaStream online store starting from £55.99.


Sodastream

The fabulous people at SodaStream are giving you the chance to win a SodaStream Drinks Maker! If you live in the UK leave a blog comment and follow the Rafflecopter instructions to enter.  Competition ends Friday, January 11th at 4am (see widget for hours remaining). See Rafflecopter widget for full Terms and Conditions.
GOOD LUCK! 
Competition CLOSED.
a Rafflecopter giveaway
Transatlantic Blonde was provided a SodaStream Drinks Maker for review and one for a prize but all opinions and stories are our own. I don't know about yours but my husband only does and says things he wants to say!

606 comments:

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Melaina25 said...

I like lemon and lime,that's what i would make first :)

Melaina25 said...

I love Cream Soda so that would be first

Melaina25 said...

Definitely Cream Soda!

Melaina25 said...

root beer, yum!

Melaina25 said...

I love this contraption. It would be perfect for making italian sodas.

Melaina25 said...

Id love to try cream soda! sounds nice!

Melaina25 said...

Cream soda - try it with vanilla icecream!

Melaina25 said...

Mmmmm cream soda, yum

Melaina25 said...

orange because I used to drink it when I was younger, it will bring back some very good memories xxx

Melaina25 said...

Would love to try Ginger Ale!

Melaina25 said...

Ginger Ale

Melaina25 said...

would love to try ginger ale

Melaina25 said...

The cream soda option is the most appealing

Melaina25 said...

cream soda used to be my childhood fav so i will plump for that one !

Melaina25 said...

Dandelion & Burdock would be my favourite.

Melaina25 said...

Do they still do Irn Bru

Melaina25 said...

Ginger Ale

Melaina25 said...

Pink Grapefruit sounds scrummy :)

Melaina25 said...

Ginger Ale my favourire very time

Melaina25 said...

wouldnt mind trying the root beer, (that said Im a little fussy when it comes to the flavour)

Melaina25 said...

I'd want to recreate Vanilla Coke as I miss it so much!

Melaina25 said...

oooo fizzy lime and raspberry mmmmmmmmmmm

Melaina25 said...

Clear Cranberry and Raspberry

Melaina25 said...

root beer

Melaina25 said...

my has to be cream soda love it soda stream brings back childhood memories x

Melaina25 said...

has to be the cherry for me :)

Melaina25 said...

Cosmopolitan cocktail for me!

Melaina25 said...

Apparently putting wine in will make it taste like champers!

Melaina25 said...

dandelion and Burdock

Melaina25 said...

cola flavour would be my choice

Melaina25 said...

Has got to be the Cosmopolitan cocktail. Yum yum

Melaina25 said...

I would like to try the Xstream but any flavours would be interesting to give a go. I remember having one of these as a child, I thought it was great!

Melaina25 said...

I'd love to try the Cream Soda

Melaina25 said...

Cream soda purely because of memories :)

Melaina25 said...

Cream soda. Love it.

Melaina25 said...

What flavour would you most like to try?

Melaina25 said...

ROOT BEER!!!

Melaina25 said...

clear+ forest fruit lemongrass

Melaina25 said...

Dandelion and Burdock love the flavour!

Melaina25 said...

Cream soda

Melaina25 said...

creamsoda :)

Melaina25 said...

Irn Bru!

Melaina25 said...

Dandelion and Burdock

Melaina25 said...

I would love to try all of them but mostly the Cosmopolitan cocktail. Yummy. Reminds me of being a happy carefree child.....

Melaina25 said...

cherry :)

Melaina25 said...

I'd love to try Sugar free cranberry & raspberry xo

Melaina25 said...

red berry mix

Melaina25 said...

cherry

Melaina25 said...

I want fizzy vimto or ribena as this is waht i drink the most. We had fizzy pop delivered to the door as well when i was growing up in Scotland.

Melaina25 said...

I only ever drink Coke, but if it was any good, it would be great to be able to make it at home.

Melaina25 said...

Sugar free orange

Melaina25 said...

cream Soda

Melaina25 said...

Definitely cream soda fantastic with ice cream in it

Melaina25 said...

My husband loves root beer so it will be that it my house
also.

Melaina25 said...

It will have to be dandelion and burdock as its my most favourite drink EVER and to have a more or less constant supply on tap would just be the most amazing thing ever :)

Melaina25 said...

Green tea lychee flavour for me. I've always wanted a soda stream ever since I was a little girl and wanted my parents to buy one. s

Melaina25 said...

Margarita Cocktail sounds fabulous, would love to try that.

Melaina25 said...

cream soda :D

Melaina25 said...

The cherry one, my fave fizzy drink

Melaina25 said...

would love to try on of the Cocktail mixes prob the Margarita Cocktail :)

Melaina25 said...

Tonic - to go with my gin!

Melaina25 said...

Orange!

Melaina25 said...

Vimto

Melaina25 said...

cream soda, but I'd also love to try putting wine in it!

Melaina25 said...

Cream soda

Melaina25 said...

mmmm fizzy vimto sounds good to me!

Melaina25 said...

Vimto

Melaina25 said...

I love fizzy cherry

Melaina25 said...

cherry as my fav flavour

Melaina25 said...

would love to try one of the kids natural range, orange and peach sounds yummy x

Melaina25 said...

The Cherry I think x

Melaina25 said...

Cherry for me

Melaina25 said...

diet cola

Melaina25 said...

Wow - didn't even know they still had these, we had one as a kid and loved it! Cherry would do it for me I think :-)

Melaina25 said...

New and improved ;)

Melaina25 said...

Mmm peach!

Melaina25 said...

Love cherry!

Melaina25 said...

I don't think I've ever tried Vimto!

Melaina25 said...

I don't think I've ever tried Vimto

Melaina25 said...

Fizzy wine? Interesting!

Melaina25 said...

I don't think I've ever tried Vimto!

Melaina25 said...

Yummy margaritas!

Melaina25 said...

Mmm cherry!

Melaina25 said...

Love cream soda!

Melaina25 said...

I don't think I've ever tried Dandelion and Burdock!

Melaina25 said...

It's so good!

Melaina25 said...

Mmm Ice Cream Float!

Melaina25 said...

Love Cream Soda!

Melaina25 said...

Not keen on orange personally but the sugar-free options are good!

Melaina25 said...

I don't think I've ever tried Vimto!

Melaina25 said...

Yum cherry!

Melaina25 said...

That sounds good!

Melaina25 said...

I love cranberry mixes!

Melaina25 said...

Cherry is proving a very popular choice!

Melaina25 said...

I don't think I've ever tried Dandelion & Burdock!

Melaina25 said...

Cream Soda is proving a popular post!

Melaina25 said...

I don't think I've ever tried Dandelion & Burdock!

Melaina25 said...

Refreshing!

Melaina25 said...

It's tasty!

Melaina25 said...

Cream soda is a very popular choice!

Melaina25 said...

Cream soda is a very popular choice

Melaina25 said...

NBH really liked the XStream!

Melaina25 said...

Gotta love a Cosmo!

Melaina25 said...

Good choice!

Melaina25 said...

I don't think I've ever tried Dandelion & Burdock!

Melaina25 said...

Who knew! Would that be your flavour of choice?

Melaina25 said...

Gotta love a Cosmo!

Melaina25 said...

Mmm cherry!

Melaina25 said...

Yummy cream soda!

Melaina25 said...

It's so good!

Melaina25 said...

I love cranberry mixes!

Melaina25 said...

The root beer is lovely!

Melaina25 said...

Refreshing!

Melaina25 said...

Red Berry Mix, would love to try this, I had a soda stream years ago but sadly overused it and never got round to replacing.

Melaina25 said...

Mmm Vanilla Coke is so good!

Melaina25 said...

It's good root beer---promise!

Melaina25 said...

Oh no lol! Here's your 2nd chance :)

Melaina25 said...

Sounds very refreshing!

Melaina25 said...

Yum!

Melaina25 said...

All the flavours are listed on the website linked above!

Melaina25 said...

I don't think I've ever tried Dandelion & Burdock!

Melaina25 said...

It's super tasty!

Melaina25 said...

Yum!

Melaina25 said...

Yum!

Melaina25 said...

Yummy!

Melaina25 said...

Lovely!

Melaina25 said...

Mmmm Ice Cream Float!

Melaina25 said...

It's yummy!

Melaina25 said...

Cream soda I think

Melaina25 said...

lemon /lime looks good, though so does the limited edition mojito!!

Melaina25 said...

I havn't had cherry-aid for AGES so i would say cherry!

Melaina25 said...

Vimto......reminds me of going to my nans

Melaina25 said...

orange

Melaina25 said...

PASSIONFRUIT AND MANGO

Melaina25 said...

Dandelion & burdoch is an old favourite of mine

Melaina25 said...

peach sounds great

Melaina25 said...

Red Berry Mix sounds nice

Melaina25 said...

Nice and refreshing lemon and lime

Melaina25 said...

I used to put less syrup in mine - I don't like my drinks too strong - Soda stream is awesome for that reason alone - I'm thinking trying the Sugar-free energy drink may be my first stop, although gutted there's no Tizer and Iru Bru any more

Melaina25 said...

would love to try the cherry

Melaina25 said...

I haven't had cream soda since I was a kid!

Melaina25 said...

Cherry,
brings back memories of the orchards in kent when I was a lot younger

Melaina25 said...

I would love to try the cola

Melaina25 said...

green tree lychee

Melaina25 said...

diet coke to see if it matches up to the original

Melaina25 said...

Cherry...hope it leaves a red moustache!

Melaina25 said...

Natural lemon lime

Melaina25 said...

Vimto

Melaina25 said...

Natural Pink Grapefruit

Melaina25 said...

Lemon and lime ....... put it with lager to make a lovely tasting shandy x

Melaina25 said...

Lemon and Lime

Melaina25 said...

Cream soda would bring back memories of when we had one as a child!

Melaina25 said...

Cream soda or vimto :)

Melaina25 said...

Cherry :)

Melaina25 said...

Vimto,

Melaina25 said...

Passion fruit and mango x

Melaina25 said...

icecream soda

Melaina25 said...

Would have to be Vimto for me :)

Melaina25 said...

cola

Melaina25 said...

Got to be Lemon and Lime for me!

Melaina25 said...

I'd like to try Lemon and Lime

Melaina25 said...

vimto!

Melaina25 said...

Cherry. Always wanted one of these when I was a kid, but never had one

Melaina25 said...

ooh vimto! never knew about this before, sounds interesting!

Melaina25 said...

Mmmm, Vimto for me!!

Melaina25 said...

Vimto would be great! Haven't drunk that since I was young so it would bring back lots of memories for me.

Melaina25 said...

Definitely root beer!

Melaina25 said...

would love to try the vimto flavour, never was lucky enough to have a oda stream, love vimto juice drink tho so fingers crossed

Melaina25 said...

The clear grapefruit and pomegranate sounds nice

Melaina25 said...

root beer because I've never tasted it before

Melaina25 said...

Root beer! Can never have enough of the stuff

Melaina25 said...

Cherry for me I think :)

Melaina25 said...

icecream soda

Melaina25 said...

Cola x

Melaina25 said...

Vimto for me-It's a firm family favourite.

Melaina25 said...

cola

Melaina25 said...

Irn bru

Melaina25 said...

the Blackcurrant and Pear sounds nice

Melaina25 said...

I'd love to try Dandelion & Burdock, takes me back to being a child! My dad used to sell it from his milk float ;D

Melaina25 said...

Proscecco.... My friends had a Soda Stream Party, and this was all the range!! (other alcoholic beverages are available, and always drink responsibly)

Melaina25 said...

Cola - just to see what it actually tastes like - whether it's as good as the branded drink!

Melaina25 said...

cherry yummm

Melaina25 said...

Vimto, not had it for years!

Melaina25 said...

mmmmm root beer yum! xx

Melaina25 said...

Root beer, simply because I've never tried it!

Melaina25 said...

I'd love to try iron bru - see if its as good as the real stuff!

Melaina25 said...

Clear Cranberry and Raspberry

Melaina25 said...

Cola as im a coke addict :)

Melaina25 said...

It has got to be coke for me. Caffeine addict here!

Melaina25 said...

cola!

Melaina25 said...

I'm all about the Cream Soda but I would love to try the Green Tea flavour :)


Laura x
www.sidestreetstyle.com

Melaina25 said...

Wow - Mojito sounds fab!!!!

Melaina25 said...

clear mango apple (bit gutted they dnt do tizer any more!)

Melaina25 said...

I'd love to try Natural Blackcurrant and Pear! xo

Melaina25 said...

Dr pepper

Melaina25 said...

Cherry :)

Melaina25 said...

pink grapefruit x

Melaina25 said...

Natural lemon lime :)

Melaina25 said...

Cream soda: I heard of a cream soda cocktail recently that I'd love to try :D

Melaina25 said...

I'd like to try the cola one again (to see if it brings back some memories). Or failing that the wine flavour like on Jonathan Ross!

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