Need to Know
16 : 04 : 18

London – The Hakkasan group, best known for its Michelin star Cantonese cuisine, has announced the release of an alcohol-free drinks menu featuring Mai-Shin, a non-alcoholic rice-based drink, similar to sake.

Crafted exclusively for its London restaurants, the menu, called The Orchard List, offers a variety of Asian-inspired refreshments. It includes Honey Jun, a kombucha tea cultured with honey and Ogam Bottled Water, a wood-infused water. The list draws particular attention to a new drinks category, Mai-Shin, which is a rice and tea infusion inspired by the sake brewing process. The restaurant has created two flavours of Mai-Shin: Sukkiri, which has notes of pear and apple blossom, and Mattari, which is creamier in flavour.

‘The Orchard List project has been an opportunity to break down the notion that premium is only tied to alcoholic drinks. This should be extended to other drinks options for guests to enjoy while dining,’ says Christine Parkinson, head of wine at the Hakkasan Group.

Given consumers’ increased concern in relation to their alcohol intake, the menu aims to cater for a culture that is embracing the low- and no-alcohol offerings.

New York – Fuelled by the growth of Cannabusiness and a rising interest in non-psychoactive cannabidiol, The Standard has joined forces with Lord Jones to bring a variety of hemp-derived products to the hospitality landscape.

The hotel will offer its guests a selection of products with medicinal and therapeutic properties, including CBD oil-infused gumdrops and pain relief lotions. From April 2018, they will be available in mini-bars of the hotel’s Hollywood and downtown Los Angeles locations, with plans to introduce them to other nationwide locations shortly thereafter.

The Hollywood location will also feature a Lord Jones retail flagship store on the ground floor, extending its offering to the local community. The addition of Lord Jones to the mini-bar highlights another way in which companies may have to branch out in order to modernise room service.

London – The cold brew start-up is expanding its offering with two new coffee-based flavoured sodas – a first for the UK market.

The sparkling cold brew comes in two flavours: Citrus and Spice. The Spice choice combines ginger, orange blossom and black spice while the Citrus is flavoured with lemon and lime.

Both drinks fall below the sugar tax band, suggesting it is a healthier alternative to energy and traditional soft drinks. ‘Cold brew doesn’t need to be a breakfast drink,’ explains Hugh Duffie, co-founder of Sandows. ‘We are looking to position the new sodas alongside their functional competitors, such as Coca-Cola and Red Bull, rather than alongside iced coffee brands, with the aim for it to become an everyday staple.’

For more on how consumers are seeking alternatives to sugar-laden drink options, read here.

New research by Mintel suggests that although Chinese consumers are blaming their lifestyles, 77% are also willing to change them in order to avoid poor skin conditions.

The findings also indicate that consumers believe some factors are out of their control, with 45% blaming environmental pollution for their skin’s health. With little knowledge of dermocosmetics, only 38% of Chinese consumers are aware of the specially designed products available to manage specific skin issues. Despite this, the study demonstrates the rise in consumers’ sensitivity around their skin as they become more aware of the effects of toxins and irritants.