MIC: Pure Sodaworks Pops into Beverage Business

By: Latricia Thomas
      
A local start-up is gaining POPularity by leaps and bounds using natural ingredients. And their secret ingredient is really no secret at all.

At Pure Sodaworks in Downtown Chattanooga, their main ingredient is a point of pride: pure cane sugar! "We had this idea of taking these herbs and make soda syrups and sodas from natural ingredients," says co-founder Tiffany Rogers.

The soda cart start-up at the Chattanooga Market, quickly popped up into a soda storefront with bottling in the back and six popular flavors: Cafe Cola, Apple Pie, Hibiscus Lemon, Honey Lime, Root Beer #4 and Strawberry Jalapeno.

When we visited, it was Hibiscus Lemon on the menu in the syrup kitchen. Co-founder Matt Rogers adds pure hibiscus flower and lemon peel to the mixture. He uses local ingredients whenever he can, in an effort to boost the local economy.

Rogers says to get just the right mixture in the kettle, "you have to bring it to a boil, basically, and then we are going to dump it and filter it."

Then it's time for the essential piece of the pop puzzle, the pure cane sugar. Once the syrup's in the keg, it's time to add the bubbles.

Shawn Clouse says "The diluted product is in the keg, we'll charge it with the CO-2 and then it becomes soda."

Add a label, and it's ready to sell to customers and soon to local restaurants. "We're just very proud," Clouse says. "Of the flavor and the taste and the people we've been able to get the soda in their hands."

Pure Sodaworks is in talks right now with several different restaurants to offer their bubbly beverages on the menu.

To learn more, click here to visit their website.
MIC: Pure Sodaworks Pops into Beverage Business