Drinks "for the soul"

Christoph Eugster wants to conquer the market with his "Guayusa" and five other special soft drinks. The Zug native is certain that his products are in line with a general trend.

The diversity on the beverage market is growing and growing, with new brands and labels constantly being added. Many disappear again because the competition is simply too big or the market is already oversaturated with similar products. If you want to assert yourself, you have to come up with an unprecedented idea.

Christoph Eugster, an entrepreneur from Zug, seems to be on a promising course: his beverage label "Sunbird", based in Zug, focuses on naturalness. These "soul drinks" are supposed to be pure refreshment, without added sugar or other additives.

The first thing that Christoph Eugster brought to the market about two years ago was "Guayusa", an invigorating soft drink that primarily contains guayusa. This is the caffeine-containing extract of a holly species found primarily in the Amazon region of Ecuador. Guayusa caffeine has a gentler effect than that in coffee. however, in that it is only released into the body slowly, but continuously. The natives of the Amazon value guayusa for its stimulating and sensory sharpening properties. In terms of taste, guayusa is distantly reminiscent of maté, but contains no bitter substances.

Straight from the jungle
"So far, there are only a few products with guayusa in our latitudes," says Christoph Eugster, and he accordingly sees the potential of such drinks to meet a general need. From his range of now six different products, the Guayusa has been able to assert itself as the most popular since the beginning, he adds.

A key point in the production process is the source of the main ingredient. Christoph Eugster explains: "On my travels in the Amazon, I came into contact with the indigenous cultural heritage and their use of plant medicines. Through an acquaintance, I became aware of guayusa, which still plays an important role for the Quechua tribe. Today, we obtain the dried leaves directly from the indigenous people, maintain close cooperation and exchange with them, use synergies and learn from each other." Fairness and sustainability are keywords here.

Christoph Eugster's company Sunbird currently has six "soul drinks" in its range    Photo: Loredana Amrein Photography

The refreshing drink with a characteristically dark colouring is produced with the leaves from South America, which are carefully harvested by hand following to a personal recipe by Christoph Eugster. This is all done at a so-called ‘contract bottler’ in Valais. "With fresh Valais mountain spring water," adds Christoph Eugster.

Unusually refreshing flavours
The Zug native soon realised that it was difficult to hold one's own on the market with only a single product. Guayusa was thereby joined by a counterpart with rather opposite properties. The natural substance here is called ‘ashwaganda’, an active ingredient of the winter cherry (Withania somnifera), which is used primarily in the Indian healing art of Ayurveda and has a relaxing, calming effect. Christoph Eugster calls it a "chill-out drink".

The further four beverage types - "Craft Drinks" and "Botanical Waters", which, like Ashwaganda, are produced in the Netherlands - are purely refreshing soft drinks with special flavour combinations, such as passion fruit with red pepper or lime with ginger. Here also - as with the other two soft drinks: additives are taboo, and the unobtrusive sweetness of the fizzy drinks comes solely from the naturally contained fructose of the ingredients. Anything else would be against the credo of Sunbird.

"Above all, our drinks have good and healthy natural properties and their unique flavours make them a drinking experience," emphasises Christoph Eugster. The Sunbird beverage line is already a permanent fixture in certain catering establishments in the canton of Zug, such as the Galvanik cultural centre and the Quai Pasa buvette. "We are currently in talks with other Zug restaurants," he adds. Outside the canton of Zug, Sunbird drinks from Zug are available in Frau Gerold's Garten in Zurich, for example, and will soon be available in the Plaza Bar there.

Sunbird is now certified organic
Company founder Christoph Eugster is particularly proud of the recent certification of his beverage line with the organic label. "The way is now open for organic shops to include Sunbird drinks in their assortment." Christoph Eugster is confident that this type of "soul drink" can become popular. After Corona, this is the first summer in which the entire range of six soft drinks is available and served.

The Zug-based company has also thought of a few marketing ideas: All bottles are clearly distinguishable from each other by their colouring, but they are all united by one and the same design: the characteristic tail feathers of a bird - those of the "Sunbird".

Note: www.sunbirddrinks.ch