Cell-nique Introduces Tasty Health Drinks

23/11/06 Dan Ratner wanted to improve his health, well-being and overall energy level, and planned to do it by taking more vitamins.

But rather than popping handfuls of pills, he used powdered vegetable supplements, which he stirred into a liquid and drank.

Ratner, of Weston, wasn't pleased with the taste or the effort involved, so he decided to create his own vitamin-rich libation that would be tastier and more convenient.

Enter vegetable-based Super Green Drinks, which were introduced to independent health food stores in August.

Ratner conceived the drinks two years ago, and he then developed the recipes and business plan.

"It took me a month to come up with a formula and a year to make it taste good without destroying the organic and medicinal properties," said Ratner, the founder, president and "head greenologist" of Weston-based Cell-nique.

The new drinks bear flavorful names such as Emerge Pomegranate, Enlight Apple, Embody Citrus Vanilla, Evolve Tropical Paradise and Lau-Tzu with Kukicha Tea.

Though fruit-flavored, they also contain ingredients such as organic alfalfa, organic blue-green algae and other herbs said to aid digestion, cell detoxification, cell antioxidation and the immune system.

Cell-nique disclaims any specific health benefits to its drinks, but they are certified as organic by the U.S. Department of Agriculture. Ratner said all of the drinks share the basic formula, but are flavored to accommodate varying degrees of personal tastes, from tart to sweet.

The drinks are currently available in about 100 stores in New England and locally at Tommy K's Vitamins in Stamford. Ratner said the company also will have distribution in Florida and the Midwest shortly, and is expanding its reach in Fairfield and Westchester counties.

http://www.stamfordadvocate.com/business/scn-sa-nor.eyeonbiznov22,0,1462791.story?track=rss