Product Review: MiO Liquid Water Enhancer

Have you seen the cute little MiO bottles at your grocery store and wondered what they were? MiO liquid water enhancer is a new product from Kraft Foods. As it turns out, MiO was the sole beverage sponsor of the Army Ten-Miler. Although I couldn’t make it to the Expo to get samples, I was given two different flavors for a product review: Fruit Punch and Sweet Tea. (Other flavors include Berry Pomegranate, Strawberry Watermelon, Mango Peach, Fruit Punch, and Peach Tea.)

I didn’t check out the MiO website before I tried it out, but it validates my first impressions. I thought the shape of the bottle was reminiscent of the old food coloring bottles we used to dye Easter eggs, and the squeeze-to-dispense feature reinforced that connection. I chose the Fruit Punch flavor first, and I’m sure the bright red color would look lovely on an Easter egg! I figured out from the website that the cool color effect is no accident–check it out and tell me what you think.

One neat feature of this product is that you control the amount of MiO you add to your water, so you can make a drink that has more or less flavor.  Also, because it’s a liquid, it’s very easy to blend your drink. I added a full squeeze for my first drink and it tasted strong, but not overpowering. While I usually drink plain water, I found that I sucked down the MiO quite easily. 🙂

Here are some nutrition facts you might be interested in:

• Caffeine-free
• Calorie-free per 8 fluid ounce serving
• 0g Carbohydrates and considered a free exchange
• Sugar-free
• Free of artificial flavors
• Kosher
• Gluten-free
• Sweetened with sucralose

The MiO website tells you up-front that it may contain certain preservatives and artificial colorings–like the Red 40 that made my Fruit Punch so eye-catching! So, this may not be a product for those of you who avoid all things artificial, but it is a fun product and a cool way to “enhance” your water.

I’ll admit that while I am trying to eat mostly “whole” foods, I still am intrigued by new technologies. There’s a reason I got a B.S. in Chemistry and enjoy my career as a patent attorney. (The MiO label has a “patent pending” notation, but I couldn’t figure out which of the many Kraft Foods patent applications might relate to this product.)

**FTC Notice** I received free samples of MiO to review. My opinion of the product is based on my own experience.  

Have you tried MiO?

Do you like to try new hi-tech food and beverage products?