Hollywood Trender: Honest Tea CocoaNova, new chocolate drinks

By April MacIntyre May 28, 2011, 3:07 GMT

The stubby little 10.5 ounce bottle holds 50 calories and 50 mg of theobromine, the good ingredient found in dark chocolate that has a similar effect than caffeine, but about 10 times weaker.

Hands down the weirdest yet strangely compelling new beverage tried this past week on set at a well-stocked craft service table was the new line of Honest Tea's CocoaNova.

The stubby little 10.5 ounce bottle holds 50 calories and 50 mg of theobromine, the good ingredient found in dark chocolate that has a similar effect than caffeine, but about 10 times weaker.

According to www.phytochemicals.info, Theobromine has "diuretic, stimulant and relaxing effects and can lower the blood pressure by dilating blood vessels. Unlike caffeine theobromine does not affect the central nervous system and can relax bronchi muscles in the lungs. Theobromine can be used as cough medicine. Studies indicate that theobromine acts on the vagus nerve, which runs from the lungs to the brain."

Honest CocoaNova comes in three varieties, Mint Cacao, Mocha Cacao and Cherry Cacao and has 13 grams of sugar and 50 calories per 10 fl. oz. serving.

The Mocha Cacao flavor of Honest Cocoa Nova adds 9mg of caffeine in a watery yet deeply flavored "tea" that includes cocoa, coffee, chicory, and carob, and packs a more complex flavor than is found in the other two flavors Mint Cacao and Cherry Cacao. Think of it as a watery Yoo Hoo or a watered down Frappucino, with healthy ingedients.

The Mint Cacao has a strong peppermint cocao finish and was my favorite of the lot. Caveat: Shake these bad boys up well, the chocolate sediment settles at the bottom of the bottle.

Honest CocoaNova is a made in the USA brewed cacao infusion that contains antioxidants and theobromine naturally found in dark chocolate. Made with USDA Certified Organic and Fair Trade Certified™ cacao beans, the main ingredient in chocolate.

The Fair Trade, organic cacao beans are roasted and ground into a natural cocoa powder, which is then brewed through a patent-pending process to create Honest CocoaNova.

If you are a chocolate freak, give it a try. If not, Honest Tea makes an array of Lemonade and Iced Teas that will curl your toes.

For more information, visit http://www.honesttea.com/cocoanova/