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...

Its years since we first got our soda stream. I'd like to try the Cola again - to see its improved.

Melaina25 said...

I think I'd try the cola flavour to see if they've kept the same taste or tried to improve it.

Melaina25 said...

I would like to try the Black Currant Pear

Melaina25 said...

Natural lemon and lime sounds lovely!

Melaina25 said...

Cola!

Melaina25 said...

The vimto would be my choice x

Melaina25 said...

Vimto would be my choice.x

Melaina25 said...

Oooohhh! I love fizzy juice so as long as there are diet options, I'm in!

Melaina25 said...

The lemon lime one sounds good.

Melaina25 said...

I would like Ginger Ale

Melaina25 said...

I would love to try any of them, I had a SodaStream as a kid and there were so many fab flavours. I would quite like to try out the root beer though as I haven't had root beer since McDonalds used to sell it years ago!

Melaina25 said...

Ohh just seen they have cocktail flavours!! Margarita Cocktail sounds good to me!!

Melaina25 said...

I'd love to try Tizer

Melaina25 said...

The blackcurrent and pear looks lovely.

Melaina25 said...

Do i have to choose? haha - would probably pick the cola ones!

Melaina25 said...

The flavoured waters plus lemonade, my personal favourite!

Melaina25 said...

I would like to try the cola, it was always my favourite growing up

Melaina25 said...

the cosmopolitan cocktail :)

Melaina25 said...

Vimto

Melaina25 said...

Vimto mmmmm :)

Melaina25 said...

Pink grapefruit sounds very refreshing!!

Melaina25 said...

Good quality tomato juice

Melaina25 said...

I want to try the peach teas!

Melaina25 said...

Vimto

Melaina25 said...

cream soda

Melaina25 said...

vimto

Melaina25 said...

vimto! :)

Melaina25 said...

cherry

Melaina25 said...

Cream soda

Melaina25 said...

i'd try the cola first just to see if it's as good as branded stuff then try everything else. I love anything fizzy.

Melaina25 said...

I'd looove to try the Dr Pepper 'Dr Pete' flavour! :D

Melaina25 said...

Cream soda

Melaina25 said...

I'd try the cream soda; reminds me of my childhood. But then I'd get busy fizzing up my own concoctions

Melaina25 said...

The Green Tea flavour sounds interesting. Sad to see they have dropped the Red Kola which I remember from the 70's.

Melaina25 said...

I'd try the Lemon and Lime. Love both

Melaina25 said...

I'd like to try the cola one

Melaina25 said...

I'd like to try vimto

Melaina25 said...

There's lots of flavours now, saying that I wonder if there were more the first time around in the 80's (as early as I can remember it) - Id try the Orange flavour, because its a favourite in our house, Refreshing and light.

Melaina25 said...

blackcurrent and pear sounds good :)

Melaina25 said...

Root Beer or Cream Soda - love the old US classics!

Melaina25 said...

Would love to try a Mojito, never knew they did cocktails! xxx

Melaina25 said...

Tizer

Melaina25 said...

Delightfully retro!

Melaina25 said...

.......Pink Grapefruit

Melaina25 said...

Margarita, with my name.

Melaina25 said...

i would love to try the root beer ;)

Melaina25 said...

The Margarita sounds great

Melaina25 said...

Kids Apple so my son can also enjoy some!

Melaina25 said...

Vimto would be great

Melaina25 said...

Mojito as potty training at the moment and although non alcoholic, could pretend to myself I'm having a drink at night but without the guilt lol!

(Can u fast forward potty training?)

Melaina25 said...

The Kids Orange & Peach sounds very tasty!

Melaina25 said...

The Margarita

Melaina25 said...

The Margarita sounds fab and the flavours have certainly improved since I was little!

Melaina25 said...

The cost of new bottles was always a put off back when they first came out, not so bad now though.

Melaina25 said...

The clear mango apple sounds lovely

Melaina25 said...

Sodastream Clear Passion Mango sounds lovely.

Melaina25 said...

cream soda - classic and the best :)

Melaina25 said...

Wow! What a range of flavours compared to when I was a kid. There are lots I would like to try, but I think first on the list would be Natural Pink Grapefruit

Melaina25 said...

American Cream Soda... fab x

Melaina25 said...

Tizer

Melaina25 said...

Dandelion & Burdock

Melaina25 said...

Oh Cream Soda - without a doubt (then add a serving of ice cream!)

Melaina25 said...

I love vimto

Melaina25 said...

I looooveee Cream soda! :D that would be a hit in my house.

Melaina25 said...

Cream Soda xxxx

Melaina25 said...

vimto

Melaina25 said...

I'd like to try the Mojito flavour, maybe with an added splash of rum!

Melaina25 said...

Nice prize!
I always remember wanting one when I was younger!

Melaina25 said...

And my flavour would be the new - Cosmopolitan Cocktail flavour!!

Melaina25 said...

I'd definitely lvoe to try the Red Bull flavour that was mentioned! Sounds yummy!

Melaina25 said...

I'd like to try the kids clear apple. I love apple so this would be fab.

Melaina25 said...

I would like to try red bull flavour or lemonade

Melaina25 said...

I'd like to tr y the Xstream flavour, and the Apple!

Melaina25 said...

being a cider lover, it has to be apple!!!

Melaina25 said...

apple! I'm apple mad!

Melaina25 said...

Cream soda, reminds me of my youth!

Melaina25 said...

I love Vimto! I didn't know they did that.


Isabel O'Brein @yyesidolikecake

Melaina25 said...

Would love to try the Mojito one!

Melaina25 said...

Tizer - haven't had it in years!!!

Melaina25 said...

would love to try the mojito flavour...or the apple...or the...oh ill stick with mojito xx

Melaina25 said...

my kids would love the apple! but i would love to try the mojito lol

Melaina25 said...

Grapefruit Pomegranate

Melaina25 said...

I would love to try the Tizer; my 80s childhood in a glass!

Melaina25 said...

The root beer flavour - we're big fans of it in this household too!

Melaina25 said...

Cola

Melaina25 said...

Natural Lemon Lime

Melaina25 said...

cream soda

Melaina25 said...

cola

Melaina25 said...

strawberry

Melaina25 said...

strawberry

Melaina25 said...

cola flavour

Melaina25 said...

pink grapefruit

Melaina25 said...

one of my clients raves about hers! I would love this!!

Melaina25 said...

Cream soda, I loved it as a kid :)

Melaina25 said...

I remember my parents getting a Sodastream when i was younger and loving the Cola so would like to try that again :-)

Melaina25 said...

I'd love to try the cherry as I love berry type drinks

Melaina25 said...

Red Bull-esque Xstream because i need waking up.

Melaina25 said...

I'd like to try Root Beer which I've never had before to see what it is all about.

Melaina25 said...

I remember the apple being good, would try that again if they still have it

Melaina25 said...

Sodastream seems to be the best answer

Melaina25 said...

Cherry, reminds me of the pop I used to get off of the milkman when i was younger

Melaina25 said...

SodaStream isn't a flavour?!?

Melaina25 said...

I'm a huge fan of Black Cherry Soda you get in the USA so I might have to try Cherry!

Melaina25 said...

You still get apple :)

Melaina25 said...

Root beer is SOOO good :)

Melaina25 said...

NBH prefers it to actual Red Bull!

Melaina25 said...

Bring back childhood memories ;)

Melaina25 said...

I'm super picky about cream soda and the SodaStream version is good!

Melaina25 said...

I love cherry soda so much

Melaina25 said...

What flavour would you most like to try though?

Melaina25 said...

That flavour sounds so refreshing!

Melaina25 said...

There isn't a Coke flavour ;)

Melaina25 said...

Are you a big cola fan?

Melaina25 said...

Not a big fan of orange personally but that's just me :)

Melaina25 said...

I love strawberry!

Melaina25 said...

Cola fan?

Melaina25 said...

I love strawberry!

Melaina25 said...

Cream soda is lovely!

Melaina25 said...

The natural flavours are really unique aren't they?

Melaina25 said...

Are you a cola fan?

Melaina25 said...

It's SO good :)

Melaina25 said...

I honestly don't know if I've ever had Tizer before lol!

Melaina25 said...

Ooh that sounds super fancy!

Melaina25 said...

Mojito sounds fab!

Melaina25 said...

I like your thinking ;)

Melaina25 said...

I honestly don't think I've ever had Tizer!

Melaina25 said...

Me too :)

Melaina25 said...

I don't think I've ever had Vimto if I'm honest!

Melaina25 said...

I love good cream soda :)

Melaina25 said...

I'm a big apple fan myself!

Melaina25 said...

My Gran had one of these when i was little and i am sure it was Cream Soda that we would make. I would love to try this again as it would bring back lots of lovely memories. I would also love to try an Irn Bru flavour. MMmmmmmmmmm

Melaina25 said...

Just remember there's no booze in this fizzy apple ;)

Melaina25 said...

Are you a RedBull fan?

Melaina25 said...

Apple is super yummy!

Melaina25 said...

Are you a RedBull fan?

Melaina25 said...

I'm a big fan of anything Cranberry flavoured :)

Melaina25 said...

I like your thinking!

Melaina25 said...

I honestly don't think I've ever had Vimto!

Melaina25 said...

Gotta love Cream Soda :)

Melaina25 said...

I honestly don't think I've ever had Vimto!

Melaina25 said...

Gotta love Cream Soda :)

Melaina25 said...

Mmm ice cream float!

Melaina25 said...

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

Melaina25 said...

I don't think I've ever tried Tizer before!

Melaina25 said...

Love Cream Soda!

Melaina25 said...

There are so many options! I also sometimes use flavourings from the USA too!

Melaina25 said...

Love Cream Soda!

Melaina25 said...

I think I need to look out that one too!

Melaina25 said...

It totally does!

Melaina25 said...

You can find bottles at most of the supermarkets and I usually can find syrups reduced there too!

Melaina25 said...

Margarita sounds immense!

Melaina25 said...

Margarita sounds yummy!

Melaina25 said...

I love peach!

Melaina25 said...

Ugh potty training--you need the mojito! A sticker wall chart and going hard-core straight to underpants worked for us. Good luck!

Melaina25 said...

I honestly don't think I've ever had Vimto before!

Melaina25 said...

Nice of you to share :)

Melaina25 said...

Mmm margarita!

Melaina25 said...

The Root Beer is really good!

Melaina25 said...

But of course :)

Melaina25 said...

Sounds refreshing!

Melaina25 said...

What flavour would you try?

Melaina25 said...

I don't think I've ever had Tizer before!

Melaina25 said...

I know right?!? The cocktail flavours sound immense!

Melaina25 said...

Me too!

Melaina25 said...

I love pear but I just can't get my head around black currant!

Melaina25 said...

I'm not a fan of orange personally but I'm a weirdo :)

Melaina25 said...

I don't think I've had Vimto!

Melaina25 said...

Cola fan?

Melaina25 said...

I'm a big Lemon/Lime fan too!

Melaina25 said...

Sounds very healthy :)

Melaina25 said...

Ooh I'd love to hear what you come up with on your own :) I make pink lemonade myself!

Melaina25 said...

Love Cream soda!

Melaina25 said...

Love it! I used to drink "Dr Extreme" when I lived in the USA :)

Melaina25 said...

I've not tried the Cola but Root Beer is way better than UK rootbeers!

Melaina25 said...

Love Cream Soda!

Melaina25 said...

Yum!

Melaina25 said...

I've never had Vimto before!

Melaina25 said...

I've never had Vimto before lol

Melaina25 said...

Love cream soda!

Melaina25 said...

I've never had Vimto before!

Melaina25 said...

Totally does!

Melaina25 said...

I've never had Vimto before!

Melaina25 said...

I've never had Vimto before

Melaina25 said...

Gotta love a cocktail!

Melaina25 said...

Did you have a SodaStream growing up?

Melaina25 said...

I love flavoured water!

Melaina25 said...

You could always get the sampler pack ;)

Melaina25 said...

Yummy pear!

Melaina25 said...

Don't think I've tried Tizer before!

Melaina25 said...

I know--cocktails---amazing!

Melaina25 said...

The rootbeer is so good!

Melaina25 said...

Delicious!

Melaina25 said...

Lots of Diet and Reduced Sugar options!

Melaina25 said...

I don't think I've ever had Vimto in my life!

Melaina25 said...

I've never had Vimto before!

Melaina25 said...

Yum!

Melaina25 said...

It is :)

Melaina25 said...

Not a big black currant fan but I love pear!

Melaina25 said...

I'm a cola snob and only drink one of the two "big" options as I can't stomach the other lol.

Melaina25 said...

That is a popular choice!

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