This is C2 or Cool and Clean.If you visit the supermarket regularly (I do my grocering on weekends), I'm sure you have seen this new beverage and its other varieties: lemon, peach, and apple.
This was introduced late last year, around October 2004, if I'm not mistaken, and it is advertised as a "refreshing, non-carbonated and green tea-based beverage," by John Gokongwei's Universal Robina Corporation (URC).
Being half-Chinese, you would understand why Gokongwei would see wisdom in launching this product. Other than the usual teabags you find in the Tea section aisle of supermarkets, I do not know of any locally-produced green tea beverage like C2. Also, with news of health benefits from drinking green tea, the entrepreneur in Mr. John might have seen the great opportunity in launching this product.
And so, when I saw this product, I gave it a try.
I tried the plain green tea version first, followed by peach, lemon tea, lemon iced tea, and apple. I decided that the plain green tea flavor was the best for me.
Everything was going great until one night I noticed that my heart rate was going faster (my usual resting heart rate is in the 70s) everytime I drink a bottle of my favorite C2 plain green tea beverage. I counted and I noticed my heart rate increased to the range of 90 to 100 per minute. That was still within normal limits, but the increase was notable. I was not doing anything exhausting and was not also taking any other caffeinated beverage. Also, I noticed feeling more energetic and lively, much like the feeling I get when I take a cup of coffee or an energy drink.
Curious, I looked at the back of the plastic bottle I was holding to search for the nutritional information of the product. I thought I must know how much caffeine it was pouring in my system. Only caffeine can produce that kind of energy boost I was feeling plus the unusual heart rate increase. I also have a healthy heart according to my friend cardiologist (who monitors my cardiovascular health annually) so you need not suspect that I have some cardiac pathology to begin with.I found NO nutritional information at the back of the C2 bottle. I looked again and still saw NOTHING.
But it was obvious that CAFFEINE was present in this beverage, and URC didn't think it was important anymore to tell the consumers how much it is.
URC says that C2 is "made with delicately brewed tea leaves of the Camellia Sinensis plant" and because of this, consumers are assured that they are "getting the healthy chemicals that make green tea today’s choice drink."
I agree with that. If you still do not know the difference between black tea and green tea, read here.
But what I really would like to know is HOW MUCH CAFFEINE is in this product.
To give you an idea how much caffeine is found in our usual drinks, click on this link.
Bottomline: A good refreshing drink, but take it moderately, and preferably with another food item. NOT RECOMMENDED for people with heart problems.
