The “Taste It!” room has, in many ways, transcended the reputation of the World of
I knew what Beverly was before I ever set eyes on the place. (And if you don’t know what Beverly is, I’ll get to that.) For many of the fans waiting outside one of downtown Atlanta’s most popular tourist desinations, a chance to try beverages from The
For those of you not in the know, the "Taste It!" room features a diverse array of more than 100 beverages made by The
And I did just that.
It’s all a blur, to be honest. The next thing I knew, I'm in the middle of my second round, comparing tastes with my coworkers. And that's not even taking into account the six
So that’s what this post is: a roadmap to help you make the most of your “Taste It!” room experience. I know from personal experience that Madagascar’s Bonbon Anglais tastes a lot better going down than it does mixing with Korea’s Minute Maid Joy and 50 others while you wait in line at a crowded gift shop.
You're welcome.
5. Beverly (Italy)
I’m a proud member of the “everybody gets a trophy” generation, but even as an 8-year-old, receiving a fifth- or sixth-place ribbon at a Saturday afternoon chess tournament felt mostly like a pity prize. This is not a pity prize. Beverly is definitely the least delicious drink in the room, but it’s also the most famous (infamous?), and it adds an exciting buzz to the European lineup. Beverly also has a bit of a disadvantage in that it was never meant to be a tasty treat. It hit the Italian market in 1969 as an aperitif, a palate-cleanser of sorts to be consumed before meals and to aid digestion. It’s bitter with a pretty unpleasant aftertaste, but every once in a while you’ll hear it gain another fan as someone foils their friend’s prank with an “Oh, I actually kinda like that one!" Part of the fun of tasting Beverly is to imagine people halfway across the globe routinely enjoying it. But most people aren’t aware that Beverly was discontinued in 2009 and lives on exclusively in the “Taste It!” room. As I approached Beverly and the seven other drinks next to it, a young man walked away with a face full of regret and no words other than: “Europe was a mistake.” So thank you, Beverly, for at least being a mistake worth tricking your friends into making.
4. Vitaminwater XXX (North America)
Full disclosure: this is my favorite
3. Thums Up (India)
Most people’s reaction to trying Thums Up is to say that it tastes like
2. Fanta Exotic (Uganda)
As far as the “Taste It!” room goes, Africa has a pretty strong argument for being the home of the best sparkling soft drinks, and if you’re tasting them in order, there may not be a more delicious triple-whammy than the aforementioned Bonbon Anglais from Madagascar, Tanzania’s Stoney, and Uganda’s Fanta Exotic. Of those three, and probably the whole room, Fanta Exotic is by far the most flavorful…maybe excessively so. A lot of people think it’s too sweet. The thing is, when you’re three continents down at the “Taste It!” room and closing out your fourth, any taste shocking enough to make you forget how full you are is a blessing. It’s the last selection in the Africa section and the only drink in the room I saw someone lick off the back of their hand.
1. Lemon Crush (Bahrain)
If you happen to be at the “Taste It!” room during peak hours, it will probably take you awhile to try everything. Each continent’s station usually features one group trip of 20 or so folks jockeying for position, one group of teenagers pleading with their friends to stop drinking whatever he or she is drinking and "Go try Beverly!", and at least one older couple just trying to work their way in. In one such situation, I stood and waited with an elderly man for a few minutes as we waited for the traffic to clear. Then we each took a sample of Lemon Crush at the same time and nodded to each other in approval. It’s probably the tartest-tasting drink at “Taste It!,” which for me is a major plus. Apparently it was for that gu,y too.
Net-net: Even when it’s a packed house, the World of
Witt Wells is an intern at The
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