Magic potions - Step aside smoothies – there’s a new generation of healthy drinks in town.
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by RUTH TIERNEY
Step aside smoothies – there’s a new generation of healthy drinks in town. When you find iced matcha in Greggs, ginger shots in Lidl and mushroom coffee in Marks & Spencer, you know once-niche products have gone mainstream. Sales of ‘functional drinks’, including matcha and kombucha, surged by 54% in a year according to Ocado Retail, with two in five people buying them several times a month.
For clinical nutritionist Annie Davies (mybodyfabulous.co.uk), functional drinks are an attractive option for older people. ‘Staying hydrated can be a challenge because our sense of thirst naturally declines with age,’ she says. ‘A flavourful kombucha might be more tempting than water, and healthier than a soft drink. Functional drinks can also contain plant compounds, probiotics, vitamins and minerals.’
MUSHROOM COFFEE
A blend of standard coffee and dried medicinal mushrooms, this is claimed to improve focus and cognition. Clinical research into medicinal mushrooms is still in its infancy, but early
results are positive. In a small study in 2023, 41 volunteers who took lion’s mane supplements for 28 days (1.8g dose) scored better in word recall tests and reported a reduction in stress.
Consumers talk of a gentle buzz without the jitters of normal coffee. That may be because mushroom coffees contain 30-50% less caffeine than a standard coffee. Lower caffeine content isn’t the only reason, says Davies. ‘Mushrooms like reishi are adaptogens, which means they help your body regulate the stress response.’
MATCHA LATTE
Neat matcha can taste bitter, but mixing the ground green tea with hot frothed plant milk turns it into a treat. Matcha delivers a big nutrient punch, says Davies: ‘It contains potent compounds, including L-theanine, an amino acid that has a calming effect on the brain; and EGCG (epigallocatechin gallate), an antioxidant that is good for mood, focus and memory. Research has found that matcha may even be beneficial for weight loss and heart health.’ Ready-made versions in cartons and cans often have very little matcha and can use low-quality tea. ‘If you can, buy a powdered instant mix that uses organic ceremonial grade matcha,’ says Davies. ‘The darker the shade of green, the more nutrients it contains.’
Matcha includes caffeine – usually more than green tea (you’re consuming the leaves not just an infusion), but less than coffee. A Starbucks grande matcha latte has 65mg of caffeine, while a normal latte has 150mg.
KOMBUCHA
Made by fermenting green or black tea, kombucha is a naturally fizzy drink that has the high antioxidant benefits of tea along with microbiome-boosting properties. Probiotic bacteria are added during fermentation, and also created by this process. Lactobacillus is among the most common live cultures present, according to a US study on commercial kombucha drinks. This helps break down food in your digestive system, reduces harmful bacteria and may ease IBS symptoms.
‘The live bacteria in kombucha are really good at supporting immunity,’ says Davies. ‘More than 80% of the immune system is based in the gut, and boosting those good bacteria has been found to cut the symptoms of colds and flu.’ Taste: Sparkling water (often flavoured with fruit or ginger).
