London Inc. May-June 2023 - 13

falls somewhere between
a tonic, a kombucha and a
seltzer.
" They're
very
unique
flavours, " Pastorius says.
" Most people are surprised
when they initially interact
with them, but they almost
always land on one or the
other. Quite a few people find
themselves migrating between
the two.
" The first
locally. " This, really, is a project
about the love of sustainable
food, " says Pastorius.
For now, they are taking
a very measured and paced
approach to growing the
Forest City Botanicals
brand. They're selling it
themselves, through On the
Move Organics, as well as at
a " limited number of retailers. "
They're only just starting to take
[flavour] we listed
was the Raspberry Calm, " Pastorius
continues. " It's a very floral experience. "
The second version is called Elderberry Boost.
Each uses different ingredients for a different effect: the
Raspberry Calm uses ingredients like ashwagandha
tonic and nettle to create a calming, relaxing drink; the
Elderberry Boost infuses holy basil and dandelion to create
a drink that gave you a burst of energy.
" All of the inputs in this drink have a long list of health
benefits, " Pastorius explains. " They've been designed to
have functionality. "
Producing Forest City Botanicals is a collaborative effort,
Pastorius says, between On the Move Organics and London
Brewing Co-op, and contains more than a little bit of that
DNA. It's produced by three co-op members working on the
project part-time, as part of the constantly changing mix
of projects going on in the co-op's ecosystem at its Old East
London facility.
The sparkling tonics also have a strong sustainability
focus, with much of their input ingredients being sourced
meetings about wholesale.
Like non-alc beers, Forest City
Botanicals almost can't help but position
itself somewhere in the conversation about what
beverage options are available to non-drinkers. " No matter
what the event is, there are a percentage of folks who aren't
going to drink and I'm sure are tired of walking around with
a bottle of water in their hand, " Pastorius reasons.
But unlike many of the non-alc beverages available to
consumers, Forest City Botanicals isn't trying to look or
taste like a version of something else - the marketing and
product design aims to be obviously different from the
jump.
" The concept of this is as a conversation piece - it really,
in our opinion, stands out in its category, " Pastorius says.
" It's a unique, premium beverage. "
And for Pastorius, the ultimate proof is in the pudding:
where he used to have a beer at the end of the day, he now
often finds himself unwinding with a Raspberry Calm. " A
beer was sort of the indication that the day was done, " he
says. " It very enjoyably filled that place. "
KIERAN DELAMONT
MAY / JUNE 2023 | londonincmagazine.ca | 13
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London Inc. May-June 2023

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