KARMA COLA: WHAT IS IT?

In a nutshell – pun entirely intended – Karma Cola is a soft drink brand with a social purpose. Its aim is to reconnect cola, the world’s best-loved soft drink, with its central ingredient, the West African-grown kola nut.

First things first: Karma Cola is absolutely delicious. Where more industrial producers use synthetic flavourings, this recipe involves coriander seeds, nutmeg, cinnamon, lemon and sugar, as well as water and bubbles. And keeps just a hint of bitter flavour to remind you that this is the real deal. And Karma doesn’t just make cola. It’s expanded its range to make Gingerella ginger beer and Lemony Lemonade, also with the highest standards of ethics in mind.

KARMA COLA: HOW SUSTAINABLE IS IT?

Karma is a business with a sustainable, ethical supply chain. It’s so dedicated that it was crowned the brand World’s Fairest Trader in 2014 by Fairtrade International. This company diverts a large percentage of its profits towards the communities that help create it.

So far, Karma has funded four teachers who teach more than 2,000 children, rehabilitated 12 forest farms and helped more than 2,000 people during the Ebola crisis, which had a devastating effect in West Africa in 2014-16.

Elsewhere, the produce used to make Karma Cola’s drinks are organic, which means they’re as good for you as fizzy drinks can be.

KARMA COLA: WHO MAKES IT?

Simon Koley, Karma Cola’s Kiwi co-founder, set up the business because of an interest in the ethics of trading with developing nations. He previously previously imported bananas from the Pacific islands to New Zealand, working directly with farmers and making the supply chain as transparent as possible.

He met Albert Tucker who helped him and his co-founders source kola nuts from Sierra Leone. Tucker is a native Sierra Leonean who had worked with many Fairtrade brands on importing commodities like coffee and chocolate. He’s key to both the brand’s product, and to the work it does in the country as the head of the Karma Cola Foundation.

The Foundation supports the communities that work for Karma Cola. It gives kola farmers and their families independence through trade, and supports initiatives to improve infrastructure and education.

So sure, you’re paying £1.49 a bottle for your coke. But this is one time when it’s very definitely worth it.

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