May
11
Rivella Fans
Filed Under Blogging, Consumer Concerns, Food & Drinks, Health, Swissness | Leave a Comment
Who cuts a fine figure? Those who drink Rivella Blue do.
A little over a week ago, a young lady handed me a free bottle of Rivella Blue at Uni. I’m no Rivella drinker, but my Swiss husband is. So I took the sampler and hied off to the train station.
Rivella Blue is the low-calorie version of the original Rivella Red. It’s meant for those who are conscious of their figure. (Note: personally, it tastes worse than Rivella Red, but that’s just me.)
To those who are unfamiliar with Rivella, well, it’s Switzerland’s all-natural softdrink made from whey (or milk plasma). It’s the undisputed ‘Swiss national drink’ that comes in three flavors: Rivella Red (original), Rivella Blue (low-calorie), and Rivella Green (with green trea extracts). It contains no preservatives or artificial colors.
While it’s a constant hit in its homeland, Rivella never really swept America off its feet. After only a year of distribution in the US, this Swiss drink, packed with all those minerals, was reportedly retracted from the US market in 2005.
However, not all non-Swiss dislike the taste of Rivella. The drink is said to be very popular in the Netherlands. A local franchisee there produces and distributes Rivella in a totally different packaging.
I blogged about Rivella in November 2005. The blog post elicited some interesting comments from Rivella fans from different parts of the globe. Here are some of them:
CAK: “My only explanation why we Swiss like Rivella is that we start drinking it long before knowing something about its ingredients. When I read years after my first Rivella that it was made of milk serum I was shocked. Fortunately, I was already a Rivella addict.”
Andrew: “Of course, I enjoyed Rivella thoroughly when I was in England around 1999. Never once have I seen it in the US from 2001-2006. I wonder where it was sold. Anyone know any Swiss or Dutch stores that sell it online?”
Raymond: “I have just returned from Switzerland, and I discovered Rivella … all three flavours, and I just love it. Trying to find an outlet in the UK. Fast going into withdrawal symptoms!”
Arty Garfunkel: “Personally, I like Rivella. I thought it was any old soft drink when I tried it…. a bit of a funky flavor, but not bad. Not until afterwards that I found out it was made out of milk whey, which I thought was odd. It seems entirely a Swiss thought, leaving no part to waste. Too bad more Americans don’t enjoy it.”
Swiss Tony: “I spent a fun-filled 15 months in Zurich and have returned several times since. The first thing I do at the airport/train station/customs, is look for the kiosk machine and get my fix of Rivella rot! I fell in love with Rivella for the taste, the amazing hangover remedy properties and the ‘Swissi-ness’ about it…Hopefully someday a Migros will replace my local Tesco Express, and once again I can enjoy my glass of Rivella with blood sausage and chips — truly an autumn meal to cherish.”
Peter: “Married to a Swiss Lady with a daughter missing her Rivella. I have been following the posts with great interest. Is there any information when Rivella will hit the shelves again (Waitrose did try a few years back) in the UK? Regards from Middlesex.”
In July last year, commenter Bob Davies announced on my blog that he would be bringing Rivella Red and Rivella Blue on UK shores. In December, he confirmed through a follow-up comment that Rivella could now be ordered online by the case (a case of 24 x 500 ml bottles) via the Genorel Soft Drinks website.
This is great news for all UK-based Rivella lovers. I can’t understand how they can stand the taste of this Swiss milk serum softdrink, but I’m truly happy for them. I guess, for these Rivella-crazed drinkers, it was love at first sip.
(Note: Rivella fans can also order their favorite drink — all the three flavors, including Rivella Green — via the online Swiss shop Swissmade.com. For residents of Switzerland, Rivella is now available in Migros supermarket outlets.)
May
11
Blog Boundaries
Filed Under Blogging | Comments Off
Someone has got my goat. Someone by the name of “Anonymous.”
That’s the downside of personal blogging. You get nasty comments from anonymous blog readers — all strangers to you — who attack you with words designed to put you down in a very public space like the blogosphere.
These commenters take your blog posts out of context and are hasty to judge you. Just like that. And more often than not, these people don’t even have the nerve to reveal their true identities as they go on at full speed in insulting you.
I’m all for freedom of speech (I had never deleted negative comments on my blog in the past, all in the name of free speech). However, this term has been misused and abused by people, who don’t take responsibility for their online words.
In my desire to have a creative outlet and blog about my life here in Switzerland and whatever it is that interests me — blogging has been highly therapeutic for me — I’ve been portrayed by Internet bullies as a “stupid Filipino/Filipino Christian” who comes from a country “full of loco loco (sic) people” as well as a money-hungry Filipino resident of Switzerland “who should just go back to the Philippines” (I won’t even dignify their below-the-belt accusations with an answer). Just one thing: I had never worked as a go go dancer. I was never known for my agility.
And then, there were comments reprimanding me for expressing my personal opinion on the linguistic landscape of Switzerland (i.e. High German vis-a-vis Swiss German). One recent comment on a 3.5-year-old blog post read: “YOU came over here, YOU have to adjust and learn the language — that’s all there is to it, no short cuts…” And who says I was looking for short cuts? As far as I know, I’ve been studying High German since kingdom come. Do cut me some slack, Anonymous.
Ladies and gentlemen, freedom of speech doesn’t mean the freedom to malign anyone with total abandon — especially when you don’t have the facts straight. Get ‘em right first before you type contentious words in my comments box.
This is my blog. Either you read it or you leave it.
P.S. For those who don’t know what dry humor means, here’s a link.
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