Ancient Roman Drink Recipe To Enter United States
The creators of Posca Hydrate are bringing their non-alcoholic beverage to the American market following recent success.
Updated on Oct. 15, 2026 in Healthy Food
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Merrick Watts and Ed Stening are expanding their beverage brand, Posca Hydrate, into the United States. The non-alcoholic soda is based on an ancient Roman recipe designed for modern health-conscious consumers.
Why it matters
The company aims to capitalize on growing demand for health-focused alternatives to traditional sodas. By modernizing a 2,000-year-old formula with added electrolytes and nutrients, the brand seeks to appeal to wellness-oriented shoppers.
Posca Hydrate features a recipe derived from ancient Rome over 2,000 years ago. The brand reports an annual sales growth of 50 percent.
The players
Merrick Watts
He is a partner in the beverage company currently overseeing the brand's international expansion.
Ed Stening
He is a partner at the company and a former executive who previously led the Lion spirits business.
The details
The beverage company uses a modernized version of a historical recipe that incorporates electrolytes and nutrients. This shift toward functional, health-conscious ingredients is the foundation of the brand's international strategy.
Timeline
The original Roman recipe was created over 2000 years ago.
The brand achieved 50 percent sales growth in 2025.
Culture Shift
The expansion of Posca Hydrate follows the documented rise of the functional beverage market among health-conscious consumers. This shift indicates a move away from traditional sugary sodas toward drinks formulated with specific health-promoting ingredients.
American consumers can expect to see this non-alcoholic, electrolyte-infused soda arriving on retail shelves in the near future. The brand is positioning the product as a functional alternative to conventional drinks for daily hydration routines.
The takeaway
Ancient wellness practices are increasingly informing modern beverage product development. Consumers looking for functional alternatives to sugar-laden drinks should monitor the brand's retail debut for new health-focused options.
Further reading
Learn more about the latest trends in the wellness beverage industry in our Healthy Food section.
Source note: This article includes information reported by Australian Financial Review.
Live Poll
Would you choose a drink based on an ancient recipe over modern alternatives?
