Cold Beverage 2008

Outstanding Cold Beverage 2008: SAAF Ginger Beverage Company Gingernize® Ginger Lemonade Rush™

Introduced two years ago at a farmer’s market in San Diego, Gingernize® Ginger Lemonade Rush™ offers consumers a twist on regular lemonade and the powerful health benefits of ginger all in one bottle.

Made from freshly squeezed lemon juice, pure ginger juice, mint leaf juice and evaporated sugar cane juice, this all-natural beverage contains no carbonate, no artificial flavor and no preservatives, says Felix Segbefia, founder/owner of SAAF Ginger Beverage Company LLC. Ginger, which has been used medicinally for more than 5,000 years in China, Japan and India, is extracted to maintain the natural balance of its constituents. In addition, flash pasteurizing preserves the natural taste, flavor and health benefits associated with ginger’s nutrients that other methods of pasteurization could destroy.

“Gingernize Ginger Lemonade Rush, like the other juices in the Gingernize brand family, has what I call an ‘anchor taste’—a taste that most of us are familiar with. Every lemonade drinker recognizes [the taste] and enjoys the first sip, before feeling the spicy bite of ginger at the end,” notes Segbefia. “This combination of taste bud stimulation creates a thrilling, addictive, tasty beverage loaded with health benefits. When you taste it, you can surely taste the natural ingredients used to make it,” he adds.

Retailers will find the Ginger Lemonade a great fit for the functional healthy beverage section or in the natural juice department. The line is available in nine flavors. Suggested retail: $3.99/16-fluid ounces; gingernize.com.—Denise Shoukas