ZZAI Introduces West African Flavor Traditions to American Premium Retail

Honoring centuries of tradition with a modern, premium twist, ZZAI debuts four shelf-stable, real-cane-sugar sparkling beverages — Chapman, Zobo, TamTam, and Obì — at the 2026 Summer Fancy Food Show, Booth 7130B.

PASSAIC, N.J. — June 2026 — ZZAI, a premium West African sparkling beverage brand, announces its trade debut at the 2026 Summer Fancy Food Show, June 28–30 at the Javits Center in New York City.

While Japanese yuzu, Italian blood orange, and Mexican tamarind have become staples on American premium shelves, West African flavor traditions remain largely absent from U.S. retail. ZZAI closes that gap, bringing the vibrant flavors poured at West African celebrations for generations into a premium, launch-ready format.

Visiting buyers and media can experience four distinct SKUs at Booth 7130B:

• Chapman — sparkling spiced citrus, originally invented at the iconic Ikoyi Club in Lagos in the 1970s and a fixture of West African celebration ever since.
• Zobo — sparkling hibiscus and ginger, known and loved across the global diaspora as Bissap, Sobolo, and Sorrel.
• TamTam — sparkling mango and tamarind, a brilliant, balanced profile that delivers sweetness first, followed by a crisp, tart finish.
• Obì — sparkling African bitters built on the kola nut, designed for the sophisticated palate of the modern amaro or Campari soda drinker.

Each beverage is crafted with real cane sugar and contains zero artificial sweeteners, colors, or preservatives. Embodying the Specialty Food Association's 2026 Trend of the Year, SenseMaxxing — which celebrates bold, maximalist sensory experiences — the brand also pays homage to its roots through its visual identity. Each can features an original illustration honoring a legendary West African cultural figure or tradition, including Queen Amina of Zazzau, Queen Moremi of Ile-Ife, the Eyo Masquerade of Lagos, and the sacred kola nut ceremony.

Global beverage companies have already demonstrated the commercial appeal of these flavor traditions across African markets, where Diageo built Orijin around West Africa’s bitters culture and Coca-Cola's Schweppes commercialized Chapman for the mass market in Nigeria. ZZAI brings these proven flavor profiles to American premium retail.

Demonstrating strong market validation prior to its first production run, ZZAI has already secured a prepaid national wholesale order serving African and Asian markets. Additionally, the brand's recent Kickstarter campaign was designated a “Project We Love” by the platform, funding at 129% of its goal through consumer pre-orders.

“Global beverage companies discovered these flavors years ago. The diaspora never needed convincing. I'm building the brand that should have come from us first,” says Zainob Fashola, founder of ZZAI. “The Summer Fancy Food Show is where America gets its first taste.”

Founded by Nigerian-American entrepreneur Zainob Fashola, whose nearly two decades in product development span consumer goods manufacturing and commercialization in West Africa, ZZAI features shelf-stable SKUs and established early wholesale demand, positioning it at the front of a new wave in global beverage.

Retail buyers, distributors, and members of the media are invited to taste all four SKUs at Booth 7130B throughout the show.

About ZZAI: ZZAI is a premium beverage company dedicated to bringing bold West African flavor traditions to the global stage. Made with clean ingredients and real cane sugar, ZZAI bridges the gap between rich cultural heritage and modern premium retail. The company is launching with four shelf-stable SKUs, with early wholesale demand across specialty and multicultural retail channels. Learn more at drinkzzai.com or follow on Instagram @drinkzzai.