One of the biggest food trends this year is the appearance of more organic, naturally flavored beverages. The general public is tired of being tricked into high sugar content, becoming increasingly aware of the shady reputations of alternative sweeteners, and they’re taking a stand against all the chemicals in traditional sodas.
Now housemade soft drinks are a must in the trendiest restaurants, where the bartenders create uniquely flavored sodas with natural ingredients. Some homes even have their own “soda machine” (a popular brand is SodaStream) that allows them to create their own syrups and drinks. The carbonated-beverage market is finally shifting for the better.
In that shift, itorganics is created on Martha’s Vineyard by local entrepreneur and Martha’s Vineyard Chowder Co. chef Alex Nagi, along with his friend Chris Zakak. “What you put in your body is important, and it’s not just about the food. Drinks should be taken into account as well,” says Mr. Nagi, who sat down with us to chat about the 18-month process that resulted in itorganics; a line of sparkling fruit beverages that are USDA organic, GMO-free, and made with real fruit juice, using sweeteners like organic cane sugar instead of the dreaded high-fructose corn syrup.
Mr. Nagi and Mr. Zakak began as childhood friends, and are both incredibly passionate about food. Two years ago the pair decided it was about time they went into business together, and their research told them there was a need for an organic, tasty beverage; thus the idea for itorganics was born.
Black raspberry, pink lemonade, and citrus were the original three flavors, and given their commitment to the ingredients, the three flavors were not easy to formulate. The sodas were formulated, tested, and retested through the winter months. The hardest flavor of them all was black raspberry, a flavor that historically Mr. Nagi didn’t love. But when they finally hit the perfect formula, black raspberry became one of his favorites. Although he couldn’t pick a true favorite, he loves them all and stands behind them 100 percent.
As for the bubbles? The amount of carbonation in the drink comes in at 2.8 — not a percentage, but a range in the amount of bubbles in each bottle. The partners took great care to achieve the ideal amount of bubbles, which I personally think they’ve found. Try some in a cocktail, like my current favorite recipe, which calls for equal parts itorganics orange citrus mixed with prosecco and chopped fresh strawberries — it’s simply divine.
Another element of the sodas that took careful consideration was the branding, which was done by the local team of David and Sam Berlow of the Font Bureau (fontbureau.com), who created the perfect font for the sparkling fruit beverage. The look is simple and to the point; “it” is just what this Island needed.
You can find local restaurants like the Red Cat Kitchen in Oak Bluffs using itorganics in their cocktails, and you can also purchase the bottled beverages at a variety of locations on-Island, including Vintage MV Wine & Spirits, the Net Result, Jim’s Package Store, Black Sheep, Chilmark Store, and even the Art Cliff food truck. With 37 points of sale on-Island, you’ll definitely run into it this summer. Follow them on Instagram at @itorganics for details and updates.