Why We Use Raw Organic Sugar (Not That Corn Syrup Stuff)
From Mrs Pete, straight from Motueka
Let’s talk sugar. Not the scary kind you read about at 2 a.m., the real stuff that helps our fresh NZ fruit sing.
At Pete’s, we choose fair trade organic raw sugar. It costs more than the cheap alternatives, and we’re fine with that. When you’re squeezing real NZ fruit, running a solar-powered factory, using recycled glass, and backing our growers with FairTrade@Home, you don’t cut corners on the sweetener.
So why do some brands use high fructose corn syrup?
Short version. HFCS is cheaper and easy to source at scale. In the US it became common when cane sugar got pricier and supply was messy. Cheaper inputs can look great on a spreadsheet. They don’t taste like sunshine in a bottle.
We’re not here to throw shade at anyone. We just want to be crystal clear about what goes in your drink and why.
Our sugar standard
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Raw organic cane sugar
Gently processed, clean flavour, lets real fruit lead. NOT bleached. -
Balanced sweetness
Sweet enough to taste great, not so sweet you need a nap. -
Consistency you can trust
Same recipe, same quality, every bottle and can.
What this means for you
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Taste
Real fruit flavour up front. No weird aftertaste. -
Transparency
Ingredients you can pronounce. Choices you can feel good about. -
Values in every sip
Local fruit, FairTrade@Home, solar fizz, recycled glass. It all adds up.
Quick cheat sheet
| Sweetener | What it is | Why we don’t use it |
|---|---|---|
| High fructose corn syrup (HFCS) | Corn-based sweetener, cost-efficient at scale | Not aligned with flavour or values, different taste profile |
| Refined white sugar | Highly processed cane or beet | Too processed for our standard, flatter flavour |
| Raw organic cane sugar | Less processed cane with clean taste | This is us. It complements real fruit |
Why add any sugar at all?
Because fruit needs a little balance to taste its best in a soda. Think of it like salt on tomatoes. A touch brings the fruit forward. No fake flavours. No nasties. Just fruit, fizz, and a bit of organic sweetness to round it out.
The Pete’s promise
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Freshly squeezed NZ fruit
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Raw organic cane sugar
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Solar-powered bottling
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Recycled glass that gets recycled again
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FairTrade@Home to pay growers fairly and fight fruit waste
If you want the short answer. We use better sugar because you can taste the difference.
Ready for a sip that actually tastes like fruit?
Try Lemonade, Feijoa, Currant Crush, Pink Lemonade, Kola, Raspberry-Kola, Lime, Ginger Beer, Lemon Chilli, or Sparkling Water. Your taste buds will do a happy dance.
Ngā mihi,
Mrs Pete
