Sipahh review

This blog is venturing into new territory with its first food product review, but the technology of the Sipahh flavouring straw caught my eye. I have a fondness for flavoured milk, so a leapt at the chance to try this new gadget when it appeared on my supermarket shelf (I purchased a packet of 10 straws for AUD$4).

I first became aware of the product when it appeared on the New Inventors, which kindly provides an online video of the Sipahh's appearance. There are further close-ups at the Unistraw web site which provide a good idea of the Sipahh concept.

The Sipahh is a clear plastic straw containing flavour beads, which impart their yumminess as you drink. I tried a choc-mint Sipahh with their recommended amount of plain milk, 250ml. The first taste was surprisingly rich. It takes a while to get used to drinking from a glass of plain milk but tasting flavoured milk. For a while the strength was very good, but over time the beads dissolve, and the flavour becomes weaker. With about a third of the beads left I still had a third of the glass of milk left, but it was too weak to drink. I suspect that voracious children would drink fast enough that this would not be a problem, but people who like to savour their drinks may need to start with less milk.

The Sipahh packaging and advertising emphasises the health aspects of the product, with statements such as:

• only 1/2 teaspoon of sugar
• natural colours
• no artifical flavours
• no preservatives

and the Sipahh web site mentions that it has been approved by FOCiS (The Federation of Canteens in Schools) for use in school canteens nationally (in Australia). However, I was slightly alarmed to find the reason for the low amount of sugar. Hidden away in the ingredients list is the artifical sweetener sucralose, which has only been approved in the EU since 2004. Personally, I'd want this more clearly noted on the packaging, giving parents the option to not expose their children to artificlal sweeteners.

It's easy to see why this would be popular at school canteens. They can stock a wide variety of long-lasting Sipahh straws for sale with their more perishable regular milk. Despite its high cost parents would probably appreciate the portion control that the straw brings over the venerable Nestle Nesquik products. However, as a consumer I can't recommend this product due to its use of artificial sweeteners.