Circle Drinks is a community project that creates new drinks with people in Bristol. Circle Drinks works seasonally, adapting to what grows and is found around us to make drinks that are shaped by the natural environment and the knowledge and experiences of our collaborators; who forage, share, and make together. All funds from sales support the development of new programmes and the participation of our community of makers.
Circle Drinks is representative of a different sort of economy, one where practices and products support the environment and its inhabitants. The model is based on Company Drinks, a community space and social enterprise based in Barking and Dagenham, where people make drinks with and for each other. It is a co-working space and an expanding network of users, collaborators and partners, who come together to pick, grow, make, learn, unlock and share the resources and knowledge around us.
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Homemade
Created by ACH
Homemade, a bramble leaf, lemon balm and mint iced tea, was developed through a project by Old Vic that was designed to enable integration and greater understanding between newer and older inhabitants of Bristol.
A group from ACH was brought together with artist and writer Fozia Ismail to share stories, associations, ingredients and recipes from respective food heritages. From conversations over tea (Somali tea - shaah made by Fozia and Afghan tea - chawaa made by some of the participants) and cake, and foraging trips to the local area, the group developed the recipe for this refreshing iced tea, which includes ingredients that have been used for centuries all over the world for their medical properties and delicious flavour.
Elderflower Secrets
Created by children from Bannerman Road Community Academy
Elderflower Secrets is an elderflower cordial created by students from Bannerman Road Community Academy in Easton.
A series of workshops enabled children to understand the whole process of drink production, including planting, foraging, recipe development, production, branding and selling. Children foraged local elderflowers, tested recipes and created a cordial. They worked with artist group OOMK to create a brand for the drink - Elderflower Secrets - and labels for bottles to sell at the school’s summer fair.
The cordial was also served at the Watershed’s 40th anniversary event, a celebration feast that was attended by 200 people. To say thank you for their work, the cinema hosted the children for a special film screening.
Drink Love
Created by ACH
Drink Love is a rose, hibiscus and thyme cordial that was created for the Choose Love garden at the Chelsea Flower Show, designed by Jane Porter.
The Choose Love garden was inspired by refugee migration routes across Europe, the concept of desire lines (informal paths) and the resilience of displaced people. Many of the ideas within the garden are informed by a research trip to Samos in Greece where Jane volunteered with charities working with refugees.
Drink Love was created for an opening event at the garden by a group of women from ACH. Using rose and thyme, which feature in the garden, the group experimented with complementary flavours and created a cordial to be served with sparkling water or with prosecco as a cocktail.
Circle Drinks is supported by the West of England Combined Authority, Old Vic, ACH, Choose Love, and Planty Jane.
