In the 1980s, we started out believing in an opportunity for a new drink that brought nature into the beverage choices available.
We include real herbs which have been used in traditional herbal medicine for centuries. We handcraft the herbal extracts (the heart of our drinks) ourselves here in Riverhead, New Zealand.
Best known for the contemporary use of its tart and tangy stalks as a dessert ingredients. The use of the incredibly bitter roots in medicines to aid digestion traces all the way back to 270BC.
Also known as Indian Penny wort, and is part of the parsley family. Gotu Kola is a mild adaptogen credited with a variety of important health effects across the ages.
Also known as ‘tuber fleeceflower’, the popular Chinese herb dates back to the 8th century. Modern researchers are suggesting it may have neuroprotective properties and antioxidant effects when used in managed therapeutic doses.
A succulent plant species growing in tropical climates, used for a variety of healing purposes around the world. Rich in vitamins, antioxidants and antimicrobials.
#ChiTimeMeTime
We adopted the name “CH’I” to reflect the Original Herb Blend’s purpose under traditional medicine – a blend believed to encourage the free flow of “CH’I” – the essential breath of life.
The idea of an essential and unseen energy that supports healthy life is found in traditional health beliefs across many cultures. It’s an idea we think is essential in today’s life and is a metaphor for the rejuvenation that comes from moments when you put yourself first
The Original CH’I drink herb blend was first developed by a traditional herbalist with ancient natural medicine in mind. With the intention of the blend to boost your ‘ch’i’, the name stuck!
It is a delicious and refreshing sparkling drink, using water blended with our special herbal mixture. A touch of flavours are added- kiwifruit and honey- both complementary of the herbal flavour and a fitting reflection of CH’I’s originating country, NZ.
Drinking CH’I will give you a refreshing moment of natural rejuvenation!
While the word ‘ch’i’ or ‘qi’ originates from China, the CH’I Herbal Drinks have been developed and produced in Auckland, New Zealand since 1987. The herbal ingredients are handmade into our Original Blend at the CH’I Drinks Workshop in Riverhead.
CH’I Herbal Sugar Free may be very useful if managing Diabetes as it is completely free from sugars and has only the most minute traces of carbohydrates.
The Vitamin C, which we include to help protect the colour and flavours from oxidation, is metabolized by our bodies and yields a minuscule 10kJ (2 kCal) of energy for every 200ml portion drunk.
Please always consult your Health Professional about changes in your diet to manage your Diabetes.
There are no reasons we are aware of to restrict your enjoyment of CH’I while pregnant.
The herbs in the extracts we make are not in the drink at therapeutic doses. If however you have any questions or concerns you should please always consult with your Health Practitioner.
Stevia is a natural plant based sweetener with no sugars, carbohydrates or calories. It’s one of the few non calorific sugar alternatives that is not synthetic. Our taste buds perceive it to be over 200 times sweeter than sugar.
It has been rigorously assessed by the FDA in the USA, and the Australia and New Zealand Food Safety Authority, and was approved as a safe food ingredient by these Authorities in 2008.
Like virtually everything in our food supply, including water, it may be capable of causing harm if consumed in extreme excess, but the most recent information suggested you would need to regularly consume several hundred bottles of CH’I Herbal Sugar Free every day to be approaching an unsafe level!
We do not make any health claims about CH’I. The herbs are not intended to be therapeutic and are not at levels that approach therapeutic doses.
For any concerns about your own health we recommend you consult your health professional.
We do try to minimise the use of sugar while protecting flavour enjoyment, our drinks with sugar do contain 25% less sugar than most other soft drinks on the market.
We do also make our Original Blend into a Sugar Free version, it does yield a tiny number of calories (2 kCals per 200ml serve) from your body metabolising the vitamin C- which we add to protect colour and flavour.
There is nothing in CH’I that contradicts vegan or vegetarian principles- so yes!
Most major supermarket across NZ should stock our drinks, you can usually find us in the water aisle.
If you’re having trouble locating us in a specific store, let the manager there know or contact us and we’ll try to solve the issue for you!
Our Original Blend includes: Ginseng Root, Gotu-Kola, Fo-Ti, Rhubarb Root, and Aloe root. You can learn more about them here.
Didn’t find the answer you’re looking for?
We’ll send you a 15% OFF coupon to use on our webstore when you pop in your email and join our CH’I lovers group!*
*By signing up, you agree to receive marketing material via emails. Not valid for users already in mailing list.