Created using the process of molecular gastronomy, Double Dutch has taken the ingredients from classic cocktails to develop a range of longer, lighter drinks in for the form of cocktail sodas. The two new products can be added to spirits to create quick, flavourful cocktails, or be drank solo as a non-alcoholic alternative.

The Bloody Mary Soda combines the rich tomato taste of the classic cocktail with basil, cucumber, pepper and chilli, to create a full of flavour, spicy and herbaceous drink. Topped with a hint of brandy vinegar for the perfect acidic finish, this soda pairs perfectly with vodka simply poured over ice.

The Cucumber Margarita Soda with chilli incorporates flavours of cucumber, Persian lime – providing a blend of lime and lemon characteristics – bell pepper for a sweeter and earthier taste, and chilli for a spicy kick. This innovative soda is best enjoyed when combined with tequila, ice, and served in a salt-rimmed martini glass.

Co-founder of Double Dutch Drinks, Raissa de Haas says: “We are proud to announce the launch of our brand-new Cocktail Soda range, which provides yet another option for busy bartenders, hospitality groups, consumers and cocktail-enthusiasts to make creative drinks easily and consistently while not compromising on flavour. Both the Bloody Mary Soda and the Cucumber Margarita Soda with chilli are an extension of our ethos to elevate spirits rather than mask them, and are a lighter, flavoursome addition to the range”.

The two new sodas, like the rest of the collection, are low in calories, at under 20 calories per 100ml, and vegan-friendly, free from preservatives and artificial ingredients. Buy them from the Double Dutch webstore and Amazon from the 5th October for £3.75 per four-pack. The launch of the Cocktail Sodas ties in with a revised colourful rebrand of the Double Dutch range of tonics and mixers.

Source: Double Dutch

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. 

How did the whole story of Lanique start? Who inspires you to become an entrepreneur?

Lanique’s story dates back to 1785, when it was first created in the Kingdom of Prussia. It was enjoyed throughout the 1800s and early 1900s but was unfortunately lost during the World Wars when the availability of fresh rose petals dried up. Thankfully, it was rediscovered by Jersey-based entrepreneur Lawrence Huggler and relaunched in 2015.

Entrepreneurism is something that comes very naturally to me from my days helping to grow a small mobile bar business into a franchised multi-bar business. My work with Smith & Sinclair helping to grow its adult sweet business has influenced my role at Lanique, taking the product and business forward in new and exciting ways over the last two years. I would say I take a lot of inspiration from our owner Lawrence, who is the king of brand building.

Lanique is a spirit of rose. Can you tell us more about the most important flavor notes?

As the name suggests, it’s all about rose! We distill thousands of hand-picked rose petals to extract the finest Attar of Rose (the essential essence that comes from the rose petals). We then blend this slowly into our spirit to get its signature flavour.

It’s very important to stand out as a brand in such a big market. What makes Lanique differ in the beverage market?

There’s simply nothing else like it. Lanique has a spirit strength of 39% abv, balanced with the mouth feel, viscosity and full flavour of a liqueur. Because of this, bartenders and customers are discovering Lanique and using it to add a twist to a classic cocktail, or simply topped up with tonic (just like a G&T!).

Beverage development is a tough process. What kind of difficulties have you faced?

Not many! We use the original recipe from 1785 to ensure our product remains authentic and has great provenance.

In your opinion, what are consumers looking for when it comes to beverages? What is the ideal consumer profile for Lanique?

Consumers are educated and informed when it comes to mixing their favourite spirits or ordering at a bar, which is brilliant as this encourages discovery and adventure. Flavour is key, and consumers this Spring/Summer are seeking floral, spritz-style drinks to enjoy at home or at lush bar terraces.

Lanique’s ideal customer is someone who lives life with a sense of “La Vie En Rose”, is inspired by creativity, loves sophistication and embodies a sense of splendor in the everyday. We don’t rule out anyone (unless you’re under 18 of course).

Lanique is based in The United Kingdom. In which countries consumers can buy your brand?

Consumers can enjoy Lanique in the UK, Australia & South Africa (for now….!)

What are the biggest goals set for 2020?

To work with a brilliant supermarket to launch Lanique to the masses, to continue to work with amazing, creative bartenders in the UK and to extend our reach to many new markets around the world.

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

Do it earlier in life, it’s such an incredible industry that allows budding entrepreneurs to blossom (sorry for the floral puns!).

For more information visit Lanique’s website.

1. I have read your story on CLEAN Cause’s website. It’s touching and inspiring. Why did you choose the beverage business?

From a branding standpoint, CLEAN is a fantastic name for a beverage. Consumers are increasingly seeking drink options that are “better-for-you”, have organic/NON-GMO ingredients and aren’t over-loaded with sugar. The CLEAN name is well aligned with all of these attributes. Secondly, the total addressable market for beverages is billions upon billions. Being that our mission is to create a sustainable source of funding and that we want to make a meaningful impact, we needed to choose an industry that would give us a real shot at generating significant profits.

2. CLEAN Cause has four different flavors. Can you tell us a little bit about each?

We offer single-flavor profiles including blackberry (our best-seller), raspberry, peach and lemon lime. Each can has only 60 calories, is USDA organic certified and is topped off with 160mg of organic caffeine. The flavors aren’t overpowering, and the sweetness and carbonation balance the product to create a refreshing pick-me-up. Simply put, CLEAN is better caffeine.

3. It is hard to develop a successful beverage brand. What difficulties did you face during the process of development? In your opinion, what are the key elements for a successful beverage brand?

Probably the most difficult aspect of the beverage business is being able to find the funding you need to enable you a long enough time period to find a market foothold with your brand. The beverage business is highly capital intensive. In addition to funding challenges, finding coworkers and building a solid team is extremely challenging. Resumes and reference calls are great, but you really get to see what a person is made of (or not) after they are fully on board.

Photo credit: Sanjay Patel

4. It might be hard to differ in the beverage market. What makes CLEAN Cause stand out?

Three things really set us apart from the rest of the beverage market. Number one is our packaging. It’s true to its name “CLEAN, and has a vibrant color scheme. In short, it’s easy on the eyes and really pops off the shelf. Secondly, the product itself sets us apart from the crowd. Yerba Mate is a new category in the US, but I’m convinced beyond a shadow of a doubt that it’s the healthiest form of caffeine in the world. It is packed with minerals and vitamins and doesn’t give you the jitters. In short, the product delivers better performance because it contains better caffeine. Last, but certainly not least, is the most compelling differentiator – our cause and give back. I think the fact that we commit such a large part of our profits to support a mission that affects us all really stands out in the industry. At the end of the day, we’re got CLEAN packaging, a delicious product that delivers better functional benefits, with a purpose that we can all unite behind.

5. The half of the profit goes to support addiction recovery. Can you tell us more about the initiative?

Our giveback initiative is coined “CLEAN Kickstarts”. They are sober living scholarships intended to give folks fresh out of rehab, homelessness, or incarceration the opportunity to focus on getting a job and establishing a recovery support system. We think of it as a bridge between rehab and reintegration. There’s a big gap here in the continuum of care and we aim to fill it as quickly as possible!

6. What are the biggest goals set for 2020?

From a business perspective, increasing our national footprint, securing more major retailers and focusing on really winning in the markets we’re given the opportunity would be our top three goals. On the cause front, our goal is to generate an additional 1,000 sober living scholarships by the end of 2020.

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

Plan your work. Work your plan.

For more information visit CLEAN Cause’s website.

MeMento comes packaged in a luxury glass bottle with a wood cap and base. The added wood detail works together with the green forest peeking through on the label to give an overall “green”, fresh, and plant-based appeal to the whole package! The botanical essences inside MeMento and MeMento Green are the real stars of the show, and the bottles reflect that!

The original MeMento has a delicate, floral flavor that makes for a refreshing sipping drink or to add a bit of a flowery elegance to your favorite cocktails! Made with rosemary, helichrysum, rose, and lemon verbena, tasting MeMento is like taking a walk through a beautiful garden. We wanted to savor every last moment! Rose and lemon verbena add a hint of sweetness, while rosemary keeps this flavor firmly grounded and adds boldness!

MeMento Green was inspired by the pungent aromatic profiles of some chosen Mediterranean herbs. The aroma of this flavor is incredible. If the color green had a smell, this would be it. We found ourselves transported to a remote forest, leaves rustling in the wind and bird calls in the air. Made with green myrtle, melissa, laurel, and orange blossom, this flavor brings new meaning to the word fresh! While well-balanced, it does pack a bitter, herbal punch, so we still think it would be best for sipping or mixing! Luckily, MeMento provides plenty of delicious cocktail inspirations on their site that you can create with MeMento or MeMento Green! Free of alcohol, sugar, animal products, and gluten, MeMento is the mixer that includes everyone!

For more information visit MeMento’s website.

How did the whole story of TRIP start?

The idea for TRIP started in 2018, when Daniel (my co-founder and husband) suffered an ACL injury and had knee surgery 8 weeks before our wedding. Being told he wouldn’t be able to dance at our wedding we were searching for new remedies to help his recovery. Some New York based friends recommended trying CBD and results were incredible for reducing the pain and swelling, and helping Daniel sleep. We danced all through our wedding weekend, and Dan is already back playing competitive football and tennis.

His experience led us to rapidly start researching the history of cannabis, and the emergence of CBD. I started using CBD myself to help with anxiety, which would often flare up on my commute to the City, where I worked as a solicitor.

I had been using CBD tinctures, but wanted a CBD product that was convenient and enjoyable. Searching to create something that I could include in my active everyday routine, with fun elevated branding that wouldn’t look out of place on my desk at work, or out at a bar with friends.

We launched TRIP to give people that moment to reset, find calm and relax back into their best selves.

The line consists of 3 different flavors. Can you tell us more about each?

We were passionate about creating flavors that were light and refreshing. With a clean mouthfeel, something you could drink throughout the day at different moments. It was important to cater to these different moments, for different people who have different lifestyles, but all touched by pressures of living busy lives.

We have 2 lightly sparkling drinks and a cold brew coffee – each infused with 15 mg organically grown CBD (extracted in the UK). They are the lowest calorie CBD drinks available in the UK, with no added sugar and totally vegan formula. It was important to have the drinks in recyclable packaging with clear easy to understand messaging.

The Elderflower Mint and Peach Ginger are lightly sparkling, with less than 19 kcals per can – each ​powered by natural adaptogens including turmeric, ginseng, l-theanine, ginger, lemon balm and chamomile for optimum balance.

Our Cold Brew Coffee is brewed for 24 hours for a smooth taste, is dairy-free with no calories, so you can enjoy the natural caffeine but let CBD help balance out any jitters.

Starting a beverage company is a challenging process. Did you have any experience in the beverage industry before?

Daniel and I are completely new to the industry – leaving our careers in finance and law to launch TRIP. We think this gives a fresh perspective on this completely new category – and as consumers in our target market, it keeps us uniquely abreast of shifting customer demands.

Usually, startups have many difficulties at the beginning. What challenges have you faced so far?

Without experience in the industry, choosing to launch in a new category without a validated precedent or an established network is a challenge. There is a lot to learn about technical and operational matters. We’ve been very open to this, learning fast and being passionate about the product and its benefits.

As I mentioned before, the competition in the CBD-infused beverage market is rapidly rising. What makes TRIP differ in this market?

TRIP is unique for 3 reasons:

• On a product level, TRIP has one of the highest CBD contents and is the lowest calorie CBD drink available. With no added sugar, TRIP is uniquely powered by natural adaptogens to support anti-anxiety and other wellness benefits meaning customers are easily able to make the optimum choice for functionality and flavor.
• TRIP has created a lifestyle brand resonating across retail, hospitality, grocery and boutique fitness. TRIP’s unique brand messaging and aesthetic is driving staggering success with retailers and has created a loyal community following unmatched by another CBD brand.
• TRIP is positioned as the only premium CBD drinks brand, championing quality and appealing to the millennial consumers driving growth in this new sector. By delivering results to its customers, our fan base is full of return customers – an advantage to challenge incumbent brands and others moving into the market.

What is the biggest milestone planned for 2020?

We’re working on new product development so watch this space!

Is TRIP suitable for everyone? Who is TRIP’s target market?

We designed TRIP to work across different lifestyles, we don’t prescribe a specific way to drink TRIP. We support customers in enjoying TRIP as part of their personal lifestyle choices; whether that’s to improve their overall wellness, help them with anxiety or if they want to mix it into cocktails! Our current customers so far are typically young, millennial and Gen-Z conscious consumers.

As I understand, TRIP is available only in the United Kingdom. Are you planning to expand into other countries? Which ones?

TRIP launched in the UK, and is also available in Holland. We will be working on further EU expansion.

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

We’re only 3 months into the launch and this exciting adventure, so ask us this time next year!

For more information visit TRIP’s website.

1. Good Day is a beverage line infused with CBD. How did you come up with the idea of it?

Good Day was born out of a desire to build a company and a product line that is truly healthy in all aspects of the word – both good for the body and good for the mind. The founding team at Good Day – myself, Nick Miller, and Andy Gabriel – worked CBD into our own personal routines over the past few years. The interesting part is that we all turned to CBD for different reasons: I was searching for something to help overcome my general hyperactivity and stress levels associated with my former role as an executive leader at a Fortune 100 company, Nick was looking to combat inflammation and sore muscles while running ultra-marathons, and Andy was seeking a treatment to help regulate anxiety and mood.

The idea came from our collective, but individual living experiences on the West Coast. All three of the founders spent time living in California, so we were exposed to every type of cannabinoid consumption option available. However, most cannabinoid-infused products on the market are unhealthy, sugar-filled items, ranging from beverages that use an apple juice base to every type of candy imaginable – like chocolates, gummies, cookies, and mints. We quickly identified a giant opportunity that aligned with current consumer trends, which was developing a natural, “clean label” beverage made from real, organic ingredients without preservatives, added sugar, or “natural flavors,” that still tastes delicious. That’s Good Day.

2. Good Day line has 3 different flavors. Can you tell us more about each? Which one is your favorite?

Rather than flavors, these are three different, yet complementary beverages in different categories, all of which are tied together by the inclusion of CBD. They all use minimal ingredients without preservatives or artificial additives, but each is unique in that they help a person reach their desired energy output: Cold brew coffee is meant to increase energy, while our Chamomile herbal tea is meant to gently lower energy levels, and our Citrus sparkling water is meant to keep you balanced any time, any day. My personal favorite is the Cold brew coffee, but that’s mainly because I practice daily intermittent fasting and want something that doesn’t break my fast in the morning but gives me the balanced energy I need to start my day.

3. The creation of a good-tasting beverage isn’t easy. What difficulties did you face during the development process?

This is especially true when using CBD sourced from hemp extract, which has a very unique and naturally bitter flavor. When you combine that with the fact that we set out to create a very “clean” beverage with low sugar and calories, it made the process very difficult. We see a lot of beverages flooding the market that took the easier path, which involves using a CBD Isolate (word on the street is that this will not be approved by the FDA), plus the addition of zero-calorie “natural flavors” (which our formula development partners had a hard time even explaining). All we will say is that it took a lot of experimentation and tweaks to land on our ultimate formulas. We know we’re biased, but the taste and ingredients speak for themselves… we have the healthiest and tastiest CBD-infused beverages on the market.

4. What is the biggest achievement Good Day has reached so far?

I would say the biggest achievement so far is more like a series of achievements that the founding team – myself, Nick Miller (COO), and Andy Gabriel (CFO) were able to achieve in such a short amount of time. Nick and I left our jobs at Facebook and Sysco respectively back in April. Since then, we were able to raise an initial seed round of capital, develop a super-strong brand with beautiful and unique packaging, source all of our premium ingredients, finish formulation and manufacture all three beverage SKUs in our initial product portfolio. We went live with eCommerce sales in late July and now we are getting shelf space in retailers across the country. Again, all of this was accomplished in about a seven-month span of time. I think that speaks to the differentiation and velocity that Nick and I bring to this industry.

5. There is still a strong stigma regarding cannabis. What are the main benefits it has?

Let’s just focus on the ingredient we use: CBD, which is an acronym for cannabidiol – a natural compound derived from the cannabis plant, which is just one of over one hundred different cannabinoids found in the hemp plant (not to be confused with THC, which is found in high concentrations in the marijuana plant). CBD is known to support your body’s powerful endocannabinoid system (ECS).

It’s important to first understand homeostasis, which is your body’s effort to keep all of your internal systems running at optimal levels, no matter what’s happening around you. When one of those systems, such as mood or stress levels, isn’t working at peak performance, your body turns to the ECS to bring it back to the optimal level. CBD reacts with the ECS by stimulating endocannabinoid receptors, promoting homeostasis, and assisting in the restoration of your body’s natural balance.

6. It is crucial to know your target market. Who is Good Day’s ideal customer?

Good Day’s target customer falls into a primary category of the modern-day Millennial consumer and then a secondary category of GenX followed by Baby Boomers, considering those latter groups are some of the fastest-growing users of CBD. We wanted to approach our products and brand as something that would be highly appealing to a 28 year old, but also natural in the hands of that 28 year old’s mother or father.

7. In your opinion, what are the biggest trends in the beverage market every startup should notice for 2020?

Consumers are becoming more educated and socially aware of the negative impact of single-use materials. They are also honing in on the importance of healthy ingredients. Therefore, we believe that more brands will begin exclusively using quality ingredients to achieve a “clean label.” We also think there will be growth in the ready-to-drink (RTD) beverage category using sustainable materials, such as aluminum. Aluminum is one of the few materials that can be recycled directly back into itself over and over again. Definitely not the use of plastic. Did you know that only 9% of plastic ends up being recycled? The remaining 90%+ just ends up in landfills or our oceans. We are huge advocates of real, healthy ingredients and using highly recyclable materials at Good Day.

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

The advice that I still give myself everyday: expect bumps along the way, but never stop driving forward. Starting a company is like a puzzle – all of the pieces are always right in front of you, sometimes they are hidden, so it’s just a matter of organizing, prioritizing, and making progress toward your most important Key Performance Indicators. As Nick, Andy, and I always say, every action that we do should be contributing toward making or improving our product or selling more of our product. Full stop.

For more information visit Good Day website.

Co-Founders and brothers, Ray and Justin Kim, saw that there was a growing demand in the U.S. for a hangover solution, but they had yet to find a truly effective recovery product.

“We saw this imbalance as an opportunity to bring a proven alternative from Korea and share it with U.S. consumers,” said Co-Founder & CEO, Ray Kim. “After spending 8 months traveling back and forth from Los Angeles to perfect the taste, we are confident that we have created a truly superior product that will fill the gap in the U.S. market,” said Co-Founder & COO, Justin Kim.

The Plug’s proprietary formula took years of research and development using a state of the art distillation process on machinery that was built specifically for the product. Utilizing South Korea’s expansive ecological area, The Plug sources pure bedrock water from the foot of the Unak Mountain in Pocheon. Additionally, the ingredient list includes a blend of 13 herbal plants and flowers including DHM (oriental raisin tree), dandelion, chrysanthemum, and honeysuckle, which work together to support the breakdown of alcohol in the body and help your liver to flush toxins in a speedy fashion.

In clinical research trials, The Plug was shown to significantly reduce specific hangover symptoms including sleepiness, headaches, vomiting, dizziness, and nausea. For the best results it is recommended to drink The Plug before, during, or within two hours after your last alcoholic beverage.

Source: The Plug

Calanque (Thyme/Rosemary/Sage)

This flavor is infused with organic thyme, rosemary, and sage. There’s a strong garden herb aroma when you pop open the bottle. Delicate bubbles make for a refreshing delivery, and the sour lemon flavor quickly gives way to a complex and bold herbal taste. This flavor is unusual but not unsatisfying! We enjoyed this herbal blend, and according to the makers of Plantus, the sage and rosemary in this recipe are both thought to have restorative properties for the liver! A great flavor for those who want a sparkling beverage that is more tart and herbal than sweet.

Valley (Verbena/Lemon Balm/Peppermint)

Infused with verbena, lemon balm, and peppermint, this is a delicious and cooling recipe that we think would be best enjoyed on a hot day. While the lemon is strong in both flavors, the peppermint offers a nice balance in this recipe, both in aroma and taste. There’s a cooling peppermint aftertaste to this flavor that we really enjoy. Again, there may be added wellness benefits, according to the creators: both lemon balm and peppermint could help ease digestion! These flavors will favor the bold, but we think tea lovers are going to want to get on board with this new take!

For more information visit Plantus website.

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.