Comments on Weird Soda Review: Abali Original Flavor Yogurt Soda

My daughter learned to love this stuff through an ...

2009-12-27T02:09:34.391-08:00

My daughter learned to love this stuff through an Iranian friend and sent us two bottles in her Christmas package. We thought it was so horrible that it must have spoiled en route. I Googled it and found this blog. Now I know it's supposed to taste and smell this way and probably won't poison us. Lordy!

I can only write about my experiences as I have th...

2009-12-25T22:30:49.786-08:00

I can only write about my experiences as I have them; my initial experience with Abali was pretty unpleasant. I'd be very willing to try it again, and plan to do so and post the experience.
I am very enamored of openmindedness--arguably, being openminded about soda is the point of the blog. I'll look forward to my next Abali experience.

I do agree that I can imagine how it might be an acquired taste.

It's cute to dramatically talk about how much you ...

2009-12-25T18:00:24.358-08:00

It's cute to dramatically talk about how much you hate something, but have a little openmindedness, and you just might find you like it.

I first had doogh and nearly gagged because it wasn't what I expected. But I came back to it a week later and found I really enjoyed the stuff.

The other day, I bought yogurt soda (with mint!) and liked that a lot, too.

My policy is that a 5 will only be given to someth...

2009-12-23T17:30:21.114-08:00

My policy is that a 5 will only be given to something which actually makes me throw up.

Holy crap Quaffmaster... If this stuff is a 4 for...

2009-12-12T10:57:32.117-08:00

Holy crap Quaffmaster...

If this stuff is a 4 for Cough, I don't want to know what's a 5...

I like the soda though all others in my family (re...

2009-10-31T06:43:47.278-07:00

I like the soda though all others in my family (really) don't. It's definitely an acquired taste, but ultimately no worse than a very strong beer or straight tonic water - but sans the booze of course :-) My theory is it was developed as alcohol substitute for adults, and it works for me! I picked some up recently at the Cedars Market at 7th Avenue and Escondido Boulevard.

I'm glad to hear that there are some who like it! ...

2009-10-24T14:01:48.931-07:00

I'm glad to hear that there are some who like it! One thing we value highly at the Lab is diversity of opinion. I think I can even imagine...with some difficulty *grin*...how this might be a taste one could acquire.
If everyone liked the same stuff, there would be no Weirdness. So let me clarify--even in the midst of my horror, loathing, and nausea, I salute those who made Abali, as well as those who enjoy it, for encouraging Weirdness in soda!

Thanks for the suggestions on proper quaffing technique, Leslie. Perhaps I'll try it again.

I was given a bottle of Abali Yogurt Soda by an Ir...

2009-09-21T14:45:48.847-07:00

I was given a bottle of Abali Yogurt Soda by an Iranian friend about a month ago and have been hooked ever since. I love it. I drink one a day. I have been a kefir and buttermilk drinker for years so I guess that was why I liked it. It is tangy, zingy, fizzy, sour with a bit of a salty taste. It is not sweet or thick. If you are someone that likes (I mean really likes) plain soda water and also likes plain kefir or buttermilk, then I think you may like yogurt soda. The mint flavor is even better. It is only a hint of mint. To be fair my husband thinks it is horrible and couldn't even swallow it.

The yogurt is not curdled in it, if it was it would be firm. It is smooth and just needs to be shaken into it. When you buy it, it is separated so you have to shake it then wait so that it doesn't explode when you open it. Right before opening, roll it around gently and open slowly. And reshake while drinking if needed. It is not good unless it is well mixed. I Just thought I would share that yes, there are people (other than those that may have grown up on it) that like it.

I like kefir too, although I never noticed the car...

2009-09-20T22:05:48.831-07:00

I like kefir too, although I never noticed the carbonation. The Abali was so awful for me because of the half-fermented taste, although the saltiness didn't help.

Actually I drink kefir a lot (the plain trader joe...

2009-09-20T20:05:53.395-07:00

Actually I drink kefir a lot (the plain trader joe's kind) and more often than not it's slightly carbonated. (Ever so slightly.) It's actually quite nice and refreshing. I had another Afghani yogurt drink thinking it was like kefir and it was salty and awful. It might be the salt.

Glad you like the website. It's fun to write. I gu...

2009-08-18T09:28:38.612-07:00

Glad you like the website. It's fun to write.
I guess I kind of hoped that yogurt soda would be something like cream soda. Boy was I wrong. And I suspect you're right about the acid curdling, although it wasn't particularly lumpy. The curdling might not have been so bad. It was the fermentation which was so unspeakably horrid.

Way cool website!! Yogurt soda sounds like a dumb...

2009-08-13T18:16:52.391-07:00

Way cool website!!

Yogurt soda sounds like a dumb idea.

CO2, when dissolved into water makes carbonic acid; a weak acid but likely strong enough to curdle milk.

I'm glad someone tried the Abali yogurt soda, and may their live's be remembered as a lesson to learn from.

The four of us each tasted it, then left the still...

2009-06-12T23:32:07.480-07:00

The four of us each tasted it, then left the still-full bottle on the restaurant table. As described above, plus waaaaay too salty.

It's a good thing you're done teaching for the sum...

2009-05-27T07:12:11.441-07:00

It's a good thing you're done teaching for the summer. I doubt your collegues would admire that "I had to take a day off work to recover from drinking a soda" as an acceptable excuse.