You've put some thought into lunch. There is good bread on the table, something fresh to eat and a sunny spot to sit. Then you open the fridge and the drink options are water or the same fizzy drink you always buy. Sometimes you feel like something with a little more going on.
That is the appeal of grown-up soft drinks. We use the term for drinks with enough flavour and character to be part of the meal, rather than an afterthought. Something you would happily bring to a friend's place and be pleased to see on a restaurant menu.
More than an imitation of beer or wine
Alcohol-free beer and wine have their place. But you might not be looking for something that reminds you of alcohol at all. A sparkling tea, a botanical drink or a fermented tea can be interesting in its own right.
Drinks researcher IWSR includes sparkling teas, botanical drinks and fermented products in a wider category of adult drinks that sit outside conventional beer and wine alternatives. Its January 2026 analysis describes growth in that broader category, although that is not a measure of demand for Jun specifically.
For us, the interesting part is the choice that opens up. A drink does not have to taste like beer to belong at a barbecue, or resemble wine to deserve a place beside dinner.
What makes a drink worth choosing?
Think about the drinks you go back to. It might be the bitterness of a good coffee, the fragrance of tea or the sharpness of fresh citrus. Sweetness can be part of the pleasure, but it does not have to do all the work.
The same idea applies to a cold drink. We like a little acidity to keep it refreshing, an aroma you notice as you lift the glass, and a finish that makes another sip appealing. A fancy bottle might persuade you to try something once. What is inside has to make you want it again.
Where Aroā fits
We brew Aroā Jun in Auckland, starting with green tea, raw New Zealand honey and a Jun culture. It is a gently sparkling fermented tea with a light tea character and a softer, floral sweetness. That combination is what we enjoy about it.
Our aim is a drink you choose because you like the taste. Something refreshing enough to open with lunch, with enough flavour to hold your attention when you pour it into a glass. You do not need to be interested in fermentation to enjoy what is in the bottle.
Give it a place at the table
Start with a cold bottle and something you already like eating. Try Original with a simple lunch of bread, cheese and tomatoes, or pour Berry alongside a picnic spread. These are suggestions to play with, not pairing rules. The best combination is the one you enjoy.
A small glass is handy when you want to sip alongside food. Straight from the bottle works just as well when you are out in the garden. Try it cold on its own first, then add ice if that is how you prefer it. There is no need to turn opening a drink into another job.
For a shared meal, put a few chilled options within reach and let people choose. Giving the soft drinks a bit of attention is a small hosting detail, but a welcome one for anyone who would otherwise end up with tap water by default.
Flavour first, with a clear label
We would rather talk about how Aroā tastes than turn it into a list of wellness promises. We use honey for its flavour and its role in fermentation. That does not make the finished drink sugar free. Our guide to sugar in Aroā Jun sets out the figures from our labels.
One other detail matters when choosing a fermented drink: Jun can contain trace alcohol, so it should not be assumed to be 0.0%. Check the current bottle information if you need to avoid alcohol entirely.
Beyond that, the question is a simple one: would you enjoy another bottle? That matters more to us than fitting Aroā into a fashionable category. We want it to be something you are pleased to find in the fridge.
For your next long lunch, picnic or dinner at home, choose a few Aroā flavours to try. Keep them chilled, bring them to the table and see which one you reach for again.