Honest Tea adds products; converts soda line to "Organic"

Honest Tea is expanding its zero calorie beverage offerings in 2015, unveiling three new varieties: two unsweetened, caffeine-free herbal iced teas and a zero calorie organic soda. All will be for sale in natural food stores and the natural food aisles of mainstream grocers starting March 2015.  In addition to the new product launches, the company is following through on its commitment to convert all varieties of its Honest Fizz line to organic certification, a goal since the zero calorie sodas were first introduced in early 2013.

The three new products are: Cinnamon Sunrise Herbal Tea: A blend of organic Vietnamese cinnamon and Fair Trade Certified red rooibos from South Africa, brewed together for a smooth, unsweetened zero calorie drink. Available in 16 fl. oz. glass bottles. Ginger Oasis Herbal Tea: Organic Indian ginger, green rooibos, and Egyptian lemon grass are brewed for a fragrantly spicy and unsweetened zero calorie zing. Available in 16 fl. oz. glass bottles. Honest Fizz organic Golden Ginger Ale: Organic ginger and other flavors are sweetened with a combination of organic stevia & erythritol and carbonated for bubbly refreshment. Available in 12 fl. oz. cans. “We’ve been tinkering with unsweetened drinks long enough to know how challenging it can be to create a satisfying taste.  These herbal teas feel more complete than any zero calorie drink we’ve ever created, and the Honest Fizz Golden Ginger Ale has already become an office favorite,” says Seth Goldman, co-founder and TeaEO of Bethesda, Md.-based Honest Tea. The innovation of Honest Tea’s new zero calorie drinks contributes to the broader beverage industry’s goal of reducing the amount of calories in the American diet.  Under Goldman’s leadership and involvement as an American Beverage Association (ABA) board member, Honest Tea is supporting ABA’s commitment to cut beverage calories consumed per person by 20 percent by 2025. When the Honest Fizz line debuted in 2013 only one flavor, Root Beer, included organic stevia and erythritol. However, the plan had always been to eventually transition the entire line over to organic ingredients. “When we launched Honest Fizz three years ago we made a long-term commitment to convert the line over to organic certification.  We’ve been working with our ingredient and packaging suppliers to make our entire Fizz line affordable, organic and delicious,” Goldman says.  “It’s another step in our ongoing journey to democratize organics.” All six new varieties will be available nationwide at natural food stores and in the natural food aisle of mainstream grocery stores.  Cinnamon Sunrise Herbal Tea and Ginger Oasis Herbal Tea will be available in 16 fl. oz. glass bottles for $1.49-1.79; Honest Fizz organic Golden Ginger Ale will be sold in 6-pack cartons of 12 fl. oz. standard aluminum cans for $4.99-5.99 and as single 12 fl. oz. cans for $0.99 - $1.25.