The Latest from the Mensches at Jones Soda Co.

Although I usually celebrate Christmas, I like reveling in all sorts of holidays. Limiting oneself to one set of festivities is silly! Especially when there are good eats out there, like Roti for Loy Krathong, cashew-laden treats in honor of Diwali, and latke-flavored sodie pop for Chanukah.

That’s right, Jones Soda Co. put out another box set of wacky flavored sodas just in time for the Festival of Lights. They offered the set in 2006, as well as a Thanksgiving themed one with flavors like Turkey and Gravy. Mmm! So why wouldn’t I jump at the chance to snatch up the 2008 Chanukah Pack?

I tested them out with my ever-adventurous roommate, in order of tamest to wackiest, on December 29th, the last day of Chanukah.

#1 – Jelly Doughnut. This was actually not bad. It was mostly just sugary sweet but with a twist of strawberry. We gave it three dreidels out of four.

#2 – Chocolate Coins. Whoever digs Kayo will love this. It tasted just like a chocolate phosphate. Sadly, this is only available seasonally! Four dreidels out of four.

#3 – Apple Sauce. This one was pretty good too, and really did taste remarkably like applesauce. Fans of green apple soda should find this equally tasty. Three-and-a-half dreidels out of four.

#4 – Latke. Naturally, we saved this one to pair with the Apple Sauce. Not surprisingly, it was incredibly vile and tasted nothing like the tasty potato treats we all know and love. If it could be compared to anything palatable, I’d say it reminded me of Perrier – bitter, flavorless, and downright unpleasant. Zero dreidels out of four. Back to the drawing board, guys!

Speaking of dreidels, the pack comes with a free tshatshke – a genuine dreidel! Now we have a fun way to ring in 2009. That makes up for the Latke pop.