While exploring SOFEX during the mid day sun I was to discover Kinza Cola, as well as Kinza Sprite. Both looked the part and therefore worth a Cola Quest review.
Although whilst Kinza Cola was probably the most prominent that I found, in actuality Jordan seemed to be home to a variety of booth national and regional colas, some of which will get a later mention.
What the #ColaQuest?
Regular readers will know that I am the founder of #ColaQuest which is where I try every coke on the planet that I find. Said colas are the then ranked from 1-10, with 10 being classic coke quality.
I also of course deal with other very important qualifiers such as how well it goes with liquor, after all you cannot make rum and coke without some form of cola.
This has led me to some truly good, bad and ugly fizzy black stuff, such as Ryongin Cola in North Korea, which is pretty bad. Although with that being said they have since added a new variant made by Air Koryo, which is a bit better and goes well with North Korean whisky.
At the top end of the scale comes variants such as Thumb Up, as well as Eat Cola one of the best in South-East Asia.
So, how was Kinza Cola?
What the Kinza Cola?
There is actually scant information about Kinza Cola other than their list of flavors and that they are made in Saudi Arabia. Current flavors are cola, a pseudo Sprite (lemon) citrus and of course and orange #FantaQuest entry.
As for information about the company, I have been able to garner the following summary from the inter web.
“Kinza Cola is a Saudi Arabian soft drink brand that has gained popularity across the Middle East. Launched as a local alternative to international cola brands, it has expanded to markets in Jordan, Lebanon, and Egypt. The brand stands out for its regional appeal, blending traditional flavors with modern branding.
Kinza Cola is widely available in supermarkets, convenience stores, and cafés across the region. The product range includes the classic Kinza Cola, a sugar-free Kinza Diet Cola, and flavored options like Kinza Lemon and Kinza Orange. Limited-edition flavors inspired by Middle Eastern tastes also feature in their lineup.
With its rapid growth, Kinza Cola has become a regional favorite, offering consumers a homegrown option that competes with global soft drink giants. The brand’s emphasis on local flavors strengthens its connection to the region, making it a symbol of pride for its consumers.”
Initially the internet had informed me that it was from Jordan, but it would appear Kinza Cola is made in and from Saudi Arabia, perhaps part of its Project 2030 plan to diversify from oil? Although much like their Pro League, or The Line do not hold your breath for world domination.
There also seems to be some links with Mecca Cola, a brand that donates money to Muslim causes and is one that mixing with alcohol is very much discouraged.
So, how does Kinza Cola taste?
When I first drank Kinza Cola it was frankly amazing, but I also had a mouth that was as dry as a nun’s cooter at the time, so felt it also needed to had in a controlled environment.
This was done later that day, with me also using it as a mixer with the infamous Fox “flavored vodka”. This mildly lowered the points, but not by so much. Overall I would give the cola just about a 6.75/10, which is much better than it sounds. It was certainly the best off-brand cola that I tried whilst I was in Jordan anyway.
And with us having already answered that yes indeed you can drink in Jordan I can confirm it also works really well with Jordanian vodka.
All of this science was done as part of our Jordan Business of War Tour.