Karma Cola Review

I am a self confessed fizzy drinks addict. Pepsi Max is my tipple of choice and I can quite easily work my way through a 2 litre bottle over the course of a day, which I realise is not particularly healthy but it’s my only main vice. I was recently sent some samples from new soft drinks company Karma Cola who asked for my honest review for their three products: Karma Cola, Gingerella and Lemony.

Karma Cola believes in doing good with organic ingredients and offering their producers in Sierra Leone a fair deal, going so far as to be awarded ‘The World’s Fairest Trader’ in 2014 by Fairtrade International. A share of the proceeds from the sale of Karma Cola is pumped back into the people of Boma, who are re-establishing their lives in the aftermath of civil war and ebola, supporting projects such as building the Makenneh Bridge which connects new and old areas of Boma as well sending 50 young people to school, installing a primary school teacher, building a rice processing plant to ensure security and self sufficiency of food supply and rehabilitating 25 acres of rainforest farms.

All three bottles have a really fun and retro look to them. They are made from glass which makes them stand out in today’s plastic obsessed soft drinks industry and gives them a pleasant weight. The bottles are 330ml and come with a handy screw top and they fit easily into the door of a fridge which is handy because it’s recommended that you enjoy the drinks chilled which is exactly what I did over one recent sunny few days!

The Karma Cola drink is made from real cola nuts from the Boma village in Sierra Leon and top notch Fairtrade ingredients, using a traditional recipe. The drink has the additional boost of flavour from vanilla beans from Forest Garden Growers Association in Sri Lanka and is sweetened with Fairtrade organic cane sugar from the Suminter Organic Farmers Cooperative in Bhimanagar India. I find the taste refreshingly different from my usual tipple, with a more natural and well rounded flavour which allows you to really taste the cola and vanilla without the drink being to syrupy sweet. It is certainly refreshing and thirst quenching. The company works closely with it’s cola nut farmers and is helping to rebuild the crops and communities around this fascinating ingredient.

The Gingerella Ginger Ale is made from a blend of ginger, vanilla, cane sugar and lemons and certainly has a bit of a kick to it! My husband is a big fan of anything ginger so this was definitely his favourite. Gingerella has a good balance of sweet and bitterness with the fiery ginger being complemented by the mellow natural vanilla and cane sugar sweetness. Gingerella also plays an important role by supporting ginger growers in the Forest Garden Growers Association in Sri Lanka.

Made with organic lemons and organic cane sugar, Lemony is a great tasting product which really reminds me of homemade lemonade which has a bit of a kick to it but also has a lovely well rounded flavour. It has a pleasant cloudy look and has a great citrus aroma as well as a classic, clean lemon taste. Again this product has a perfect balance of bitter and sweet. Lemony, along with  the other drinks, is key in supporting sugar farmers in India to improve their lives and livelihoods.

All three drinks have a really great flavour profile, are refreshing and make a nice change to the syrupy fizzy beverages I am used to. In addition to the tasty drinks which are perfect for summer, Karma Cola does extraordinary work with the farmers and producers of their ingredients. Both these factors have been taken into consideration when offering Karma Cola a fantastic 5 out of 5 stars.