Beverage Social Media Listening
Listening Dates: July 1, 2019 – September 30, 2019
Turn Teatime into a Tea Party
Two companies are brewing new ideas within the tea industry. Wandering Whistler debuted a line of alcoholic teas in early summer with Earl Grey with Elderflower and Green Tea Jasmine flavors. Drawing inspiration from London and China, they’re described as quite carbonated, light, and pleasant. Elderflower and sweet honey flavors come through in Earl Grey, and Green Tea is reminiscent of a cider with jasmine notes.
Meanwhile, if you’re looking to experience the party without the buzz, Hoplark’s HopTea is the culmination of brewing tea to taste like beer. This tea alternative is lightly carbonated, unsweetened and hop forward, but finishes like a tea and includes black, green, and white tea flavors, along with a grapefruit option. Teatime just got a lot more interesting!
Calamansi Juice – A New Super Food?
Calamansi has begun making waves online as people begin to try this cancer-fighting fruit in juice form, especially through drink company Mansi’s promotions of their calamansi juice drink with the hashtag #Drinkmansi. In appearance, the small green fruit is similar to a cross between a lime and a tangerine and is often used as a substitute for lemon. But this little fruit does more for your body than its citrus cousins, as its high d-limonene content has powerful cancer-fighting properties. Sure, lemonade is great – but can it fight cancer?
Calamansi and its juice is used in various drinks, sauces, entrees, and marinades, with a flavor that is a balance between sweet and tart. To take it one step further, this fruit is also finding its way into baked goods, and if you think Lemon Bars are good – you haven’t lived until you’ve tried Calamansi bars…
It’s the Great Pumpkin Cream Cold Brew, Charlie Brown
It’s officially pumpkin spice season, but this year the classic Pumpkin Spice Latte (PSL) might face some major competition with Starbucks’ new Pumpkin Cream Cold Brew. Starbucks had a lot to prove with the release of this drink because before the Pumpkin Cream Cold Brew’s debut on August 27th, Starbucks had not released a new pumpkin flavored drink since the release of the highly successful PSL in 2003. Therefore, it is only fitting that the brand went through ten iterations of this drink before discovering the perfect concoction, as the drink had a lot to live up to.
The Pumpkin Cream Cold Brew is “sweetened with vanilla syrup, topped with a pumpkin cream cold foam and a dusting of pumpkin spice topping.” Even pumpkin spice critics enjoy this drink, as it is not quite as sweet as the traditional PSL and has a much more subtle pumpkin flavor. So move over PSL, there’s a new pumpkin in town!
This New Fall Drink is Golden
The PSL may still rule autumn drink menus, but have you tried a golden milk latte yet? This turmeric-based drink has been growing in popularity due to its anti-inflammatory properties and other health benefits. Initially seen primarily among at-home brewers and local coffee shops, with a wide range of recipes to choose from on blogs and social media, we’re now seeing it popping up in ready-made mixes and concentrates, from brands like Tazo and Brandless. A typical recipe blends the savory, earthy flavor of turmeric with warm, fall-flavored spices like cinnamon, ginger, cardamom, and black pepper, all steeped in steamed milk for that smooth latte texture. Many also experiment with using almond and coconut milk, or adding sweeteners like honey or maple syrup to mix up the flavor profile. Whatever way you like it, this drink is sure to make its way into your rotation of fave fall beverages!
Ride the Lightning
Summer may be on its way out, but you can keep that sunshine feeling going by heading over to KFC to try the new Mtn Dew Sweet Lightning! The new sunshine-yellow Dew stays true to its (and KFC’s!) Southern roots with the sweet flavors of peach and honey, though many reviewers mention it reminds them of another Southern classic – sweet iced tea! Sweet Lightning was specially designed to pair with KFC’s signature fried chicken and is exclusive to the fast food chain, so head on over to give this new duo a try!
Coca-Cola with a Kick
It may not be pumpkin spice, but Coca-Cola is looking to tap into the festivities of Fall with a new flavor that evokes feelings of the Halloween and Thanksgiving seasons. Coca-Cola Cinnamon became available in late September, and this limited time offering is expected to be around until the end of the year. So be sure to check it out soon if you want to ‘spice’ up your daily Coca-Cola fix.
However, if you’re looking for less sweet and a little more kick, the iconic soda brand has you covered, with Coca-Cola Plus Coffee. The formulation, which is currently offered in 25 countries, combines the traditional Coke flavor with actual coffee, and provides more caffeine than a traditional Coke. Talk about buzz!
Apple Pie in a Bottle – An All-American Pairing to Get You Through the Holidays
What’s more American than apple pie on Thanksgiving? Oliver Winery & Vineyards intends on showing you what with their apple pie-infused wine. The award-winning blend has been offered as a limited-edition holiday item since 2016 and has sold out each year since, while racking up industry accolades in the process.
The wine clocks in at 8.3% ABV, and evokes the taste of crisp baked apples, vanilla, brown sugar, and nutmeg. Better yet, the wine is made from fresh-pressed apples with no concentrates. As one brand rep notes, “It’s a perfect wine for sharing. Better yet, no forks are required.” Apple Pie Wine is available across the Midwest and several Southern states but is positioned to go nationwide if its run of success continues.
Hard, Cold, and Brew All Over
Something new is brewing in the land of beer-alternatives, where several alcohol giants have created what they hope will be the next drink craze – hard cold-brew coffee. Pabst Blue Ribbon Hard Coffee combines Robusta and Arabica coffee beans, milk, and malt beverage to create the flavor of a “vanilla-infused premium iced coffee.”
Not to be outdone, MillerCoors got together with coffee maker La Colombe to release La Colombe Hard Cold Brew Coffee. Mixing the coffee company’s medium-roast cold brew coffee with cane sugar and alcohol, the drink comes in two flavors – Black, a balance of sweet and bitter highlighted by baker’s cocoa, and Vanilla, a blend of vanilla bean and dark chocolate flavors, which help to balance out the dark-roasted coffee.
In 2020, Jägermeister will capitalize on the trend when they drop Jägermeister Cold Brew Coffee. Still best-consumed in shot form, the drink will blend the brand’s signature 56 herbs, blossoms, roots, and fruits with Arabica coffee and cacao. That’ll wake you up in the morning!
Bailey’s Irish Cream is also getting in on the craze, but unlike the other cold-brews, theirs is only flavored like their signature beverage and doesn’t contain any alcohol. The 11 oz cans come in two fun flavors – Salted Caramel and Irish Cream – and a 100% guarantee that you won’t find yourself dancing on the table at your Monday morning staff meeting.
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