When it comes to exploring ethnic food marts, sometimes discipline pays off. From the exterior, Tienda Izalco II appears to be just another dumpy and unremarkable bodega- the sort of place where locals stop in for lotto tickets and phone cards, and not much else. Nevertheless, I decided to take a minute to scout out their wares, and was rewarded with the motherlode of Central and South American beverage selection. Not only did they have some of my old favorites, many of which are widely available, but they also offered a handful that I had not tried before. Though I restrained myself, I still managed to walk off with seven different sodas.
Cawy Bottling Company, the makers of this watermelon soda, actually started in Cuba in the late ‘40s, and then relocated to Miami soon after Castro took power. The watermelon soda is a light pink and has a sickly sweet perfume of faux watermelon. Despite its assertive bouquet, the watermelon taste in the soda is fairly understated, quickly fading away to bland sweetness.
Although I’ve had other red cream sodas previously, I couldn’t resist this Pop Art masterpiece. The information on the can lists a Miami bottler, but according to my Google sleuthing, Milca is actually based in Nicaragua. Red cream sodas basically taste like bubblegum, a flavor of soda that is inexplicably popular in every part of the world except for the United States. Of course, Texas does have Big Red, but then Texas is always exceptional. Milca has an overpowering aroma, sort of like cracking open the door to the Bazooka Joe factory. But the actual taste is somewhat milder, and quickly fades away. It’s a garish red with a nice creamy head.
Brazilia is amber colored and tastes like a weak ginger ale. But this soda is not at all about taste. Rather, it’s simply a mild mannered delivery system for the stimulant guarana. The guarana plant contains caffeine and is one of the featured stimulants in a number of energy drinks currently flooding the market. I recall trying another Brazilian guarana drink several years ago that had a bizarre fruit taste instead of ginger ale, so Brazilians evidentally enjoy more than one variety of guarana powered sodas.
Later this week, I’ll wrap up this beveraging tour with the four remaining sodas idling in our fridge.
In the meantime, check out Tienda Izalco II’s beveraging wonderland at:
3409 Payne St.
Falls Church, VA
(703) 931-5400
—AC
I think they have a Tienda Izalco on 14th street in DC too.
ReplyDeleteI discovered the watermelon soda about 15 years ago in Miami. Does it still have the politically incorrect picture of the little black girl enjoying a slice of watermelon on the other side of the can?
ReplyDeleteAlso in Miami: Chilean soda Bilz (no, not blige) the same bright red bubble gum flavor
Indeed, the can still displays the image that you're referring to on the opposite side. I should have mentioned that in my review, as it's far more noteworthy than the soda itself.
ReplyDeleteExcellent post!
ReplyDeleteIn a similar vein, a question: I've been in search of a children's folklorica-style dress. I've been in a variety of Latin stores, food and nonfood, but none has "authentic" clothing. Anyone out there have insight as to where I could find such costume. DC, MD, VA -- any locale is fine.