Energy and Health-Oriented Drinks Hitting the Set

The energy beverage market, like the consumers of the beverages themselves, never seems to slow. And the different slants on the energy element proliferate. Beyond just energizing drinks, vitamin-concepted brands, green tea-based libations and other beverages claiming health benefits are entering the fray.

To Your Health
    BooKoo Beverages has introduced the Jugo variety of BooKoo Energy Drink, touted as being one of the highest-juice-content energy drinks on the market, containing 99 percent juice. Made with antioxidant-rich fruits such as papaya, white grape, orange, guava and passion fruit, the drink is positioned to be consumed in the morning or evening, which the company perceives have the greatest category growth opportunities.
    Ardea Beverage has launched a new type of canned energy drink in the United States which, it claims, can slow down the absorption of sugar to help curb hunger, thus aiding weight loss. The drink, airforce Renew Nutrisoda contains vitamins and minerals,as well as dietary fiber, to support the production of healthy active intestinal bacteria and microflora, and stabilize blood sugar levels — and offers a full range of cocktail recipes at www.airforcenutrisoda.com/
mixology.php.
    Available in watermelon and blueberry flavors, the beverage offers similar benefits to Enviga, a product introduced under a joint venture between Pepsi and Nestle. Enviga is a green tea which is said to aid weight loss by speeding up metabolism.

Energy Boosts
    Even the beer segment is trying to energizing its sales.
    Butte Creek Brewing Co. has introduced a new type of beer in the U.S. market that is caffeinated. Mateveza Yerba Mate Ale contains yerba mate extract, a South American plant that is said to be high in caffeine (like coffee), but which has a milder taste due to the presence of theobromine, described as a mild, long-lasting stimulant. The combination of the yerba mate extract, along with the beer's cascade hops, is said to give the beverage earthy, herbal notes, with a crisp citrus character.
    As reported recently in NCB, The p.i.n.k. Spirits Co. has introduced p.i.n.k. vodka, infused with caffeine and guarana. The unique spirit is on-trend, combining premium vodka and energy drink attributes.
    To inject energy into cocktails without incorporating the added taste of an energy drink into the recipe, Bev-Rev is a flavorless, quick-to-pour drink containing a potent supply of energizers — with no mess and no large storage space needed for cans.
    Stoked energy drink contains a proprietary blend of active ingredients, but, unlike many energy drinks, does not contain high-fructose corn syrup. Stoked, complete with its dragon-themed branding imagery, is available in 16-ounce cans in four flavors: Original, Sugar Free, Tropical Orange and Dragonberry.