Confectionery

COCKTAILS AND LONG DRINKS AS ICE LOLLIES

2021-11-12

WATER ICE – FLASHBACKS TO CHILDHOOD

Coloured ice pops in plastic tube packaging – was what the summers of our childhood were made of. Costing just 10 Pfennig you could pick up these frozen drink mixes at kiosks or over the counter at open-air swimming pools. But you had to be quick before the ice melted and the refreshment was over. Some would suck out the tasty cola, “Waldmeister”, orange or strawberry mix right away. Though you were then just left with a boring stick of frozen water. Others polished off these “ick-sticks” in large bites. In any case, whichever way you enjoyed them: these Bussy Eis popsicles were a real hit.

And as is so often the case, Busemann GmbH’s idea came from America where water ice is today surprisingly mainly sold in tubs. In Germany ice popsicles in strips became a real sales hit after the company from the Ruhr region brought a filling machine across the Pacific. Now some 3.5 m Bussy Eis pops are produced a day, making Busemann GmbH the biggest manufacturer of “lickable drinks” in Europe.

LICKABLE LONG DRINKS

Now wishing to follow on from this success is the start-up Suckit from Berlin. However, these popsicles are aimed at quite a different target group. For adults, long drinks are frozen and packed as water ice. These 40 mm tubes available in a 10 or 100-pack box are the perfect way to cool down at every summer party. The boxes of the still unfrozen ice tubes can be ordered from the online shop and frozen at home in the freezer compartment. The range currently includes five flavours – Rum Orange, Strawberry Daiquiri, Mojito, Vodka Energy and Melon Sour. Depending on the variety the alcohol content of these party refreshments varies between 5% and a little over 6%.

PUSH-POP COCKTAILS

Things get higher in proof in the US at beach and pool parties. In the Land of Endless Opportunity ice-pop manufacturer Buzz Pop Cocktails® offers their frozen Buzz Pop Cocktails thereby hitting the 20 to 50 year old target group who still very well recall their childhoods with push-up ice cream popsicles. With their considerably larger 100 millilitre size and 15% proof these refreshments not only contain more alcohol but are also packed very differently. Like Walls push-up ice creams with their mini Haribo gummi bears in the tube these icy cocktails are pushed up from a container called a push-pop. The eight flavours Blueberry Mojo, Lemon Drop Martini, Southern Belle, Pink, Paradise, Caribbean Breeze, Mango Passion Fruit, Watermelon Patch and Moscow Mule are made with 100% fruit juice making them vegan, gluten and fat-free. What’s more, they are certified kosher and contain just 100 calories per portion. So, this summer is ready to off with an (ice) pop!

The trend for alcoholic water ice comes from the US. There cocktails are packaged as push-pops on a stick. Photo: Buzz Pop Cocktails

INTERESTING FACTS ABOUT WATER ICE

Today’s water ice is thought to have originated in China in the 3rd century BC. Back then they took snow and added it to drinks for cooling. In Europe water ice is thought to have been used a little later in antiquity. In those days glacier ice was mixed with honey or rosewater.

Water ice was always very popular and still is today: Hippocrates is said to have prescribed his patients drinks with ice to improve their well-being. Emperor Nero liked to enjoy his ice with fruit and Alexander the Great boosted the stamina of his troops with frozen water.

latest news
trends
expert interviews
infographics

Subscribe now!