Our Mission: Redefining What It Means to “Share A Drink”
The ritual of drinking is as ancient as humanity itself. From the earliest days, people have gathered to share drinks that not only quench their thirst but also alter their mood and enhance their experiences. Whether it's the camaraderie fostered over a glass of beer, a meal shared with wine, the alertness brought on by a cup of coffee, or the comfort of a warm tea, mood-altering beverages have played a central role in human culture and connection. In the US, however, the spectrum of these functional drinks has narrowed to a handful of active ingredients, namely alcohol, caffeine, and sugar.
New Brew was founded to broaden this mix by reintroducing diverse and traditional botanicals into our drinking rituals. Our mission is to offer alternatives that enrich our lives and foster a sense of community and well-being. For our flagship “euphoric seltzer” product, we've selected two plants with rich histories and profound traditions: Kratom leaf and Kava root.
New Brew’s Ingredients: Kratom Leaf, Kava Root, and Tea
Kratom (Mitragyna Speciosa) is an evergreen plant native to Southeast Asia. For hundreds, if not thousands, of years, people have used Kratom to boost productivity, enhance mood, and promote physical well-being. Kratom leaf has a long and established history of traditional use.
Kava (Piper Methysticum), on the other hand, has a long and separate history in the South Pacific, where it is revered as a social elixir. In places like Fiji and Vanuatu, kava is used to foster kinship and community, being utilized in many of the same contexts that alcohol dominates in the West. Kava is known for its calming and heart-opening properties, making it perfect for social gatherings.
Complementing these botanicals, we use caffeinated tea, either Black Tea or Oolong Tea, to add a familiar and gentle lift. Each can of New Brew contains 125mg of kava root extract, 25mg of kratom leaf extract, and 30mg of caffeine from tea.
Kratom and Kava have become increasingly popular in the US over the last few decades, but mostly in raw form as capsules, or in extract form as shots or tinctures. We saw an opportunity to make these plants accessible in the form of an enjoyable, sessionable modern beverage - something that fits perfectly into the ceremony of drinking and makes it both more positive and more functional. After drinking New Brew, you feel more connected to yourself while retaining your judgment and clear thinking, without becoming sloppy or impaired.
That non-inebriating quality of New Brew was a particular focus for me in founding the company. Alcohol was a destructive force in my life for a long time. I started drinking at a young age, and it became a big part of my life for the next twenty years, causing harm to myself and those around me. With New Brew, the goal is not to simply replace one vice with another. That’s why responsibility is at the core of our mission.
Commitment to honesty and responsibility
At New Brew we look at kratom and kava alongside cannabis, alcohol, caffeine, and other mind-altering substances on the market. They are neither totally benign nor totally dangerous. All of these widely available substances can be super problematic if misused. As potent plants with genuine effects, kratom and kava require a similar degree of caution and care, and should only be used by informed adults, and avoided by those practicing sobriety.
At New Brew, we are extremely mindful of this responsibility, which informs everything from our formulation and serving sizes, to our label and website, to our marketing, merchandising and advocacy. In everything we do, we strive to be honest and upfront with our customers, empowering them with the information and tools they need to make sure New Brew is a positive addition to their lives.
The result is a product and a brand that we think has the potential to create a better future for our most ancient of rituals. Thank you for joining us in redefining what it means to share a drink.
