the origins of gallybird
The Gallybird story was born out of a desire to create something that didn’t previously exist – an exceptionally high quality tonic water that is naturally totally sugar and calorie free but made without artificial sweeteners or sugar.
In order to savour a celebratory sundowner or refreshing gin and tonic in these health aware times, Gallybird founder Fo passionately believed that it should not be necessary to compromise on either sugar, calories or natural ingredients.
Shocked at being unable to find a light premium tonic water on the market that wasn’t in fact packed with sugar and not wanting to opt for slimline versions that used artificial sweeteners such as aspartame , Fo decided to create her very own naturally sugar, carb and calorie free alternative purely using plant derived ingredients.
Over the course of two years experimenting with various blends in her Sussex kitchen, Fo realised the potential and enlisted the help of the very best industry experts to perfect her sugar and calorie free, purely stevia plant sweetened recipes. In the summer of 2019, Fo was able to finally bring her perfected product to life, with the launch of Gallybird.
Gallybird provides a unique great tasting, naturally sugar free and zero calorie premium tonic water created using the finest quality ingredients.
Both the classic Indian blend and our subtle Botanical blend ensure tastebuds are satisfied while remaining clean enough to let other elements of the drink shine through.
Sweetened purely using Stevia leaf extract, a plant used for centuries as a calorie free, natural alternative to sugar. Stevia is gaining in global popularity as health-conscious consumers are becoming more aware of its existence and demanding natural alternatives to sugar. This increased demand for stevia products has driven it to become dramatically more popular, mainstream and readily available.
Indian tonic waters on average contain over four teaspoons of sugar, while ‘light’ or ‘skinny’ natural versions are still surprisingly high in sugar with an average of two teaspoons in a small 200ml bottle. Gallybird is unique – sugar free, zero calorie and without any chemical nasties. Our tonics are light as feather in calories, sugar and free as a bird in artificial ingredients.
To achieve this, our tonic water is sweetened with Stevia leaf extract, ‘sweet herb’ or ‘candy leaf’ as it is frequently referred to. Stevia leaf extract is suitable for a diabetics as unlike sugar or artificial sweeteners it has no effect on insulin levels. Stevia has a glycemic index and glycemic load of zero. Our premium tonics are certified by the Vegetarian Society as suitable for vegans and vegetarians. All Gallybird products are certified by Sugar Wise as calorie and sugar free.
The origins of Gallybird
Birds were using quinine as a prophylactic against malaria years before British soldiers added sugar and gin to their bitter medicinal malaria fighting quinine to make it more palatable and unwittingly created the first known G&T.
A Gallybird is a spotted woodpecker of Sussex origin. The Gallybird’s spotted feather markings are representative of the light and bubbly tonic water created in Sussex and named after it.
Light as a feather. Free as a bird.
No Sugar, calories or anything artificial.
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