Made with a USDA Organic blend of water, maple syrup, apple cider vinegar, cane syrup and ginger juice/puree, CideRoad’s switchel starts out with a pretty traditional formulation. It’s definitely not as strong as some of the other brands that we’ve sampled, but it does feel as though it’s something that’s geared towards the mainstream.
BluePrint’s attempt at a seasonal flavor is this product, which is a blend of everything that you’ll find in the flavor name: orange juice, organic cranberry juice, organic apple juice, organic agave, organic ginger and organic cinnamon. Rather than being spicy, we’d describe the flavor as having a “holiday spice” that’s similar to what you’d find in homemade cranberry sauce. However, we’d like the product to be a bit less sweet than it currently is (it has 59g of sugar per bottle).
Up Mountain Switchel is another rendition of the classic beverage that is the product’s namesake. It blends water, Vermont maple syrup, raw organic apple cider and fresh ginger root into a product that is loaded with flavor. On the outside, it’s hard to miss the 16 oz. mason jar that the company has chosen. Rather than make it look fancy with a custom cap or custom bottle, it seems intentional that it looks like a stock mason jar.
Sap on Tap is a single-ingredient maple water beverage that is USDA Organic certified. The product, much like every other maple water that we’ve tasted to date, is very subtle and has a light maple flavor.
If there’s any company that can credibly market a super-strength cranberry drink, it’s definitely Ocean Spray, which recently launched Pact, a low-calorie beverage that hangs its hat on the benefits of cranberry extract (specifically proanthocyanidins or PACS).
Following the launch of WTR MLN Water comes Tsamma, another watermelon juice product that recently came to market. Marketed as containing 95 percent watermelon juice that is cold-pressed, the beverage also contains white grape and pomegranate juices from concentrate, malic acid (used for tartness) and natural flavors. The juice, however, is not high pressure processed, something that might hamper placement amid a super-premium set that is increasingly embracing the technology.
Amid an autumn season that is now fully upon us, Suja has launched a new "Holiday Edition" variety of drinks that falls under its Elements line. Coming in three playfully-named flavors -- Call Me Pumpkin, 'Tis The Nog and Wassail to You -- the drinks are nice homage to (and improvement upon) a few classic holiday beverages.
Since the debut of High Brew Coffee earlier this year, we've seen a couple other brands launch a canned cold-brew coffee line. One is Kohana, which in addition to the new line, revamped its graphics. The coffee comes in three varieties and appears to have what it takes to crack mainstream channels.
Though the segment of high pressure processed coconut waters is a relatively small one, companies in the space are nonetheless looking for ways to extend their brands with new flavor offerings, much like Invo has with the launch of two flavored varieties.
Q Ginger Beer is a beverage that was formulated to be used exclusively as a mixer. But trying it straight, the product is extremely drinkable on its own.
The concept behind Lumi's Honey Crisp Apple juice is straightforward and something that goes nicely with the not overly processed theme of HPP beverages: take a seasonal ingredient (organic honey crisp apples from Virginia) and make a limited release product.
Taking advantage of momentum for cold-pressed juice, Five Star Foodies has launched a rebrand and reformulation its cider line. Now cold-pressed and high pressure processed, the line comes in three varieties — Ginger, Hibiscus and Jamaican — each packaged in 12 oz. bottles.
Tumeric ALIVE’s first dairy-alternative beverage is a high pressure processed (HPP) blend of coconut cream, hemp milk, turmeric, cardamom, raw honey, bee pollen, chia seed, vanilla bean, ginger and sea salt. While “golden” might not be the best word to describe the color, the flavor of the product is extremely enjoyable.
There’s a lot of buzz -- at least on the bleeding edge -- about apple cider vinegar-based beverages. Fire Cider is one of the more unique approaches that we’ve seen in the space. The product, which is made with apple cider vinegar, honey, oranges, lemons, onions, horseradish, ginger, habanero, garlic and turmeric, has an insanely complex and spicy flavor.
