Drink Up! New Beverages on Tap

By Susana Plascencia
Is it just me, or is there a flood of new beverages on the market this year?
 
Some good, some better, here’s a quick drink list of new offerings.
 
Cascade Ice promises nothing extra, like unhealthy add-ins found in other soft drinks.  The zero-calorie sparkling flavored waters are not just refreshing anytime and a complement to meals, they also make great skinny cocktails.  Cascade Ice is free of caffeine, sugar, gluten, sodium and carbohydrates.  Flavors include Strawberry Lemonade, Peach Mango, Blueberry Watermelon, Coconut, Lemonade and Margarita.  Available at Albertson’s, Gelson’s, WinCo Foods & Lucky Supermarkets.

For the eco-health-social conscious beverage drinker, Steaz offers natural USDA organic, fair trade certified sparkling teas, iced teas and energy drinks for the mind, body and soul.  The brand offers a regular and zero-calorie sparkling and still choices in bottles and cans.  Energy drinks are available by the can or shot. The Steaz beverage company is more than 10 years old, but it has just been catching on, and the announcement early this year that the company is going green – green-teas based that is – has given Steaz an energy boost (pun intended).  Available nationwide in Whole Foods Markets and many other natural, specialty, and grocery retailers.
 
Sparking ICE, not to be confused with its similarly named competitor, has been making a big showing in supermarkets and even Costco with its tall slim bottles of bubbly fruit flavors.  The naturally flavored mountain spring water includes taste-bud pleasers like Black Raspberry, Pink Grapefruit, Orange Mango and Lemon Lime – caffeine and gluten free, and certified Kosher.  This beverage company is 25 years old, but Sparkling ICE, sourced from natural springs in the Cascade Mountains in Seattle, WA, suddenly is all the rage.  Available at Ralphs, Albertsons, Rite Aid, Vons and Pavilions.