You’ve probably heard that adding more plants to your diet can have a positive impact on your health. You might have even been inspired to start cooking more plant-based meals, and might be making an effort to incorporate more vegetables into each meal. But while you’re adding more fruits and vegetables to your plate, you should also consider adding them to your glass.
There are many different ways to enjoy the benefits of botanicals in beverages, from herbal teas to cocktails and mocktails. Botanical Beverages are all the rage, as consumers look for new flavors and added health benefits. Non-alcoholic botanical drinks are also growing in popularity, offering a lighter alternative to liquor-based craft cocktails.
Flavor options
Botanical beverages range from simple combinations of fruits and herbs to complex flavor profiles that include spices, citrus and even vegetables. The possibilities are endless when it comes to creating fresh new drinks.
Health benefits
Many botanical beverages offer added health benefits due to the herbs, spices and other ingredients they contain. For example, tonics can be made with a base of apple cider vinegar, which offers many health benefits such as improved digestion, lower blood sugar levels and weight loss support.
Low-ABV alternatives to booze-based cocktails
It is easy to add alcohol to any of these botanical beverages, but they still taste great without it too! This gives consumers who do not want alcohol or want a lower ABV drink an alternative to traditional liquor-based cocktails.
Botanicals boost hydration
Many people don’t drink enough water every day, but drinking a botanical beverage can be a great alternative. With just a few ingredients, you can make your own healthy bottle of water that’s flavored naturally with fruit, herbs or spices — and it’s much better for you than many commercial sports drinks, which are often full of artificial ingredients and hidden sugars.
Botanicals help digestion
For centuries, people around the world have relied on herbal teas as a way to improve digestion. Whether it’s after a large meal or when they need to treat an upset stomach, there is an herbal tea for most any ailment.
They Are a Natural Source of Vitamins and Minerals
Many botanicals are rich in vitamins and minerals that your body needs to thrive, such as vitamin C, zinc, magnesium and calcium. Vitamin C is especially important because it helps to boost your immune system, which is especially helpful during flu season.
They Help You to Lose Weight
If you’re trying to lose weight, you can swap out sugary drinks with a refreshing botanical beverage instead. Many varieties contain antioxidants that help to naturally boost metabolism and reduce fat accumulation. It’s best to opt for seed-based or leaf-based beverages if you’re trying to shed a few pounds.
They’re backed by science
Botanicals have been used for centuries and many of them are backed by research that shows their health benefits. One great example is Tulsi Holy Basil–a plant commonly used in Ayurvedic traditions that has been shown to boost energy and immunity.
They taste great
Since people are becoming more aware of what they’re putting into their bodies, we’ve seen a major shift away from artificial flavors in drinks. Botanicals often have a distinct flavor profile that can be used alone or blended with other ingredients to create natural tasting beverages that pack a punch when it comes to function and taste.
Drinking your daily quota of water becomes a pleasure. Most health experts agree that we should all drink eight 8-ounce glasses of water a day — which translates to roughly two liters — but very few people do so regularly. However, if you choose a delicious beverage like kombucha as your go-to thirst quencher, you’re more likely to drink what’s necessary for good health every day.
You’ll feel lighter and more energetic after drinking them. Botanical beverages have little or no sugar content and contain zero calories in their pure state, so you don’t have to worry about weight gain if you consume them regularly — unlike sweetened sodas and energy drinks that can actually cause weight gain and make you feel sluggish.