Botanical-flavored beverages are on the rise as consumers are looking for more than just a refreshing drink. They are looking for something that can affect their mood, help digestion, and overall health. The trend of low sugar, low-carb drinks is holding steady as more new brands hit the market.
Popular Herbs Being Used
These plants are old standbys for herbalists, but are being used in several different and exciting beverage brands.
HIBISCUS
Tart & Colorful
CHAMOMILE
Calming
JUNIPER BERRIES
Invigorating & Aromatic
GINGER
Spicy yet Soothing
CHICORY ROOT
Good for the Gut
ELDERBERRY
Packed with Antioxidants
We’ve foraged the landscape for a few beverage brands that are capturing the attention of more health-conscience consumers by using some of our favorite herbs.
WHALEBIRD KOMBUCHA
whalebirdkombucha.comWhalebird floats a line of classic kombucha and hard kombucha. They call their non-alcoholic line “Classic”, but they have some pretty original flavors like Purple Rain that includes botanicals like chamomile, rose petals, butterfly pea tea, and spearmint. That sounds like a delicious and powerful mix of herbs.
NIXIE SPARKLING WATERS
drinknixie.com Nixie serves up organically-flavored sparkling waters. They are joining the trend with their newest products featuring botanicals like hibiscus and ginger mixed with fruit flavors. No calories, no sugar, no sodium—how refreshing.
GOLDEN STATE CIDER
drinkgoldenstate.comGolden State Cider is all about the apple flavors shining through—not sugar. They stand out from the well-known ciders with their wine-country roots and their innovative approach to flavors. They use herbs like ginger and lemongrass bring a nice balance to the sweet apple. They even have a local Sonoma taproom where you can find more creative blends.
HOPLARK HOPTEA
hoplark.com Hoplark brews tea in the craft-brew tradition using hops and conventional herbs like chamomile and juniper berries. Their drinks give you a bit of that craft-beer taste without the sugar or alcohol—very unique.
RECESS
takearecess.com All of the Recess drinks feature hemp and adaptogens for “calm and clarity”. Although their beverages include a bit of sugar, they rely heavily on herbs like hibiscus, ginger, and licorice root for flavor.
HAUS
drink.haus Haus crafts aperitifs with a modern twist using traditional botanicals. Their drinks are naturally-flavored with real herbs like lavender, ginger, cinnamon, elderflower and rose.
MOMENT
drinkmoment.com You don’t need caffeine or added sugars to feel invigorated. Moment’s beverages include ashwagandha and l-theanine (herbs traditionally used in Ayurvedic medicine to fight stress) mixed with fruity botanical flavors for a refreshing break from sodas and teas.
BOOCHCRAFT
boochcraft.comBoochcraft makes hard kombucha with only organic fruits and botanicals—no extracts or artificial flavors. All of their unique flavors are surprisingly low in sugar and carbs. They use some classic herbs like rosemary and ginger, but are taking cues from herbal teas by using hibiscus, jasmine, and rose hips.
As more people discover the vast flavors of botanicals and herbs, we look forward to seeing new creative ways that businesses and beverage companies will use them.
We provide bulk herbs to a range of beverage, tea, kombucha, and alcoholic beverage brands. Reach out to us if you are thinking of creating a new product and need a source for quality bulk herbs at competitive prices.
