Great pick-me up but AWFUL aftertaste

I tried the chocolate latte flavor, based on the glowing reviews. These little drinks are super portable and do give quite the pick-me-up (read: caffeine buzz). However, they taste like mocha flavored cough medicine. Really. There is a pronounced, bitter aftertaste - I thought perhaps the first one I tried had gone bad. However, the next one I tried had the same issue. Looking closely at the ingredients, these contain baking soda . This would explain that gross aftertaste. I'm not sure if that's included as a preservative or what; regardless, it ruins the flavor. In order to get through a few very long days, I was able/willing to hold my nose and take my "coffee shot", but this is not something I enjoyed drinking. I gave three stars only because these do give a great jolt of energy.

###

