The Organic Beverage Company

The Organic Beverage Company

Written by Tiffany Young Thursday, 24 April 2008

 

The Organic Beverage Company, one of the first companies of its kind, got its start in Northwest Austin. The company was the first to produce a USDA certified organic energy drink that contains no preservatives or artificial flavors.

The Organic Beverage Company’s only drink is called Syzmo (pronounced sizz-mo) and comes in three different flavors: original, passion and prickly pear.

Located off Metric, The Organic Beverage Company was started by Jeff O’Neal four years ago and became a wholly owned subsidiary of Integrated BioPharma last year.

Available locally at Whole Foods, Central Market, Specs, Chevron, TETCO, many independent convenience stores, and soon to be found at H-E-B, Syzmo has been recognized as the first USDA organic energy drink in the market and is the first certified glycemic index tested carbonated beverage in the world.

Syzmo, derived from the Spanish word sismo, which means earthquake, includes 100 percent organic caffeine, organic coffee fruit and organic agave nectar, giving the drink a lower glycemic index than typical fruit juices, sports drinks and soft drinks. According to O’Neal, this is important for keeping glycemic levels constant, avoiding high and low dips in blood sugar levels throughout the day.

O’Neal already had a background in beverage companies and organics when he went to Mexico to study agave nectars. In the U.S., there were few canning factories, and those that existed had not worked with agave nectars, so The Organic Beverage Company worked with them to distribute their beverages.

“We’re just trying to bring a healthier option to everyone,” O’Neal said. “It’s as good as any beverage is going to get.”

Syzmo carries the glycemic index tested seal, which O’Neal believes should become more popular in the U.S. to keep consumers aware of how foods affect their moods, weight and even complexion.

While the drink has carbohydrates to provide energy, it uses only complex sugars instead of simple sugars and also has about a 25 percent reduction in calories compared to other energy drinks.

Syzmo shares beverage industry publication BevNET’s “Best of 2007” award with Steaz in energy drink innovation for “exciting, next-generation formulations.”

Syzmo was also featured in Playboy magazine’s February issue as the first energy drink that doesn’t “taste like crud” or isn’t “packed with sugar and chemicals.”

O’Neal has seen a continuous interest in organic energy beverages since their introduction, but hopes for there to be a greater awareness of the product’s existence.

“We do have a big following here in the metro area. We’re here to support Austin lifestyles,” O’Neal said. “When we started, there were no certified organic drinks available at Whole Foods. Now there are five. We were the first to produce a certified organic beverage on Whole Foods’ shelves.”

“Energy drinks was the first category because it’s the biggest growing category,” O’Neal said, but they also want healthy options for kids, so the energy drink founder plans on moving into organic soft drinks in spring of 2009.

Benefits of Syzmo

Syzmo is the first USDA certified organic energy drink that uses 100 percent Blue Webber Agave, a healthy alternative sweetener that delivers fewer calories and reduced blood-sugar reaction. Glycemic Index is a ranking of carbohydrates according to their effect on blood glucose levels. Syzmo’s GI is 30, with soft drinks at 66, sports drinks at 78 and average juice at 50.