Beverage products aren’t exactly in short supply today, with a plethora of different options available, all promising a wide range of health benefits.
The global planted-based beverages market is anticipated to climb to US$33.96 billion by 2026 and it’s really no surprise considering the wellness trend that has turned our attention to powerful ingredients like botanicals and adaptogens.
While it might be easy to dismiss this as yet another fad, many companies go to great lengths to ensure their formulations are scientifically backed. Adaptogens, for instance, aid the body in maintaining equilibrium, while many botanical ingredients have numerous healing properties that can help us to get a better night’s sleep or manage our stress.
“When I’d need to calm down and take a moment in the afternoon, I’d have something sugary or caffeinated, but it wouldn’t help me get through the day,” Aisha Chottani, Co-Founder of Moment, told Forbes.
The world’s best health drinks
This carefully curated list of wellness beverages from around the globe is designed to showcase the alternatives to caffeine drinks to help you be more creative, productive and alert when you need it most. Beyond the beautiful packaging, these drinks offer the opportunity to indulge in a sip of goodness that doesn’t compromise on taste and quality.
De Soi
Co-founded by Katy Perry, De Soi is a line of premium botanic beverages that are blended with mind-mellowing adaptogens, including reishi mushroom, ashwagandha and maca, together with natural botanicals that invite creativity, relieve stress and fight off fatigue.
Whether you choose ‘Golden Hour’, ‘Champignon Dreams’ or ‘Purple Lune’ each beverage boasts a sophisticated flavour profile that is free from artificial colours and flavours. Inspired by the French ethos of pleasure with restraint, the adaptogenic tonics merge ethnobotany with natural distilling practices to celebrate life with beneficial ingredients.
Sweet Reason
Curators of calm, Sweet Reason, led by founder and CEO Hilary McCain, is on a mission to calm people’s minds using pure hemp CBD and a powerful blend of soothing herbs and adaptogens. Founded on the pillars of health, taste and quality, McCain and her team discovered the best water-soluble CBD that doesn’t require added sweeteners or artificial ingredients while remaining highly bioavailable.
Whether you’re struggling to meet deadlines or are trying to relax after a busy day, a dose of Sweet Reason is your solution to unwind, focus and balance your body. Choose from award-winning Sparkling Waters or Evening Blend beverages that have you covered day and night.
Sunwink
Sunwink Co-Founders Eliza Ganesh and Jordan Schenck established a brand that encourages people to care for themselves every day through herb-powered beverages. Each sparkling herbal tonic is crafted with the equivalent of more than 4,000 milligrams of functional superfoods and potent plant blends that support the body, featuring hibiscus, lemon balm, ginger and elderberry, to name a few. Formulated and validated by clinical herbalists, and inspired by real people, each Sunwick product is an expression of that knowledge and love of plants.
Moment
Launched in June 2020, Moment’s creator Aisha Chottani realised that adaptogens and meditation were the solution to boost her concentration levels and creativity at work. In an attempt to make this feeling accessible to everyone, Chottani formulated a drink that activates the alpha brain waves using star ingredients like L-theanine and Ashwagandha to improve focus and relieve stress.
While these adaptogens are by no means a secret within the wellness community, Chottani’s inspiration for the meditation drinks stems from her own cultural experiences in Pakistan, South Africa and South-East Asia, where exotic fruits, herbs and teas give her beverages an edge. The business was listed among the Top 45 Food Startups in 2020.
Earth & Star
Founded by wellness entrepreneurs Erica Huss and Zoë Sakoutis in 2020, Earth & Star’s ready-to-drink, globally distributed latte range is enhanced with functional mushrooms Lion’s Mane, Cordyceps, Reishi and Chaga. When combined, these ingredients deliver the ultimate ‘entourage effect’. Big believers that the future is fungi, the brand’s immune boosting formulations are designed to supercharge your day.
Droplet
From the artworks on their packaging to their thoughtfully curated aromatherapeutic blends, the Co-Founders of Droplet created their superfood-infused sparkling beverages to be easily incorporated into your self-care routine with joy. Formulated using fresh fruit and high-quality organic and/or wildcrafted extracts, each batch varies slightly just as nature does. Every Droplet offers a unique blend of whole fruit juices, organic adaptogens and superfoods to uplift and re-energise you or calm your mind and balance you, depending on what you choose.
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