Our Natural Ingredients
At Nordic Wellness Drinks we are “Inspired by Nature”. We have selected Nordic berries and botanicals and other spices to enhance our Water Kefir, due to their outstanding nutritional value. Berries that have traditionally been harvested by hand, by families for generations. In Scandinavia, the long cool summers, with extended sunlight hours and cold nights, give the berries a high level of phenolic maturity, in relation to sugar maturity. This means a lot of flavour with high antioxidant levels and less sugar maturity. We want you to truly feel the benefits of Water Kefir, so head to our products to try our natural drinks today!
The main bioactive compounds in berry fruits are polyphenols, more precisely, anthocyanins, which give the colour to the berries. Imbuing our Water Kefir with these flavours and properties is what produces a colourful, deliciously tasty, low calorie probiotic drink with a powerful charge of antioxidants for Good Health Naturally and Sustainably. Our products are a wonderful gut health supplement that include gluten-free, low-sugar, gut health drinks. We also provide fabulous gut health foods such as our arctic berry powders, that work alongside our natural drinks for gut health.
Kefir Water is different to Milk Kefir, with one of the key differences being the taste as Water Kefir can be sweeter, with our flavours and ingredients ranging from ginger, to hemp, to sour cherry. Our probiotic products are a great choice, and on top of these benefits of Water Kefir you can also explore our Vitamin C booster products too!
Sea Buckthorn (Hippophaë rhamnoides)
The Sea Buckthorn berry is a golden orange, oval shaped, pea sized, berry. One single berry contains 8-15 times the vitamin C of an Orange. It also contains Omega's 3,6,9 and the the rarely found Omega 7, as well as carotenoids and vitamin B12.
Sea Buckthorn is found growing wild along the coastline of many of the Nordic countries and also in the UK. In Denmark, it is known as "The Nordic Passion Fruit". It is not so easy to pick due to the sharp thorns protruding from the branches. However, for the persistent, the bounty is rich. It offers one of the widest ranges of nutrients from a single source found on earth, including antioxidants, vitamins, minerals, polyphenols, omega fatty acids, carotenoids, and more. It is loaded with almost 200 bio-active nutrients that can protect against heart disease, cancer, natural ageing symptoms, liver damage, sun damage, memory loss, ulcers, inflammation and menopause symptoms. Unprocessed, they have a tart, bitter taste, with little sweetness to them.
Elderflower (Sambucus)
Elderflower is rich in bio-flavonoid compounds and antioxidants and all the positives they bring. Elderflower’s antioxidants enhance the effects of vitamin C in your diet. Elderflower has antibacterial and antiviral properties and may also help alleviate some allergies and boost the functioning of the immune system.
Other benefits of Elderflower include:
- Anti-inflammatory
- Immune boosting
- Antihistamine
- Reduces free radicals in the body, which damage cells causing an anti-carcinogenic effect and helping to guard against cardiovascular disease, among other things.
The Vikings believed that the elderberry tree was sacred. This sacredness came from the spirit of the goddess of Love, Freya, believed to be the Elder Mother who had the power both to protect and to cause harm.
The myth was, that Freya enabled the elderflower plants to provide natural gifts and blessings in the form of the flowers, berries and the leaves.
Our Organic Elderflower Water Kefir flavour is delicate and refreshing and taste of pure summer goodness. Soft and light it’s delicate flavour, full of probiotic microbiomes will refresh you at any time of day. Good health Naturally and Sustainably.
Wild Nordic Berries
WILD LINGONBERRIES - Vaccinium vitis-idaea
These beautiful red berries contain plenty of organic acids, vitamin A (as beta carotene), vitamin C, as well as B vitamins and beneficial minerals such as potassium, magnesium, phosphorus and calcium. Many people compare the Lingonberry to the Cranberry, but the Lingonberry is far superior due to its’ exceptional balance of compounds. Lingonberries grow wild in the purest air of Northern Scandinavia. (Sweden is actually covered 17% with Lingonberry bushes).
BILBERRIES (Wild Blueberries) - Vaccinium myrtillus
Bilberries are small wild blueberries that are rich in many nutrients and beneficial compounds. They're linked to reduced inflammation and blood sugar levels, as well as improved vision and heart health. They are also believed to improve brain function, fight off bacteria, and reduce symptoms of ulcerative colitis.
Ginger (Zingiber officinale)
While not particularly Nordic, we could not serve the great British public with healthy wellness drinks, without adding Ginger to the line up. One of our most popular flavours, the health benefits are well researched and documented. Gingerol is the main bioactive compound which is anti-inflamatory and antioxidant. Also said to reduce feelings of nausea and help with weight reduction, as well as helping fight viruses and disease.
Aronia (Aronia Melanocarpa)
Aronia berries pack a powerful nutritional punch, as they are high in fibre, vitamin C, and manganese, as well as zinc, iron, and vitamin B and K. They appear like a swollen blueberry but contain much higher levels of antioxidants, polyphenols, and anthocyanins than most other fruits, four to five that of blueberries!
Studies have shown that antioxidants help reduce the risk of cancer, heart disease, inflammation, diabetes, bacterial infections and neurological diseases in humans. They also slow the ageing process.
Our Aronia berries are grown in Kent, by lifetime farmer, Andrew Tickle, at his family farm, Tickleberries. Thanks to Andrew’s entrepreneurial venture we are able to source these berries for the first time from a great British SALSA producer. The addition of Aronia berries to our Nordic Water Kefir produces a powerful deep purple functional Water Kefir full of Good Health, Naturally and Sustainably. You can find our Aronia berries across our range of Aronia drinks.
Hemp (Cannabis Sativa) - Coming Soon
Hemp comes from the Cannabis Sativa plant.We have chosen to add Hemp to our Nordic WaterKefir drinks, for its health benefits and its taste. Studies suggest that it can relieve anxiety, improve sleep and alleviate nausea. It might even prevent seizures while reducing inflammation and supporting those living with IBS.
Our Water
At Surrey Hills Fermentary, our water is filtered and revitalised with a premium water concept from Leogant. The electromagnetic quality and surface tension of the water are as for fresh spring water, providing live, active water, with the perfect pH, minerals and trace elements to make Kefir.
Live Water Kefir Grains
Our water kefir grains are certified organic and are grown traditionally and naturally. They are fed and looked after daily, by our Master Fermenter, Malene in order to keep them vibrant and healthy and ready to ferment the tastiest of water kefir.
Raw Cane Sugar
During the fermentation process the sugar is eaten by the good bacteria and by the time the Water Kefir is ready for consumption the sugar is all but dissipated to 1.9-2.7g per 100ml (The UK Government advise, to be labelled "Low Sugar" in drinks, sugar content should be <2.5%).
Lemon, Ginger and Figs
The grains are fed organic lemons, figs and ginger.