Koreans turn Deer Velvet into tonic

An new style energy drink utilising New Zealand Deer Velvet has been launched in Korea. This is a healthier alternative to the traditionally high caffeine content of this style of drink.

Here is an extract from the report in New Zealand's Southland Times (taken from http://www.stuff.co.nz/4554692a6440.html )

"...a new deer velvet tonic, manufactured in Korea from New Zealand-farmed deer, is providing a new kind of buzz.
Deer Industry New Zealand Velvet Services Marketing manager Rhys Griffiths said the tonic was targeted at school-age kids and career-oriented people on the go.
``They can get their daily dose of vitamins in a way that's appealing. Its a bit like V or Red Bull, but its much healthier and with no added sugar or caffeine,'' Mr Griffiths told delegates at the Deer Industry New
Zealand conference in Invercargill last week.
The tonic, which contains 3.75g of deer velvet per 80ml, also includes apple juice and vitamins.
Each energy drink retails at about $NZ6 a sachet."

This is an excellent example of innovation occurring with natural supplements. Korea is an ideal place for a deer velvet drink to have a chance of success, as they are traditionally big uses of if as a natural supplement. Korea already takes the vast majority of New Zealand's annual deer velvet harvest. There is still much educating required in other countries, particularly western ones, on the natural properties of deer velvet.

In the UK where Chinese herbalists are prevented from offering products of animal origin, (due to laws governing them, the deer velvet is still allowed to be imported into the country), deer velvet capsules are the main option available to people.