Market Basket
Juice line adds green tea, ginseng drink

By Joan Namkoog
Advertiser Food Editor

Jasmine green tea with ginseng

"Healthy" tea-based beverages are making a splash in supermarkets. Itoen has just introduced Jasmine Green Tea with Ginseng as part of its Aloha Maid juice line. Targeted toward consumers seeking a healthier lifestyle, the new beverage is based on the green tea, which can be bitter in taste because of the component catechin. The green tea, which is supposed to have cancer-fighting compounds, is combined with jasmine and ginseng for a light beverage that is refreshing when cold. Make no mistake: There is still a bitterness to the beverage, though balanced by sweetness.

Big Kahuna Hawaiian Herbal teas are based on Hawaiian mamaki tea and combined with Chinese herbs and green tea. Big Kahuna is the invention of Tom Aki, who has been marketing tropical fruit beverages on the Mainland but has returned to Hawai'i to pursue his love of surfing and launch his herbal tea line. Aki's colorful packaging will no doubt catch your eye when bottles of Big Kahuna make their way into supermarkets.

Ketchup changes color

Why in the world people want to change the color of food, I don't know. Heinz has just introduced EZ Squirt Funky Purple ketchup: a rather unappetizing grayish purple condiment that tastes like regular red ketchup. But it looks disgusting. There's also a Blastin' Green tomato ketchup which, according to Heinz, was well received by kids, prompting Heinz to add another color. Well, maybe kids will like this dismal purple; I think it might fit in well for a Halloween party.

Sweet popcorn makes its debut

The popularity of kettle corn — the crisp, light, salty, sweet popped corn found at craft fairs around the state — is evidently growing nationwide. So much so that Act II is doing a microwave version of kettle corn. I popped a sample bag the other day: I think the real kettle corn is better because it's lighter and crisper, more delicate than the microwave version. Act II Kettle Corn has that buttery flavor and feel on the hands whereas kettle corn is usually dry and just sweet-salty. But just in case you have that craving for sweet popcorn at home, this may be the answer. Look for Act II Kettle Corn in supermarkets.

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