9 Unique Beverages We’re Keeping an Eye On
By Steve Holtz on Dec. 07, 20161. Malk
Malk is becoming big business. That’s right, Malk, a plant-based milk alternative on the market since 2014. This past summer, drinks from Malk Organics earned space in more than 1,500 stores across the country, expanding to 24 states.
August Vega, a mom who was diagnosed with a dairy allergy as a child, went on a mission to find the most beneficial substitute available when her son was diagnosed with the same allergy. And thus, Malk was born.
Each Malk product is 100% organic and made with more than 1 cup of sprouted and organic nuts per bottle. The product is available in six flavors: Unsweetened Almond, Vanilla Almond, Maple Pecan, Unsweetened Cashew, Chocolate Pecan and Pecan Cold Brew.
2. Caliwater Cactus Water
Caliwater Cactus Water hit a sweet spot in November by landing shelf space for its original Cactus Water and Cactus+Peach flavors in 450 CVS Pharmacy locations across the United States.
The prickly-pear beverage “delivers the ancient beneficial nutrients of the Opuntia cactus,” according to the company. Formulated without artificial flavors, colors or preservatives, Caliwater’s low-calorie, low-sugar beverages are also Non-GMO Project Verified, vegan and certified OU Kosher.
3. Kona Gold
Kona Gold Solutions, Rockledge, Fla., is slowly moving its line of hemp-infused energy drinks into retail stores. The drinks are in about 50 liquor, grocery and convenience stores in Alabama and Florida, but most of the brand’s sales are transacted through the internet.
“Kona Gold is a premier hemp brand specializing in energy drinks, energy shots, energy patches, apparel, shampoo and hydroponics,” according to its Facebook page.
4. Tickle Water
New York-based Tickle Water launched this past spring in an effort to bring the sparkling-water category to children.
The company says the unsweetened beverages are “a little bit fancy and a whole lot of fun."
They are available in four flavors: Plain, Cola, Green Apple and Watermelon.
5. AquaBall
Speaking of children’s drinks, beverage maker True Drinks, Irvine, Calif., has overhauled the packaging of its AquaBall.
The makeover includes:
- New packaging to make the bottle shape a better fit for children’s hands and cup holders
- A switch from cold-fill to hot-fill processing to create a 100% preservative-free beverage
6. NutriBlade Wheatgrass Shot
With the launch of NutriBlade’s USDA Organic Wheatgrass Shot in October, consumers were invited to “tap into natural energy and nutrition.”
NutriBlade is the creator of ready-to-drink, organic wheatgrass beverages, and now the organic wheatgrass shot.
“Wheatgrass is one of the best things you can consume to remove toxins, get more energy and replenish vital vitamins and antioxidants,” said NutriBlade founder Tony Marks. “With our shot, there’s no expensive equipment or time-consuming juicing process. It’s just grab, go and enjoy.”
7. Marquis Organic Energy
Marquis Organic Energy has generally kept to online shipping and specialty stores, offering a natural energy boost from green tea, yerba mate, green coffee and other chemical-free ingredients. But beginning in January, the Los Angeles-based brand partnered with Target stores and expanded through grocery wholesaler Unified Grocers.
The drinks are available in 12-ounce cans in three flavors: Super Berry, Mango Ginger and Citrus Lime.
8. Gorilla Milk
Earlier this year, Barnana, maker of The Super Potassium Snack, announced it would bring eco-friendly, grass-fed Gorilla Milk to market.
Promising a product made from the “nutritionally dense milk” of Western Lowland Gorillas, the cringeworthy release turned out to be a fundraising campaign intended to benefit efforts to save and repopulate the wild habitat of the gorilla.
“For those wanting to try the gorilla milk,” Barnana said on its website, “I’m sorry to tell you that we in fact don’t milk gorillas. Just because you can doesn’t mean you should.”
9. Barefoot Wine & Bubbly
Modesto, Calif.-based E.&J. Gallo Winery’s Barefoot Wine & Bubbly was named the Official Bubbly of New Year's Eve Times Square. As the Times Square New Year's Eve Ball dropped, Barefoot toasted with millions to the start of another year full of opportunities to bring people together in celebration.