Herbal Soft Drinks Get Princely Touch

Prince Charles has a new business--making herbal soft drinks from fruits grown on his estates.

Coca-Cola and Schweppes Beverages produce and distribute the non-alcoholic, sparkling drinks, said Mike Cornish, managing director of Duchy Originals.

“Both drinks were carefully crafted by masters of wine to produce a sophisticated alternative to alcohol. They are blended from the finest natural English apples, pears, raspberries and herbs with lightly carbonated Scottish spring water,” Cornish said.

Some ingredients come from the royal estate at Sandringham and the prince’s farm at Highgrove and the National Fruit Collection in Kent, Cornish said. The drinks contain no additives or preservatives.

The drinks are the second product from Duchy Originals--a firm set up by the prince five years ago. Three years ago, it began selling oat and ginger biscuits, which are exported to several countries, including the United States.