All the Best Foods and Drinks We Tried in July 2023

The fleeting days of July seemed to come and go in a flash, but at least we spent it sipping delicious drinks, sampling awesome food and trying out the latest and greatest in wellness and snacks.

Every month, we taste test all of the brands we can get our hands on to bring the best to our readers, and this summer has been something particularly special. For all of the foods and drinks we loved most in July 2023, just keep scrolling.

De La Calle

We have to admit that we weren't previously familiar with Mexican tepache—a beverage made from fermented pineapple—but after being introduced to De La Calle's canned version, we believe it's the ultimate summer drink. The brand's beverages are great for all ages, blending fermented pineapple with real turbinado sugar, cinnamon and fresh fruit flavors to create something unlike anything else in our fridges. There are just 40 calories per slightly bubbly can, with gut-healthy fermentation and so many great flavors to try, including Watermelon Jalapeño, Grapefruit Lime, Ginger Manzana, Picante Mango Chili, Tradicional Pineapple Spice, Hibiscus Citrus, Ponche Tropical and Pineapple Chili. Even once you've sipped them all, it's tough to pick a favorite—though ours has to be Chamoy, with tart spiciness that enhances every gulp.

(via De La Calle)

 

Milkadamia

We don't know if we've ever heard of a plant-based milk that sounds more appetizing than macadamia milk, and Milkadamia's offerings are just as tempting as the name suggests. We tried their unsweetened version, which is extra creamy, rich and antioxidant-packed, as well as perfect for adding to our favorite coffees and black teas. We're also downright obsessed with their ready-to-drink Milkadamia Coffee Latte, which blends 100% arabica coffee with macadamia milk for a perfectly balanced, lightly sweet and milky latte with zero effort—and 109 mg of natural caffeine in each and every serving.

(via Milkadamia)

 

Narra

If you love milk teas but aren't a big fan of how sugary sweet they can get, you're going to love Narra and their canned, Asian-inspired oat milk lattes. Their drinks are both plant-based and dairy-free, with zero added sugar and just the right amount of sweetness in every sip. They come in Roasted Oolong Milk Tea, Black Milk Tea Latte and Strawberry Matcha Latte flavors, with 50 to 70 mg of natural caffeine from real tea to jump-start your mornings, without jitters or a mid-day crash. Plus, we can't get enough of how the oat milk complements the earthy tea flavors.

(via Narra)

 

FourX Better Chocolate

We love a good gummy vitamin as much as the next person, but vitamins in the form of chocolate are even better, and that's what we adore about FourX Better Chocolate. According to the brand, one small chocolate bite has the equivalent nutrition and benefits of six to 18 gummies, all while tasting delicious. Their Women's Multi + Immunity + Stress bite acts as a nutrient-packed multivitamin, paired with stress-busting ashwagandha and elderberry for immunity, with great crunch from cacao nibs and fruity goodness from golden berry, orange peel, blueberry, blackberry and strawberry. Meanwhile, the Super Sleep + Stress vitamins combine GABA, 5-HTP and melatonin, plus stress-busting ashwagandha to help with sleep while tasting like a more traditional dark chocolate.

(via FourX Better Chocolate)

 

Also read about: 13 Great Gummy Vitamins for Every Aspect of Your Health

 

Magic Spoon

The folks at Magic Spoon aren't exaggerating by calling their cereals "magic." Despite being sugar-free, high-protein and keto, their offerings are just as sweet, crunchy and delectable as your childhood favorites, and their flavors are extra tempting when they go off the beaten path with unusual varieties. This summer, they've taken campfire s'mores as an inspiration to create both Honey Graham and Toasted Marshmallow cereals, which both give us the warmest, fuzziest summertime feelings. You can even mix them and add some chocolate for the full s'mores experience in a bowl.

(via Magic Spoon)

 

Also read about: 7 Delicious S'mores-Flavored Treats We're Loving This Summer

 

Hello Kitty and Friends + Bokksu

Bokksu is one of our all-time favorite subscription boxes, curating authentic Japanese treats you can't find anywhere else in the U.S., but they've outdone themselves with their new Hello Kitty and Friends collaborative boxes. A new themed box is available every two months, featuring a mix of Hello Kitty-branded snacks and other Japanese treats that match the theme. We tried their June box with the theme of Okinawa Beach Party, bringing together beachy treats from chocolate cakes and rock salt potato chips to authentic mochi, whistling candies, romance biscuits, handmade ramune candies and so much more. Everything also came packed with the cutest Sanrio mini-tote, perfect for hauling snacks to the beach.

(via Hello Kitty and Friends + Bokksu)

 

Also read about: Bokksu's 'Seasons of Japan' Box Is Like a Tour of the Country in Snack Form

 

Noble Made

As a brand, Noble Made is all about flavor, and their low-sugar sauces and wonderfully curated seasoning blends don't miss. If you're like us and find fast food dipping sauces way too sugary, their Less-Sugar Buffalo BBQ Sauces, Mustard BBQ Sauce and Smoky BBQ Sauce are about to become your new favorites, while their Garlic Parmesan wing sauce has zero sugar and is packed with flavor we love to pour over chicken, fries and everything in between. Their seasonings are also excellent for adding great flavor to your favorite meats, while their Everything Bagel Seasoning is so good we wouldn't blame you if you ate it straight out of the bottle.

(via Noble Made)

 

The New Primal

Jerky is another one of our favorite food categories that's often packed with unnecessary sugars, but The New Primal is setting out to change that. They have options for pretty much every kind of meat lover, with beef, chicken and turkey sticks featuring great flavors, but with low sugar as well as sodium. Their Snack Mates multipacks for kids come in fun flavors like Chicken & Maple, Chicken & Apple, Turkey and Pizza, while their zero-sugar line comes in Classic Beef, Cilantro Lime Turkey, Buffalo Chicken, Lightly Peppered Beef and Spicy Beef flavors—and we haven't met one stick we didn't love.

(via The New Primal)

 

Turkish Munchies

We had no clue that the country of Turkey has so many irresistible snacks until we were lucky enough to get our hands on a Turkish Munchies box. The Exotic Edition box we tried featured 20 different iconic Turkish snacks, along with a guidebook explaining each treat's history and flavor profile. We loved every fresh and scrumptious treat inside the box, and while these foods were primarily aimed at lovers of chocolates and sweets, it also included a few salty options, like herb-flavored Krispi sticks, fish-shaped Balik crackers, pizza snacks and more, to keep everyone happy. Our favorite snack might have been the marshmallowy Turkish Delight sandwiched between two biscuits, which we generously coated with the Ozmo Tube's creamy chocolate.

(via Turkish Munchies)

 

Kazoo Snacks

As people who consider chips and salsa to be a major food group, we're always excited to discover tasty new tortilla chip brands—especially when they're as groundbreaking as Kazoo Snacks. Their unique approach to sustainability and water conservation means that the brand saves 16 gallons of water per bag of chips compared to competing tortilla chip brands. By using upcycled corn germ, they save tons of water and enhance vitamins, enzymes and healthy fats in their chips without sacrificing taste or crunch. Both their Sea Salt and Lime Zest flavors are the ideal complement to our favorite salsas, making them a new go-to for snacking.

(via Kazoo Snacks )

 

Sweet Loren's

If there's one thing that's better than pre-cut cookie dough in great flavors, it's ready-to-eat cookie dough, making Sweet Loren's the ultimate double threat. Their cookie doughs are vegan and gluten-free, coming in all kinds of amazing flavors, including Chocolate Chunk, Fudgey Brownie, Sugar and more. They bake to perfection in no time at all, with a dozen cookies in every packet, but if you're like us and ever want a sweet treat without the hassle, you can also eat the cookie dough raw, right out of the packet.  And did we mention that they also just dropped  a limited-edition Pumpkin Spice flavor?

(via Sweet Loren's)

 

Bachan's

Over the last couple of years, Bachan's Japanese Barbecue Sauce has become one of our biggest fridge staples, combining the sweet tang of teriyaki with the full umami flavor of a barbecue sauce, and we're even more obsessed after sampling all of their flavors and varieties. The gluten-free formula tastes virtually identical to the Original flavor, while the Hot & Spicy adds a sriracha-like kick, the Yuzu flavor is citrusy and bold and the brand new Miso flavor is earthy and powerfully versatile. We can't get enough of these over meats with veggies and stir fry, and they transform any bowl of white rice into a savory, flavorful side.

(via Bachan's)

 

Wildfare

Wildfare is a brand that's tough to pin down, but with their healthy canned goods, grown in rich Mediterranean soil, you can count on everything in the lineup to be both fresh and tasty. We've been snacking on everything from orange peel-stuffed olives to luscious Pistachio Butter and Hazelnut Butter With Cocoa, as well as Tart Cherry and Plum Preserves, with the perfect balance of tartness and sweetness in every dollop. The brand is a super convenient way to eat well and enjoy the authentic flavors of the  Mediterranean.

(via Wildfare)

 

Ghia

We're longtime fans of Ghia and the bitter complexity of their non-alcoholic drinks, and their Le Spritz cans just got even more interesting with the new Sumac & Chili Le Spritz flavor. This sippable sparkling drink isn't for the faint of heart, tempering the bitter, citrusy edge of the classic with both warming spice and sharp heat for full flavor all around. We've never had anything else quite like it, and with 60 calories per mini can, it's become one of our favorite indulgences.

(via Ghia)

 

BelliWelli

When you think of maintaining a healthy gut, you probably don't imagine snack bars, but BelliWelli is an unusual company. They specialize in tasty bars made specifically with healthy bellies in mind, creating treats free of gluten or dairy and without any ingredients that might aggravate intestinal distress, plus probiotics and fiber for good measure. They just released a new flavor, Crunchy Peanut Butter Chocolate, that's every bit as delicious as it sounds. Not only did we love the chocolate chips, peanut chunks and crispy quinoa in the bar, but we felt great after eating it.

(via Jack & Friends)

 

Jack & Friends

We've tried plenty of plant-based jerkies in our time, but have never seen any brand get so close to the taste and texture of old-fashioned beef jerky than Jack & Friends. We don't know quite how the brand replicates the harder, more leathery jerky texture with jackfruit, but it's a marvelous thing, with every bite maintaining that classic jerky toughness and tear while still being tender. These vegan flavors are gluten- and soy-free and feature no added sugar while tasting amazing and boasting 15 grams of protein per bag. Plus, the Tomato & Poblano Pepper, Ginger Teriyaki and Sweet Barbecue flavors all complement the texture perfectly.

(via Jack & Friends)

 

Also read about: The Best Vegan-Friendly Snack Ideas

 

My Girl Wellness

With My Girl Wellness, a bit of self-care is only a glass of water and a scoop of powder away. If you deal with PMS, their In Sync powder is here to save the day. It tastes like a cinnamon-sugar snickerdoodle while supporting hormonal balance, stabilizing blood sugar and reducing PMS symptoms, making it a tasty complement to lattes. Meanwhile, their cucumber and grapefruit-flavored Spa Water is the ideal addition to water for enhanced hydration with a blend of vitamins C and E, hyaluronic acid and bamboo leaf extract, while their caffeinated Busy Bee blend tastes like lemon and cucumber, with 65 mg of natural caffeine, pus L-theanine and ginseng for focus and calm, without the crash.

(via My Girl Wellness)

 

Juni

Sparkling teas have been some of our favorite summer refreshments in 2023, and Juni's tasty drinks aren't just hydrating and delicious, but also powerful. The brand's naturally lightly caffeinated teas contain both adaptogens and nootropics for advanced focus and calm while also boasting zero sugar and just five calories per can. Between Peach, Tropical, Lemon and Raspberries Green Tea, each one is bubbly, delicious and soothing, but our favorite has to be the Peach.

(via Juni)

 

Ponte Vecchio

Nothing beats freshly baked bread with some olive oil and balsamic vinegar, and we've just found our new favorite ways to enjoy the great flavors of balsamic with Ponte Vecchio's balsamic pearls. They look like caviar but are bursting with that acidic and rich vinegar flavor we love from a great balsamic, with sour, sweet and complex notes to make any dish pop. They're also fantastic for making a striking charcuterie board even fancier, and with Truffle and Pomegranate flavors also in the lineup, there are too many flavor possibilities here to count.

(via Zia Pia)

 

Benton's

There's a very good reason that Benton's Keto Cookies are a 2023 Product of the Year award winner. These grain-free, gluten-free cookies are made with almond flour and have three or fewer grams of net carbs per serving while packing up to four grams of protein, and they're flavorful, buttery and delightful from the first bite to the last. We're extra fond of the chocolate chip, but they also have Snickerdoodle and Birthday Cake varieties, in case you're looking for something a little different.

(via Aldi)

 

Miyoko's Creamery

Plant-based cheeses can be a real hit-or-miss, but based on the goodies we've tried from Miyoko's Creamery, the vegan brand never misses. Miyoko's is all about making the best possible butter and cheese from plant milks, and if you've ever been turned off by funky flavors or off textures in fake dairy products, they're here to save the day. From their spreadable European Style Plant Milk Butter to their Plant Milk Cream Cheese and Plant Milk Classic Chive Cheese, everything has been a delight, and we're hoping to try even more from the brand very soon.

(via Miyoko's Creamery)

 

Blobs

We've never been ones to turn down gummy candies, and with Blobs' incredible flavors and low sugar, they've become a new go-to when we're craving something sweet. These vegan and gluten-free treats come in tasty Orange Peach, Pineapple Passionfruit and Pomegranate Apple flavors, all of which are juicy, chewy and so full of fruity goodness you'd never know that each bag has only two grams of sugar.

(via Blobs)

 

Splendor Water

We've tried countless bottled waters in our time, but none have been quite like Splendor Water. Coming in signature blue bottles, this water comes straight from Cotopaxi, an active volcano in the Andes Mountains, and is therefore the only bottled water in the world that contains naturally occurring gold and colloidal silver. This doesn't just keep the water pure and clean, without the need to add ozone, but also helps the water to be even more hydrating. Plus, the taste is super smooth and light, making it even easier to gulp.

(via Splendor Water)

 

Cometeer

Maybe we're doing it wrong, but we've never made better-tasting coffee at home than with Cometeer—and the process is easier than even instant coffee. The brand flash freezes freshly brewed coffees from the best speciality roasters in the world so all you have to do is thaw and add water (and your favorite sweetener and milk, if you're so inclined) for a cup of coffee better than what the majority of baristas can offer. Not only is the process fool-proof, but with Cometeer's coffees, we can actually taste all of the subtle flavor notes we've been hearing so much about for all these years. From Counter Culture Coffee's Fast Forward coffee, with its sweet and gentle creaminess, to the dark chocolate notes in Go Get Em Tiger's Homeschool Blend, the citrusy florals of Equator's Endless Summer and unique fruitiness of Bird Rock Coffee Roasters' Fundam, every cup is a unique delight, and an absolute must-try for coffee lovers.

(via Cometeer)

 

Also read about: 12 Brands That'll Up Your Coffee Game This National Coffee Day

 

Country Archer Provisions

As longtime fans of Country Archer Provisions and their meaty offerings, we were looking forward to trying their newest flavor, Rosemary Turkey, and it's especially scrumptious in a new mini stick form. Each stick is meaty and satisfying, and the addition of aromatic rosemary adds a hint of herbal goodness, without overwhelming the flavor. Each mini stick also contains four grams of protein, zero sugar and just 35 calories, making it a great pick-me-up with you need a boost, any time of the day.

(via Country Archer Provisions)

 

Endangered Species Chocolate

There's chocolate, and then there's Endangered Species Chocolate. This incredible brand is focused not just on making the most delicious and exquisite chocolates, but also protecting the earth, offering chocolate bars and baking chips made with the best ingredients and some fabulous flavors to boot. We're having a hard time picking a favorite between their decadently flavored Orange, Forest Mint and Caramel & Sea Salt bars. Of course, the brand also donates 10% of its net profits to wildlife conservation partners around the world, and over the last seven years has donated more than $2.6 million on behalf of the earth.

(via Endangered Species Chocolate)

 

Looking for even more great summer options? Click HERE to discover all the best foods and drinks we tried in June.