Awesome Food Inventions: MiO Liquid Water Enhancer

For many years now, I have been on the pipe when it comes to diet soda. I know it causes cancer and maybe even sudden early death, but hot damn and hallelujah, nothing is more refreshing on any day of the year than a Diet Pepsi Shirley Temple. Which is actually called a Roy Rogers.

I can’t recall exactly how I was introduced to MiO, or why I purchased it. (Frankly, it looks kind of underwhelming.) What is is a mint-dispenser like squirt bottle- about the the size of a powder compact- that has a water flavorer in it. Since I am not fond of the taste of plain water, I used to singly flavor glasses of it with Crystal Light- consequently, my entire spice cabinet is covered in Crystal Light dust. Also, opened packages tended to fall out all over my rice while I was reaching for the soy sauce, causing tremendous disappointment and or Strawberry Banana flavored rice if I was really hungry. It sucked wholesale.

One of the cool things about MiO is that it seems to mix itself- you dispense the liquid into a bottle or glass of water- or whatever you’re drinking out of- and it poofs up kind of artistically and magically completely combines, resulting in a tasty, calorie, sugar and aspartame free beverage. It snaps shut, and no MiOs have yet spilled in my purse. So technically, this game changing beverage has altered my life as we know it.

The only downside is that it’s a bit pricey- $3-3.50 in New York- and you can go through them fast, though they last longer than expected. It can also be hard to get your hands on the stuff- three times I have encountered wiped clean shelves at Target and Stop and Shop, and it seems to sell out quickly. The Sweet Tea flavor seems most apt to sell out, and I’ve yet to encounter it in the wild. Flavors are:

- Berry Pomegranate
- Fruit Punch
- Strawberry Watermelon
- Sweet Tea
- Peach Tea
- Mango Peach

Have you tried this stuff? What do you think about Mio?

[Disclosure: I buy my own damn MiO, thank you very much.]