Scan Magazine
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A Taste of Sweden
Real ingredients, real flavour Is it possible to find soft drinks without added preservatives, aromas or artificial ingredients? It certainly is! Swedish brand TÖRST has redefined the category by producing real soda from real ingredients – such as fruit, herbs and spices – for real flavour. By Malin Norman
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Photos: Törst Beverages
The idea of brewing soft drinks in a simpler way and from natural ingredients originally came from the engineer-turned-beer-brewer Ludvig Brydolf, who teamed up with visionary businessman Allan Mabon, seasoned bar and restaurant professional Karl Stein, and a collective of beverage professionals in order to realise the dream. “Something was lacking in the market,” says Rasmus Lindgren, marketing manager. “Even though the food and beverage industry has changed a lot in the past five to ten years by, for instance, moving towards more local and organic production, we saw that people were still drinking the same kind of industrial soda as in the 1930s. There was room 52 |
Issue 151
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February 2023
for better alcohol-free options in restaurants, cafés and bakeries – so TÖRST was born in 2020.” The team has a varied background, ranging from environmental engineering and manufacturing planning to brand building, product development and gastro-
nomic expertise. “What really unifies us is the view that there is a clear need for our products,” says Lindgren. “We want to offer a range of products to consumers who want to enjoy a treat made with real ingredients from time to time.” Still a soda, just better With an honest approach and no use of questionable chemicals, added aromas, preservatives or artificial colourants, TÖRST was launched in the first summer of the pandemic. The refreshing thirst-quencher called Real Raspberry instantly became a big hit, and since then, another six products have been added to the line-up. The team brews the soda on Värmdö, an island in Stockholm’s archipelago. “Our process is straightforward and we never compromise on ingredients. It’s a completely natural product made of water from our own well and cane sugar mixed with fruits, herbs and spices,” explains Lindgren. “This is just how grandma used