Keeping up with the fast-paced beverage market means keeping up with the latest innovation.
This week’s round-up of new launches takes us through some interesting ingredients... chicory root, fig leaf, lemon balm, guayusa, schisandra, ginseng and more.
Fig Leaf Soda
Artisanal beverage brand, Three Cents, has announced the launch of its Fig Leaf Soda expression this month. It will be available to UK operators via distributor CASK Liquid Marketing.
Launched to mark Three Cents’ 10-year anniversary, the Fig Leaf Soda has been crafted to meet consumer thirst for the unique and trending flavour profile, as well as the on-trade’s demand for authentic and high-quality mixers. It shines in an Americano when mixed with an Italian bitter and rosso vermouth, as well as complimenting tequila and whisky long drinks or enjoyed neat as a refreshing non-alcoholic option.
Three Cents collaborated with a micro-community in Greece to harvest leaves of the Royal Fig variety from a protected designation of origin area and uses natural ingredients, without the use of preservatives or artificial colorings. The Fig Leaf Soda is produced using a specialized and original method to extract the unique aroma and produce a high-quality liquid with maximum fizz. The result is a scent of fresh ripe figs on the nose and a distinctive flavor and long-lasting taste that is sweet and fruity, yet balanced by a subtle and earthy undertone.
Three Cents was founded in 2014 by a group of bartenders in the search of the perfect cocktail mixer in Athens, Greece. The award-winning range of premium mixers are designed to offer maximum flavor and carbonation in order to balance the ingredients of a cocktail or long drink, whilst elevating flavors and aromas and maintaining a drink’s fizziness.
George Bagos, Three Cents General Manager & Co-founder, says “For the past decade Three Cents has been at the forefront of flavor innovation, from being the first company to produce flavored sodas to acting as a driving force behind placing Palomas on drinks menus across Europe. The launch of our Fig Leaf Soda is the latest milestone in our drive to equip bartenders with premium mixers that tap into booming flavor trends.”
“For us, true innovation is creating flavors that bartenders are excited to use and allows them to be creative by not overcomplicating the product. Destined for back bars in premium venues, the Fig Leaf Soda can elevate long drinks – especially those with tequila – and can offer a unique spin on cocktails with its one-of-a-kind flavor. Fig Leaf has proven popular in the culinary scene in recent years and is carving out its place in drinks, so we’re incredibly proud to be spearheading the category by bringing the Fig Leaf Soda to the UK market."
The signature range includes the newly launched Fig Leaf Soda, as well as Pink Grapefruit Soda, Two Cents Plain, Ginger Beer, Mandarin & Bergamot Soda, Cherry Soda, Sparkling Lemonade and Pineapple Soda expressions. It also features tonics such as a Tonic Water, Lemon Tonic, Aegean Tonic and a Dry Tonic.
Mockingbird Raw Gut Shot
Mockingbird – the UK’s fastest growing smoothie brand – has launched a new flavor in its range of cold-pressed juice shots.
The Raw Gut Shot (RRP £6.25/420ml dosing bottle) is crafted with zingy lemon, sweet honey and soothing lemon balm and enriched with chicory root fiber for gut health.
Each 60ml shot contains 100% of the recommended daily allowance of vitamins A, B, C and D.
Raw Gut joins Raw Ginger in the company’s shot range.
Co-founder Chris Laidlaw, said: “Since we first launched into the Shots category at the end of last year, we’ve been invigorating the space, injecting fresh color, flavor and functional benefits, as well as introducing vegetables into the mix.
With Gut Health such a major trend and with research showing this to be relevant to the juices and smoothies category, the launch of our Raw Gut Shot SKU was a natural next step for us.
“We’re super proud of the product and to be bringing all our expertise in taste and nutrition into the gut health space.”
On a mission to revolutionize the world of juices and smoothies, Mockingbird uses a raw production process: which sees the ingredients gently cold-pressed in small batches and prepared using a high-pressure process (HPP) process to avoid the loss of nutrients through heat damage.
The company’s portfolio now spans smoothies, juices and shots.
Extra Spicy non-alc spirit
Three Spirit – a plant-powered non-alcoholic functional spirit – is launching a limited edition drink: Extra Spicy Livener.
The drink ‘turns up the spicy cayenne kick’ with chilli, watermelon, guava and ginger and of course extra cayenne. It also includes bitter notes of ginseng and floral green herbs, and a dry finish of rich tannins and hibiscus.
The drink also contains energizing plants such as guayusa, schisandra and ginseng.
Experimental ciders
UK cider maker Thatchers has launched three new additions to its exclusive Cider Barn range: Thatchers Oak-aged Redstreak, Thatchers Scrumptious, and Thatchers Heritage.
The Cider Barn range celebrates Thatchers’ long-standing tradition of small-batch, experimental ciders. Made with the finest apples, each new cider in the collection highlights unique qualities, from apple variety tastes, to innovative techniques, unusual blends and craft of Thatchers’ expert cider makers.
Thatchers’ Myrtle Farm is home to not just eight varieties, but 458 varieties of apple, making it the largest collection in the UK. This offers the cider makers a rich and diverse range of flavors to experiment with.
Richard Johnson, Head Cider Maker at Thatchers Cider said: “It is such a joy and a privilege to be able to have the freedom and space offered by the Cider Barn to simply create. It is our unique place to experiment with varieties, fermentation and blending to uncover new and exciting styles of cider.
“Each cider tells a story about the apple varieties, the orchards they come from and the craftsmanship behind every bottle. This year I have enjoyed working with traditional bittersweet somerset apples, rediscovering their unique characteristics, and using our 175-year-old oak vats to infuse depth and flavor.”
Raw Hydrate
Former Premier League footballer and The Turmeric Co. founder Thomas ‘Hal’ Robson Kanu has launched Raw Hydrate, a new electrolyte-heavy functional drinks brand, into the UK supermarket retailer Sainsbury’s.
As well as providing hydration, the brand, which was developed over the course of 20 years, aims to improve muscle function, fluid balance, and regulated blood pressure. Kanu developed it with his father.
The drinks are available in three flavors; pineapple, mint and pomegranate. According to the brand, each drink contains 3,600mg of electrolytes, counts as one of your five-a-day, contains only 60 calories, and is free from artificial colors, flavors, sweeteners and added sugars.
“Raw Hydrate is a natural extension of our mission at The Turmeric Co. – to harness the power of nature to fuel a healthier, more vibrant life," said Kanu. “The great success of The Turmeric Co. is a testament to more and more people turning to functional drinks to fuel their bodies and we’re confident the launch of Raw Hydrate will prove just as successful.”
It is available at an RRP of £2.50 for each 250ml drink.
Feeling festive?
Cinnamon, nutmeg, peppermint and more - festive favorite flavors are back! Explore some of the holiday launches in last week's NPD round-up here.