Issue link: https://read.dmtmag.com/i/491356
STiR tea & coffee industry international 63 K L O T H & K Ö H N K E N T E E H A N D E L G M B H K O N S U L - S M I D T - S T R A S S E 8 j SPEICHER 1 - D -282 17 BREMEN FON + 4 9 - 4 2 1 - 3 4 8 5 2 6 4 FAX + 4 9 - 4 2 1 - 3 4 7 7 7 2 0 W W W . K K T E E . D E M A I L @ K K T E E . D E IT SUITS ALL MERCHANTS TO TRADE FAIR AND QUALI-TEA ! Looking at Herbals and Botanicals Beverages made from herbals and botanicals could be the big winners with this move- ment. These products have the possibility of providing options that are low in sugar, some with no caffeine, but offering appealing flavors. Many herbals have the plus of carrying potential health benefits as well. Martin Bauer Group, a global tea, botanical, and extract supplier, reports seeing significant movement in developing new products with botanicals as a main ingredient, especially products that offer flavor and function like ginseng, chamomile, rooibos, ginger, and mate. "Botanical ingredients are available in extract forms which provide a practical ben- efit," says Gary Vorsheim, vp extract sales at Martin Bauer. "Using extracts allows the product developer to focus on making a delicious beverage without having to become an expert on selecting raw materials and processing them for use in a beverage." Martin Bauer recently purchased Beverage House, putting them in the enviable position of be- ing able to supply botanicals and also work on the formulation and manufacturing side. Rooibos is a classic example of a trend maker. While it has been consumed in South Africa for generations, it was not largely known globally. That changed in the 1990s. Crop production has tripled since then with U.S. imports rising 15% annually in the mid-aughts. Rooibos carries the high antioxidant levels of tea, but without caffeine. In 2001 the first commercial green rooibos was introduced to meet a demand by the inter- national market for higher antioxidant activity than traditional processing.Yerba mate has also garnered appeal as a coffee alternative, with a bold flavor and a caffeine punch. Other herbals showing up in this market segment boast appeal due to their reputa- tions as functional additives. Echinacea is one of the most popular herbs being used in the U.S., according to the Universityof Maryland Medical Center with a history of use over 400 years long. People associate echinacea with immune support, believing that it helps to ease cold and flu symptoms. Ginseng is another plant that is prized for its potential benefits to the immune system and for helping to combat feelings of fatigue. The Bottled Market One company making a move in this market is Ayala's Herbal Water. Developed by pediatrician Dr. Ayala Laufer Cahana, these bottled beverages offer a flavorful alterna- tive that was convenient. The product began simply, in her kitchen making drinks for her children with herbs from her garden. In her medical practice she had been very concerned about the rising rates of obesity and she realized that what was in her glass might offer an answer. "I'd been looking at how we're drinking ourselves fat with calo- ries and the lowest hanging fruit about how we reduce our caloric intake is to reduce sugary drinks," Cahana says. "I realized I had the solution in my garden." Green Rooibos from Republic of Tea