Fentimans | Home of botanically brewed beverages

Botanical Brewing

Botanically Brewed isn’t a trendy label we use for marketing; it’s the technique of making premium quality drinks, that has been handed from generation to generation of the Fentimans family.

In fact, it’s Botanical Brewing that sets us apart from other carbonated drinks. It’s our point of difference that underpins the Fentimans brand promise and delivers unsurpassed quality: characterised by a rich depth of flavour, silky mouthfeel and luxurious body.

The indulgent and distinctive flavour experience starts with scouring the globe for the finest natural ingredients.

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Americas

Due to its diverse climate and vast amount of fertile land, the Americas can grow a huge variety of fine fruits and flora.

Pink Grapefruit

Florida

One of the largest members of the citrus fruit family, pink grapefruit is tangy whilst carrying a luminous sweetness. The sharp yet sweet notes create a delicious melody of flavours in our Pink Grapefruit Tonic Water; the perfect recipe for an invigorating G&T like no other.

Europe

At Fentimans we try to source as many ingredients as close to home as possible. Lucky for us, Europe holds some of the finest ingredients in the World!

Elderflower

Europe

Elderflower has been a staple of the English country kitchen for centuries. The delicate white flowers grow wild in European hedgerows and come into bloom in June, signalling the arrival of summer. To capture the essence of an English summer, we use the finest elderflowers, which are transformed into a pale, floral liquid that is Fentimans Sparkling Elderflower.

Oranges

Mediterranean

Our specially sourced oranges are grown in the Mediterranean region and are renowned for possessing a tangy and intense citrus character. The temperate climate allows the oranges to slowly ripen, developing a vibrant and bold citrus dimension, that packs a flavoursome punch in our Valencian Orange Tonic Water.

Rose Oil

Bulgaria

It is the inclusion of rose oil, which gives our Rose Lemonade its distinct and delectable floral flavour. We source our rose oil from Kazanlak in Bulgaria, known locally as the Valley of the Roses and famed for producing the highest quality rose oil. Harvesting of the rose petals happens in a narrow window of time, occurring just once a year. The rose petals must be picked by hand at sunrise when they are at their most fragrant, with the oil extracted within hours of picking. The result is a delicate and distinctive rose flavour.

Asia

Some of the finest exotic ingredients are grown in the Asian continent.

Ginger Root

China

Ginger root has been used for millennia as a herbal medicine and as a cooking ingredient in Asia. Two thousand years after the Romans first started to import ginger to Europe, Fentimans continue the tradition of importing the finest Chinese ginger root. To make Fentimans Ginger Beer, the ginger root is crushed before the intense and spicy flavour is extracted and botanically brewed. The result is a complex taste which is fiery and full of flavour.

Quinine

Indonesia

Famously used by British colonists to protect them from contracting malaria, quinine harvested from the bark of the Chinchona Tree is the vital ingredient in the creation of tonic water. Extracting the purest quinine is essential in giving a premium tonic its distinctive dry and slightly bitter taste. The quinine used in our drinks, has a long association with the British making tonic water in their overseas empires.

Crafting a perfectly balanced flavour is down to our highly experienced flavour team. The team are charged with creating the depth of taste, mouthfeel and texture people expect from a Fentimans drink. To ensure quality and traceability, we take ownership of the drink making process from start to finish, with the simple ethos;

Once the natural botanicals have been sourced and prepared, the multi-stage botanical brewing process begins…

We start by infusing botanical ingredients in simmering water, to extract the natural flavours. The extraction of flavour takes time, and cannot be rushed. It’s the same with obtaining flavour from an array of botanical ingredients; the flavour creation process results in a concentrated and balanced botanical liquid, which is then ready to be fermented.

Fermentation

The metabolic process of fermentation, using live yeast, is the start of the magic; the dark art; the alchemy; that sits at the heart of a Fentimans drink.

Fermentation takes place for 7 days in classic open square fermentation vessels; allowing rich and complex flavours to slowly develop as the yeast, sugar and natural pear juice come to life. It’s during fermentation that a myriad of flavour compounds are created; which contribute to the overall depth, complexity and flavour of the finished liquid.

Flavour Creation

To complement and enhance the fermented botanical liquid, natural flavours and essential oils are extracted inhouse from expertly sourced ingredients; then mixed with the fermented botanical liquid. This results in the indulgent, distinctive and complex flavours.

Water and natural beet sugar are added before carbonation adds sparkle to the liquid.

Pasteurisation not only extends the life of our drinks; the heating process also plays a role in melding together the array of essential oils, botanical extracts and flavours.

The result is a rounded, smooth and balanced taste experience.

So, that’s botanical brewing

a multi-stage process from botanicals to bottle resulting in exquisite flavour in every Fentimans drink