What makes the drinks from Sap! really unique is... the sap! Harvested from Vermont trees, the saps brings a hint of sweetness and health benefits, too.
What is it?
The drinks from Sap! include sparkling water, seltzer and a soda. The beverages are made with either maple sap or birch sap - that's the clear liquid that runs from the trees in early spring. If you boil that down you get the sweet syrup we all know, but sap has only a light hint of that sweetness.
Raw sap also has naturally occurring nutrients and electrolytes with benefits like boosting the immune system and reducing inflammation.
Sap! currently has seven varieties of carbonated drinks including Maple Soda and sparkling waters in flavors like Lemongrass Ginger, Birch, and Strawberry Habanero.
What's the story behind it?
The company was founded by two cousins, Nikita Salmon and Chas Smith from Underhill, whose families have been in the maple syrup business for generations. They put their years of sugaring experience into creating a new product: a beverage made with pure sap with light clean flavors.
The buzz around the Sap! beverages earned Salmon and Smith a spot on the Shark Tank, the ABC reality show were entrepreneurs pitch their fledgling businesses to investors. Though in the end the Sap! owners did not make a deal with the Sharks, they still saw a surge in orders after folks around the country learned about their company.
Where is it made?
The maple and birch saps are sourced from the owners' own farms as well as other producers in Vermont. The drinks are non-GMO and organic.
Why I like it
I drink a lot of seltzer, and what I like about the Sap! products is they have just a hint of sweetness, a nice option between completely unsweetened seltzers and over-the-top sugary soda. And I really like the flavors they've created.
I first sampled Sap! drinks at the Made In Vermont Marketplace, and the one I tried was the Strawberry with Habanero Sparkling Water. This one is still my favorite Sap! product. It's made with birch sap, fresh strawberries and an infusion of habanero that gives it just a little kick.
I've also taken a recent shine to the Ginger with Lemongrass, another birch sap sparkling water. I love how pure and bright the flavors are!
How to enjoy it
The sparkling waters are great to sip on any time of day. Because they contain electrolytes and nutrients, Sap! also recommends their drinks for post-workout rehydration.
I have not ventured into cocktails with Sap! drinks yet but it's easy to see how tasty they'd be in place of traditional club soda or tonic. A G&T with that Ginger Lemongrass Sparkling Water? Ooh! Or maybe a margarita with the Strawberry Habanero. Yesss.
Where to find it
Get the Sap! drinks including some variety packs at their online store - follow this link. I have also found their products in local markets and grocery stores like Healthy Living and City Market.
Hungry For Vermont is me sharing some of my favorite Vermont specialty and gourmet foods: unique and delicious eats and drinks made right here in the Green Mountain State. All of the products I share are ones that I've tried, love, use, and that I'm hungry for! All opinions are my own.
Tell me what you think - comment below!