Think about the last time you stood at a club canteen after a game. There's beer, if you're old enough and not driving. There's a fridge of fizzy drinks that are mostly sugar. And that's about it.
Plenty of people on the sideline don't drink alcohol. Some are kids, some are drivers, some are fasting, some just don't. Australian sport is full of them, and we haven't seen a drink that's made for them and says so loudly. That's the gap we want Karkade to fill.
What's in it
Karkade is Sudanese hibiscus, made with cold water from whole dried calyces and bottled in our own kitchen in Western Sydney. Here's what that means on game day:
- No alcohol. Nothing to check, nothing to explain to the committee.
- No caffeine. It's a flower, not a tea leaf, so it's fine after a late game and fine for kids.
- Sugar is your call. Original has sugar, Unsweetened has none, and the fruit flavours (Lemon and Mint, Cranberry and Pineapple) are sweetened too.
- Halal, always.
It's tart, deep red, and it's best poured cold over ice. Say what you like about orange quarters, but this is what comes out of the esky that people ask about.
Where we've already done it
We were beside the Netball NSW tent at the Sudanese Gala Day in Blacktown. We've done club days for Coptic FC. And on 8 October we were on the rooftop at Westfield Mt Druitt for the 3x3 basketball with PTG. Different codes, same thing: people finish a game, they're thirsty, and they want something cold that isn't beer or cordial.
Running a club, a school day or a tournament?
We bring the tent, the ice and the bottles, and we can serve 300ml or 500ml. Tell us the date and the headcount and we'll quote it. Small groups sit a bit higher per head than a 60 person job, because the tent, the travel and the hours are the same either way. We'll tell you that up front.
Just want some for the week?
Six packs are delivered across Sydney, free over $100, or free pickup from Westmead. Chuck a few in the fridge for training night.
A note on hibiscus: it can interact with some blood pressure medication, and it isn't recommended in large amounts during pregnancy. If that's you, ask your doctor first.