Our Roots

Back in 2012, friends Michele & Beth imagined a sparkling drink that would capture the character of Michigan's Fruitbelt.

We blend juice from fruit, honey and bitters from the orchard for a tart, aromatic and refreshing tonic.

THE first tonics were made from bitters―a distillation of shoots, roots, berries, fruits, leaves and flowers―and carbonated water. Fruitbelt is a reimagining of these first tonics, blending bitters from the orchard with a splash of tart fruit and a drop of honey.  

What's in our 'orchard bitters?'

Plucked from the orchard, our bitters blend brings flavor, aroma, functionality and poetry to Fruitbelt. Propolis―ascribed to have antimicrobial properties―is an aromatic, resinous substance produced by bees (from cone-bearing trees) to cement their hives. Chicory has long been used to support digestive function, dandelion is thought to cleanse the liver, and aronia are dark berries high in tannins and antioxidants. Cherry Bark acts as a bittering agent to round out the flavor of the drink.

  • Rooted in the orchards of Michigan, Fruitbelt collaborates with fruit growers throughout Michigan to source the best tart fruit and encourage the re-introduction of ‘forgotten’ crops to our fruit-growing landscape. In fusing a variety of ‘orchard botanicals’ into our bitters, we honor the visible and invisible processes and species who sustain and enliven the orchard.

  • We search high and low for the best tart fruit, which have antioxidant polyphenols in abundance, for our tonics. Some of the most potent and healthful fruits — aronia and elderberry — grow wild in our region, but are not yet commercially cultivated. Responding to demand from artisan chefs and drink makers, some growers are beginning to pioneer these nutrient-packed and flavorful fruits as niche crops.


    Beyond cherry and apple, we aim to bring ‘forgotten’ fruit crops back to Michigan and the greater Midwest landscape. By working with farmers who are willing to grow them and fruit processors who are willing to convert the fruit in small batches, and by heralding the unique taste and benefits of these fruits, we hope to encourage the widespread revival of indigenous crops, enhancing biodiversity and restoring the soil. To learn more about ‘forgotten fruits,’ click here.

  • Our drinks come in an 8 oz can — an authentic single serving — at 60 calories and 14 grams of sugar, derived entirely from fruit juice concentrate and organic honey. We are looking to reduce the total calorie content by using more potent, intensely flavorful fruit to flavor our tonics.


    We use fruit juice concentrate because it is the juice form for most fragile fruits, more stable than cold-pressed and the optimal form for a sparkling, bottled non-alcoholic drink.