Herbal drinks

There is a growing interest in the health benefits that can be derived from taking herbal extracts, and this has led to the inclusion of such extracts in soft drinks. Although this is a relatively small and specialist market at present, it is 

If it is a challenge to confirm the authenticity of a herbal extract, it is even more of an analytical challenge in a complex finished product that might contain juice and other ingredients. This means that a manufacturer should check incoming raw materials and that they should be delivered with a certificate of analysis from a reputable laboratory that specialises in this area. 

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Initially, these drinks were flavoured widi fruit juice and natural fruit flavours and were often pasteurised in the bottle to avoid including preservatives in the ingredients list. Herbal extracts have more recently been put into dilutables, juice-based drinks and, increasingly, bottled waters. A few herbal drinks are coming on to die market with organic certification. 

Herbal drinks form part of die functional drinks sector. Some idea of the growing importance of diis sector can be gained from the International Functional Soft Drinks Report 2003 (Zenith, 2003), which covers the United States, Japan and 16 Western European countries. The market has become so sophisticated that the report can define four subsegments ... 

The large number of herbs that are available for customers, combined with the relatively low volumes required, means that it may not be economically viable for an extract manufacturer to cany production volumes of large number s of extracts on the off-chance that someone will want one or two of them before then shelf-live has expired. The usual practice is for extract manufacturers to carry a fairly wide range of dried herbs in sample quantities so that when a customer asks for a sample it can be produced within a reasonably short time. Once a new herbal drink has been developed using samples and perhaps a pilot batch, a production-size batch of extract will be made for the product launch. After that, if the product sells and there is a demonstrable demand pattern, it is possible that the extract manufacturer will agr ee to make a batch for stock to be called off by the drink manufacturer. 

In Europe and the United Kingdom, there are two issues to address. Fust, herbal drinks should avoid using levels of herbal extracts that are high enough to render them liable to be considered as a herbal remedy. In simple terms, this means using levels of extracts that avoid delivering cumulative therapeutic levels of herbal actives from a typical daily consumption of the herbal drinks. Information and guidance on these matters should be available from herbal extract suppliers or consultants. 

Dietary Supplements/Health Foods. Powdered crude and/or extracts are used singly or in combination with other herbs in capsule, tablet, or liquid (syrup or drink) form as a general qi) tonic to improve energy, stamina, and resistance to stress and diseases hydro-alcohohc extracts also used to flavor instant soup mixes and herbal drinks because of their mushroom aroma (similar to shiitake). 

Dietary Supplements/Health Foods. Powdered roasted seed and extracts of both raw and roasted seed are used in tonic, antioxidant, and pain relief formulas in liquid (e.g., soy milk and herbal drinks), dried tea, tablet, or capsule form. 

Besides the medicinally used herbal mixtures, there arc also the so-called household teas which are preferred by people who are sensitive to coffee or who do not wish to drink a caffeine-containing beverage on a regular basis. Household teas are made up from drugs which, apart from small amounts of tannins, have only aroma substances and possibly also plant acids bramble leaves, raspberry leaves, hibiscus flowers, hips and haws, and apple skins arc frequent components of such teas [4]. 

Mr. Harrington s house margarita, which is Sauza Hornitos tequila with fresh strawberries and basil, is part cocktail and part cooking. An herbal, spaghetti-sauce taste underlies the fruit, making an unexpectedly handsome case for a steadily beleaguered drink. 

There is an evolving variety of alternative healthcare practices and products to choose from. (See Terminology sidebar.) Adults and adolescents alike are asking themselves questions such as, Should I take a pill for my headache, or drink chamomile herbal tea There are several scientific counterparts to this seemingly simple question, for example Are these both remedies Are they equally effective Is one healthier or less toxic than the other Can they be used together At this time, there is no comparative information on codeine versus alternative medicine (e.g., acupuncture) as effective treatments for pain, cough, and diarrhea. 

In the nineteenth and early twentieth century, the developed world gradually replaced locally made herbal remedies with more purified, processed NPs which commanded even higher prices because patent laws could restrict the competition in the sales of such products. However, even NPs which were not protected by patent were to benefit from a remarkable form of monopoly that began to infect the developed world in the nineteenth century and spread worldwide in the twentieth century—the monopoly of the brand. Indeed, some of the world s first major brands were NP-rich products (see section on tobacco). A nice example of this is found in cola drinks where... 

Hogan RP. Hemorrhagic diathesis caused by drinking an herbal tea. JAMA 1983 249 2679-2680. 

The dry raw herbs are cut into small pieces and made into a tea by infusing in boiling water. The herbal tea is drunk from time to time over the course of the day just like drinking normal tea. 

Since alcohol has dispersing and fast moving properties, it can increase the effect and speed of the herbs. Medicinal alcohol drink is often used for chronic disorders. Herbs that tonify the body, such as Ren Shen (Ginseng radix) and Gou Qi Zi (Lycii fructus), and herbs that disperse wind, damp and cold to treat Bi syndrome, such as Wu Jia Pi (Acan-thopanacis cortex), are often prepared in this way. Herbal alcohol drink is usually taken once a day in small amounts of 10-20 ml. 

Herbal pills, tablets or capsules should generally be taken with warm water. However, an exception is made to these two principles if the patient suffers from an excess heat syndrome in which the heat is so strong that it is impossible to accept any warm drinks. In this case, since the administration of warm fluids may cause vomiting, herbal medicines can be taken cool. 

Generally speaking, during herbal treatment, patients should avoid cold, raw, heavy and spicy food. It is wise to suggest that patients drink light tea instead of coffee, that they should not take fresh drinks and fruit directly from the refrigerator and that they should eat vegetables cooked for a short time instead of salads. 

Fumaric acid is not permitted under UK or EU legislation for direct use in soft drinks, although it is permitted under Annex IV of Directive 95/2/EC (modified by directive 98/72/EC), with strict limits, in instant powders for fruit-, tea- or herbal-based drinks. Fumaric acid finds wide use in other countries as an acidulant, notably in the US market, where it has GRAS ( Generally Recommended As Safe ) status. Fumaric acid is currently manufactured in the United States via the acid-catalysed isomerisation of maleic acid. In terms of equivalent palate acidity it can be used at lower levels than citiic acid and typical replacement is suggested at two parts fumaric acid per three parts citric acid in water, sugar water and carbonated sugar water. 

A functional drink can be defined as one that offers the consumer additional perceived benefits besides its primary function, which is hydration - the maintenance of body fluid at a suitable level. The benefits are usually directed towards some aspect of maintaining good health or coping with the pressures of modern lifestyles. A range of functional ingredients, including herbal extracts, is available to the formulator of functional drinks. 

Consumption in 2002 grew in diese markets by 11% to over 12 billion litres. Functional soft drinks now account for 6% of all soft drinks consumption by volume in these markets, up from just 4% in 1998 (see Figures 12.1 and 12.2). It follows diat herbal extracts have a role to play in this increasingly important soft drinks sector, which can no longer be seen as an insignificant niche market. 

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