Everything we do at Fable is rooted in “intentionality”. We intended to make the best non-alcoholic THC cocktails possible, in which case, keeping it real (quite literally) is key to the integrity of the beverages. Our product development journey started with a flavor house, the end destination for 99% of the cannabis infused beverages in the space. A flavor house does exactly what it says on the tin, it specializes in flavors, versus real ingredients and mixology. Both natural and artificial flavors lack one thing, depth. The result being that flavored beverages often leave a slightly sour aftertaste that lingers on the pallet. Try any of the infused THC seltzers on the market and you’ll see what we mean. We decided early on that if we were to make a truly crafted cocktail with a truly layered flavor profile, we’d have to use real ingredients such as blended blackberry, versus blackberry juice. Real Cinnamon, versus Cinnamon flavor.
Ingredient Spotlight: Exploring the Nuances of Real Flavors
Our ingredients come blended, in 5-gallon wooden barrels. Flavor typically comes in the form of syrups, delivered to manufacturing facilities in bags. Ultimately this decision means that Fable costs more to make. This is why you’ll see that Fable, in most cases, is slightly more expensive than seltzer, and soda. We would rather make a product we know beyond any doubt is made using the highest quality ingredients, versus something artificial, but cheaper to make. Below we outline the characteristics and considerations for you to consider when evaluating infused THC beverages.
Flavoring Agents vs. Natural Ingredients:
Flavoring agents, which can be artificial or natural, are used to impart or enhance specific flavors in food. Real ingredients, on the other hand, contribute their natural flavors. For example, using cucumber and spearmint in Night Flight is a natural way of contrasting the heat of Ginger & Hibiscus, leaving a cooling finish on the palette.
The Depth of Real Flavor:
Real ingredients bring a more complex and richer taste profile compared to artificial flavors. However, artificial flavors can sometimes mimic the desired flavor more consistently and are less variable than natural sources. We use real ingredients in all our SKU’s, which is why you’ll taste the real Blackberries in Night Flight, the Cinnamon in Best Zest and the White Oak and peach in Into The Woods.
Health Concerns:
Artificial flavors and additives can raise health concerns for some consumers. Natural ingredients are typically healthier. You will find no Titanium Dioxide or Red Dye3 in Fable, a common ingredient in Cannabis Infused Beverages.
Quality Over Convenience:
Real ingredients can be more expensive and less available than artificial flavors. For example, in Fable we use real Szechuan Pepper which creates the burn sensation you typically get with Alcohol. This is an expensive ingredient.
Culinary Tradition and Authenticity:
In many culinary traditions, the use of real, whole ingredients is fundamental to the authenticity of the dish. This is often seen in gourmet cooking and traditional recipes. In our case we engaged a culinary counsel during the development process.
Seasonality:
We always look to work with Farms applying organic best practices to how our ingredients are grown. Because of this, occasionally we may run into seasonal supply chain restraints. We can’t control the weather after all!
Published: March 2024
