Healthy + functional = drinks - SFFA 2022

Traditionally, one would get a beverage that is flavoured, clear coloured, and has sugar (or syrup) as its base sweetener. However, there is now an increasing demand for more variety in drinks. They want to enjoy "healthy" soda, alcohol-less liquor, or a vegan latte for breakfast. 

To cater to these demands, a myriad of cottage businesses created bespoke drinks to fit a niche market. Now, huge companies are banking in on the trend as well. With the extensive budget spent on advertisements, consumers would be increasingly exposed to such products, which eventually becomes commonplace.

 

Pourabucha - Had 2 unique flavours on tap at "The taproom": Lychee Rose, and Lavender Lemon, the one I tried. The mild lavender perfume hit first, followed by a rounded sourness. The lemony sour note gave the kombucha some body, compared to normal kombucha which feels flat. They used realistic, handdrawn style images for their design. It made the product feel "hand-made" and more premium.

Curated culture - Promoted as a probiotics drink, the brand is a start-up (as seen on the posters). I thought it was kombucha at first, but it was neither fizzy nor sweet. It tasted like green tea, fragrant and mildly astringent. Quench your thirst while improving your gut! Simple and clean design as well.

Dr V - A functional energy drink, that also improves health. It's active ingredient being Caffeine and Siberian Pine extract. Although I sampled 4 different types, each flavour was mild compared to the strong taste of the Siberian pine. It tastes familiar, but I just can't place it... Their new packaging is set to look more "energizing", as it was changed from silver body, to a bright coloured body, differing for each flavour.

Vitasoy - Long time soya milk brand from Hong Kong. They have now joined on the Plant-milk bandwagon to create Vitasoy: Barista version. Curious about the taste, I asked to sample it plain & steamed - so, latte without coffee. I was surprised! Unlike other brands, this oatmilk had a creamier mouthfeel and a pleasant nutty note, without the bitter aftertaste. The difference could be from the steaming, but I'll have to try more brands to ascertain this... The design looks nice too, with the blackboard texture and chalk for the fonts.

Happy Happy Soyboy - Also a milk replacement, they offer soy, oat and almond varieties. The design and colour scheme were an eye-catching pastel pink. Unfortunately, I did not try it then. They did however hand me a sample pack, which I will be reviewing in a separate post.

There were many plant milk brands competing to launch vegan barista milk - where the "milk" should foam well for a latte, and have a mild taste (avoid overpowering the coffee). Just a walk in the expo yielded more than 4 espresso machines and baristas churning out lattes to the guests.

After passing several booths demonstrating beverages, there were unique food items that common folks would not have bought before...

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*Disclaimer: Please note that this review was not paid for or sponsored by any third party. The opinions expressed in this blog are strictly those of DeYummyJournal.

22 - 24 June Specialty & Fine food Asia 2022 trade show event