La Croixs Natural Flavors Were Not a Mystery. Odds are pretty good that you have consumed a food or beverage item in the past 2. ONCTe1P2rPY/T8luHBqXAiI/AAAAAAAAAT4/vVPUdudG7xs/s1600/Madagascar-3-Europes-Most-Wanted.jpg' alt='Watch Madagascar 3: Europe`S Most Wanted Online Facebook' title='Watch Madagascar 3: Europe`S Most Wanted Online Facebook' />In fact, theres a non zero chance you are ingesting one right now. The term is a catch all for an enormous number of different ingredients, but the ambiguity of the label does not make any one processed food or drink product an unsolvable enigma. Unless, apparently, the food product in question is La Croix, the extremely normal, Midwestern brand of flavored sparkling water which has become an annoyingly trendy status symbol and lifestyle brand. The Big Bang Theory Season 7 Full Episode Watch Online more. Earlier this week, a Wall Street Journal article supposedly cracked the brands code and revealed what its natural flavors are, while extensively quoting people who seem to have walked out of a Harry Potter themed La Croix ad. La Croix would only tell the paper its natural flavoring is essence and that essence is FEELINGS and Sensory Effects Well get to what essence actually is in a second, but heres what its customers think it is. Essence is, like, a combination of hint and aftertaste, Antony Merkel, a 3. Los Angeles resident who said he drinks 1. La Croix a day, breathlessly told the Journal. You definitely recognize the flavors that are there, but it doesnt feel like youre drinking a product of that, Merkel continued. Madagascar-01.jpg' alt='Watch Madagascar 3: Europe`S Most Wanted Online Facebook' title='Watch Madagascar 3: Europe`S Most Wanted Online Facebook' />Almost 40 years ago, Hitchikers Guide to the Galaxy showed us a sapient cow who wanted be be eaten, recommending its own choice cuts to diners in the Restaurant at. AOL Inc. All Rights Reserved. Privacy Terms of Use Preferences Contact Us. Its not a grapefruit juice, or something of a grapefruit. Its a little intangible, which is kind of the appeal. I have no idea what it is. Essence is fairies in a warehouse somewhere dancing with fruits, and suddenly you have this amazing drink, 3. FKncnEwSI/T9q7cw3ooqI/AAAAAAAAF3w/Om98U_Zw4ag/s1600/madagascar-3-europe-s-most-wanted.jpg' alt='Watch Madagascar 3: Europe`S Most Wanted Online Facebook' title='Watch Madagascar 3: Europe`S Most Wanted Online Facebook' />Atlanta social media manager Miranda Wicker added. There are just some things we dont need to know. Because La Croix is the Game of Thrones of non alcoholic beverages, the story was immediately picked up by a number ofother outlets. But again, theres no mystery here, just marketing. Natural flavoring is any sort of chemical originally extracted or distilled from a natural sourcerather than artificially synthesizedto create a concentrate that is then used in the manufacturing of a food or drink. Watch breaking news videos, viral videos and original video clips on CNN. The latest travel information, deals, guides and reviews from USA TODAY Travel. Spiders in the family Migidae dont get out much. Known as tree trapdoor spiders, they are unapologetic homebodies, spending nearly their entire lives. Mins Ago. Top Economic Events Polling Unit Diary Today in Washington Political and General News. Oct Belgium OLO auction 24 Oct United States Sale of 2 year. Sometimes, theyre mixed with other additives, some of which are synthetic, before being added to food and drink. Essence in this context is just a catchy term for essential oil, the concentrated form of the chemicals which give a plant its fragrance. Some essential oils are useful in medicine as antiseptics or anesthetics, while others are often used in industrial processes, cosmetics and hygienic products. Because theyre highly concentrated, theyre an invaluable part of the food industry Essential oils can be distilled and packaged wherever it is logistically easiest and sold off for use in a huge variety of products. So theres your natural flavoring The magical essence behind La Croix is nothing more than a marketing buzzword to describe the same manufacturing processes behind almost all processed foodstuffs. It is fruit skins and rinds that have been crushed up and heated until the mix releases its essential oils. Also, this information was freely available on La Croixs website the whole time. Buzzfeed, Wall Street Journal. Video News CNNChat with us in Facebook Messenger. Find out whats happening in the world as it unfolds.