Signals

UK – The fruit crisps manufacturer has launched the UK’s first range of edible teas, creating a hybrid product that serves as both a snack and a natural infusion for hot drinks.

The teas, which are made with air-dried fresh produce, are available in three combinations: beetroot and parsnip; pineapple and kiwi; and pineapple, beetroot and parsnip. Designed to double as a snack and a healthy alternative to caffeinated teas, the company says the product also caters to brands in terms of convenience.

‘They remove the need for fresh fruit, reducing waste and prep times in bars, restaurants, travel and the leisure industry,’ says Nim’s founder Nimisha Raja, noting how Nim’s air dried fruits and vegetables can benefit businesses. For consumers, she adds: ‘They taste great (eaten or drunk), they are high in fibre and vitamin C, and they can make up one of your five a day.’

For more on how brands are reconsidering traditional tea offerings, read our Tea Market.

US – A group of friends are publishing their text therapy transcripts online in the hope that it will also offer solace to their readers.

The newly launched digital platform is populated with episodic text conversations between three friends – Akliah, Robyn and Timothy – and their therapists, in a style that mimics popular Chat Fiction apps. In 2018, the friends decided to try out text therapy, a convenient, more cost-effective alternative to in-person sessions, and publish their experiences as a media project.

In what they call ‘an exercise in radical vulnerability’, Friends With Secrets does not censor conversations or shy away from naming names, but showcases the ugly truths of human relationships without asking for sympathy or empathy. ‘By processing and sharing these traumas, it helps me and can help you,’ says co-founder Timothy Goodman. ‘The greatest stories are the ones that kind of act as activism.’

Friends With Secrets demonstrates how young people are finding ways to reflect on their anxieties rather than indulge in them. For more, read our macrotrend Anxiety Rebellion.

The UK is the world leader for vegan food launches, according to a new report by Mintel. Until recently, Germany was leading the way, with reports showing that one in 10 new products in the country feature a vegan label.

The new figures show that initiatives like Veganuary have contributed to the UK’s adoption of veganism – in the last six months, 34% of British meat eaters reduced their meat consumption. ‘Consumers are becoming more willing than ever to expand their comfort zones, push themselves to the limit with new experiences and use social media to compete with and offer inspiration to their peers,’ says Edward Bergen, global food and drinks analyst at Mintel.

One of the more unusual vegan trends of 2018 was driven by frozen food retailers, who capitalised on greater consumer awareness of plant-based diets created for more health-conscious consumers.