Coca-Cola has debuted a new herbal tea drinks brand in Thailand called Habu.
With no plans as of yet for an international roll-out, the design of the new drink was specially tailored to the Thai market. The brand name Habu was chosen for its similarity to the English word 'herbal'.
The ready-to-drink beverage is a combination of four cooling ingredients: roselle - a species of hibiscus, liquorice, luo han guo, and cogon grass.Roselle is said to lower cholesterol and is commonly included in Asian tea blends; licorice is used to ease coughs, soothe ulcers and stomach inflammation, and control blood sugar. Luo han guo is a fruit that can be used as a sweetener and cogon grass is used to treat fevers and other conditions.
Coca-Cola have not yet determined if the drink is to be marketed as a health product.While this is Coca-Cola's first herbal drink launch, the beverage giant has introduced several tea ready-to-drink chilled tea products. Sales of such brands, which include Gold Peak, Honest Tea and Fuze Tea are growing in North America as standard soda sales fall in the region.
© 2013 - ESM: European Supermarket Magazine by Ellen Lunney
