Calm+Clear won Best New Product in the Alcoholic Beverage and Mixer category at this year’s sofi Awards.
Stephanie Bricken wanted a change of pace from the daily glass or two of wine. She wanted the social aspect of enjoying a beverage but not with the cumulative impact of the alcohol. With a master’s degree in Integrative Health and working through the Rutgers Food Innovation Center, the Spring Lake resident developed Seraphim Social Beverage, a nonalcoholic wellness tonic and wine alternative.
Featured here is her Cacao ‘Calm+Clear’ Blend. A beverage that drinks like a red wine, with red fruit flavor backlit with chocolate notes, it is a combination of all organic ingredients — cacao, sour cherry juice, blueberry juice, red grape juice, cider vinegar, water, vanilla extract, oat extract and botanicals. Bricken wanted to make a beverage that had layers of flavor but that was also delicious and healthy. It also is versatile and can be served chilled or not, be a base for sangria or used as a mixer.
If you aren’t convinced, ‘Calm+Clear’ won Best New Product in the Alcoholic Beverage and Mixer category at this year’s sofi Awards. This judged contest has been run for over 50 years by the Specialty Food Association, the organizers of the annual Fancy Food Show in New York.
Suggested retail price is $35. Available through the website and at select locations. Check out https://seraphimsocialbev.com/ for more information.
This article originally appeared in the Fall 2023 issue of Jersey’s Best. Subscribe here for in-depth access to everything that makes the Garden State great.
