20 Brands To Help Keep You Energized In March 2021 & Beyond
The winter of 2021 is almost behind us, but many of us still need some extra energy, pep and/or renewal throughout the day. In turn, below are 20 recommendations for brands with new products on the market which can help make life more comfortable, enjoyable and/or health-oriented.
For better and for worse, I drink a lot of coffee, and I do that just about every day. But sometimes it becomes challenging to find a brand of coffee that you can love the taste of and also get behind from a philosophical viewpoint. Fire Department Coffee — as founded in Rockford, Illinois — is both run and made by firefighters. The brand not only donates a substantial amount of its profits to firefighter-related causes, yet it also provides free coffee to a lot of firehouses. The growing brand has spirit-infused coffees and is Stipe Miocic-approved; Miocic is the namesake of Fire Dept’s Stipe Miocic Extra Strength Coffee.
My current favorite offering from Fire Department Coffee is the brand’s Bourbon Infused Coffee. Its bourbon infused coffee beans are bold and smooth, going down easy just like your favorite bottle of bourbon. But for those folks who like to regularly change up their coffee game, Fire Department Coffee has a fun, subscription-based Coffee Of The Month Club. This growing company — which I had the pleasure of visiting on-site in 2019 — also runs the Fire Dept. Coffee Foundation.
Tidbits’ “KETO” & “CBD” Sugar-Free Meringue Cookies
Tidbits Fun Bites Meringue Cookies are sugar-free, lactose-free, gluten-free, soy-free, cholesterol-free and non-GMO. In turn, a sweet treat without the sugar. These cookies are bite-sized treats that come in a 40-piece resealable bag, and they come in the following flavors: Cookies and Cream, Cappuccino, Chocolate, Mint Chocolate, Strawberry and Vanilla. Around 2 calories per piece!
I have had the pleasure of trying both “KETO” and “CBD” offerings from Santte Foods, and absolutely everything lives up to the hype, no matter the flavor. An excellent alternative to traditional sweet snacks, as you will not be craving ice cream after having some of these meringues.
Finger Licking Dutch Stroopwafels
John Bronson and Femke Veelenturf are the owners of the Philadelphia-based Finger Licking Dutch brand. Prior to co-founding Finger Licking Dutch, Bronson was a 3-year NFL player for the Arizona Cardinals, Co-President of the National Football League Former Players chapter in Phoenix, and was President of the Pro Athletes and Business Network during his career. Veelenturf, Bronson’s wife, grew up in the Netherlands and on one of their first dates, she gave Bronson a traditional Dutch food package with stroopwafels in it. And the rest, as the expression goes, is history.
Finger Licking Dutch Stroopwafels produces and imports their authentic Dutch stroopwafels directly from the Netherlands to the U.S and other countries. Finger Licking Dutch is also currently being featured on the Home Shopping Network and can be found in over 1,500 retail locations nationwide, including TJ Maxx. As currently shown on the brand’s packaging: “Our Stroopwafels are Founded with Love and Made with Love to Spread the Stroopwafel Love.” Goes GREAT with coffee.
Mushroom Cups International — the now-famous mushroom-infused organic coffee and cocoa brand — is preparing to launch a new line of gourmet coffee products. A company founded in 2017 by Stipe Rezic, a retired professional athlete and Croatian national basketball team player who also happens to have a doctorate degree in computer science, Rezic discovered the natural benefits of mushrooms during his university championship year and has since included them in his daily meals. To create Mushroom Cups, Rezic partnered with independent mushroom hunters and scientists who specialize in the effective extraction of active natural ingredients from food.
Mushroom Cups infuse their coffee and cocoa beverages with Wild Chanterelle and organic cordyceps, Lion’s Mane and Chaga, allowing anyone who drinks it to benefit from the superfoods’ wide array of benefits, including its anti-inflammatory and anti-depressant properties. Mushroom Cups is also a brand that is focused on sustainability as it continues to partner only with independent mushroom hunters who are sustainably harvesting wild Chanterelle with a blade-cut methodology. The brand’s Kickstarter campaign has received support from 3 Olympic medalists and an NBA Hall of Famer.
Cusa Tea is reportedly the world’s first cold-brew instant tea and coffee company to use cold-brew extraction technology to create a better kind of instant beverage. The brand also recently introduced 2 brandnew coffee flavors, Dirty Chai and Mocha. All Cusa Tea products are made with high-quality ingredients, including USDA Organic-certified black and green teas, Rainforest Alliance-certified Arabica coffee, fruits, spices and herbs, and are free of added sweeteners, flavorings, fillers or preservatives. Meanwhile, Cusa’s Tea & Coffee Variety Pack features flavors like Mango Green Tea, Immune Boost and Vanilla Dark Roast Coffee, and all of these flavored can be prepared hot or iced. Available for shipping internationally via cusatea.com.
With a focus on wellness for longevity in his career and life, Kyle Busch — the accomplished NASCAR driver aptly nicknamed “Rowdy” for his will to win at all costs — created Rowdy Energy, alongside beverage entrepreneur Jeff Church with a proprietary Enhanced Energy Formula. Rowdy is comprised of precise time-released caffeine, sugar reduction ingredients, amazing taste and hydration levels above leading sports drinks. Derived from green tea, Rowdy pairs its caffeine with the nootropic L-Theanine giving you a powerful lift without the unwanted and irritable crash.
Rowdy Energy is currently available in 7 flavors: Cherry Limeade, Peach Mango, Sour Green Apple, Orange Citrus, Cotton Candy, Chiseled Ice and Strawberry Lemonade; 5 of those 7 of those are sugar-free and KETO-certified). Rowdy’s drinks are also vegan, gluten-free, soy-free and vitamin-infused and contain no high fructose corn syrup, no aspartame, no preservatives and no artificial colors or flavors. Now available for purchase via rowdyenergy.com in 4-packs, 12-packs and 24-packs.
Committed to sourcing the world’s finest quality tea from the road less traveled, Chariteas works with sustainable tea farms in order to craft custom blends. In turn, the company is giving a platform to teas from Southeast Asia, including offerings from Indonesia and Vietnam. Chariteas cares about the environment and with each purchase of tea, they replant trees. Its Happy Tummy Tea from Chariteas is a calming blend with organic mint and ginger to aid in digestion.
Earlier this month AHA Sparkling Water unveiled 2 new fizz and flavor combinations: Raspberry + Acai and Mango + Black Tea. Now offering 8 boldly-refreshing sparkling waters, just 1 year after the brand hit shelves, AHA’s new refreshing flavor duos pair familiar flavors in unexpected ways for a flavor-forward experience. The smooth taste of mango is complemented by a burst of black tea flavor — plus 30mg of caffeine — and the refreshing taste of raspberry is brightened by notes of acai. Both flavors were formulated thanks to extensive research and consumer testing. The calorie-free and sodium-free offerings are available in 8-packs of 12-ounce and 16-ounce cans and also in individual cans at select U.S. grocers and retailers nationwide.
Feeling a tickle in your throat? Forget about those hyper-sweet (and sometimes-questionable) lozenges. Propolis from Beekeeper’s Naturals aims to soothe and support your body naturally, without any nasty ingredients or a sugar-hangover. With natural germ-fighting properties, lots of antioxidants, bee propolis and 300+ beneficial compounds, many call it “nature’s ultimate defender.” All it takes is a few daily spritzes to support your immune system and soothe your scratchy throat.
FOND Bone Broth prides itself on being the “world’s finest bone broth crafted for taste.” Taste aside, FOND’s broths are not only shelf-stable, but also certified-organic, keto, paleo and Whole30. “FOND” itself means “foundation” or “base” in French, and as bone broth is intended to be foundation of our culinary and nutritional lives, this is definitely a brand practicing what it preaches. Available via Amazon, you can follow FOND on Instagram via @fondbonebroth.
Jamba’s Electric Purple Beverage
Jamba’s Electric Berry Lemonade smoothie is currently available for a limited time, as launched on March 2nd. With an electric purple color and infusions of trending ingredients like lemon and blue spirulina, each sip ought to refresh your senses and have you daydreaming of sunnier, spring days ahead. In addition, now when ordering online or through the Jamba app, Jamba offers delivery so Jamba-loving families can continue to enjoy their favorite smoothies, bowls and shots when and where they please. This drink comes just months after the great limited-time Pumpkin Smash Smoothie, so I look forward to seeing what else is coming soon from Jamba.
ZOA Energy is a new-to-market healthy energy drink from Dwayne Johnson, Dany Garcia, Dave Rienzi and John Shulman, and it is now available for purchase via ZOAEnergy.com and GNC.com. It is reportedly the first-of-its-kind healthy energy drink that supports immune function and elevate energy levels. Packed with vitamins and nutrients, it contains a blend of green tea and green unroasted coffee as well as carefully-selected superfoods. Thus, ZOA aims to be more than a “typical energy drink.”
For most people, winning a few NFL Super Bowls would be something to live off for the rest of their lives. For Justin Watson that is not the case, and in addition to 2 other successful and already-running businesses, he launched BLQK Coffee — pronounced “B-L-Q-K” before the “coffee” — last year.
Per the BLQK Coffee website, the heart of its company is its social justice mission. The company is committed to pouring 25 percent of its profits back into its causes and communities which improve access to quality education, bridge opportunity gaps, and cultivate food justice. Not just emphasizing philanthrophy, the coffee of the BLQK Coffee company sources its 100 percent Arabica beans from expert producers, and then artisans and hand-roasts those beans in Los Angeles, California.
Papaya makes reusable, compostable, antibacterial paper towels. Aiming to “replace 17 rolls” with a single one of its paper towels, per the Papaya website, the brand is not just eco-friendly and female-founded but also highly-rated. Subscriptions are available through Papaya’s website (linked above).
Sleep is an essential component of recovery after exercise and overall mind-body wellness. Stress — or even just an overactive mind — is one of the most common causes of sleeplessness. Enter Flume, a premier outdoor lifestyle supplement brand formulated by Dr. Taryn Forrelli. Its mission is reportedly to fuel the flow state and enhance wellbeing in athletes and everyday adventurers. Its DRIFT product was scientifically-formulated to soothe both the mind and body and is especially helpful for those with an active lifestyle. Plant-based, its key actives include Ashwagandha, California Poppy, Hops and Ocean Magnesium. As packed into 100 percent recyclable aluminum containers, Flume is a member of 1% For Tthe Planet, POW (Protect Our Winters) and the Sustainable Herbs Program.
Health-Ade Plus is a new adaptogen line from fan-favorite beverage brand Health-Ade. Health-Ade Plus combines the bubbly probiotic-filled goodness of classic kombucha enhanced with additional functional ingredients for an extra feel-good boost. It comes in 7 flavors: Beauty, Belly Reset, Chill, Energy, Happy, Hydrate and Immunity. In turn, there is a beverage for every mood, and you can enjoy on its own or mixed into a recipe. Health-Ade Plus is available at Health-Ade.com and Whole Foods Market at $46.80 per 12-pack or $4.29 per bottle.
Meanwhile, Health-Ade’s new kombucha is made with kiwi, strawberry, biotin and bamboo. Thus, there is something for everyone on the health spectrum when it comes to Health-Ade offerings.
In 2017, after recognizing that consumers were seeking — but not finding — beverage choices which were healthy, authentic, transparent and better-for-them while tasting great, Waterloo Sparkling was launched. The Austin-based brand is a bold take on sparkling water, making its mark by focusing on fruit-inspired flavor and aroma, and delivering a much richer, more authentic taste.
Waterloo is made with Non-GMO Project Verified and Whole 30 Approved flavors, while also free of calories, sodium, sugar and artificial sweeteners. For the benefit of their fans and the environment, Waterloo has only ever been produced in aluminum cans, made with BPA-free liners. In turn, Waterloo’s sparking water is ideal for mixing with both alcoholic and non-alcoholic beverages, while also great on its own. Its latest (and maybe greatest) offering is its Pineapple flavor, as made available earlier this month in 12-packs at various grocers (e.g. Whole Foods) and online retailers.
Elix Healing is a women’s health brand rooted in the ancient wisdom of Traditional Chinese Medicine. Its Ginger Aide is a pure and potent concentrate of organic ginger, offering anti-inflammatory and anti-microbial properties. It can be used to support everything from headaches and indigestion, to the common cold. Simply store a bottle in your bag, and enjoy 3-6 full droppers on their own or mixed into your favorite on-the-go beverage for well-being and vitality. Now shipping nationwide shipping via elixhealing.com.
Innovative beverage company, G-Zee Brands launched H2O Sonoma Soft Seltzer 0.0%, which is reportedly the world’s first wine-infused non-alcoholic sparkling water and aiming to define a new category with alcohol-free lifestyle drinks that combine the refreshment of sparkling water and the taste and spirit of premium California wines. H2O is pure water infused with the juice of 100 percent California varietal winegrapes, premium dealcoholized wine and natural flavor extracts. The H2O Sonoma Soft Seltzer 0.0% line has launched with three of eight planned varietals: Pinot Noir, Rosé and Sauvignon Blanc. H2O has plans to release Cabernet Sauvignon, Chardonnay, Merlot, Moscato and Zinfandel offerings later in 2021.
In an almost unprecedented debut for a beverage of any kind, within weeks of launching, H2O has already been cited in 2 academic journals. The first, published by the Department of Food Science and Nutrition at California Polytechnic State University in San Luis Obispo, proposes a growing consumer interest in and a willingness to purchase a winegrape-based beverage with enhanced nutritional properties like H2O. The second, published in Medicina by the same authors — Cal Poly San Luis Obispo professor Angelos K. Sikalidis and Anita H. Kelleher, Adeline Maykish, and Aleksandra S. Kristo — stated the following about H2O: “Thus, consumers are able to receive the advantages of sparkling water with additional possible health benefits without the concerns of ‘diet’ products with artificial ingredients and preservatives.” Academia aside, the first bottling of H2O Sonoma Soft Seltzer immediately sold out. Thus, G-Zee Brands has been ramping up increased production and deliveries direct to consumers and distributors.
A sparkling fermented and probiotic pineapple drink, De La Calle’s Tepache takes a modern approach to one of the most beloved drinks in Mexico. Pronounced “teh-pah-chey,” this beverage has been made in Mexico for decades and thousands of versions of tepahe are known to have existed. De La Calle’s offering uses certified organic pineapples and it is delicious. De La Calle’s chief fermenter Rafael Martin Del Campo is a third-generation tepache maker, and he had reportedly studied over 50 versions of tepache to help helm De La Calle’s wares.
Don Pablo Coffee is a world-class grower and roaster of specialty grade, small-batch roasted-to-order coffees sourced from the world’s best coffee-growing regions and delivered throughout the world. If you are new to the brand, it is worth checking out Dob Pablo Coffee’s Specialty Coffee Sampler Box, as featuring 3 of Don Pablo Coffee’s best-selling beans packaged in a beautiful gift box with custom-printed graphics and info on each specialty coffee inside.
Keep checking the Don Pablo Coffee website for specials and promotions. For St. Patrick’s Day, as an example, there was a 20% off discount offering for the brand’s Bourbon Infused Coffeewith the discount code “LUCKY.”
Travis Scott’s brand CACTI Agave Spiked Seltzer, in partnership with Anheuser Busch, hit shelves on March 15th. In short, CACTI Agave Spiked Seltzer is being billed as a bold new beverage with “down to earth ingredients and out of this world flavor.” It has a 7 percent ABV and is made with 100 percent premium blue agave from Mexico. CACTI is available in 3 flavors: Lime, Pineapple and Strawberry. Product is available in 12-ounce cans sold in a 9 count Variety Pack, as well as 16-ounce and 25-ounce singles, as sold in Lime and Pineapple.
Sway Energy + Immunity is reportedly the first ever drink in the market that combines the power of immunity, energy and nootropic ingredients to optimize overall well-being for an enhanced mental and physical performance. This “better-for-you” beverage contains the recommended 100 percent daily value of Vitamins A, B6, B12, C and D, plus every can of Sway contains 160mg of Organic Green Tea Caffeine. This pick-me-up comes in 6 delicious flavors: Lemon-Lime, Mango, Orange, Strawberry, Passion Fruit and Watermelon. Additionally, Sway has zero sugar and zero artificial flavors while it is low in calories and carbs. Currently priced at $29.99 for a 12-pack, it is available for purchase via swayenergydrink.com.
Last but definitely not least… CELSIUS is a healthy energy drink with no crash or jitters, unlike traditional energy drinks, and is clinically-proven to accelerate metabolism, burn fat, burn calories, boost endurance and help build lean body muscle. CELSIUS has 7 essential vitamins, includes zero sugar, has no added artificial flavors, colors or preservatives, and features no aspartame or high fructose corn syrup. It is also non-GMO, vegan, and Kosher. You can find CELSIUS via Amazon, at grocery and convenience stores nationwide such as Walmart, Target, CVS, Rite-Aid and 7-11, and at non-grocery-oriented big retailers like Dick’s Sporting Goods. A 12-pack of CELSIUS generally runs in the $20.00 to $30.00 price range.
TweetAbout the Author
Darren Paltrowitz Darren Paltrowitz is a New York resident with over 20 years of entertainment industry experience. He began working around the music business as a teenager, interning for the manager of his then-favorite band Superdrag. Since then, he has worked with a wide array of artists including OK Go, They Might Be Giants, Mike Viola, Tracy Bonham, Loudness, Rachael Yamagata, and Amanda Palmer. Darren's writing has appeared in dozens of outlets including the New York Daily News, Inquisitr, The Daily Meal, The Hype Magazine, All Music Guide, Guitar World, TheStreet.com, Businessweek, Chicago Tribune, L.A. Times, and the Jewish Journal. Beyond being "Editor At Large" for The Hype Magazine, Darren is also the host of weekly "Paltrocast With Darren Paltrowitz" series, which airs on dozens on television and digital networks. He has also co-authored 2 published books, 2018's "Pocket Change: Your Happy Money" (Book Web Publishing) and 2019's "Good Advice From Professional Wrestling" (6623 Press), and co-hosts the world's only known podcast about David Lee Roth, "The DLR Cast."
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