Review: Qii Tea Mixers
Review: Qii Tea Mixers
Tea, coffee, and plenty of other drinks are rotten for your teeth, so Ted Jin, a former Pepsi executive, has come to the rescue. His solution: Qii, a beverage designed to improve oral health by replacing sugar with a xylitol-based sweetener called XyVita. “Unlike sugars, xylitol doesn’t feed these bacteria and reduces disease-causing plaque in the mouth by 52%,” says the company. As a bonus, Qii is also neutral in pH, so no acid to eat away your enamel.
Xylitol is also fairly low-cal. Each 8 oz. can of Qii has just 30 calories.
Qii is currently available in 5 flavors. We received 3 for review. Thoughts on each follow below.
Qii White Peach Tea – Very mild peach notes hit right up front, along with a palate that is lightly floral with a touch of earthy green tea and a gentle, honey-like sweetness. The body is a little watery, like rather weak tea. B / [BUY IT NOW FROM AMAZON]
Qii Lychee Tea – The lychee character doesn’t make much of an impact up front, instead offering a touch of candylike sweetness as the finish begins to develop. There’s a spice element here that doesn’t show up in the White Peach flavor, either, but that doesn’t add a lot to the experience. C / [BUY IT NOW FROM AMAZON]
Qii Pomegranate Tea – Boldly fruity from the start, a bit like a more boldly flavored Vitamin Water. Pomegranate is indistinct — this could be any red fruit or berry, with no tartness to be found — and the tea only really evident on the finish. It’s not bad as a refresher, but it’s the least “tea-like” of the trio. B- / [BUY IT NOW FROM AMAZON]
each $10 per four-pack of 8 oz cans