SAYSO and its founders are creating a new category in the ready-to-drink space with the world's first craft cocktail tea bags, and it recently unveiled new product packaging and new flavors for the brand’s one-year anniversary.
The certified women-owned beverage category disrupter is bridging the gap between ready-to-drink mixers and labor-intensive cocktail kits, offering a versatile option for cocktail enthusiasts and non-drinkers alike, all in a sophisticated and easy format – the tea sachet.
Unlike some traditional cocktail mixers that are loaded with artificial flavors and excessive amounts of sugar, SAYSO said it offers an all-natural alternative using only the freshest, granulated ingredients including dehydrated fruits and herbs dried at peak flavor.
However, these craft cocktail tea bags do not contain actual tea (Camellia sinensis), and the company does not have plans to add tea into the craft cocktail tea bags at the moment. Nonetheless, it’s an innovative and exciting use of tea bags, and SAYSO is seeing a lot of success.
“People want fresh ingredients that are better-for-you, without all the additives, and tea provides that in a cocktail or mocktail. By using a tea bag format with SAYSO, consumers are drawn to something they are familiar with and then become fans of our all-natural, low-sugar cocktails,” said Alison Evans, one of the co-founders of SAYSO. “Especially on TikTok, tea infusions and our cocktail sachets are very captivating to watch. Our Skinny Spicy Margarita going viral on TikTok is a testament to that.”
The Perfect Balance of Taste and Convenience
Evans and Chloe Bergson brought SAYSO to life when, mid-pandemic, they became frustrated trying to recreate the delicious cocktails they once fancied at bars… while at home. Tired of carbon copy, high sugar ready-to-drink beverages and seltzers, or shopping for a multitude of ingredients to make one drink, they began experimenting with all-natural ingredients, dehydrated, and encased in a tea bag. The result? Easy to create, cocktails or mocktails at home in minutes, or to take on-the-go.
The biodegradable tea bags, expertly portioned, provide a perfect balance of taste and convenience, requiring no shaking, blending or mess when cocktail crafting. Customers can just steep the bag in cold water for three minutes, enhance with their spirit of choice – or skip the spirits for a mocktail – and add ice for a premium craft cocktail at home or on-the-go.
SAYSO, which launched in 2022, is hoping to revolutionize the way people make cocktails. And since July 2022, monthly sales have grown by 600 percent with an average of 38 percent growth per month.
SAYSO's successful product lineup includes the Skinny Spicy Margarita (a TikTok viral best-seller), Rosemary Honey Moscow Mule (a best-seller in non-alcoholic bottle shops), Skinny Cardamon Paloma, and the classic Old Fashioned, which will be joined by two new exciting cocktails. Launching this summer is the classic Espresso Martini, and the Hibiscus Cosmopolitan will arrive in early Fall, offering an approachable, low-sugar option with an elevated twist.
SAYSO Launches Sustainable Packaging
Starting in June, SAYSO will replace its current box packaging with pouches made from post-consumer recycled materials, which will be available for purchase on the brand's website.As a result of the packaging redesign, consumers will enjoy a lower price point of US$16 for eight cocktail tea bags, down from the previous price of US$24.
The packaging redesign follows a successful retail expansion across 36 premium specialty stores and boutiques nationwide, and is a result of the brand's commitment to offering a more eco-friendly product at an even more affordable price point.
“As SAYSO celebrates our first-year anniversary, we are thrilled to introduce our new sustainable packaging and two new cocktails to our customers,” said Bergson. “Our goal is to provide an exceptional experience with high-quality ingredients, convenience, and sustainability at the forefront.”
Evans added: "We look forward to continuing to expand our retail footprint, partnerships, and collaborations this year, to bring SAYSO to even more cocktail lovers nationwide. We're excited to see our products hit the shelf at Citarella, Fairway, Gourmet Garage, and Bristol Farms this month.”
SAYSO products can also be purchased on its website, Amazon and in select retail stores.
To learn more about SAYSO, visit DrinkSAYSO.com.
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