Posca Hydrate, the original sports drink of the ancient world, has launched down under, reinvented by previous SAS Australia winner and media personality, Merrick Watts, to hydrate health-conscious consumers.
Combining ancient wisdom with modern science, Posca Hydrate is Australia’s first sugar-free sparkling hypertonic drink in a can – an alternative to traditional sports drinks, with zero sugar, all-natural ingredients and 100 per cent stimulant-free. Available in three flavours of Grape, Yuzu (Citrus) and Pineapple, Posca Hydrate offers a unique balance of refreshing minerality and tartness to satisfy thirst.
Posca Hydrate delivers sustained hydration and enhanced electrolyte retention through its hypertonic formulation, enriched with four essential electrolytes and boosted with the addition of red wine vinegar. The company stated that red wine vinegar is a rich source of antioxidants (five times more than apple cider vinegar) and offers numerous health benefits including gut health, better blood sugar regulation, reduced snacking, and supporting a healthy immune system.
The original Posca recipe dates back to ancient Rome, regarded at the time as the beverage of choice of soldiers and gladiators. Posca Hydrate’s co-founder, Merrick Watts, was so intrigued by its health and hydration benefits, that he had to give it go himself.
“Over the past ten or so years, I’ve become a self-confessed health and fitness nut and like many of us, I have been disappointed with the lack of sugar-free, all-natural sports drink options available on the market. Aussies are increasingly becoming more health conscious and searching for a better alternative to stay hydrated - without a crash, without sugar, without stimulants, without regrets,” said Watts.
“It was during the depths of the COVID lockdown of 2021 that I came across the original Posca recipe and its fascinating stories, buried in the (online) history books. It got me thinking that there is a thing or two we can learn about hydration and health from the ancient world. Given Posca was the drink of actual gladiators, there is no doubt it is the original sports drink.”
In 2021, leveraging his expertise in liquid formulations and understanding of beverage balance from his work as a wine expert, Merrick created the very first batch of Posca Hydrate, the original recipe reimagined for the modern lifestyle, and with bubbles. Over the past three years, Posca Hydrate has undergone rigorous scrutiny and refinement, both in Australia and overseas, to ensure its premium taste and quality, as well as its sustained hydration and health benefits.
Posca Hydrate is available nationwide at major and independent convenience stores, petrol stations, QSRs and select gyms and fitness centres in a 330ml can for RRP $6.50. For those who prefer online shopping, a 12-pack can be purchased at poscahydrate.com for RRP $59.00.
