NEWS: Inko’s White Bottled Tea In NYC School System

March 31, 2010 at 7:59 am · Filed under Beverages, Low Calorie

Five of Inko’s 11 bottled flavors.
Photo courtesy Inko’s.

For those of you with an idea for the next great bottled beverage, be forewarned:

No matter how brilliant your idea is, there’s the marketing conundrum. It’s very, very hard to get your products on the shelf of major retailers. And you probably can’t make a living just selling to specialty stores.

If your product doesn’t catch on in a big way (like Red Bull—which had deep pockets), your distribution will be limited. We’re chagrined that we can’t find Inko’s bottled white teas everywhere.

When we first tried Inko’s, the first (and still the only) beverage company solely dedicated to producing all-natural, ready-to-drink white teas, we were hooked. We don’t buy many bottled beverages because of our personal pledge to limit recycling, but we make an exception for this one.

Now there’s good news for Inko’s:

Two of its flavors— Inko’s Blueberry and Inko’s Strawberry White Teas—are now available in the vending machines and ancillary commissaries of the New York City Public High School system. Not only will a large new audience develop, but the kids are getting a terrific-tasting, healthy beverage.

To improve the nutritional quality of food and beverages available for sale to students at school, the New York City Department of Education has a mandate to improve the quality and nutritional value of foods and beverages that are available for students. With specific regard to beverages, the policy states:

Water is permitted
Low calorie drinks without any artificial flavors, colors, or sweeteners are permitted
Maximum of 25 calories per 8 oz. serving
No serving size limit

While the regular line is sold in bottles, the vending machine line is (of necessity) in 12-ounce cans created especially for the school program, along with new graphic art to appeal to a younger market. The products are sweetened with a small amount of fructose—better on the glycemic index than sucrose, table sugar.

If you’re involved with your school system’s vending program, give Inko’s a call.

If you’re looking for a wonderfully refreshing, low-calorie beverage, look for Inko’s at fine retailers; if you can’t find it, ask your retailer to bring it in. Or order it online at HealthyWhiteTea.com. Our personal favorites include Apricot, Blueberry, Hint o’ Mint, Honeydew and Honeysuckle—but we’d be glad for a bottle of any flavor.