Dowd's Non-Alcohol Drinks Notebook

2011-06-14T12:56:00.001-07:00

What the interior will look like.

Join me for drinks at a new place

2010-08-18T17:15:00.001-07:00

THERE comes a time when you've got to pull in your belt a bit. Not because of a weight loss or a financial problem or anything of that sort. No, I've just gotten so overextended with the number of blogs and websites I write, edit and publish that I'm cutting down on the output.

Being a New Yorker, I'm now concentrating almost exclusively on New York State when I provide news, reviews, tastings, items about people and places in the field, plus a bit of foodie-related news.

Please join me at my newest site -- Drinking New York [http://drinkingnewyork.biz] where you'll find a thoroughly NY-centric report as well as THE most comprehensive drink-events calendar covering the state.
See you there.

Sunkist put in a very dark place

2010-07-23T17:35:00.000-07:00

"Eat This, Not That" calls Sunkist orange-flavored drink "ounce for ounce, the worst soft drink on the market today."

The evaluation comes as part of the Men’s Health magazine offshoot’s latest look at food and drink in America.

The Sunkist product has 130 calories and 34 grams of sugar in each eight-ounce bottle. The other “worst” soft drinks by categories take 12 ounces each to get to that level. They are:

• Lemon-Lime: 7Up, 12 ozs., 150 calories, 38 grams of sugar
• Cola: CocaCola, 12 ozs., 140 calorie, 39 grams of sugar
• Black Cherry: Stewart’s, 12 ozs., 19 calories, 46 grams of sugar

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Mailbag: In search of non-alcoholic Scotch

2010-05-19T12:21:00.000-07:00

Q: Is there such a thing as non-alcoholic Scotch? I saw a web page for Scottish Spirits Ltd.; they make a non-alcoholic whisky they say tastes and looks exactly like traditional Scotch whisky, but they had no contact information.

My friend’s father is in a assisted living facility and misses his Scotch, but cannot have the alcohol. I’m sure there would be a huge market for this type of product.

Thank you for your time,

Kathleen Owens
Whistleville Farms
Decatur, IL

A: First things first. If it is non-alcoholic it is neither Scotch whisky nor whisky of any kind. However, that doesn't mean it can't resemble them in taste. That's in the eye -- or palate -- of the beholder.

Scottish Spirits Ltd., the Glasgow, Scotland, distiller you mentioned, spent a decade developing the alcohol-free ArKay brand "whisky" specifically targeted for Muslim consumers worldwide.

The company says it is "made from natural identical ingredients in accordance with European Economic Community (EEC) regulations and from artificial flavors and natural malt extract in accordance with the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA)."

The suggested retail price is $20 per bottle. The problem for individual consumers is that Scottish Spirits Ltd. sells the product by the case, with a minimum order of one container of 1,200 cases.

It also will provide custom labels with text printed according to the health and import regulations of the distributor’s home country.

Scottish Spirits Ltd. has been an international whisky exporter since 1896.

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$12-a-cup coffee debuts in Manhattan

2010-05-06T12:27:00.000-07:00

Remember when many people were irate over coffee hitting $1 a cup? Too long ago for you? OK, how about $3 a cup, or $4, or $5 or ...

You get the idea. Well, Cafe Grumpy in Manhattan has begun offering a $12 cup of coffee. That's right, $12. One thousand two hundred pennies.

The mini-chain, which has locations in Brooklyn as well, debuted the beverage on Wednesday. It is made from Ethiopian coffee beans.

Cafe Grumpy is a no-frills coffee shop that says the handpicked beans are more expensive than most others because of the labor and time necessary for harvesting, drying and shipping.

And, don't think about asking for a latte version. Or even just a little milk and sugar. “As soon as you add milk and sugar to this, you lose a lot of the nuance,” said barista Colleen Duhamel.

It better have plenty of nuances. Even a cup-a-day habit will cost you $4,380 a year.

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Finlandia water bottles mark Earth Day

2010-04-22T11:21:00.000-07:00

Left to right: “The Very Tired Rooster” representing the Midnight Sun, which shines for 73 days straight in the north of Finland; "Untouched Nature," represented by the Norse mythological red squirrel Ratatosk; six-row barley featuring “The Cranes” walking in the barley field; "Thiaridae” the freshwater snail, representing pure glacial spring water.

Today is the 40th Earth Day, which coincides with the 40th anniversary of the Finlandia vodka brand.

To mark both milestones, Finlandia is releasing limited edition charity water bottles featuring designs by Klaus Haapaniemi, a renowned Finnish graphic artist.

"As a Finnish artist and proud of my heritage, it was a pleasure to partner with Finlandia on this project to benefit so many great environmental charities," Haapaniemi said. "I hope my designs bring color and fantasy to Finlandia and glamorize the nature and the wildlife of Finland."

Each design represents one of Finlandia Vodka’s core elements: the Midnight Sun, untouched nature, six-row barley and pure glacial spring water.

The one-liter SIGG water bottles sell for $28. Finlandia will divide all profits among four global environmental projects selected to promote sustainability beyond the brand’s distillation footprint. This cause-marketing program is an early step in a new, concerted effort to explore sustainability and the brand’s harmony with nature.

The water bottles will be available beginning May 3 for purchase online. (The website will not be active until then.)

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Canajoharie entry wins NYS water competition

2010-04-21T16:45:00.000-07:00

William M. Dowd photos

SARATOGA SPRINGS, NY -- Water, water, everywhere ... and plenty to drink, think about, consult over, run through valves and purification systems ... and so on.

That was the scene Wednesday at the Saratoga Hilton/City Center which was hosting the annual conference of the New York Section -- American Water Works Association (AWWA), a statewide organization of professionals involved in the drinking water industry -- water/wastewater plant operators, utilities, municipal officials, academics and consulting engineers.

It also was the spot where I joined three other judges from the industry to select the best drinking water in New York State, an honor that went to the Village of Canajoharie. Its water now moves on to the national AWWA competition, scheduled for June in Chicago.

Judges conducted a blind test, sampling a variety of waters from various parts of the state, looking for clarity, taste, smell, aftertaste, and scoring on a 5-point system for each category. While it may not seem at first glance that judging water samples would be much of a chore compared to judging, say, wines and spirits, having done all of those liquids I can attest to the fact that water judging has its difficulties. All the entries were top quality, no discolorations, funky odors or bad aftertaste. On my final scoresheet, I had one entry just two points ahead of a trio tied for second place. I retasted all four, knocking the leader down by one point but still keeping it at the top.

As it turned out, the total points awarded by the four judges wound up ranking the finishers in the same order I had picked them:

• 1st -- Village of Canajoharie, 107 points.
• 2nd through 4th -- Tie among Bethpage (Long Island) Water District, New York City and Greenlawn, 102 points each.
• 5th -- Village of Monroe, 95 points.
• 6th -- Monroe County, 91 points.

The other judges were Joseph Mantua, national president-elect of the AWWA; Manoj Ajmera, a consulting water engineer from the Capital Region, and Dr. Connie Schreppel of Utica, current chair and director of an upstate water distributor. The event was coordinated by Rochelle Cassella of Liverpool, executive director of the New York Section - AWWA.

SCENES FROM A CONVENTION

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Healthier drinks in schools achieved

2010-03-23T11:47:00.001-07:00

The nation's leading beverage companies have come through on their three-year commitment to replace full-calorie soft drinks from schools across the country with smaller portion, lower calorie drinks.

That's according to a statement released by the American Beverage Association. The project, in cooperation with the Alliance for a Healthier Generation -- a joint initiative of the American Heart Association and the William J. Clinton Foundation, has thus affected an 88% reduction in calories from beverages shipped to schools since 2004.

The ABA released the "Alliance School Beverage Guidelines Final Progress Report," which it says confirms that the Coca-Cola Company, PepsiCo, Dr Pepper Snapple Group and their systems of local bottling companies that work directly with the school partners have transformed the beverage landscape in schools across America. The report was prepared by Keybridge Research LLC, an independent firm that prepared the previous two progress reports.

"A critical component of the Alliance's national effort to end childhood obesity has been our work with the beverage industry to reduce the amount of calories our kids consume in schools," said former President Bill Clinton, founder of the William J. Clinton Foundation, who co-leads the Alliance with California Gov. Arnold Schwarzenegger and American Heart Association President Clyde Yancy.

"We are encouraged by the significant progress we've made and look forward to continuing our work with participating schools, companies and the American Beverage Association to give young people the options and opportunities they need to lead healthier lives."

"It's a brand new day in America's schools when it comes to beverages," said Susan Neely, ABA president and CEO. "Our beverage companies have slashed calories in schools as full-calorie soft drinks have been removed. The beverages available to students are now lower-calorie, nutritious, smaller-portion choices."

This Alliance School Beverage Guidelines Progress Report marks the third and final assessment of the impact and status of the implementation of the guidelines.

"Childhood obesity is a complex problem, and there is no one single solution. The core of the problem, however, is that many of our children and youth are consuming too many calories," said Dr. Clyde Yancy, president of the American Heart Association and medical director for Baylor Heart and Vascular Institute at Baylor University Medical Center in Dallas.

"School is a unique environment where students make food and beverage choices with limited supervision and begin to set food preferences that last into adulthood. The Alliance School Beverage Guidelines are a tool for reducing students' access to calories during the school day and changing behaviors that may lead to a lifelong improvement in caloric consumption."

Under the voluntary guidelines, 100% juice, low-fat milk and bottled water are allowed in elementary and middle schools, with the addition of diet beverages and calorie-capped sports drinks, flavored waters and teas in high schools. In addition to the removal of full-calorie soft drinks from all schools, the shift towards more lower-calorie, smaller-portion beverages is also contributing to the overall reduction in calories available from beverages in schools.

Copies of the "Alliance School Beverage Guidelines Final Progress Report" are available online.

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NY ignores sugary-drink tax proposal

2010-03-23T11:40:00.001-07:00

It seems it was only a matter of time. The latest push to legalize the sale of wine in supermarkets in New York State apparently has died and been tossed on the refuse heap of its predecessors.

The State Senate's 2010-11 budget resolution just released does not contain Gov. David Paterson’s proposal to include wine sales in supermarkets and some other retail outlets. Legislative analysts predict the same will be true of an Assembly version when it is adopted later this week.

Also missing from the Senate version of the budget is a tax on sugary beverages Paterson had wanted.

The debate over Paterson's proposal has been long and heated, bringing into conflict all sorts of temporary coalitions as well as expert lobbyists pushing one side of the agenda or the other.

The governor's office originally projected extra revenue for the state of $147 million from the expansion of where wine could be sold. A secondary move, proposing higher franchise fees than he had at first wanted for such sales permission, pushed that estimate to $300 million.

No matter your point of view, one thing is for sure: That $300 million Paterson had counted as potential income from such changes will have to be made up to help support the gigantic state budget legislators seem incapable of ever paring down.

And, just where do you think that revenue is going to come from?

Wine/sugary beverage buyer or not, you're going to have to dig deeper than ever to help support the state government, including all the special perks and discretionary money the Senate and Assembly drones spread around their districts to ensure votes for their reelection whether you like the use of your money or not.

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Anyone find a no-tomato discount?

2010-03-06T13:39:00.000-08:00

It may or may not immediately affect your Virgin Mary cocktail, depending on your favorite watering hole’s recipe, or your soup, salad or sauce, but a harsh Southern winter has spoiled an estimated 80% of the Florida tomato crop.

Add to that the February 27 earthquake and subsequent aftershocks that have wreaked havoc in produce-rich Chile and you have a severe tomato shortage.

We’re already seeing a reduction in the amount of tomatoes being put in sandwich shop items and even at full-service restaurants as prices skyrocket and availability shrinks. Those that are paying their suppliers more for tomatoes may well be passing the additional cost along to consumers if the shortage lasts.

When this happened several years ago, the same thing happened as far as consumer-impact. However, I don’t recall a single food purveyor who reduced his/her prices to the public even though in many cases you were getting less of a product.

If you come across a restaurant, sandwich shop or other vendor who is cutting prices to reflect the reduction or absence of tomatoes, let me know.

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A perfect winter moment

2010-01-30T15:34:00.001-08:00

Mmmm, Stalin cola

2010-01-29T12:37:00.000-08:00

A year ago, I reported on competing Russian vodka makers putting the country's two top leaders on their labels.

Now, a figure from the Russian past will have his ugly head raised on a non-alcoholic beverage label.

The face of the notorious Soviet dictator Josef Stalin will be seen on bottles of a soft drink to go on sale next month in Russia, according to a report this week in the Komsomolskaya Pravda newspaper.

The bottles probably will become collector's items of a sort, because they are a limited edition that is part of a batch of beverages being released to mark the 67th anniversary of the World War II Soviet victory over Germany in the Battle of Stalingrad.

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Barista season is steaming up

2010-01-23T16:01:00.000-08:00

There actually is a county in georgia named Coffee(*). But next month, most of the state's coffee attention will be in Atlanta, where the Southeast Regional Barista Competition will be conducted.

The event is set for February 19-21, hosted once again by Batdorf & Bronson Coffee Roasters and Everything Coffee & Tea Inc.

That will come just after the Mountain Region competition, set for February 11-14 in Fort Collins, CO. It is sponsored by Barista Pro Shop.

Both are part of the Specialty Coffee Association of America's series of barista showdowns. Both websites are short on details right now, but organizers promise that soon will change.

The Atlanta event is scheduled for the Plow Arts Center, 887 West Marietta Street, in Atlanta. It will showcases the high level of expertise and innovation that has become the hallmark of quality coffee and espresso bars.

Competitors will be judged for the excellence of their drinks, the detail of their presentation and their hospitality.

After those events, additional competitions are planned:

• The Western Regional, February 26-28, in Los Angeles.

• The Mid-Atlantic and the Northeast regionals will be held in conjunction with Coffee Fest, March 5-7 at the Meadowlands complex in East Rutherford, NJ.

• The Great Lakes Regional, March 12-14, in Milwaukee.

• The Southwest Regional, March 19-21, in Phoenix, AZ.

The South Central Regional, won by Lorenzo Perkins of Caffe Medici in Austin, TX, was held in January.

Winners from the regionals go on to the national championship.

(*) Coffee County was named for Georgia militia general John Coffee. He was responsible for the building of the Coffee Road which forms the western boundary of the county. He died in 1836.

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Coffee & Tea Festival set for NYC

2010-01-20T12:49:00.001-08:00

Wine, beer and spirits have their extravaganzas, but coffee and tea don't have nearly the number of showcases. However, the 5th annual Coffee & Tea Festival NYC is a major event.

The international event, open to the public and the trade, is scheduled for Saturday and Sunday, February 2021, at 7WEST, located at 7 West 34th Street in Manhattan.

The event will offer two days of programming including classes/lectures/demos from industry pros and pioneers. Chocolates and sweet treats will offer a wonderful compliment to the spectacular collection of coffees and teas.

Ticket information and reservations are available online.

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Coalition raps NY gov's latest tax proposal

2010-01-19T13:50:00.001-08:00

Governor David Paterson, scrambling in every niche for something to tax, has proposed placing a tax on sugar-sweetened beverages of 12 cents per 12-ounce can. To put that in perspective, such a tax would be 10 times higher than the tax New York currently levies on a 12-pack of alcoholic beverages, such as beer.

Predictably, the idea isn't sitting well with a lot of people, particularly New Yorkers Against Unfair Taxes, a coalition formed in opposition to taxes on food and beverage products.

Nelson Eusebio, coalition chairman, today said in a statement:

"New Yorkers are struggling to make ends meet in this economy and we shouldn't bear the burden of fixing the Governor's budget problems. Another tax will be detrimental to hardworking New York businesses and residents."

The coalition's website is geared up to allow consumers and businesses to sign a petition, and make their opposition known to the Governor and their state representatives.

The coalition's current membership list:

The Business Council of New York State
Coca-Cola Bottling Company of Buffalo Inc.
New York Association of Convenience Stores
New York State Automatic Vending Association
National Restaurant Association
National Supermarket Association
Gristedes
The Food Industry Alliance of New York State
New York State Restaurant Association
Grocery Manufacturers Association
Can Manufacturers Institute
American Council on Science and Health
National Puerto Rican Coalition
League of United Latin American Citizens
Polar Beverage Company
Adirondack Beverages
The Coca-Cola Company
Glaceau
Region V U.S. Hispanic Chamber of Commerce
Dan’s Supreme Supermarkets Inc.
Corn Refiners Association
National Association of Theatre Owners – New York
U.S. Hispanic Chamber of Commerce
One Abingdon Square Enterprises Inc.
H&H Kim Co.
Chan Song Corp.
BRS Food Corp.
Lime Tree Market
Golden Boy Mart
M.H. Fruit Corp.
Gem’s Circle Farm Co.
West Front Andrew Corp.
Blissville Deli & Grocery
300 J&J Fresh Produce
Modern Gourmet
Errand Grocery
Sunny’s Best Food Corp.
Fine Fare
P&E Grocery Corp.
Seoul Shopping Inc.
Star Lite Deli
Maiden Heaven 9-11 Inc.
Paul’s Grocery
Soon Deli Grocery
Lee Kim Market
PJ Jenny Farm
Kay’s Deli
City Limits Diner
Kyung’s Fruit Store Inc.
P.J. Deli
Cuban American National Council
ASPIRA Association Inc.
Livanos Restaurant Group
New York Farm Corp.
Jun & Jeong Farm Inc. Corp.
Smiley’s
Austin Fruit & Vegetable Corp.
Haerahm Inc.
Annie’s Fruit & Vegetable Store
Scaramelia’s, Helen Food Corp.
Key Food
D&R Grocery Inc.
Chocolate Deli & Grocery Inc.
Fancy Fruit Market
Roosevelt Gourmet Deli
National Council of Chain Restaurants
Bodega Association of the United States
Red Apple Group
N&D Deli, Inc.
Penn Plaza Gourmet Deli Inc.
Queens Farmer’s and Health
Belle Harbor Foods Inc.
New Blue Flowers Gourmet Inc.
Chelsea Hyper Market Inc.
DNY Natural Land
Soho Garden
K&P Deli
Cho’s Grocery
Fresh King Market Inc.
Daniel Oh Corp.
Young Corp.
Sheen Brothers Inc.
Lee Supermarket (Village Market)
#81 Farm Deli
J.W. Market Inc.
Ham Maek Corp.
Peter Plus Inc.
Sunnydale Farm Store
Food Mart
Y & Y Farm Co.
Peppermill Fruit & Vegetable Inc.
Smile Deli
U. Farm Land
Tudor Farm Market Inc.
Harvest on Hudson
Half Moon River Club
East By Northeast
Stone Lion Inn
Harvest Partners
Harvest on Ft. Pond
Fort Pond Partners
One High St.
Eagle Equities
Berbro Realty
Fort Pond Bay Co.
Eagle Golf Association
River Road
Pepsi-Cola Bottling Newburgh
Foodtown – PSK Supermarkets
MoMo Grocery Corp.
H&D Deli
FreshProduces
The Original Supermarket Corp.
Associated Supermarket
120 Meat Corp.
492 Corp Supermarket
367 Waverly Meat Market and Produce
Pioneer BC Food Produce
DNJ Food Corp.
J.V.D. Food Corp.
Bravo Supermarket
Soho Food Corp.
C-Town Supermarket
Key Food Supermarket
Rockaway Supermarket Corp.
Olamar Food Corp.
El Verde Meat & Produce Corp.
Green Forest Food Corp.
NSA Supermarket
Around Food Corp.
JJR 66-82 Food Corp.
116-15 GMV Corp.
Newburgh Food Corp.
1239 Food Corp.
Hex Foods
2096 Concourse Food Plaza
Foodtown
560 W. Meat & Produce Corp.
MET Food
Anber Meat & Produce
JD Food & Meat Corp.
Gava Food Corp.
April Food Corp.
J&F Meat & Grocery Corp.
115 RD Food Corp.
Associated Supermarket
AES Meat & Produce Corp.
Associated Juncalito Abeyo
A&G Family Corp.
3690 JAD Food Corp.
DAR Food Corp.
Palero Food Corp.
R&E Corp.
Billy Boy Food Corp.
P.J. 37 Food Corp.
Juncalito Meat & Produce
Palero Meat Corp.

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A celebri-quote: Elizabeth Hurley

2009-11-13T15:17:00.001-08:00

• Actress-model Elizabeth Hurley, 44, told a reporter from London's Daily Mail that she has switched from wine and coffee to vodka to maintain her famous figure.

"I used to drink an awful lot of coffee, but I was told after the age of 40 you have to be careful with coffee and wine. I don’t miss having a glass of wine because I’ve switched to vodka.

"I don’t really like vodka that much but if I’m at a party, I have a small one with a lot of fizzy water and a huge squeeze of lime. Initially it’s like medicine but I’ve gotten used to it now."

[Go here for more celebri-quotes.]

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NY's water bottle deposit looms

2009-10-29T14:05:00.000-07:00

If you’re planning to pick up a bottle or two — or more — of water, you’d be well advised to do it before Saturday if you want to save some money.

That’s when the state’s newest bottle deposit requirement goes into effect, at a nickel a bottle. You may get a break here and there since the state will be lenient for the first week of the new law until everyone gets used to it, but don’t count on it.

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Japanese giant buys Orangina Schweppes

2009-09-23T09:14:00.000-07:00

Orangina Schweppes, the French soft drink maker, has been sold to its Japanese rival Suntory.

The $3.8 billion sale to Suntory, the privately owned maker of beer, whisky and soft drinks, is particularly interesting in that Suntory announced on July 14 that it is in talks to merge with Japan's Kirin.

Suntory is the Tokyo-based brewing and distilling company group established in 1899. It is one of the country's oldest distributors of alcoholic beverages in Japan, from soft drinks to whiskies, and also owns a chain of sandwich shops.

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US Airways bulks up its beverage menu

2009-09-12T11:03:00.000-07:00

US Airways may not be the most service-oriented passenger transportation company around, but it is looking to one aspect of creature comforts.

The airline has just introduced a variety of new offerings to its in-flight drinks menu.

The additional non-alcoholic beverages include Red Bull, Starbucks Frappuccinos and AriZona Arnold Palmer Lite Half & Halfs, an iced tea and lemonade concoction, priced at $3 each.

They additional alcoholic cocktails are a pomegranate martini, a margarita and a mai tai, priced at $8 each. They are made with real fruit juice, triple-filtered water and cane sugar.

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Did you ever notice ... ?

2009-09-07T11:47:00.000-07:00

Columnist Andy Rooney, a fixture on "60 Minutes" and author of tghousands of newspaper columns and numerous books, sometimes waxes almost poetic about the most commonplace and mundane of topics.

If you missed it in print, you might enjoy reading his take on the one drink necessary to humanity everywhere: water.

Says Andy:

"If I had to limit myself to drinking just one thing for the rest of my life, there's no doubt my choice would be water. A glass of cool, clear water is unquestionably the best drink, although I start every day with a cup of coffee. One of the great things about life on earth is that we've devised ways to bring clear, cool water to the people who live almost anywhere. It's one good sign for our civilization."

Go here for the rest of the column.

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'Water, water everywhere ...

2009-09-07T11:16:00.000-07:00

... and not a drop to drink."

That line from "The Rime of the Ancient Mariner" by the English poet Samuel Taylor Coleridge (1772–1834) came to mind on Sunday afternoon when I stopped to gaze at the Cohoes Falls in the little Albany County city of Cohoes and found someone with a much better view.

A lone bicyclist left his wheels close to shore (see background when you double-click on the image to enlarge it) and somehow managed to make his way to the edge of the falls where he sat down and looked around. He also outwaited me. I presume he got back safely.

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Recalling the Ritz-Carlton's 'Aquaman'

2009-08-30T11:22:00.000-07:00

Author Doug Frost, writing in Sommelier Journal, argues in favor of water sommeliers.

The Kansas City, MO, resident, who holds both Master Sommelier and Master of Wine certifications, says:

"In 2001, New York’s Ritz-Carlton Battery Park made a rather loud splash by introducing the world’s first water sommelier. I haven’t found anyone other than Filip Wretman whose job description has been limited solely to the service of water in a hotel or restaurant. The position was short-lived, however; even today, the people I talked to at the Ritz-Carlton didn’t wish to be quoted about it.

"The press had a field day back then: 'What’s next? Tea and beer sommeliers?' ... Most of the articles written at the time were rife with puns and snark; apparently, a lot of people hadn’t noticed that different beverages taste different. ... (W)ater tastes different ... if only the drinker will stop and take notice. ... "

As the journalist who wrote the first story about the first water sommelier, I managed quite easily to avoid the "puns" and "snark" to which Frost refers. In fact, I found the whole topic of waters, then just beginning to become such a ubiquitous part of our pop culture intake, fascinating.

Here, then, is a somewhat abbreviated version of my original story.

AQUAMAN AT THE RITZ-CARLTON

NEW YORK -- Some of the best water in the city comes out of the tap, straight from reservoirs in the Catskills.

Anyone can show you where to get it.

Some of the most expensive comes in bottles, straight from places such as France, Sweden, Fiji, Italy, Norway, Canada, Scotland and various U.S. states.

Your friendly water sommelier can suggest which to choose.

Well, he can if you're dining at the new Ritz-Carlton hotel in Battery Park. The management says they have the only such person in the world.

His name is Filip Wretman. He's 26, a diminutive, GQ-slim Swede who came to the United States via various peaks and islands.

Wretman, son of the prominent Swedish restaurateur/chef/writer Tore Wretman, openly concedes he did not set out to be a water expert, much less the first water sommelier.

He studied the hospitality business at the Les Roches hotel school in Switzerland, and worked in the Swiss Alps, the Philippines and St. Bart's in the Caribbean before coming to Manhattan as bar manager at the Ian Schrager chain's trendy Hudson Hotel, near Columbus Circle.

So, how much did Wretman know about water when the Ritz-Carlton decided to get serious about its offerings at the new hotel, which opened in January after being delayed in the aftermath of 9/11?

"Not much more than anyone else," Wretman said with disarming honesty during a private water tasting ... .

He said he spoke to numerous vendors and spent a lot of Internet research time getting to know more about the burgeoning business of bottled water, a hit in many countries but particularly booming in the United States.

Wretman's research and tastings did more than simply acquaint him with the numerous brands of bottled water anyone can find in local supermarkets brands such as Fiji, San Pellegrino, Evian, Aquafina, Acqua Della Madonna, Dasani, Deer Park, Poland Spring and on and on 1,800 or so brands worldwide, including such familiar Capital Region brands as Saratoga, Diamond Spring and Vermont Pure.

His studies made him comfortable selecting and suggesting a range of still and sparking waters that make ideal accompaniments for cheeses, certain sauces, spicy or mild dishes, sweet or salty offerings, desserts and the like.

Some might think having an in-house water expert is merely a high-end hotel's contrivance or a gimmick to sell bottles of high-priced waters.

Contrivance, perhaps, but not a particularly expensive one. At the Ritz-Carlton, you can try as many waters as you like at just $5 a head, less than the price of a cocktail.

"We really see it as part of our mission of providing comfort and gracious living to all our visitors, whether they're overnight guests or not," says Nikheel Advani, the hotel's food and beverage director.

The Ritz-Carlton's goal at Battery Park, Advani notes, is to make it "a center of comfort and tranquillity in a rebuilt city."

Wretman keeps a dozen or so waters on hand, but can come up with virtually any brand a visitor requests with at least 24 hours notice. After all, the Ritz-Carlton chain prides itself on catering to visitors' every whim. It even has a bath butler who creates various bathwater concoctions designed to refresh, soothe and pamper guests. ...

How does a water expert compare the art of recommending waters to that of recommending wines?

"Wine is a world of its own," Wretman said. "You can recommend much more specifically.

"With water, we didn't want to treat this in a way that would make people think of it as a hoax. But, it is quite true that different waters will have different impacts on the palate. They can help you recover the tastes of other foods after eating chocolates, cheeses, and so on ... With those sorts of food courses we would suggest a sparkling water to clear the palate."

Perrier, a familiar name to American consumers, is one such sparkler recommended for cleansing because of its large natural bubbles, Wretman says. San Pellegrino, on the other hand, has tiny bubbles and a high mineral content, giving it a more distinctive taste that would work well with salty or very spicy dishes. Fiji is very light, with a high silica content that complements meat and game without interfering with their juices.

What about the ice cubes in drinks?

"New York tap water," Wretman confided with a slight smile. "Maybe someday we'll have that kind of demand for specialty ice cubes, but we're certainly not at that stage today."

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'True Blood' breaks out the real-world drinks

2009-07-27T17:23:00.000-07:00

Blurring the lines between fantasy and reality is commonplace in Show Biz and The Real World.

The parade of drinks moving from fiction to reality is flowing unabated. This is the fourth time I've been able to report on such possibilities.

• The first was Pawtucket Patriot Ale from the animated TV series "Family Guy."

• The second was Booty Sweat, the energy drink created in the Ben Stiller action/comedy film "Tropical Thunder."

• The third was Slurm (motto: "It's Highly Addictive"), the official soft drink of the 31st Century, in the process of moving from the animated TV series "Futurama" to our very own dimension. Twentieth Century Fox has filed for the "Slurm" trademark which would cover (prepare yourself) "carbonated and non-carbonated soft drinks; fruit drinks; fruit juices; mineral and aerated water; bottled drinking water; energy drinks; syrups and powders for making soft drinks and other beverages, namely soft drinks, fruit drinks and tea; coffee-flavored soft drinks; Ramune (Japanese soda pops); powders used in the preparation of isotonic sports drinks and sports beverages."

And, now, courtesy of HBO's latest pop cultural hit "True Blood," comes. ... well, Tru Blood.

In the show it's a synthetic blood replacement vampires can use to avoid wasting humans. In the real world, it is a blood orange (of course) carbonated drink in a bottle that is identical to the one used in the Sunday night TV series.

A few suggested recipes for using it:

• The Fangbanger: Tru Blood and vodka.

• Death On the Beach: Tru Blood, peach schnapps, pineapple juice and vodka.

• Plasmapolitan: Tru Blood, Citron, Cointreau and fresh lime juice.

It is packaged in a four-pack, carrying a suggested retail price of $16. Tru Blood will hit the market on September 10. You can pre-order it online at HBO Shop.

The new product was unveiled at ComicCon, the annual convention that draws fans of sci-fi, fantasy and the like from every segment of society. You can see the video of the intro below:

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Water bottlers pushed for label disclosure

2009-07-09T09:40:00.000-07:00

• From the Associated Press

Consumers know less about the water they pay dearly for in bottles than what they can drink almost for free from the tap because the two are regulated differently, congressional investigators and nonprofit researchers say in new reports.

Both the Government Accountability Office (GAO) and the Environmental Working Group (EWG), a non-profit research and advocacy organization, recommend in reports released Wednesday that bottled water be labeled with the same level of information municipal water providers must disclose.

The researchers urged Americans to make bottled water "a distant second choice" to filtered tap water because there isn't enough information about bottled water. The working group recommends purifying tap water with a commercial filter, however.

[Go here for the full story.]

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Come visit me

2009-06-30T08:27:00.000-07:00

This is the logo for Examiner.com, a multi-topic Web site created by the same company that started the free-distribution Examiner newspapers in major U.S. cities.

I've been signed as the Web site's National Drinks Columnist, and I'm inviting you to join me here as well as on this site, for all the latest in beverage news and views -- spirits, wine, brews, non-alcoholic drinks.

(Bonus for those of you interested in the Upstate New York restaurant scene: I'm also Examiner.com's columnist for that topic. You can find it here.

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Starbucks in Africa for Fair Trade talks

2009-06-29T12:19:00.000-07:00

Howard Schultz (in short sleeves), head of Starbucks, and Darcy Willson-Rymer (in white shirt), managing director, Starbucks UK & Ireland, speak with local coffee farmers about producing coffee in Rwanda.
The Starbucks Coffee Co., the Fair Trade Foundation and Fairtrade Labelling Organisations International (FLO) today met with farmers at Dukunde Kawa, a cooperative that cultivates high-quality coffee in central Rwanda.

The purpose of the African meeting was twofold: (1.) For Starbucks and Fairtrade to listen and learn from farmers' experiences, and (2.) to share details around the new Small Farmer Support Initiative (SFSI) which was jointly introduced in April.

The nine-year-old Dukunde Kawa Cooperative has approximately 4,000 members organized into in three groups around three coffee-washing stations which the cooperative operates. The cooperative became Fairtrade Certified in 2004.

The farmers grow a bourbon varietal coffee. The SFSI is a three-year pilot program intended to leverage the expertise and resources that Starbucks and Fairtrade have in coffee-growing regions.

Farmers will have access to the $12.5 million Starbucks has invested in farmer loan programs. Starbucks has an additional goal of incvreasing access to funding for farmer loans to those related organizations to $20 million by 2015 as part of the Starbucks Shared Planet commitment to ethical sourcing.

The FAIRTRADE Mark is a certification mark and a registered trademark of Fairtrade Labelling Organizations International (FLO) of which the Fairtrade Foundation is the UK member. This independent consumer label appears on 4,500 retail and catering products in the UK. Today, more than 7 million people - farmers, workers and their families - across 59 developing countries benefit from the international Fairtrade system.

Fairtrade Labelling Organizations International (FLO) is a non-profit, multi-stakeholder association that encompasses a global network of Fairtrade organizations that are actively involved in supporting and empowering producers, raising consumer awareness and campaigning for changes in the rules of conventional trade.

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Coffee Institute guru top latte artist

2009-06-29T12:04:00.000-07:00

LAS VEGAS -- Chris Deferio, director of The Coffee Institute in Muncie, IN, topped the field of latte artists in the recent Millrock Latte Art Competition.

It was the major event of "Coffee Fest," the premier North American coffee and tea tradeshow. Spectators watched latte specialists pour intricate designs of steamed milk into dark espresso to produce a visually pleasing beverage.

The Coffee Institute is a barista and coffee business training school. Prior to taking that position a year ago, Deferio was the coffee bar manager at the historic Carriage House, located near Cornell University in Ithaca, NY.

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Mmmm, birch sap vodka, wine and water

2009-06-27T16:04:00.001-07:00

• From Farm Focus of Atlantic Canada

As the cork is removed, hints of fruit are released, and once it's poured into a wine glass and lifted to one's lips, a semi-sweet taste with apple hints are followed.

That's according to the description for Lady of the Woods, a birch sap wine.

Craig Lewis, the brainchild behind the idea and the company Sap World, said he came up with the concept after reading an article about birch sap and its markets.

"When I read that article, something clicked," he said. "I did a bunch of research, invested $10,000, and on Baie Verte highway (Newfoundland) we ended up tapping 191 trees.

"(We) collected 500 gallons, took that to Rodrigues Winery and they produced 172 cases. We had that on the market and we sold that in three months."

[Go here for the full story.]

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Stirrings in the pre-made cocktail mix world

2009-06-18T09:20:00.000-07:00

Last September I wrote a piece on pre-made cocktails, called "Not all drink mixes are created equal."

In particular, I zeroed in on a line of such mixes bearing the brand name Stirrings. As I noted at the time, "I do agree that many of the pre-made drink mixes are loaded with ingredients one neither wants nor may even understand, but as in all things culinary there are exceptions. One such, in my view, is the line of Stirrings drink mixes. I actually like them. A lot.

" ... I've tried the Fall River, MA, company's margarita, mojito, peach bellini and apple martini mixes. Excellent, all, with none of that 'What's in this?' wrinkly-nosed result. Not yet tried: blood orange martini, bloody Mary, chocolate peppermintini, cosmopolitan, lemon drop, lemonade, pear martini, pomegranate martini, spiced apple and wild blueberry martini. Some of the latter I'd never try, simply because such concoctions do not appeal to me no matter whether they're made from a mix or made using ingredients just shipped from farm or factory. I refer specifically to the likes of a chocolate peppermintini and a wild blueberry martini. Blecch."

I bring this up now because the company founded in 1997 by Bill Creelmann and Gil MacLean also attracted the eyes of drinks giant Diageo, which bought a 20% stake in the company. It now has completed the takeover, gathering up the last 80%.

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Root Beer, the All-American classic

2009-06-15T09:29:00.000-07:00

• From GoSanAngelo.com

The stuff has a nice flavor and was the favorite drink of Calamity Jane in a 1963 Broadway musical. In more than one two-reel oater, or Western movie of the 1940s, it was the favorite drink of the clean-cut handsome cowboy hero who refused whiskey or beer in the saloon. The bad guys called the hero a sissy because he ordered “sarsaparilla,” but they soon learned he was tougher than a horseshoe nail.

I like sarsaparilla, so I guess I would not have fit well amongst the frontier folks and the gunslingers. In today’s society, we call the once-popular drink by another name — “root beer.”

The reason is simple. The primary uses of sarsaparilla is in the flavoring of various beverages such as root beer. It also is used as a folk medicine, supposedly as a “blood purifier,” and as a general pep agent used in tonics to invigorate and cleanse the body.

[Go here for the full story.]

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Nestlé Waters suing over NY bottle law

2009-05-19T11:13:00.000-07:00

• From the Albany, NY, Times Union

Nestlé Waters, which produces bottled water under several brand names, has filed a legal challenge to New York’s expanded bottle bill in federal court, seeking to block its June 1 implementation.

In the suit, Nestlé argues that a provision requiring a New York state-specific UPC bar code on containers sold here with a nickel deposit, is unconstitutional.

The company, with North American headquarters in Greenwich, CT, also is critical of the state’s plan to funnel unrefunded deposits to New York’s general fund, rather than to support local curbside recycling programs.

[Nestlé produces such brands as Perrier and Pellegrino. Go here for the full story.]

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Arnold, Japanese style

2009-05-15T09:21:00.001-07:00

I sometimes come across an item I can't resist sharing.

Here's one from a series of 1990 TV commercials in Japan. If things don't improve in California, The Governator can always resume working in this career niche.

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Consumers cutting fancy coffees

2009-02-09T12:39:00.000-08:00

• From Advertising Age:

Americans appear to be cutting back on their Starbucks.

After reporters in several different cities noticed much shorter lines at their coffee outlets, Ad Age decided to commission Lightspeed Research to find out whether either New Year's resolutions or a tough economy were turning latte sippers into bean counters.

The survey results reveal that 60% of Americans have scaled back on fancy or expensive coffee in the past six months; 56% report cutting back just since the beginning of the year. The culprit was overwhelmingly the economy, with 90% of survey respondents saying they are doing so to save money. Upmarket coffee "just cost too damned much," said one respondent. "I don't drink as much Starbucks as I did before," said another.

Those who have scaled back the most since the beginning of the year, according to the online survey of 500 Americans conducted between Jan. 14 and 15, are consumers 45 to 54, with fully half (50.4%) saying they have "cut back a lot" on fancy or expensive takeout coffee. That was followed by consumers 35 to 44 (37.5%) and 25 to 34 (33.3%).

[Go here for the rest of the story.]

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Industry fights NY 'obesity tax' plan

2009-02-04T09:43:00.001-08:00

ALBANY, NY -- The American Beverage Association fought back today against critics who link sugary soft drinks with childhood obesity.

"Despite what Governor (David) Paterson and (Health) Commissioner (Richard) Daines claim, the science is clear: The association between sugar-sweetened soft drinks and obesity, if it exists at all, is so weak that total abstinence from soda drinking will have no impact on public health," said Maureen Storey.

Storey is the ABA's senior vice president for science policy. She spoke in testimony before a joint meeting of the state Senate Finance Committee and Assembly Ways and Means Committee.

The committees are meeting to discuss the state's Fiscal Year 2009 Budget, including Paterson's proposal to impose an 18% sales tax on dozens of beverages including regular soft drinks, juice drinks, and teas.

Storey said Paterson and his team rely heavily, if not entirely, on a study published eight years ago in the British medical journal, The Lancet. In that study, Storey contends, researcher Dr. David Ludwig and his co-authors acknowledge their study's limitations, admitting that they "cannot prove causality" between soft drink consumption and obesity.

"I would like to reiterate what the science already says: That soft drinks are not a unique contributor to obesity and to say otherwise is misleading to the people of New York State. And a so-called ‘obesity tax' on beverages would have no noticeable impact on the health of citizens," Storey said.

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A celebri-quote: Alyson Hannigan

2009-01-29T09:35:00.001-08:00

• Alyson Hannigan, part of the ensemble cast of the TV series "How I Met Your Mother," and actor husband Alexis Denisof are expecting their first child this spring. She made this comment about her current eating and drinking choices in an interview with US Weekly:

On food: "I basically went from being a vegan to ... well, now it's meat and cheese -- and ginger ale!. ... I didn't eat any meat or cheese before. Now, I have to."

On drink: She says she craves ginger ale. "Ginger ale, I love. Apparently, my mom craved ginger ale when she was pregnant with me. Maybe it's a hereditary thing."

[Go here for more celebri-quotes.]

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Drinking water deal in Saratoga County, NY

2009-01-26T12:55:00.000-08:00

• From the Albany (NY) Times Union:

The federal government moved to defuse a dispute over Hudson River drinking water safety during the PCB dredging project by getting General Electric, which is paying for the project, to also cover the added cost of piping in outside water from Troy.

Today, the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency announced that GE has agreed to pay $7 million toward a new $8.2 million water line connecting Waterford and Halfmoon to Troy's drinking water. Moreover, GE will pay for whatever water the towns get when PCB levels in the river become unsafe, or when there is not enough time to test Hudson water before it reaches the towns' drinking water intakes.

The dispute over drinking water has dragged on for months, with EPA refusing the town's request to cover the cost of buying Troy water unless it exceeded safety levels.

[Go here for the rest of the story.]

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Ferguson on whiskey and coffee

2009-01-23T08:21:00.001-08:00

Craig Ferguson, the hands-down best standup act/talk show host on television, offers excellent riffs nearly every weeknight.

Here's one that fits into this blog's drinks genre, ranging from whiskey to coffee.

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Toronto joins bottled water ban

2009-01-20T12:10:00.000-08:00

If you're in Toronto and have a thirst for a cold bottle of water, you might have some problems finding one.

The city has decided to outlaw the sale of bottled water in all municipal buildings, including local arenas.

While banning bottled water, the city did not ban any other bottled beverage.

The ban was approved in December by City Council, with the target of stopping such sales for all municipal premises from City Hall to golf courses by 2011.

Mayor David Miller's spokesman, Stuart Green, said the ban is part of the city's plan to divert 70% of its waste from municipal dumps by 2010.

Not only is the city eliminating sales of the plastic bottles, it also is instituting the following steps:

• A five-cent charge for every plastic bag customers use from a grocery or retail store, starting in June.

• A ban on biodegradable and compostable plastic bags.

• A ban on retail bags with rope handles or metal grommets by the end of next year.

• A request that retailers also provide shoppers with alternatives to having the pay for a plastic bag, whether by providing cardboard boxes or paper sacks for shoppers.

According to the Polaris Institute, 17 municipalities from five Canadian provinces have banned the plastic bottles, while another 45 municipalities are planning restrictions on bottled water.

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About that VitaminWater lawsuit: Oh, snap!

2009-01-16T11:28:00.000-08:00

Glacéau VitaminWater has been marketed by Coca-Cola Inc. as a healthy alternative to other beverages because of its added vitamins and minerals.

The Center for Science in the Public Interest has taken issue with claims such as "rescue," "energy” and "endurance" associated with the drinks. So it, filed a class action lawsuit against Coke for making what it says are unfounded health claims.

When the suit was announced on Thursday, Coca-Cola had no public response. Today, it does.

Says spokeswoman Diana Garza Ciarlante in a beautifully cutting way:

"Glacéau Vitaminwater is clearly and properly labeled and shows the amount of vitamins and calories in the product.

"Consumers today are savvy, educated and are looking for more from their beverages than just hydration. Many people know that they are not receiving adequate nutrients from their diets, so they have turned to products like Glacéau Vitaminwater in order to help supplement what they are not receiving from the foods they eat," she said.

"This is not about protecting the public interest. This is about increasing the readership of CSPI's increasingly irrelevant newsletter."

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Coke sued over VitaminWater claims

2009-01-15T10:14:00.000-08:00

The Center for Science in the Public Interest today announced it is suing the Coca-Cola Co.

At issue is what the nutrition advocacy group calls "deceptive" claims about the company's VitaminWater line of drinks.

The Washington-based group is accusing Coca-Cola of selling what is says is basically sugar water by claiming it has vitamins that boost immunity and reduce the risk of disease. It said the health benefit claims Coca-Cola makes are "nonsense."

The suit was filed as a class action in U.S. District Court in the Northern District of California.

Coca-Cola bought Glaceau's VitaminWater for $4.1 billion in June 2007. Since the acquisition, sales have improved by a double-digit percentage in the third quarter.

"It truly shocks the conscience that a company like Coke would try to keep customers by selling them a soft drink and telling them it's a vitamin," said Stephen Gardner, director of litigation for the group.

Coca-Cola did not immediately return a call seeking comment.

The same advocacy group sued MillerCoors last fall to stop the brewer from selling Sparks, an alcoholic energy drink. Last month the company agreed to remove some stimulants from its formula.

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Starbucks debuting new tea-based drinks

2009-01-02T14:38:00.000-08:00

Starbucks is scheduled to introduce several new antioxidant-rich tea beverages in its more than 11,000 U.S. stores beginning Saturday, January 3.

The new Full Leaf Tazo Tea Lattes and Tazo Tea Infusions will be available along with tea drinks already on the menu, although they will be the first to use full-leaf tea bags in stores, allowing customers to steep to the strength they prefer.

The hot tea lattes are made with Tazo tea and steamed milk in three flavors: Black Tea Latte, Vanilla Rooibos Latte, featuring a naturally caffeine-free South African herbal tea, and London Fog Latte with a blend of black tea, bergamot, French lavender and vanilla. The price range, depending on where you are, will be $2.85 to $3.50 for a tall.

The non-dairy Tazo Tea Infusions, available hot or cold, include black chai tea steamed with fruit juices in Berry Chai Infusion and Apple Chai Infusion flavors. Price range: $2.40 to $2.70 for a tall.

All have fewer than 200 calories for a 12-ounce, or tall, serving, except the Apple Chai Infusion, which has 250.

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No, there is nothing wrong with your eyes

2008-12-26T14:53:00.000-08:00

PepsiCo is making some changes in the looks of some of its drinks containers. Perhaps the most confusing is the new image of Sierra Mist. As is evident in the image at right, the word "Mist" has been blurred.

The Purchase, NY-based soft drink and snacks giant says it will invest $1.2 billion over the next three years to reinvigorate its line of carbonated soft drinks in the face of consumer demand falling off for virtually all brands in the past 36 months.

Initially, the campaign will include new logos and packages for PepsiCo beverages. The red, white and blue Pepsi logo began as a bottle-cap design, became the official logo in 1962, and was last changed in 2002. The new version will eliminate the wave look, which will be replaced by a diagonal slit the company says is supposed to represent a smile.

Among other brands to undergo a renewal are Mountain Dew's various iterations.

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FDA: Diet Coke Plus misbranded

2008-12-25T13:48:00.001-08:00

From Advertising Age:

WASHINGTON -- The federal Food and Drug Administration is taking Coca-Cola to task for what it calls "misbranding" of Diet Coke Plus. The FDA said because there is no standard for nutrients in carbonated beverages, Coke can't market the beverage as 'plus.'

In a letter to Coca-Cola dated Dec. 10, the FDA said the marketing of Diet Coke Plus, which uses the "plus" to indicate the addition of vitamins and minerals, amounts to an illegal health claim. It said the word "plus" normally signals a food enriched with 10% more of the daily food intake for a particular nutrient than is standard. The FDA said because there is no standard for nutrients in carbonated beverages, Coke can't market the beverage as "plus."

"Your product is misbranded ... because it bears the nutrient-content claim 'plus' but does not comply with the regulations governing the use of this claim," said the letter. "The term 'plus' in 'Diet Coke Plus,' read in conjunction with the language 'Diet Coke with Vitamins & Minerals,' meets the definition of a nutrient-content claim because it characterizes the product's level of vitamins and minerals, which are nutrients of the type required to be in nutrition labeling."

In a March 2007 press release announcing the product launch, the company described it as "a sparkling, calorie-free beverage with vitamins and minerals," that is "a good source of vitamins B3, B6, and B12, and the minerals zinc and magnesium." Wieden & Kennedy is Diet Coke's agency.

Coca-Cola could not be reached for comment.

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NY raising the price of raising a glass

2008-12-18T05:16:00.001-08:00

New York State is so strapped for cash, Gov. David Patterson is dusting off a lot of old ideas to raise money. Among his proposals for the new year, which still need to be debated and voted on by the state legislature, are numerous ones that will affect the beverage consuming habits of state residents.

Chief among them is his proposal to allow sales of wine in grocery stores, which would put New York on the same page as 35 other states that already allow it. Until now, strong lobbying by liquor store owners and their allies in state government has kept the lucrative slice of the market all to themselves. The usual posturing and debating now will ensue as the matter is debated.

Other beverage-related plans in Patterson's 2009-10 budget proposal:

• An increase in the excise tax on wine and beer from 18.9 cents a gallon for wine and 24 cents a gallon for beer to 51 cents a gallon for both.

• Increasing the tax on flavored malt liquors.

• Raising the sales tax on fruit drinks and non-diet sodas with less than 70% fruit juice by 18%.

Paterson delivered a balanced Executive Budget, more than one month prior to the State constitutional deadline, which would eliminate the largest budget deficit in state history -- a $1.7 billion current-year shortfall and a $13.7 billion 2009-10 deficit.

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WAT-AAH's the word

2008-12-10T08:20:00.000-08:00

I have a friend who lives in San Francisco's Mission District, where Spanish is prominently spoken. Next door to his apartment building is a school playground, where groups of kids are let loose for a half-hour at a time to expend some energy.

"Kids today are so brainwashed about drinking water all the time that 15 minutes into their recess they start squawking 'Agua! Agua!'," he said. "They sound like a flock of Aflac ducks."

Don't look for the fad to slow anytime soon, even though more and more people are pointing out what an unnecessary gimmick bottled water is in most cases. The marketing efforts shall continue.

One such example is WAT-AAH. It's a bottled water aimed specifically at the kid market that its makers claim is free of sugar, artificial colors and artificial flavors and is fortified with vitamins and minerals. It also comes in four flavors, cutely called Bones, Brain, Energy, and Body.

The beverage is meant to target child obesity by providing kids with a healthy alternative to sugary drinks. To reach its ultimate consumers, the kids, WAT-AAH has a bouncy interactive Web site.

It also is playing to kids' tastes in participative enterianment, such as this video:

P.S. My aforementioned san Francisco friend e-mailed me this update:

"It's funny because as I read your blog entry they were actively screaming 'agua'."

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French toasting Obama

2008-12-04T13:53:00.001-08:00

Barrack Obama is having an effect on commerce -- in France.

A young entrepreneur who is smitten with the President-elect has been handing out cans of energy drinks to low-income kids, cans emblazoned with Obama's likeness.

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The party's (kind of) over

2008-11-26T16:01:00.001-08:00

From MSNBC.COM

New York's business media discovered a tangible consequence of the financial crisis last Friday: no more free drinks at their annual black-tie gala.

Unlike years past, the cocktail hour that preceded the Financial Follies dinner came with a price tag. Mixed drinks and wine cost $11. Water cost $6. The reason? The New York Financial Writers' Association, which holds the Follies at the Marriott Marquis Hotel in Times Square, could not get anyone to sponsor the $25,000 tab.

"I really think it was a sign of the times," said Jane Reilly, executive manager for the association, which holds the Follies to raise money for 10 $3,000 scholarships and to pay for the group's existence.

The loss of funding of the Follies symbolizes the crisis facing not only Wall Street but many media organizations suffering from falling advertising and, in the case of many magazines and newspapers, circulation.

Some of the financial institutions and the companies that work for them, such as public relations agencies, have disappeared. Those that survived are struggling. A number of magazines have closed or cut back, and many newspapers have reduced business coverage and fired employees.

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Barista competition adds qualifying sites

2008-11-20T10:00:00.000-08:00

The World Barista Championship, scheduled for next April 16-19 in Atlanta, is the premier global coffee event with more than 50 different national barista champions competing for the title.

Now, the organizers have announced there will be two new judges certification workshops being made available. They will be held in Long Beach, CA, and Melbourne, Australia.

All participants must meet certain requirements:

• Possess two consecutive years experience officiating at WBC-sanctioned national or regional barista competitions.
• Demonstrate the ability to comprehend and complete all score sheets in English.
• Agree to comply with the WBC Code of Conduct.
• Agree to attend the 2009 competition and pre-competition events in Atlanta, GA.
• Demonstrate a commitment to coffee excellence and to promoting the barista craft.

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Natalie's 10 worst drinks

2008-11-16T16:28:00.000-08:00

She's baaack. Natalie, of the video series "Nutrition by Natalie," has made a guest appearance or two on this site before. In this visit, she lists her "Top 10 Worst Drinks," with plenty of reasons for each making the list.

It's not that we find Natalie a smoothie when it comes to presentation, but she's just so darned earnest who can ignore her?

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Kona cupping champ chosen

2008-11-16T15:24:00.000-08:00

Debbie Hoshide, a coffee grower on the Big Island of Hawaii, has won the 22nd annual Kona Coffee Cupping Competition.

The signature event of the Kona Coffee Cultural Festival required each participating farmer to submit a 50-pound sample from which five pounds were entered into the cupping competition. Of the 56 entries, 16 were selected as finalists.

Hoshide's farm is a seven-acre spread in Honaunau that she inherited from her mother.

"Cupping" is the standardized way to evaluate coffees, a method used by roasters, retailers, growers and importers. The three qualities evaluated are body, acidity and aroma. As each coffee is sampled, the taster records and discusses their impressions.

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NYC home to world's first organic bar

2008-11-13T12:28:00.001-08:00

You've got to love a restaurant whose motto is "Changing the world one meal at a time." That goes for its cocktail list, too.

The venue is GustOrganics, a New York City cocktail lounge and restaurant (519 Avenue of the Americas at 14th Street). It claims to be the nation's first fully certified such establishment, and has the credentials to support it:

• All dishes made only with organic U.S. Department of Agriculture certified Ingredients.
• Certified organic by the Northeast Organic Farming Association of New York.
• Certified green restaurant by the Green Restaurant Association.

But above all, for the purposes of what this site deals with, GustOrganics is the world’s first USDA certified organic bar.

Alberto Gonzalez (seen above), a native of Argentina, is the owner of GustOrganics. He notes that all drinks -- hot, cold and alcoholic -- are free from chemicals, hormones, antibiotics, artificial flavors and drink enhancers.

"We have only USDA certified organic spirits, wines and beers," he said. "All these products are produced according to the USDA's National Organic Program. On top of this, our cocktails are made featuring fresh organic fruits and vegetables. ...

"The only two ingredients that are not organic are the water and salt because they are minerals and by definition cannot be organic. We use sun-dried sea salt only and that means no additives. We have our pure water that is New York City water run through a UV lamp that kills all the bacteria and after that we run it through a top notch purification system that takes out all the bad metals, keeping the good minerals."

The signature cocktails at GustOrganics are priced in the $12-$14 range, typical for Manhattan drinks. Some of the top sellers:

• Dulce de Leche Martini: dulce de leche, espresso coffee and vodka.
• Pura Vida Daiquiri: strawberries, bananas and rum.
• Fresquito: fresh mangos, fresh squeezed orange juice and vodka.

What made Gonzalez decided to establish a base for his organic foodie and drinks efforts in Greenwich Village?

“New York is one of the most sophisticated societies in the world, but I didn’t like the food," he says. "It wasn’t fresh. When I used to stay here for business, I noticed I was more tired, lacked energy, and gained a lot of weight. I realized I took for granted the freshness and quality of the food in Argentina.

"I developed this restaurant with New Yorkers. They are the ones who helped shape this idea.”

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True 'pop' art

2008-11-13T10:31:00.000-08:00

Think you know what this piece of art represents?

Think again. Then think Big Picture. Really Big.

For a clever example of real 'pop' art, just click here.

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Pedaling to drinkable satisfaction

2008-11-01T17:46:00.001-07:00

Oh, those Austrians.

Not only did they give us such treats as Mozart, Schwarzenegger, Swarovsky crystal and some great pastries, now some of their "scientists" have come up with this gizmo.

It's a heat pump connected to an exercise bike. You put a can of beer -- or, one presumes, any other beverage -- into the copper coil and start pedalling.

If you want a hot drink, put the beverage into the other coil and, voila!, as the Austrians don't say.

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Drinking your way to beauty

2008-10-23T09:15:00.000-07:00

From Drinks Business Review:

This month's roundup of novel new drinks launches finds that the beauty from within beverage market is gaining ground with the emergence of a skin nourishing beverage from Nestlé. Meanwhile, the release of an energy drink with all-natural ingredients shows that the allure of the natural is emerging in an increasing number of drink sectors.

Nestlé has launched the Glowelle Beauty Drink Supplement in the US. The beverage, available ready to drink as well as in a sachet format, is designed to fight the signs of aging by nourishing skin from the inside out. It is said to contain skin-beautifying antioxidants such as high antioxidant nutrients, botanicals and fruit extract. With Nestlé behind this new beauty drink supplement, the emerging beauty-from-within sector could get a major boost.

[Go here for the rest of the story.]

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Be your own soft drink company

2008-10-20T12:11:00.000-07:00

This may be sort of a free ad. Well, that's exactly what it is. But I found the product so clever I decided to give away this space to mention it.

If you've ever wondered what it would be like to have your own line of soft drinks, or just have your own label on one, this service lets you design your own color palette and lettering on cans of soft drinks you can sell or give away for promotional purposes.

I chose to call attention to one of my online sites -- Taste for Travel: Food, Drink and Destinations.

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Andean-style beverages hit market

2008-10-14T12:27:00.000-07:00

Q: What is purple, Peruvian and presently coming on the beverage market?

A: Half the drinks line from Simply Originals LLC, a husband-and-wife business in Rowayton, CT, that was founded last year.

They have come up with with two all-natural Andean-based artisanal drink recipes: Simply Originals Purple Corn and Simply Originals Flaxseed.

The non-carbonated beverages contain about half the calories and sugar found in the most popular drinks. They are available at Northeast Whole Foods and other markets in southern Connecticut, New York and northern New Jersey.

Renato Varas, co-founder of the company with wife Meghan, grew up drinking versions of these beverages in his native Peru. The Purple Corn is commonly known as “chicha morada” in Peru. It contains Andean purple corn, cinnamon, clove, pineapple and lemon and contains high levels of antioxidants.

The Flaxseed, first such ready-to-drink beverage on the U.S. market, is based on the tradition of “emolientes,” or herbal fusions, and has high levels of omega-3s, antioxidants and fiber.

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Yoplait rolls out fizzy milk drink

2008-10-13T10:07:00.000-07:00

With apologies to the long-ago pop star Tommy Roe, one hopes, Yoplait has launched a new milk-based soft drink called Dizzy for the French market.

The target market is the 15-to-25-year-old niche, with both "citrus" and "exotic fruits" flavors and a a purple aluminum container.

The company has been mum on when, or whether, Dizzy will make its U.S. debut.

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Is Slurm headed your way?

2008-10-08T16:23:00.000-07:00

The parade of drinks moving from fiction to reality apparently is flowing unabated. This is the third time I've been able to report on such possibilities.

• The first was Pawtucket Patriot Ale from the animated TV series "Family Guy."

• The second was Booty Sweat, the energy drink created in the film "Tropical Thunder."

• Now, Slurm (motto: "It's Highly Addictive"), the official soft drink of the 31st Century, might move from the animated TV series "Futurama" to our very own dimension. Twentieth Century Fox has filed for the "Slurm" trademark which would cover (prepare yourself) "carbonated and non-carbonated soft drinks; fruit drinks; fruit juices; mineral and aerated water; bottled drinking water; energy drinks; syrups and powders for making soft drinks and other beverages, namely soft drinks, fruit drinks and tea; coffee-flavored soft drinks; Ramune (Japanese soda pops); powders used in the preparation of isotonic sports drinks and sports beverages."

I'll keep you posted as any, or all, of these dreams come true.

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Another drink-mixing device in works

2008-10-08T16:13:00.000-07:00

Not long ago, I reported on a drink vending machine in development for Coca-Cola that will be able to provide 100 different drinks.

Now, an English company named Waterwerkz has developed the "PouchLink" system that combines a drink machine with the assembly method of soda fountain by adding filtered water from outside pipes to quickly mix drinks inside a machine.

Inside this mini factory, water is mixed with syrup and the concoction is placed inside a flexible pouch that will be available in different sizes. It would be able to store the makings for 2,000 drinks since the unfilled pouches fit on a reel.

International drinks manufacturer Nestlé already has begun working with Waterwerkz, as has UK soft drinks maker Bottle Green Drinks.

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Credit crunch shakes McD's coffee bar plans

2008-10-04T11:58:00.000-07:00

From Advertising Age:

CHICAGO -- The banking crisis is threatening to take a rather surprising hostage: McDonald's big-budget coffee rollout.

Tightening credit conditions, which are crimping plans for marketers as diverse as giant General Motors Corp. and relatively small household-products company Method, have prompted Bank of America to halt loans to McDonald's franchisees. They need the capital to frantically build coffee bars in the chain's 14,000 locations for what was planned to be an April coffee introduction.

And although it won't derail the launch altogether, it is likely to delay it nearly into summer -- hardly optimal timing for a hot-beverage introduction.

[Go here for the rest of the story.]

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Hollywood in a handy can

2008-10-01T16:41:00.000-07:00

Anyone who saw the Ben Stiller/Robert Downey Jr. comedy flick "Tropical Thunder" saw the characters swilling Booty Sweat, a fictional energy drink.

Fictional, that is, until now. Paramount Pictures has licensed the energy drink to the novelty-products firm Boston America Corp. to make a limited run of the drink for the real world.

Michael Corcoran, president of consumer products at Paramount Pictures, said, “We’re very excited, because it has the potential to live for quite a while, well beyond the film. ... Not to my knowledge has this ever been done before.”

Well, maybe not for a fictional movie product, but don't rule out TV. Last fall, Pawtucket Patriot Ale moved from the animated series "Family Guy" to the real world when a Rhode Island micro-brewery started brewing it.

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NYC coffee 'cupping' sessions set

2008-10-01T12:28:00.000-07:00

Intelligentsia Coffee has scheduled a series of cupping events this month at the New York Cupping and Training Lab, 594 Broadway, Suite 909A, in Manhattan.

The free public events, set for October 2, 23 and 30, allow visitors to sample and compare the flavor of gourmet coffee beans and discuss their impressions.

Cupping selections range from new crop coffees to direct trade to special selections. "Cupping" is the standardized way to evaluate coffees, a method used by roasters, retailers, growers and importers. The three qualities evaluated during Intelligentsia events are body, acidity and aroma. As each coffee is sampled, the taster records and discusses their impressions.

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Kool-Aid and the art of financial survival

2008-09-29T11:46:00.001-07:00

The always snarky and always entertaining Gawker.com has done it again.

Under the headline "How To Eat Now That You're Poor," the blog begins by saying:

"Now that the wizards of Wall Street have destroyed all hope for your future economic security, it's time to start eating like a pauper!

"That's the new ad strategy that our nation's largest food companies are pursuing, reasoning that the fancy Pepperidge Farm cookies and 'vegetables' are going to be the first thing that shoppers slash from their budgets in these lean times. Why not try some grilled cheese and tomato soup? Shiny apples for a nickel!

"But this nutritional depression has an upside: Hey, Kool-Aid!"

[Go here for the full posting.]

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That 'energy' boost may be just caffeine

2008-09-29T10:55:00.000-07:00

Your favorite energy drink may give you a temporary boost, but that's probably only because it contains more caffeine than soft drinks.

That's the conclusion of a new study conducted by the John Hopkins University and published in the current issue of the journal Drug & Alcohol Dependence.

The study by the renowned Baltimore university says some energy drinks contain at least 10 times more caffeine than soft drinks, and concludes that energy drink manufacturers should list caffeine content and issue health warnings on products.

Most energy drink marketing stresses other ingredients as being healthful and energy-boosting, downplaying or simply not addressing the caffeine content.

An analysis done last year by Datamonitor said the global energy drinks market had a value of $13.3 billion, and is predicted to be worth $23.8 billion by 2011. This strong growth in sales is forecast to be driven by rising demand in the U.S., followed by the UK and Japan, and is indicative of the fact that consumers in countries associated with long working hours are buying energy drinks more regularly.

"Previously, energy drinks have been associated with select consumer groups such as students and long distance drivers," Datamonitor said. "However, consumers are working longer hours than the generations before them and are struggling to maintain a work/life balance, due to which more cases of fatigue and sleep-related problems are being reported. As a result, increasing numbers of consumers are turning to energy drinks in search of a quick physical and mental boost."

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FDA warns over Chinese beverages

2008-09-28T11:59:00.000-07:00

Beware of Mr. Brown's coffees and teas, says the U.S. Food & Drug Administration.

Just four days after Canada placed a ban on the Chinese-made product, the FDA has done the same, citing in part tests done by the New Zealand government that showed the presence of melamine in products made by the manufacturer.

Melamine is an industrial compound that is poisonous when ingested. It has been found in numerous milk products in China and sickened thousands, particularly children.

Mr. Brown's is exported to the U.S. by King Car Food Industrial Co. Ltd. It is manufactured in China by Shandong Duquing Inc. King Car also is recalling other products, including a milk tea it makes.

The specific coffee and tea products affected by the recall:

• Mr. Brown Mandheling Blend Instant Coffee
• Mr. Brown Arabica Instant Coffee
• Mr. Brown Blue Mountain Blend Instant Coffee
• Mr. Brown Caramel Macchiato Instant Coffee
• Mr. Brown French Vanilla Instant Coffee
• Mr. Brown Mandhling Blend Instant Coffee
• Mr. Brown Milk Tea

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What do you get mixing Snapple and Quaker Oats?

2008-09-27T13:17:00.000-07:00

A: One larger company.

The Quaker Oats Co. is buying the Snapple Beverage Corp. for a tender offer of $14 a share of Snapple stock, or about $1.7 billion.

The purchase of the Valley Stream, Long Island, NY, maker of flavored iced teas and fruit juices will make Quaker the third-largest non-alcoholic beverage marketer in North America.

Quaker already counts Gatorade among its portfolio of cereals, drinks, crackers, cookies, chili and various mixes. William D. Smithburg, chairman and CEO of Quaker Oats, said the Snapple acquisition is "part of an evolving realignment of Quaker's portfolio."

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Cheerwine rebranding under way

2008-09-17T14:39:00.000-07:00

Last fall, I wrote about Cheerwine, a long-popular cherry flavored South Carolina soft drink looking to expand its horizons.

The Salisbury, NC, firm that has been around since 1917 just announced its distribution is up to 16 states. But I'm not sure what to tell you to be on the lookout for after next July.

Reason? Cheerwine maker Carolina Beverage Corp. has hired a Seattle company to create a new brand that will be launched on packaging, trucks and advertising next summer to replace the current look (seen above).

Meanwhile, for information on where Cheerwine is distributed, check its Web site here.

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Not all drink mixes are created equal

2008-09-13T12:41:00.000-07:00

William M. Dowd photo

Consumer Alert: This entry contains opinions that may be contrary to those of cocktail purists, among whose ranks I usually place myself. However, the times they are a'changing, so broaden your horizons.

A recent story in The Wall Street Journal by one Eric Felten began like this:

"Williams-Sonoma, geared though it may be to ambitious amateur cooks, seems to think that its customers aren't up to the rather limited culinary demands of making cocktails. Why else the prominence the store is giving to a new line of bottled cocktail mixes? ... . The infantilization of drinkers remains the top marketing point for the prefabbers. The flacks for that supermarket standby, Rose's Cocktail Mixers, sent out a press release for their Mojito mix this summer touting it as 'a solution to complicated drink-making.' Complicated? Crush some mint in sugar syrup and fresh lime juice; add white rum, club soda and ice; stir. Is it supercilious to suggest that those for whom this is a task of surpassing complexity are better off not dulling their wits further with alcohol?"

Ye gods, Felten. I know you wrote the book "How's Your Drink?: Cocktails, Culture and the Art of Drinking Well" (Agate Surrey), but lumping all such "prefabs" into one bucket of distasteful slop is neither accurate nor of any practical use to consumers.

I do agree that many of the pre-made drink mixes are loaded with ingredients one neither wants nor may even understand, but as in all things culinary there are exceptions. One such, in my view, is the line of Stirrings drink mixes. I actually like them. A lot.

As one whose cocktail-making resume dates from my mid-teens ("Oldies can still be goodies"), I understand and value the idea of fresh ingredients. I squeeze my own lemons and limes, wash and dry my own fresh berries, clip and macerate my own herbs, use different fresh ice in the shaker and the glass ... . But when I have tossed away the gazillionth lime because the only way I find them affordable is to buy a large bag at a discount grocer and can't use them up, or don't want to bother whipping up a batch of simple syrup (hint: agave syrup works just as well), or it's not growing season for my mint and thyme and basil, or if unexpected company drops in and expects a yummy cocktail or three, I see nothing wrong with using certain mixes if they have been pre-tested and found suitable.

Thus, Stirrings. I've tried the Fall River, MA, company's margarita, mojito, peach bellini and apple martini mixes. Excellent, all, with none of that "What's in this?" wrinkly-nosed result. Not yet tried: blood orange martini, bloody Mary, chocolate peppermintini, cosmopolitan, lemon drop, lemonade, pear martini, pomegranate martini, spiced apple and wild blueberry martini. Some of the latter I'd never try, simply because such concoctions do not appeal to me no matter whether they're made from a mix or made using ingredients just shipped from farm or factory. I refer specifically to the likes of a chocolate peppermintini and a wild blueberry martini. Blecch.

Stirrings was founded in 1997 by Bill Creelmann and Gil MacLean. Their philosophy is on every label: "We believe in using only the best ingredients -- fresh juice, triple-filtered water and a touch of imagination -- because after all, better ingredients make better cocktails."

The company has grown to include a line of cocktail rim garnishes, cocktail sodas, bar ingredients and a brand-new line of organic drink mixes that includes "The Dark & Stormy," a ginger mixer to pair with rum; "The Bellini," that includes apricots, lemons, limes, oranges, agave and natural bitters, and "The Gimlet," a sour mixer using organic lemons, limes, oranges, cane sugar, agave and natural bitters. Orders for that new line will begin being shipped in late September.

If the new line, and the originals I have yet to try, match up in quality to the ones I have tried, they're something to be anticipated. In addition to exposing people to cocktails they'd probably never otherwise attempt making themselves, they provide a nice assortment of alcohol-free drinks ready to be poured from the bottle over ice.

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A-B creates non-alcohol division

2008-09-13T11:02:00.001-07:00

Anheuser-Busch has been in the news lately for being sold to InBev of Belgium. However, good old American know-how continues to be one of its products.

The St. Louis-based beverage giant has created a non-alcoholic subsidiary called 9th Street Beverages, specializing in energy drinks and high-end waters. It includes such drinks as 180 Energy, BORBA Skin Balance Water, Icelandic Glacial and Monster.

Sales for A-B’s non-alcohol portfolio are up 77% this year, and the company says it is working on new “energy, specialty and new age product concepts.”

A-B's first non-alcoholic drink was 180 Orange-Citrus Energy Drink, in 2001.

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Don't shake or stir this drink

2008-09-04T11:09:00.000-07:00

James Bond's beverage preferences have run the gamut over the years -- champagne, martinis, gin cocktails ... . Now the legendary spy may be going the non-alcoholic route.

Coca-Cola Great Britain has entered into an agreement with Sony Entertainment to link its Coca-Cola Zero soft drink with "Quantum of Solace," the latest cinematic adventure of Agent 007.

The company is producing a limited edition package of the drink, renamed "Coca-Cola Zero Zero 7" for the occasion.

"Quantum" is the 22nd Bond film, with Daniel Craig starring as the spy for the second time.

No word whether the program will be expanded to other countries at this time.

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100-flavor soda machine in works

2008-09-01T13:36:00.000-07:00

If you're confused by those soda dispensing machines that have eight or 10 spouts, imagine what it will be like if Coca-Cola goes through with a device it is developing.

The Atlanta-based beverage giant is working on a fountain machine that will dispense soft drinks in up to 100 flavor combinations. The device will not take up any more room than current dispensers because it will be filled with highly-concentrated flavoring cartridges.

Early prototypes underwent testing earlier this summer with Coke planning a limited release sometimes next year, according to Engadget.com.

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Full Throttle rachets up varieties

2008-08-27T16:42:00.001-07:00

Coca-Cola Co. has introduced a new non-carbonated energy drink called Full Throttle Hydration, plus a coffee energy drink called Full Throttle Coffee.

They join Full Throttle Original, Full Throttle Unleaded, Full Throttle Blue Demon and Full Throttle Fury.

Hydration, available in a "tropical mix" flavor, comes in 16-ounce aluminum cans. The Coffee is made with Colombian Arabica coffee and is available in mocha, vanilla and caramel flavors. Packaging for Full Throttle Coffee Caramel will be in both English and Spanish. Coffee is packaged in 15-ounce aluminum cans.

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Crush drink brand to broaden horizons

2008-08-21T13:25:00.000-07:00

Remember Orange Crush?

If you do, you're a typical American of a certain age. And, if you're still drinking it, you live in part of the mere 40% of the U.S. where the soft drink is available.

That situation will be remedied, however, since its owner, Pepsi Bottling Group, has hooked up with the Dr Pepper Snapple Group to expand Crush distribution nationwide, beginning early next year. Under terms of the deal, Pepsi will have a perpetual license to manufacture, sell and distribute the Crush brand in orange, diet orange and grape flavors.

Jim Johnston, DPS president of sales, said, "With flavors playing an increasingly important role in the carbonated soft drink category, we're confident that together we can repeat that success in the U.S. and make Crush a popular national brand available to more consumers in more outlets," said Jim Johnston, president of sales for Dr Pepper Snapple. "Simply put, it's a brand with tremendous untapped potential."

Orange Crush, the original flavor in the Crush lineup, was invented in Los Angeles in 1916 by Clayton J. Powel. At one time, just after the end of World War I, iconic artist Norman Rockwell was commissioned to produce a series of posters such as the 1919 one seen above for the soft drink.

The line is popular in Canada, where it is distributed by Cadbury Beverages Canada. It also is sold in Argentina, Chile, Mexico, Peru and Uruguay.

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New calorie-free drinks in the pipeline

2008-08-17T10:08:00.000-07:00

From Manufacturing Business Technology magazine, via the Cox News Service:

Some experts call it the Holy Grail of the beverage industry -- an all-natural drink that has the sweetness of sugar but none of the calories.

Coca-Cola Co. and PepsiCo could be a step closer to reaching that milestone as they separately pursue new sweeteners based on the South American stevia plant. Pending Food and Drug Administration clearance, these stevia-based sweeteners could unleash the next generation of low- and no-calorie beverages, industry experts say.

Coke and Pepsi are keeping quiet about what drinks could get the new sweeteners. Coke would not comment about product plans, but the Atlanta-based beverage giant could have a soft drink with its stevia-based sweetener on the market by the end of the year, a person with knowledge of the situation said.

Pepsi, based in Purchase, NY, also declined to talk about U.S. product plans. It is launching this month in Peru a version of So Be Life, a flavored water, that uses its stevia-based sweetener.

(Get the full story here.)

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US Airways finds a new gouge

2008-08-02T11:56:00.000-07:00

There were times when I was flying on a commercial airline and would have willingly paid them not to serve me any of their pathetic food. But at least, I thought, I could always get some free water to hold me over till we landed.

Now, with airlines looking for every angle to charge their customers extra, US Airways is leading the way toward ridiculous heights by instituting a $2 charge for an in-flight drink of water, juice or soda.

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Letters: About that 'Surging Eel' ...

2008-07-29T11:09:00.000-07:00

• I recently reported on a new Japanese non-alcoholic drink called "Surging Eel." The following inquiry is one of numerous notes I received.

Hello:

Do you know if the Surging Eel drink from Japan is being distributed in the U.S.?

If so, can you tell me how to find some in Atlanta, GA? Thanks.

-- Sandra Taylor

Dear Sandra:

I'm told the drink is for domestic sale only, and probably will be a seasonal offering -- eel-eating season. However, you can always try contacting the manufacturer directly here to see if it is possible to order shipment. Another possibility is to inquire at a local Japanese restaurant which may have supply lines not available to the general public.

Incidentally, another eel-related drink I've come across that us aimed at a Japanese market always looking for a way to beat the summer heat is a black beer called "Suitable for Unagi." It's from the Miyashita Sake Brewery and has been formulated specifically to complement traditional grilled eel and its sticky sauces.

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Mmmm, now that's eel!

2008-07-28T09:59:00.000-07:00

If you're planning to be in Japan in time for the eel-eating season, be careful if someone offers you an Unagi Nobori.

That's Japanese for "surging eel," or "sudden spike," depending upon who's doing the translating. It's a drink made by Japan Tobacco Inc. that just went on the market in anticipation of the annual eel season.

The yellow, non-alcoholic drink is being marketed as a nutritional supplement carbonated beverage. It contains extracts from the head and bones of eel and five vitamins -- A, B1, B2, D and E -- contained in the fish. Consumers will be slurping it up on the next traditional eel day, August 5 this year.

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How much caffeine does your drink have?

2008-07-19T15:07:00.000-07:00

If you've ever wondered how much caffeine the most popular non-alcoholic beverages contain, here's a listing from the Axxa News site.

Each item is a 12-ounce serving unless otherwise noted, with the caffeine content provided in milligrams.

• Red Bull (8.2 oz), 80
• Jolt, 71.2
• Pepsi One, 55.5
• Mountain Dew, 55
• Mountain Dew Code Red, 55
• Diet Mountain Dew, 55
• Kick Citrus, 54
• Mellow Yellow, 52.8
• Surge, 51
• Tab, 46.8
• Diet Coke, 45.6
• Shasta Cola, 44.4
• Shasta Cherry Cola, 44.4
• Shasta Diet Cola, 44.4
• RC Cola, 43
• Diet RC, 43
• Dr Pepper, 41
• Diet Dr Pepper, 41
• Diet Sunkist Orange, 41
• Mr. Pibb, 40
• Sugar-Free Mr. Pibb, 40
• Red Flash, 40
• Sunkist Orange, 40
• Slim-Fast Cappuccino Delight Shake, 40
• Ruby Red, 39
• Storm, 38
• Big Red, 38
• Pepsi-Cola, 37.5
• Pepsi Twist, 37.5
• Diet Pepsi Jazz, 37.5
• Diet Pepsi, 36
• Wild Cherry Pepsi, 36
• Diet Wild Cherry Pepsi, 36
• Diet Pepsi Twist, 36
• Aspen, 36
• Coca-Cola Classic, 34
• Cherry Coke, 34
• Lemon Coke, 34
• Vanilla Coke, 34
• Diet Cherry Coke, 34
• Snapple Flavored Teas, 31.5
• Snapple Diet Flavored Teas, 31.5
• Canada Dry Cola, 30
• A&W Creme Soda, 29
• Nestea Sweet Iced Tea, 26.5
• Nestea Unsweetened Iced Tea, 26
• Lipton Diet Green Tea with Citrus (16.9 oz) , 23
• Barq’s Root Beer, 23
• A&W Diet Creme Soda, 22
• Slim-Fast Chocolate Flavors, 20
• Lipton Brisk, All Varieties, 9
• Canada Dry Diet Cola, 1.2
• Diet Rite Cola, 0
• Sprite, 0
• 7-Up, 0
• Mug Root Beer, 0
• Diet Barq’s Root Beer, 0
• Sundrop Orange, 0
• Minute Maid Orange, 0
• A&W Root Beer, 0
• Slice, 0
• Sierra Mist, 0
• Fresca, 0

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How bottled water hypnotized us all

2008-07-18T10:31:00.001-07:00

That's the title of the story on the snarky, but entertaining and often illuminating, blog Gawker.com.

The posting reports on a new book called "Bottlemania," which digs into the whole craze. The Gawker story begins:

"Bottled water is a bit like smoking: deep down, we all knew there was something wrong with it from day one.

"Environmentalism has been a widespread subject in our public consciousness for more than 30 years now. Did anyone really believe that getting our water out of 16-ounce plastic bottles would be an efficient long-term solution for humanity?

"Despite that, the bottled water industry has done an admirable job using sly marketing magic to make us all feel like chemical-ridden cheapskates for drinking out of the tap."

Go here for the whole Gawker.com story, and here for various pertinent links on drinking water.

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Shrinking Starbucks adds protein drink

2008-07-14T09:35:00.000-07:00

Starbucks may be in the process of shuttering 600 of its many, many stores, but it's not cutting back on what it is offering at the remaining places.

Today, the coffee purveyor unveiled a new line of made-to-order protein shakes called Vivanno.

The drinks come in such flavors as orange mango banana and banana chocolate, and are made with the same equipment used for Starbucks' trademark Frappuccino coffee drinks.

Vivannos include such ingredients as whey protein and fiber powder, as well as fresh bananas. Customers can customize the drinks with the addition of a shot of espresso or green tea powder. Price: between $3.75 and $3.95.

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A true designer water

2008-07-11T09:32:00.000-07:00

It wasn't that many years ago that the smartest of the vodka makers realized they had to do something more than distill a good product to stand out in the marketplace. At least enough to grab the attention of first-time buyers.

That was the start of a trend in bottle design that has resulted in some brilliant work that deserves its own showing at a major art gallery or museum.

Now the same thought has occurred to at least one bottler of spring water. Aquadeco Premium Spring Water from Canada is packaged in a bottle of Art Deco design (seen here).

The idea was hatched by company founder Arnold Gumowitz, a real estate businessman and art collector with a strong liking of the Art Deco style. He commissioned Flowdesign to create the bottle that would encase water taken from a glacial-created spring. Finally, Steklarna Hrastnick, the Slovenian glassmaking company, came up with the optimal optimal wall thickness combined with the weight of the glass.

The bottle and its contents -- from Muskoka Natural Spring in Gavenhurst, Ontario -- hit a responsive chord with judges at the prestigious Berkeley Springs (WV) International Water Festival, who awarded it gold medals for both “Best Taste” and “Best Bottle Design.”

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Tea for 2 (x 4,000)

2008-07-11T09:06:00.000-07:00

Queen Elizabeth II opened her summer entertaining season this week with an intimate tea for 8,000 people at Buckingham Palace.

The crowd was composed of people nominated for attendance as a reward for good works in their respective communities. However, large as this tea party was, it doesn't compare to the world's largest, about which I wrote some time ago.

The story and photos of the queen's affair, such as the scene above, from the Associated Press are available here.

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South America's elixir of life

2008-07-05T07:31:00.001-07:00

GNU/FDL photo

That's mate (pronounced mah tay) tea, or yerba mate, the almost mystical South American beverage.

As Johann Fleck writes in The Epoch Times:

"Throughout South America, the indigenous peoples are closely linked by the mate tradition, as evidenced in writings such as 'The Incas' Green Gold,' or by its reverential subtitle, 'Drink of the Gods.'

"According to legend, about 1,000 years ago a god handed the Guarani Indians the plant, with instructions for brewing the leaves into tea. Since then, the drink mate has been an indispensable part of daily life for millions of South Americans.

"In several regions, people drink copious quantities of this beverage any time of day. Field workers drink the brew to ward off heat and exhaustion. People who engage in lengthy, round-table discussions like it for its mentally stimulating properties, claiming it can induce inspiration, while creating a relaxed state."

(You can read the rest of this highly interesting report online here.)

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Cocktails for kids a learning experience

2008-07-03T11:56:00.000-07:00

Zac's photo

From The Bolton News (Lancaster, England):

A giant drinks can is travelling the streets of Bolton serving cocktails to young people.

The mobile bar, in the shape of a can, sells non-alcoholic drinks in a bid to stop teenagers getting into trouble.

Zac's Youth Bar, based in Farnworth, is running the vehicle to show young people they can have fun without drinking alcohol.

Stuart Barnes, Zac's director, said: "The whole ethos of Zac's is that there is a credible alternative to alcohol. The cocktails are different and something special, but we also have soft drinks, too. The mobile bar allows us to reach more young people and visit places across the borough."

(You can read the rest of the story here.)

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Soft drink herb sweeteners in the works

2008-06-25T09:15:00.000-07:00

From Drinks Business Review:

In order to attract increasingly health-conscious consumers, several soft drink makers in the U.S. are investing in the development of natural low-calorie sweeteners, reported Reuters.

Coca-Cola, PepsiCo and Dr Pepper Snapple Group have begun work in this regard. Coca-Cola has collaborated with Cargill and together they are working on a sweetener called Truvia. Made from a South American herb called stevia (seen here), Truvia will be marketed as a tabletop sweetener by Cargill. However, no information regarding the drinks in which the sweetener will be used has been revealed by Coca-Cola.

PepsiCo is also working on a sweetener from the stevia plant which is native to Paraguay. According to PepsiCo spokesperson Dave DeCecco, as and when the company receives approval from US health regulators, it will begin to market the new product.

Randy Gier, executive vice president of marketing for Dr Pepper Snapple, said: "We all have scientists working right now to blend new combinations of these new top-secret sweeteners that are out there. It's just a matter of time until you see a major breakthrough."

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Mayors vs. bottled water at boiling point

2008-06-25T09:03:00.000-07:00

A committee decision throwing the U.S. Conference of Mayors' weight behind a move to discourage use of bottled water has predictably received return fire from the American Beverage Association.

The trade organization of manufacturers and distributors of non-alcoholic drinks has criticized the resolution as “sound-bite environmentalism.” It was passed at a Miami meeting of the mayors by a small majority after heated debate and is intended to phase out city spending on bottled water and an attempt to reduce purchases of the beverage.

The contention by the Conference of Mayors is that bottled water wastes water and leaves an unnecessarily large carbon footprint.

“Cities are sending the wrong message about the quality of public water when we spend taxpayer dollars on water in disposable containers from a private corporation,” said San Francisco Mayor Gavin Newsom, who proposed the resolution. “Our public water systems are among the best in the world and demand significant and ongoing investment.”

Kevin Keane, a senior vice president of the American Beverage Association, fired back: “Unfortunately, a group of mayors have chosen to engage in sound-bite environmentalism rather than sound public policy by creating a false choice between bottled water and tap water. It’s disappointing that some mayors find it more important to attack a healthy beverage at a time when families are suffering from floods, rising fuel and gas costs and threats to their homes and jobs.

“This proposal is the cynical equivalent of being against rope until you need a lifeline,” Keane said. “There’s great irony in the fact that while companies are helping mayors in flood-ravaged communities in the Midwest recover, a handful of mayors in Miami are attacking the water products helping those residents remain hydrated and in good health.”

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LA International olive oil competition

2008-06-18T14:09:00.000-07:00

Wine and spirits weren't the only things judged at the annual Los Angeles International Wine & Spirits event. Top-grade olive oils also were in competition for honors.

"Special Awards," the highest given in the test, went to:

• Best Extra Virgin Olive Oil, Domestic-Delicate: The Olive Press, Sevillano, Butte County
• Best Extra Virgin Olive Oil, Domestic-Medium: Apollo Olive Oil, Sacramento Valley, Mistral Organic, Yuba County
• Best Extra Virgin Olive Oil, Domestic-Robust: Calolea, Mission, Early Harvest, Yuba County
• Best Extra Virgin Olive Oil, International-Delicate: Hacienda Iber, Spain - North, Aragón
• Best Extra Virgin Olive Oil, International-Medium: Azienda Agricola Librandi, Italy - South, Calabria
• Best Extra Virgin Olive Oil, International-Robust: Il Casalone, Italy - Central, Toscana
• Best Flavored Olive Oil: Olivas de Oro, Rosemary, Central Coast

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F.X. Matt back in operation

2008-06-04T07:53:00.001-07:00

The historic F.X. Matt brewery in Utica, NY, is back in operation after an accidental fire that caused an estimated $10 million in damage.

Production resumed yesterday with a test batch of beer just five days after the fire investigators say was caused when two employees were welding equipment and inadvertently melted a plastic conveyor belt on the second floor. No one was injured in the blaze.

Matt will need to outsource bottling and canning for an unspecified period. Its canning operation was destroyed and its bottling operation damaged. Brewery President Nick Matt said he hopes bottling can be resumed on-premises within a few weeks.

Although at one time Matt brewed its own brand of beer, it now brews numerous beers and soft drinks under contract. Perhaps the best-known brand it creates is Saranac. It is run by the third- and fourth-generations of the Matt family, following the history that began in 1885 when the original F.X. Matt left the Duke of Baden Brewery in Germany's Black Forest region to emigrate to the U.S. to start his own brewery.

He worked for several years at the financially wobbly Bierbaur Brewery, then in 1888 reorganized it into The West End Brewing Co. It became one of the largest of the dozen or so breweries then in operation in the upstate city.

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Coke, Pepsi backing off kid marketing

2008-05-25T11:44:00.000-07:00

Coca-Cola Co. and PepsiCo, the largest beverage companies in the world, are among members of the International Council of Beverages Association (ICBA) to adopt voluntary guidelines on marketing to children.

The worldwide trade association representing the non-alcoholic beverage industry has agreed to implement the guidelines in all countries around the world by the end of 2008, the ICBA said.

The ICBA "Guidelines on Marketing to Children" state that beverage companies voluntarily agree to eliminate the advertising and marketing of a wide range of beverages, including carbonated soft drinks, to any audience comprised predominantly of children under 12. The policy applies to TV, radio, print, Internet, phone messaging and movies, including product placement.

"The non-alcoholic beverage industry produces a wide variety of beverages, all of which can be part of a healthy lifestyle," Susan Neely (at right), president and CEO of the American Beverage Association, said in a press statement.

"However, as parents and grandparents ourselves, we recognize that children may be more susceptible to marketing campaigns and may not always be able to make the right dietary choices for themselves.

"Parents are telling us they want to be the gatekeepers. We are listening and want to protect their role so that we can work together to help teach children around the world how to make more informed choices."

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Confessions of a coca fiend

2008-05-24T09:24:00.000-07:00

"The story of my 10-day coca binge is short and, I'm afraid, not terribly sordid. Just the same, if I'm asked to take a drug test anytime soon I'm probably going to have a bit of explaining to do."

Thus begins John Flinn's intriguing "Confessions of a coca fiend" on the SFGate Web site.

If you've ever wondered about the various uses of coca, this story by the executive editor of Travel should be required reading -- entertaining and informative.

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Wine country soft drinks with no wine

2008-05-22T16:05:00.000-07:00

A non-alcoholic line of soft drinks using wine grapes is being offered on the Hello DELICIOUS Modern Gourmet Boutique online site.

It better be delicious. The new sampler pack of 12 bottles goes for $35, or nearly $3 a bottle for rosé, chardonnay and pinot noir flavors of what are called Vignette Wine Country Sodas.

The sparkling beverages have no added sugar, are 100% natural, and the line is billed as "the first of its kind to be made with California wine country grapes."

Aiming at the younger, tech-centric consumers, Hello DELICIOUS brags that "We represent the next generation of foodies. We’re all about what’s new, what’s now, and what’s next." And, to prove it, the company has come up with a blog called "The Dish" that it hopes will resonate with customers.

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Fever-tree a flavor tree, too

2008-05-21T13:10:00.000-07:00

William M. Dowd photo

There are a lot of tonic waters on the market, but the makers of Fever-Tree Premium Indian Tonic Water have figured out a way to set their product apart from the others.

First, what it doesn't contain:

• Artificial preservatives
• Artificial ingredients
• Sweeteners
• Coloring

Now, what it does have:

• Natural botanicals
• Spring water
• Cane sugar

Fever-Tree's "natural botanicals" are cold-pressed Tanzanian bitter orange oils, coriander and lime oils and African marigold, combined with the cane sugar and spring water, plus natural quinine from the fever-tree (Cinchona ledgeriana) itself.

It has a clear look, a slightly fruity nose, and a hint of natural sweetness followed by a slight bite on the tongue from the quinine and botanicals.

It retails for a suggested $5.99 for a four-pack of 200ml bottles.

I've tried Fever-Tree at home (clean, bracing), and spotted it in bars abroad -- at the trendy Tonic bar on North Castle Street in Edinburgh, Scotland, last week, as just one example. Bar manager Sam Kershaw (above), who splits his time between Scotland and New York, was using it to whip up such drinks as the "Mint Chocolate Chip Russian," the "Cherry Blossom Buck" and the "Clover Tree."

The Fever-Tree folks, however, suggest first trying their product in this classic cocktail:

GIN & TONIC

1 part premium gin
2 parts Fever-tree tonic
Fresh lime
Fresh ice or tonic ice

Keep gin in freezer until use. If desired, make ice cubes ahead of time using the tonic water to prevent dilution.

Mix gin and tonic in a chilled red-wine balloon glass, stirring over several tonic ice cubes. Garnish with either a sprig of fresh mint, a wedge or wheel of lemon or lime, or even a wheel of cucumber. If using citrus, use only the peel to prevent introduction of unwanted oils.

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Aussie water product makes U.S. debut

2008-05-04T10:25:00.000-07:00

Not enough domestic or imported bottled water brands for you? Well, on Balance one company agrees with you.

The Balance Water Co. that makes a product combining American spring water with homeopathic Australian flower essences designed to bring about peace of mind and relieve stress, has debuted in the U.S. at Hannaford Supermarkets in the Northeast and various Whole Food Market stores. It made its debut in 2005 in Australia.

"We'd like to do complete national coverage," says Martin Chalk, company co-founder and head of its U.S. operations.

The company says its water contains floral essences designed to help calm and focus body and mind in a variety of ways. The "Water for Traveling" flavor, for example, is equipped with essences designed to combat typical travel-related stresses and the "Water for the Mind" flavor is claimed to help with focus and concentration. The company also sells "Water for Women" and "Water for Children."

Of course, the use of the word "flavor" should be regarded as merely separating one formula from another since the various waters are flavorless.

"We tried very hard not to change the flavor of the water," Chalk told Beverage World magazine. "Even though we put up to eight flowers in a water we use an organic and natural process to do so. We don't use any chemicals. We use some non-invasive methods in order to sterilize the product and remove the flavor. Non-flavored water is the most popular drink in the world." he added.

The company has established bottling stations in New York State's Catskill region and California's Sierra Nevada range so it can use local water, and therefore can avoid shipping large quantities of water across the world. Only the floral essences are shipped, from Australia.

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Japanese flocking to vinegar drinks

2008-05-01T17:12:00.000-07:00

Vinegar is used in this country for everything from a marinade base to a salad dressing ingredient to folk medicine. But as a beverage? Not really.

Web Japan, however, reports that the Japanese liking for vinegar -- or o su -- has grown well beyond the condiment stage to become a sought-after beverage.

Buoyed by reports that rice vinegar is effective in promoting weight loss, a wide range of vinegar-based drinks has made its way to market.

Fruit vinegar beverages, diluted with water, lead the parade. They're made primarily from grapes, apples and raspberries. These are like juice but are made from fermented fruits, such as apples, grapes, or raspberries and found favor with women and young people of both genders. Another popular drink is black vinegar ("kurozu"), which has an older customer demographic.

Here's a link to the full story.

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An old shape for a new tea bag

2008-04-30T16:14:00.000-07:00

OK, we've seen square tea bags, round tea bags, flow-through tea bags ... and now we have pyramidal tea bags.

They're the newest marketing idea for Celestial Seasonings' line of Saphara teas.

Says CS's public relations folk, the "silken pyramid bags are specially designed to allow water to flow around the ingredients, giving them room to expand and revealing the depth and complexity of the flavors. The entire Saphara package is made from biodegradable materials including the pyramid bags, string, tag, overwrap and carton."

Saphara comes in six flavors:

• White tea with schizandra, a Chinese shrub that produces small, red edible berries.
• Mango ginger green tea.
• Gen mai cha, which is made with toasted brown rice.
• Premier Estate assam.
• Tropical rooibos, a South African shrub.
• Black currant hibuscus.

For more detailed descriptions of these teas, go here.

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Introducing, the self-stirring tea cup

2008-04-17T09:11:00.000-07:00

Americans, take heart. We're deep into an age of self-loathing because of our propensity for being overweight. However, the United Kingdom has overtaken us on that score according to recent scientific studies.

That may get worse if a new gadget made by the French design firm Ana Gram catches on.

Their self-stirring teacup was unveiled at the recent London Design Festival. Its designers plan to introduce the cup, called Ceramic For Mix, to bars and restaurants in Europe as well as the U.S..

As shown in the illustration above, obtained by the London Daily Mail, a ceramic ball is placed in a slightly protruding base to keep it in place when stirring and drinking. The user gently moves the cup, like swirling wine in a glass, and the movement moves the ball around, mixing sugar, milk or whatever with the tea.

Will the ball drop out when the user is sipping rather than swirling? Nope. That's where centrifugal force and gravity come into play to keep the ball in place.

So, how lazy are we that stirring needs to be automated? Stay tuned to find out.

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Check these two tea blogs

2008-04-14T14:51:00.000-07:00

I've been periodically looking in on a pair of tea blogs I think you might enjoy.

They are "Tea Scoop" and "The Tea Addict's Journal," and you can access them by scrolling down at the right and finding "More Refreshing Links."

Enjoy.

A little water project goes a long way

2008-03-21T15:09:00.000-07:00

The Discovery Channel called it the best spring water in the world.

If that seems a bit hyperbolic, consider that it also was awarded the gold medal for best non-carbonated bottled water in the Berkeley Springs (WVa) International Water Tasting regarded as the Super Bowl of water competitions.

No matter the venue, it's pretty heady stuff for Tumai Water, a product that has been on the market only four months.

"The Discovery Channel honor might be overdoing it, but we'll gladly take the praise," said Bob Downey, a co-founder and president of Spero Group of Martinsburg, WVa, which bottles Tumai in nearby Alton, VA, source of the spring that is flowing gold for Spero.

Spero, Swahili for "to hope for," is an apt name for the company and both its commercial and philanthropic ventures. The company literature says it "was founded with the commitment of providing safe water, shelter, essential nutrition, and proper healthcare to those in need around the world."

While living in upstate New York, Downey teamed up with James Maddalone of Albany and Dan Magid of Schenectady to come up with a business model. Even though Downey left the area to return to West Virginia a year ago, the trio continued their collaboration. Downey runs the day-to-day operation for bottling and sales.

Spero's mission statement says portions of the profits from its water sales "will be alloted to non-profit organizations that share like-minded goals. This is done with the purpose of supplying those specific organizations with needed finances to enhance and expand their own mission and goals.

"Initially, at least 15% of profits will be channeled directly to these non-profits with additional donations made as Spero Group is able based upon net profits."

The company already has a strong presence in Africa, targeting improvements in communities living in abject poverty and people suffering from HIV/AIDS, the biggest health scourge on the continent. It is working with other charitable organizations, including Tumai: Bridge of Hope, the South African-based organization for whom the bottled water is named, Engineers Without Borders and Hands at Work.

Downey, who attended the Calvary Tabernacle Church in Schenectady with his wife, Michele, said he became aware of some of the needs of African communities through a sister church in Johannesburg, South Africa.

"There is so much to be done to help less fortunate people in other countries that we felt this was a way we could create a steady flow of assistance and work with organizations who had looked into situations and knew who was legitimate," Downey said.

Downey said Tumai Water was being sold in only five local outlets before the recent honors. That number now has jumped to 35.

"We're getting inquiries from all across the country, and even from the U.K.," he said. "We're about to finish discussions with a major distributor that will mean we have major availability in a three-state area" -- Virginia, West Virginia and Maryland, which come together in the Martinsburg area.

Current recipients of aid from Spero include the Mpumalanga Christian Network orphanage in South African and Mozambique, and villages in South Africa and Kenya. Among the activities are resconstructing cyclone-damaged structures, providing educational supplies, medical equipment, sanitation facilities and drinking water wells.

The United Nations' Office for the Coordination of Humanitarian Affairs (OCHA) last week reported that as many as a million Central Africans "do not have access to clean water and, therefore, are highly vulnerable to threat of deadly waterborne diseases because of the conflict threatening their country."

Only three of 10 projects designed by U.N. agencies or by non-governmental organizations (NGOs) to improve access to clean water and sanitation across the northern Central African Region this year have received any funding. The situation is particularly acute because the dry season normally ends in April, and so does the window of opportunity for projects to be implemented.

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The world needed a bottle opener/USB stick

2008-03-20T16:27:00.001-07:00

Interested in combining beer or soda and a flash drive? Who isn't?

The Trekstor USB Bottle Opener offers precisely that with a new gadget you can out on the chain with your house and car keys -- an 8GB flash drive unit plus a bottle opener feature.

Trekstor is a German design firm specializing in electronic storage and audio devices. It already has won several awards for developing the USB stick.

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New brewed chocolate a mystical potion

2008-03-17T16:00:00.000-07:00

William M. Dowd photos

Mara Krausz of Cabaret Foods doesn't view her Cabaret Brewed Chocolate as just any hot chocolate drink. She views it through more of a mystical prism.

A taste test of the product certainly verifies that it is far removed from the usual Swiss Miss, Hershey's or other such mass-produced hot chocolate drinks. I found it reminiscent of the beverages of childhood, longer ago than I care to admit and well before the U.S. market went on a sickening-sweet drinks kick delivered through sucrose-laden powders.

The company's whole bean brewing method, the result of two years of research, is credited with the new product.

"Brewed chocolate is nothing like conventional hot chocolate, primarily because it contains almost no fat," Krausz said. "It's a clean, delicate water-based hot beverage based on the recipes of the ancient Mexicans -- the first people to recognize the psychic pleasures of brewed chocolate -- but modified to appeal to modern tastes and demands for convenience."

Historians generally believe cocoa, from which chocolate is created, originated in the Amazon region of South American 4,000 years ago. It became a favorite of the Mayan culture in the 6th century A.D. Their word "xocoatl" -- bitter water -- became the word "chocolate."

The Mayan culture eventually covered Central America and parts of northern South America. In the Yucatán peninsula of what now is Mexico, the Mayans cultivated the earliest know cocoa plantations. The Aztec civilization also used cocoa for a thick, cold unsweetened health drink known as "xocoatl." Because sugar was unknown to the Aztecs, they flavored the drink with spices and cornmeal. In 1502, Christopher Columbus landed in what now is Nicaragua and found cocoa being used as currency as well as a drink.

Convenience is a byword for today's Cabaret style drink. The product is made from whole cacao beans, water and organic evaporated cane juice. Stir a teaspoon of the concentrated product into a half-cup of hot water and you have the drink. Even though each teaspoon is made with nearly a full ounce of whole cocoa beans, it is surprisingly light.

The Oakland, CA, company recently ran a Web-based call to test its beverage. A number of the respondents reported an energy lift "without any jittery quality," Krausz says.

I waited the recommended 30 minutes to see if I felt any energizing rush. I didn't. However, my companion taste tester and I did spend a relaxing quarter-hour discussing the drink. We agreed it had a vaguely coffee look to it, was far from the usual cocoa-y hot chocolate drinks, and was a pleasing change of pace.

Krausz said Cabaret Foods is trying to get a handle on "whether this product makes sense as a non-alcoholic alternative for bars and/or wine stores."

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