Archer Farms is one of Target’s innumerable house brands (Archer, Target…get it?). I was in the Somerville Target the other night and I stumbled across this interesting little product. So, on a whim, I picked some up.
Where Purchased:
Target, Somerville, Mass.
Price:
$4.49 for four 12-ounce bottles.
Color:
An opaque pinkish orange-red color, similar to the color of orange and cranberry juices mixed together. Contents settle slightly.
Packaging:
Tall, slim glass bottles with silver twist-off caps. The label features a gradient fade from red at the top and bottom to white in the middle. A silhouetted rooster is featured prominently. The name of the product is written in metallic green, Art-Deco block letters, with secondary text written in Art-Deco cursive. A band label around the neck of the bottle advertises–in the same font as the primary label–that this beverage is made in Italy (BIBITA NATURALE D’ITALIA, Gianna Covignano, Italy). A little loud, but still classy.
Description:
Lightly carbonated. It has the bitterness of Orangina, but is slightly milder and significantly sweeter. Leaves a slightly sour aftertaste after swallowing, but doesn’t remain on the palate for too long. It was served over a glass full of ice, and still had a bit of that candylike taste that cheaper sodas often seem to have. One imagines that if this were to be served warm or flat that it would be quite cloying indeed. Still, when served cold and fizzy it goes down very smoothly and provides a superb compliment to a meal or on its own. Very refreshing. A good value and a convenient alternative to more expensive Italian orange sodas available at upscale supermarkets. Seeing how quickly sodas go flat, the single-serving container is really a very good idea, and makes this convenient for packing with lunches, picnics, or for enjoying on a long car trip. Bonus points for not including any artificial colors or sweeteners, for not having any high fructose corn syrup, and for having no preservatives or weird ingredients.
Grade:
B+