With all of the sweating we do in the studio, we are always looking for new and delicious ways to rehydrate after a good reboot ride. That’s why our ears perked up when we heard about Maple Water, a completely natural and nutrient-rich beverage brought to Boston by two local triathletes. We had the chance to catch up with one of DRINKMaple‘s founders and sports nutritionist, Kate Weiler, to learn about the birth of Maple Water and why we should be giving it a try.
Q. Where did the idea for Maple Water first come from?
A. My triathlon training partner (and DRINKMaple co-founder), Jeff, and I were in Canada for a race and found a form of maple water in a coffee shop there. Always curious to try new health foods, we purchased some and instantly fell in love with the hydrating effects. After searching high and low when we got home, we realized there was nothing like it in the United States. Extensive research on both the beverage and maple industries and a lot of hard work brought us to our launch this past May. We got our first batch from maple trees in New Brunswick, Canada, but are making the moves to source our maple sap from New England trees for 2015.
Q. So what makes Maple Water different from any other sports drink on the market?
A. Maple Water isn’t created in a lab like many other sports drinks. We simply tap the trees for their sap, pasteurize it, and put it right in the bottle. Nothing is added. It is naturally packed with 46 nutrients like iron and zinc, antioxidants, electrolytes, and contains half the sugar of coconut water. It is a functional fuel for maple trees as they start to bloom every spring, so imagine the possibilities it holds for us! Unlike many sports drinks, the calorie content is extremely low, only 20 per serving, so you can really drink it throughout the day to reap all of the nutritional benefits.
Q. If you had to give advice to anyone chasing a dream, whether it be an athletic endeavor or starting a new business, what would it be?
A. I would say “live your passion.” Starting this company was hard work, and Jeff and I spend long hours working every single day. The fact that we love it and are passionate about what we are doing really makes the difficult stuff a lot easier. The amount of time and effort we put into this really reflects on our company and brand.
You can buy Maple Water online at drinkmaple.com/store/ . And make sure to follow them on twitter and instagram @drinkmaple !
