What’s in a name, or a logo, or the shape of a product? Apparently, everything. Take a look at Fentimans’ Botanically Brewed Beverages. Getting a little rush at GreenAcres-Bradley Fair, where when we demo the many flavors, customers always seem to buy.
What do flowers have to do with brewing? They, along with roots, bark and other natural plant ingredients, are placed into Fentimans’ brewing liquid to “infuse” it with multiple botanical characteristics. The liquid is allowed to age in a sealed container undergoing fermentation for seven days until boiled and bottled and ready for the masses.
Ahhhh, refreshing is what some customers have said. Others, tasting the Mandarin and Seville Orange Jigger, exclaim: “With a little Champagne, we’d have a Mimosa!” Definitely an endorsement.
Victorian Lemonade is made with 1 ½ real lemons and blended with fine ginger root, speedwell and juniper extracts. Tasty with a kick!
Curiosity Cola comes the closest to a real live Coke, but without the sugar and caffeine.
Our biggest seller so far among our senior customers is the Dandelion & Burdock drink, infused with dandelion leaves and burdock root, sweetened with peer juice and spiced with a touch of anise and ginger. It’s a classic throwback to yesteryear when these same ingredients were remedies for heart problems. Our oldest seniors remember!
So here’s the story from the Fentimans’ website:
“In 1905, Thomas Fentiman, an iron peddler from Cleckheaton, England was approached by a fellow tradesman for a loan. A deal was struck and a recipe for botanically-brewed ginger beer was provided as security. The loan was never repaid, so Thomas became the owner of the unique recipe.
“Thomas began using the recipe and producing ginger beer which he delivered door-to-door using a horse and cart for transport. His ginger beer was stored in handmade stone jars known as ‘grey hens’ which were stamped with an image of Thomas’ pet dog ‘Fearless’ who had won awards for obedience at the famous ‘Crufts’ dog competition.
“Fentimans’ ginger beer quickly became popular and the rest is history. The business is still in the Fentiman family and is owned by the great grandson of Thomas Fentiman. The company still makes beverages by the time honored method of botanically brewing the finest natural ingredients. The production processes has been updated through the addition of mild carbonation to replace the carbon dioxide lost during pasteurization, which gives the product a longer life.”
We invite you to come in and try a Rose Lemonade (made from the world famous Rose Valley flowers in Kazanlak, Bulgaria) or perhaps a premium hops and barley malt Shandy, brewed and fermented for three weeks to create a smooth, full bodied British soda that is 70% beer and 100% delicious. And, of course, let us know how you like it.
Until then, we say bottoms up, but be aware, that while all Fentimans beverages are classified as non-alcoholic by the FDA, there is a trace of alcohol, for those who eschew it all together. Less than 0.5%–still, even that much makes a difference to those recovering from alcohol addiction. Just so you know.
