Mother Root Ginger Switchel is a sophisticated, award-winning aperitif that’s secretly good for you.

100% all-natural, this non-alcoholic aperitif is made with four key ingredients – a maceration of pressed ginger juice, blossom honey, Organic apple cider vinegar and a hint of chilli, making it ideal for those who love revitalising drinks with a kick.

Inspired by the age-old Anglo-American “shrub-making” tradition, the switchel is a fascinating beverage originating from the 1700s, which witnessed increased popularity during the Prohibition era. Mother Root’s Ginger Switchel is a revival of these interesting flavours, that’s been given a captivating modern twist.

Originally born in a kitchen in Peckham, Mother Root Ginger Switchel was made in small batches with care by founder and drinks specialist Bethan Higson. Since its inception, Mother Root has gone from strength to strength as people discover – and fall in love with – its unique and complex flavour profile. Once you try it, this aperitif-style spritz is set to become your favourite new downtime ritual!

An uplifting and flavourful alternative to alcoholic beverages, Mother Root Ginger Switchel is best enjoyed as a pre-dinner aperitif. Serve over ice with sparkling water or a light tonic, add a slice of orange and a fragrant sprig of rosemary, and you have everything you need for a refreshing drinking experience.

Alternatively, if you fancy a tipple, you can shake up your cocktails with an infusion of Mother Root Ginger Switchel. It’s especially great paired with vodka or dark rum, providing endless options for cocktail creativity.

Founder of Mother Root, Bethan Higson, said:

“I’m a self-confessed flavour fanatic, which is what inspired me to create a non-alcoholic drink with a modern twist that’s bursting with flavour. I want to encourage people to switch off and embrace their downtime each day. With Mother Root, you can enjoy the ritual of a delicious end-of-the-day drink, with all the flavour and none of the compromise.”

Source: Mother Root

Waterdrop Microdrinks come in various flavors, including Relax, Boost, Defence, Focus, Glow, Youth, Clean, Zen, Vibe, Nero, and Love. They are sold in 12-packs, with each serving of one cube ready to be dissolved in 400-600 ml of water. The ingredients include natural fruit and plant extracts, with various vitamins and minerals.

Youth Microdrink

We sampled the Youth Microdrink product, which comes in a compact white box with bright yellow and orange illustrations of the ingredients and flavors inside. Youth Waterdrop Microdrink contains Ginseng and Dandelion extract that is balanced with peach and ginger. Each serving contains Vitamin C, Niacin, Biotin, only 4 Kcal, and no sugar.

Upon adding the cube to the water, we noticed a unique and robust aroma with a hint of ginger and citrus. The first sip is sweet, followed by a hit of sourness. It reminded us a bit of the Vitamin C tablets sold over the counter at the pharmacy. Although this flavor wasn’t the most appealing to us, we are intrigued by the concept and excited to try the other flavors.

In addition to the Microdrinks, Waterdrop sells a variety of stylish bottles, sets, and accessories, all designed to make drinking water more fun and trendy.

Summary: We love the innovation and marketing behind Waterdrop. The company has found a way to rejuvenate and reignite excitement around water while also introducing an eco-friendly packaging alternative. The convenience, simple ingredients, and beautiful, smart packaging make Waterdrop an appealing addition to anyone’s daily routine. The Youth flavor was a little heavy on Vitamin C for our tastes, but it is just one of many Waterdrop flavors to try.

For more information visit Waterdrop’s website.

JAMU No1 – Beauty Booster with Superpower

Jamu No1 is categorized as a beauty tonic. It contains ingredients like ginger, Curcuma, chokeberry, coriander, fennel, and turmeric, which are believed to potentially supplement hair and nail strength, increase skin moisture levels, stimulate collagen production, and eliminate free radicals.

JAMU No1 has a spicy aroma with hints of Curcuma and ginger. The first sip is sour with a hint of ginger, and the aftertaste is sweet and mild. Overall this flavor is a little weaker than we would have liked, with just a slight variation from plain sparkling water.

JAMU No2 – An OM’ With Every Sip

While we didn’t sample JAMU No2, this herbal mix is designed to increase relaxation and bring restful sleep. With ginseng, ginger, cinnamon, and Curcuma, the blend is believed to increase serotonin levels while lowering cholesterol and blood pressure. The drink is flavored with coriander, pineapple, and pumpkin extracts, as well as raw cane sugar.

JAMU No3 – Energizer with A Stimulating Effect

JAMU No3 contains ginger, ginseng, cardamom, and guarana, which makes it a natural energizer. It is believed that ginseng and ginger accelerate metabolism and increase the production of the serotonin while improving concentration and endurance. Guarana is thought to soothe the senses and is a stimulant, five times stronger than caffeine. Other ingredients include essential oils made from black pepper, nutmeg, and chili, as well as micronutrients, which are known to improve blood circulation and accelerate the heart rate. The drink is flavored with lemon, apple berry, and juniper extracts and contains raw cane sugar.

Upon opening JAMU No 3, we detected potent ginseng and ginger notes, reminiscent of ginger ale. The first sip is sour, and the aftertaste has a slight hint of cardamom and chili. Overall this drink reminded us of a slightly lighter, healthy take on ginger ale.

The second line of JAMU Sparkling Wellness Drinks has only one flavor, a Bio Cannabis Drink.

JAMU Bio Cannabis Drink with Ginger and Curcuma

JAMU Bio Cannabis Drink with Ginger and Curcuma contains 43% of uniquely processed German Cannabis Sativa extract from locally sourced, organically farmed plants. The full-spectrum Cannabis liquid contains all compounds naturally occurring in the plant, which work together to magnify the therapeutic benefits of each cannabinoid.

The aroma of JAMU Bio Cannabis Drink is a little off-putting and reminds us a bit of cut grass. There is also a hint of ginger. The taste is intense at first, with a sweet aftertaste following. The first sip is a little sour, but the overall taste is rich in exciting and unique flavor notes. There are strong Curcuma notes, but they are balanced well with the other flavors producing a pleasant, flavorful experience.

Summary: JAMU Sparkling Wellness Drinks bring an enjoyable wellness-focused drinking experience to a range of consumers looking for the benefits of various adaptogens and adaptogen blends. From enhancing external beauty to encouraging a deeper sense of calm and relaxation, JAMU Sparkling Wellness Drinks offers the opportunity to explore the power of traditional herbs and spices in a new and flavorful way.

 For more information visit JAMU’s website. 

Who or what inspired you to create Ancient Nectars?

During my visit to South America, I enjoyed going to the market and trying exotic fresh juices that weren’t familiar to me. Once I saw people on the street who were gathering around a small cart and drinking some kind of beverage and eating sandwiches. My Peruvian girlfriend explained to me that it is national beverages with quinoa and macaw which people drink early in the morning before going to work. Many drink it instead of breakfast and often it is taken as a snack or lunch. I was surprised by how different eating habits are in North and South America. I realized more and more people are starting to live healthier, looking for healthy food and superfood. So, I got the idea of introducing this kind of beverage to North Americans who are looking for healthier sources of food.

Ancient Nectars is a juice line with 4 different flavors. Can you tell us a little bit more about each?

Maca with honey: Maca is a root that increases energy and stamina while boosting the libido and immune system. Known for improving physical and emotional well-being, Maca merges with the antibacterial power of Honey to create a drink that’s essential to healthy living.

Apple juice with quinoa: Quinoa today is as popular as ever. When combined with delicious and fibrous apple juice, its antioxidant abilities are unmatched. High in protein, minerals, and essential amino acids, this drink is immensely beneficial to the immune and circulatory systems.

Pineapple juice with chia: Chia provide energy and endurance and is used to help build strong bones and muscles, and support a robust digestive system. Rich in fibre, protein, iron and Omega 3, Chia promotes healthy skin and reduces signs of aging. The nutritional benefits of Pineapple complement Chia’s perfectly, making for one sweet, substantial beverage.

Pineapple juice with oats and quinoa: Oats provide a high source of fiber, protein, and carbohydrates. Paired with quinoa and sweetened by Pineapple Juice, this effective weight loss aid reduces cholesterol levels and delivers filling satisfaction so you can keep moving.

It is very hard to compete in the beverage market with a huge variety of competitors. What makes Ancient Nectars differ in the market?

Yes, competition is very hard in this market. We are finding out and learning more each day. This is our first business, so we are being very cautious to make sure the integrity of our products is not compromised in quality, taste, texture and look.

Our unique juices cannot be found anywhere else in Canada since we manufacture them in Peru and ship directly to the country. This gives us a big advantage, because some of the main ingredients in our juices are already loved by millions of people for thousands of years. We formulate them in a unique, delicious way that is proprietary to Ancient Nectars.  Many people tell us our product line is a great snack and it fills them up, in addition to being refreshed.

Everyone knows it’s a long way from the idea of a product to shelves. What difficulties did you face so far?

My biggest difficulty is educating Canadians about the ingredients, taste and nutritional value, the actual ingredients themselves, and of course, the benefits of consuming these ingredients.

I really love the concept of Ancient Nectars. What are the benefits your products give to consumers?

Adding the value of ancient wisdom to today’s busy lifestyle so everybody can stay healthy and energized. Moreover, our product line makes it easy to maintain healthy habits no matter how busy you are. We use healthy ingredients like: Maca, Honey, Oats, Quinoa, Pineapple juice with plump, juicy pieces and Chia seeds.

Our website discusses the benefits of each ingredient in more detail.

Who is your target market? Where can consumers buy your products?

Our target market is athletes, active, busy, healthy focused people who like to try new things. People whose lifestyle is always on the go, who don’t have time to get proper breakfast or lunch so our snack drinks can easily replace needed nutrition.

We are selling our products in grocery stores and soon, restaurants. A lot of our sales come directly from our website.

We offer both purchases from the general public, and wholesale pricing for people that either want to purchase in bulk or would like to sell our juices directly.

What is the biggest milestone you aim to reach in 2020?

Our goal is to educate more Canadians about the benefits of the ingredients in Ancient Nectars and be in at least 200 stores.

What advice would you have given yourself before you started out in the beverage business?

Telling myself to stick with my passion and be persistent in spreading the message of what Ancient Nectars can bring, not to mention I will have to work more than double the number of hours I had anticipated in starting a business!

I would like to mention to your readers that for a limited time, I’m offering 33% off our “try them all” 4 pack to all customers who come to our website: www.ancientnectars.ca

1. PLANTUS is award-winning brand. How did you come up with the idea of such successful beverage brand?

At the very beginning, I discovered plant-based drinks thank to my family who has been in charge of taking care of a delicate mountain environment for hundreds of years. Toddler in these alpine lands, my grandmother made me discover the plants used for generations by our ancestors. Among them were violet flowers for herbal teas, or arnica and plantain to treat bruises. The elders were picking the génépi, used in herbal teas and liqueurs. Then moving while growing up, I discovered many other plants in other mountains, plains, and garrigue, with original and very appreciable taste. I used all these plants to create PLANTUS drinks.

In 2005, for pleasure, I began making plant-based beverages which showed up real natural tastes: liqueurs, wines, syrups, herbal teas, lemonades, and other non-alcoholic beverages. I was looking for a beverage line on the market which was able to refresh me without any sugars and alcohol, but I didn’t find any real natural beverages.

The idea I came up with was to create plant-based drinks with only real infused natural plants, 0 g sugars, and 0 kcal, healthy and pleasant to drink. The brand name PLANTUS was self-evident for considering majestic plants, living organisms of nature, not only sticking with herbs found on the ground.

2. PLANTUS is 100% organic, delicate sparkling soft drink. The beverage line consists of two different flavors. Can you tell us more about each? Which one is your favorite?

Currently, there are two different plant blends, as a kind of marriage between aromatic substances of real plants only extracted by a pure infusion process. PLANTUS drinks have 0 g sugars, 0 kcal, plants are 100 % French, contain no sweetener, no coloring or flavor added, and 100 % of ingredients are organics.

The first one is PLANTUS Vallée. It is inspired by a fresh mountain valley lake and by the chlorophyll of plants. Flavors are coming from lemon verbena and lemon balm, associated with fresh minty flavors. It brings an ultra-refreshing character.

The second one is PLANTUS Calanque. It is inspired by a sunny Mediterranean cove and by the expression of southern plants. Savors are coming from garrigue thyme and rosemary, associated with the beneficial sage. It brings just as much refreshment as PLANTUS Vallée with an invigorating character.

I personally like both blends as I like changing the natural taste to refresh myself. Some prefer the first one which is more consensual, others prefer the second one which has a noteworthy taste, others like the two or neither. Finally, this seems to be a very subjective choice and globally our current sales conclude at 50/50 between both blends.

3. The creation of a beverage product is quite a challenge. What difficulties did you face during the development of PLANTUS line?

The biggest difficulty was to create the best plant blend, showing not a too strong taste neither a too light, which will give the best final subtle natural tastes. We tried and retried to fine-tune quantities in recipes for years because each plant has its own ability to have its aromatic flavors extracted by infusion. The second difficulty is to get a beverage product with 0 g sugars pleasant to drink but without any sweeteners. It is for why we can also offer our services for the creation of personalized drinks.

4. The beverage market is extremely competitive. What makes PLANTUS differ in the market?

PLANTUS is definitely a real refreshment alternative with 0 g sugars and 0 kcal. It is a real local beverage as 100 % of plants are French and all ingredients come from a few hundred kilometers as well as its manufacture.

It can healthily substitute any waters, sodas, beers and wines/champagnes/cocktails. In other words, you can enjoy PLANTUS instead of sparkling water with lemon slices, for aperitif instead of a beer (drunk in a bottle) or instead of wine/champagne (drunk in a wine glass), or as a tonic in cocktails.

PLANTUS is also ready to drink, a perfect sparkling infusion of natural plants with 0 kcal that establishments do not have to be made by their own.

5. Congratulations on the recognition at UP by WABEL event! What are your thoughts about the event? In your opinion, is it important for startups to participate at such events?

Thank you so much for your kind words. This event was the first one organized by WABEL for drinks. We are very proud to have participated and to have won the award of “most disruptive brand”. We began to sell the first serial products a few weeks before the event. I mean, the business was just starting and one can say it was too early to participate at such event. But we decided to catch this opportunity for increasing the visibility of PLANTUS. We are completely satisfied to have made this choice because UP by WABEL recognized PLANTUS on the beverage market. This is a real asset today that we are actively communicating with all our prospects and customers.

For any startups we think this is important to participate at such events: they can win prizes or simply increase their visibility, to ease the marketing of their products in this competitive market.

6. In your opinion, what are the biggest trends in the beverage market every startup should notice this year?

We could listen to big trends for teas and also for the teetotalism movement, claiming for 0 % alcohol drinks. Following this trend, the majority of beverages are currently made of natural extracts, always using semi-products, with sugars because people think they need sugars.

I think there is a weak signal for a broader market than the beverage market alone, for all products and services today, where there is a look for not only authentic but true products. And then for the beverage market, I think this translates to using the most of real raw materials directly into the manufacturing process. The best would be to not add any gram of sugars of any kind nor flavoring agents and extracts, what PLANTUS drinks do.

7. PLANTUS is a French beverage brand. Is it available only in France? Are you planning to enter other countries? If yes, which one and why?

PLANTUS is currently available in France and Switzerland, in the alps from the Leman lake to the Mediterranean Sea, because it is a local product of high quality produced in small volumes. We are looking today for distributors wishing to extend PLANTUS in close places of quality in Europe and why not in the world if the opportunity comes.

8. What is the biggest milestone for PLANTUS you have marked for the next year?

PLANTUS has just been launched mid-2019 with two different blends only. For 2020 the biggest milestone will be to extend the beverage line.

9. What advice would you have given yourself before you started out in the beverage business?

Before starting a beverage business, I was seeing beverage products as a kind of ultimate products. I was thinking everyone were aware of how the beverages they were drinking were made up.

Actually, I see everyone follows its own reality and the world is very subjective for each of us. It takes all kinds to make a world particularly true for PLANTUS, and there is a gap between what people say and what people really do.

For example, real natural tastes revealed in the mouth by a delicate sparkling, with 0 g sugars without sweeteners, upset most people. Their mouth has been getting used to added flavors and extracts revealed by sugars used by conventional beverage makers. Some of them convert to PLANTUS drinks immediately while it takes more time for others to make the transition. In the end, 75 % of targeted customers are converted.

For more information visit PLANTUS website.

Recharge

The labels of the Poshn drinks don’t indicate the actual FLAVOR inside, except for some illustrations of the fruits and herbs on the front of the bottle. But the Recharge flavor was packaged with a bright yellow label, which made us think it would have a bright, citrusy flavor. And we were right! This flavor uses orange, able, pink guava, apricot, mango, banana, passion fruit, lime, and lemon. They’ve also incorporated some functional herbs, of course: green tea, ginseng, and stevia. As you can tell, they pack a LOT into their small bottles, and it comes through in the flavor! Recharge has a bright, tropical taste and we DID feel energized after drinking!

Relax

The label of the Relax flavor is similar to the Recharge label but in a bright red. There’s a charming illustration of a woman sitting in lotus position surrounded by the fruits and herbs that make up this flavor! Relax provided a sweet and fruity alternative to more “herbal” tasting beverages that make up much of the “relaxing” beverages on shelves. They’ve combined apple, pear, strawberry, raspberry, cherry, cranberry, blackcurrant, and gooseberry juices and added chamomile for extra relaxation! We can’t say if we felt a noticeable difference after drinking, but we enjoyed the flavor, so we would still drink it again!

For more information visit POSHN website.

Bumblezest shots are packed with functional ingredients—there are at least eight in each bottle–, all natural, free of preservatives, additives, GMOs, colorants, gluten, dairy, lactose, and nuts.  Three of the formulations are also vegan, with a drop of maple added to sweeten instead of honey. The shots are made to target a wide variety of issues, ranging from weight loss and increased stamina to reduced anxiety and improved skin and hair. The shots are made to be taken straight, room temperature or chilled, but the company website also provides creative mixing suggestions like sparkling water, almond milk, or even cocktails.

By using innovative formulation and pasteurization processes, Bumblezest delivers a shot packed with fresh ingredients that also has an excellent shelf life. Their low-heat, water-based extraction process allows for more potent concentrations of functional ingredients in each bottle, and their gentle pasteurization ensures that Bumblezest is safe for pregnant women and those with compromised immune systems, unlike most raw juices. Natural preservatives such as honey, apple cider vinegar, and salt also lend a helping hand.

Revive and Restore

Made with Ginger, Turmeric, and Collagen, this sunny yellow shot is an all-around health booster and energizer. Bumblezest recommends drinking this shot in the morning, shortly before or after eating. The spicy, invigorating lemon and ginger flavor will be sure to get you going.

Detox and Defend

Made with Apple Cider Vinegar, Milk Thistle, and Charcoal, Detox and Defend is one of Bumblezest’s vegan blends. This shot has an intriguing dark black color, with a tart and tangy citrus flavor. This shot is meant to aid in digestion and metabolism, and is great to take after a night of over-indulgence.

Calm and Comfort

Made with Chamomile, Lavender, and Spirulina (which gives this shot its gorgeous blue-green color), this is another vegan formulation that helps to reduce stress and anxiety and aid in sleep. It has a subtle floral-citrus flavor anyone would love.

Propel and Protect

A super energizer! Made with Matcha, Moringa, and Ginseng, this vegan shot is great before a workout or in place of your daily coffee. With a minty, earthy matcha flavor, tea lovers might find a new favorite morning elixir.

Nourish and Nurture

In the mood for something sweet? This shot has you covered, with none of the guilt that usually comes from dessert. Made with Cacao, Maca, and Collagen, this drink has a spicy-sweet chocolaty flavor and is great for any time you need an extra energy boost.

For more information visit Bumblezest website.

Looking at your website it looks like you have achieved a successful company. How did the whole story of The Brew Company start?

I actually came up with the idea of how to brew the high-quality coffee and convenient coffee back in 2003 and on the basis of the idea set up the company. The rough history is that at a certain point of time I ended up not having any filters for my drip filter coffee machine and I started to think that there must be a better way to brew a decent cup of coffee. So, I started experimenting with different tea bags. I cut them open and filled them with coffee grounds. This idea led to the product that we see today where we have a stand up pouch with an inside filter containing freshly ground coffee. The consumer simply has to add hot water into the pouch to brew 2 cups of rich gourmet coffee.

Under The Brew Company stands 3 different brands. Could you tell us more about each line?

The whole idea behind the Coffeebrewer by Grower’s Cup is to have high quality coffee, but with a super convenient brewing process. I sort of fell in love with the specialty coffee universe and learnt how beautiful coffee could be in terms of taste and in terms of doing things the right way. With Grower’s Cup I really wanted people to taste the coffee directly from the coffee farmer. I wanted people to start thinking about coffee just like they do about wine. When you walk into supermarket, you do not simply decide between red wine or rose wine, but you also look at the different vineyards and what how each wine is produced, and I want that to happen within the coffee world as well.

Teabrewer by April Love and Herbbrewer by TeaPharmacy are quite different from our coffeebrewers. With the teabrewers we really wanted to focus on making the best tea infusion with the most flavor to it. We use the same design of the brewer and have found that this gives our tea ingredients the optimal conditions for infusion. To get the rich taste in our teas we use real pieces of fruit, vegetables, spices, herbs, and of course, whole leaf tea. With the herbbrewer we instead had our focus on which benefits each herbal tea had. So with this we developed 7 different herbal tea blends that each have a certain health benefit.

The Coffeebrewer has 5 different coffee drinks. Which one is the most popular among your customers?

Our coffees are all quite popular, but the Honduras is definitely one of our best selling coffees. It is a very pleasant and rich coffee, uncomplicated and easy to enjoy. This coffee has been roasted medium, and has very light and fruity nuances. The coffee is quite complex with many different tastes to it, but the pleasant aftertaste of chocolate is something that differentiates it from our other coffees. Of course this coffee is also both organic and fairtrade certified.

The Teabrewer has 16 different flavors. Was it hard to create so many high quality and tasteful tea blends?

Yes, for sure – it took a lot more time than what we originally anticipated. After having done comprehensive research and tests, we hired two tea sommeliers from the Netherlands to guide us and to educate us. This speeded up the process. However, it roughly took us 1,5 years to get to the assortment that we have today. One of the focal areas of the development of our assortment was that we wanted all of our tea blends to be 100% organic and containing real ingredients instead of for example tea dusts that is commonly used in conventional tea bags. We wanted consumers to be able to see, feel and taste the difference, and that only comes when using the very best ingredients.

The Herbbrewer has 7 different blends dedicated for digest problems, immune system boost and even breastfeeding. Which blend is most successful among consumers? In your opinion, why?

We have 3 herbal blends that stand out in comparison to the others. These are our Relax:T, AntiOxiDant:T and Detox:T. All three are very pleasant herbal teas and all are very much spot on in terms of todays health agenda. Furthermore, these tea blends have tastes that are very similar to what we already know and love. Take for example our Relax:T that contains camomile blossoms, and our AntiOxiDant:T that contains ginger and lemon. But in this modern world we live in, where a lot of people suffer with stress, these tea blends stand out in terms of what they can do for our health.

The Brew Company has won a lot awards. What is the secret of your company?

The secret must be that we are a very innovative company. We have designed the brewers in a way that extracts the most flavor while still being super convenient. Our brewers are optimal for taking with you as you leave your home. With this you have the option of still enjoying good quality even when you aren’t in a place where you would normally be able to get good coffee or tea. In all that we do, we have this focus on quality and convenience combined, and this is an ares where we do not make compromises.

There are many different coffee and tea blends all over the world. In a market full of great blends, what makes The Brew Company’s brands stand out?

Aside from the obvious being the design of our brewers, we definitely stand out in terms of taste and quality. Our coffees are all single origin, so we always know exactly where our coffee comes from.

We would never do a coffee blend, because it is important for us to know the original of our coffee. We also have a big focus on our products being organic and fairtrade.

As of now, 80% of our coffees are fairtrade, and 100% of our teas are organic. In our teas we work with real ingredients instead of using unnatural flavors. When we design a fruit tea recipe and we claim that it is a berry tea, it is because it really is a tea made from real fruits and berries. Most other teas on the market today are flavored, and haven’t seen a trace of actual berries.

What are the major difficulties, if any, that The Brew Company has faced since its launch?

There have been countless challenges and problems since the beginning. We basically had to start from scratch in terms of the technology and material selection in the production of our brewers. This created a log of challenges, and to succeed we have had to reinvent pretty much everything.

Based on your experience, do you have any advice to people who dream of starting a beverage company?

It takes a lot of work to start something from scratch, so my best advice is to have courage, patience, perseverance and a solid funding.

For more information visit The Brew Company website.

1. How did you come up with the idea of cardiovascular beverage?

Well, it really stemmed from a strong need in the beverage industry for something with true health benefits. There has been pressure put on brands such as Coca-Cola, Red Bull, Pepsi and others to understand the negative effects their products have on consumers. Facts are facts, and there has been widespread implementation on these brands starting with sugar taxes both on the municipal and national level in various cities and countries such as Canada, the United States and Australia.

There have been countless documented stories and studies that have been conducted that clearly indicate beverages that contain sugar, aspartame, and synthetic ingredients including preservatives are extremely harmful which in turn contribute to diabetes, obesity, and cardiovascular health issues. We are focused on proving consumers direct benefits to diabetes and cardiovascular disease; 2 major ailments that we feel consumers need more options with.

2. “Heart disease kills more people in North American than any other ailment…” What are the main causes of heart disease?

Atherosclerosis is the most common cause of heart disease. It is contributed by plaque build up in artery walls which prevents blood flow from your arteries to your organs. Sugar sweetened beverages also cause increased blood pressure. High sugar content causes the liver to dump harmful fats into your blood stream. Soul helps to reduce blood pressure, while promoting healthy cholesterol levels while increasing blood flow and aiding in the recovery of damaged blood cells by fighting free radicals. We believe we have designed a beverage that will directly aid in the reduction of both cardiovascular disease while helping consumers with diabetes control blood sugar levels.

3. Soul is an organic beverage without caffeine, sugar, gluten and synthetic preservatives. Why do you think consumers are looking for natural products?

We believe consumers are becoming increasingly conscious and aware of the ingredients in many mainstream products. We believe consumers are willing to pay a higher price for a product that gives them true health benefits. People living healthier lifestyles are also becoming more educated and aware of what is inside food beverage products and we have noticed an increased consumer demand of products that don’t contain harmful ingredients. There is has been widespread attention put on the focus that consumers should become more aware and educated on reading product labels but I think there is a long way to go to create more awareness for harmful products.

4. Boosts cardiovascular and cell health, cold and flu remedy – these are just a few benefits you listed about Soul. Are these benefits scientifically approved?

The foundation of Soul is a high MG level combination of a truly unique plant-based formula which was created by industry leaders in the health product manufacturing sector. We have obtained a full license for this formula by Health Canada and the FDA and are able to back up our claims with full documented analysis of the benefits of the ingredients that Soul has incorporated. Although we have not conducted a clinical trial, the 3 main active ingredients of Soul have been well documented in the health industry for over 4000 years. We believe we have created the new standard in what a beverage should be.

5. Whenever I go to The United States, it seems like there are a lot of products made with artificial ingredients and huge portions of sugar. What is your opinion about soft beverage market in The U.S? Is there a huge variety of beverages for consumers who seek for a healthy lifestyle?

Our team are not just sales people that believe in our product. We are advocates for the consumers that are demanding healthier options. There are a lot of people that have been mislead through clever marketing from brands such as Coca-Cola, Pepsi, and Red Bull who obviously dominate the beverage space but we are now seeing a clear shift within the industry. We still believe sugar is a main stream problem within the beverage industry but we are hopeful that the big brands will follow our lead and act in full transparency of their formulas instead of leading with clever marketing tools that do mislead consumers. Big beverage brands must take accountability for the impact their products have on the health of their customers which in turn puts stress on health care systems to to increased diabetes and risk of stroke and heart attacks.

6. What is the hardest part of introducing new product to the beverage market?

The hardest part of introducing a new product to the beverage market is brand awareness, but we only see this as such an amazing opportunity for a start-up such as Soul to start leaving a footprint in a very exciting industry. Our only goal is to increase the quality of lives of consumers through innovative beverage solutions. We believe we have put our best food forward with Soul, and we are extremely excited to build our brand by acting in full transparency and we are truly honored to start offering Soul later this year.

7.When and how consumers will be able to buy Soul?

Soul will be available in Summer 2018. We are currently taking pre-orders and are soon moving into our first production run with limited quantities available both in 2018 and 2019.

For more information visit Soul website.

Source: True Energy

Nowadays, every person is running behind the modern instantaneous trends wherein products are available to us due to which we are fulfilled with our want every few minutes. The same can be said in the case of food products. Do you want to serve your guests with mouth-watering delicacies? Do you want to go tripping? You feel hungry while you travel? The one and only single answer to all these worries is an instant, ready-to-cook food. Yes! All you have to do is just visit the market and buy as much as you want.

Similarly, many people are seen preferring some drinks over eatables which give an instant refreshment to your brain, and so to your mind. These are none other than the ‘Energy Drinks’ available in almost all the marketplaces. Energy drinks are nothing but just a form of liquid that boosts your mind-power, almost like rejuvenating your existence. These drinks are basically caffeine-based ones, the drug which has the best stimulating characteristics. It can be said that energy drinks are a substitute, rather a replacement for soft drinks.

The very well-known ‘Pepsi’ was brought in the market as an energy booster, hence being the first ever energy drink available to people. This was followed by the entrance of ‘Coca-Cola’. These drinks contained almost the same ingredients but were then objected due to the high amounts of caffeine used in them. The products were then reformulated and were brought back into the market as soft drinks around the year 1916, resulting in the end of the era of energy drinks.

In modern times, many other brands of energy drinks became well-known ones, of which following ones are commonly available across the globe:

• Red Bull
• Monster
• Rockstar
• Amp
• NOS
• Full Throttle
• Xyience Xenergy

As discussed above, all the energy drinks are caffeine-based. The only change being the variations of the sub-ingredients used in them. Let’s have a look at what these sub-ingredients are and their respective effects:

1. Caffeine: Basically considered as a strong drug, caffeine is the component of an energy that is responsible for the boosting brain-power. It is the one which when consumed, stimulates the nervous system of our body to a greater level. The caffeine content in every can of energy drinks ranges around 35 to 200 mg. it is also found in natural form in coffee and tea, which are the most consumed drinks across the globe.
2. Taurine: It is an amino acid that a human body produces naturally. The taurine used in energy drinks is a formulated one and is produced artificially. The desired effects of taurine are controlled contraction of heart-muscles, stabilized heartbeats, and keeping our energy levels to the best possible (controlled) levels. It also helps in lowering the level of bad cholesterol and also improvises blood flow. In some countries, the consumption of taurine has been banned, while some countries are seen consuming it.
3. Guarana: Found earlier in South America, it is widely used for its effective characteristics of providing alertness and energy. It contains more caffeine than the coffee beans.
4. B Vitamins: The B vitamins are mostly seen to be found in the food we consume, which are a good supplement for energy boosting purposes. Most of us are suggested by our doctors to consume a diet that consists of a balanced level of B vitamins. The ones included in energy drinks are Vitamin B2, B3, B5, B6, B9 and B12.
5. Ginseng: Ginseng is a medicinal herb used for many years due to its energy boosting characteristics. It also relieves a great amount of stress and helps in overcoming memory-related issues.

Merits:

• Revitalized energy: The main motive of an energy drink is to boost up the energy levels of the human body. One when consumes it, his/her energy level rises to a greater extent. It hence increases your alertness, refreshing your mind and hence giving you a much-recycled life form.
• Quick recharge: Consuming a caffeine-based drink gives you an instant energy, helping you to perform much efficiently. The caffeine present in an energy drink is much stronger than the one in coffee and tea, and since the drinks are desired to be consumed at freezing temperatures, they can be taken in much faster than a coffee or tea.
• Availability and affordability: The energy drinks do not cost much and are also widely available at local stores.

Demerits:

• Cardiac failure: As energy drinks contain a high amount of caffeine, if consumed in excess amount, one can suffer from cardiac arrest as caffeine has strong side effects. Those who are already suffering from heart issues must go for energy drinks in regulated amounts.
• Migraine: Too much consumption of energy drinks (mostly caffeine) results in sudden and extreme headaches. This further may lead to a brain disease known as a migraine.
• Insomniac: As energy drinks are meant to boost one’s energy levels and provide an efficient and considerably unstoppable workability, one may experience lack of sleep and hence may suffer from insomnia. This further leads to an undesirable imbalance in human body cycles.
• Diabetes (Type-2): Energy drinks contain a high amount of sugars and hence it is undesirable for a diabetic patient to consume excessive amounts of energy drinks. This is due to the capability of an energy drink to help in damaging the human cells that produce insulin.