Yumbo
Yarra Valley, Victoria
SUSTAINABLE | REPRESENTATION - QLD
Yumbo Soda Co was a project born from boredom and made for fun. Growing up in the Yarra Valley, founder Ben Frazer knew a thing or two about the beverage industry – his brother a winemaker, his mates behind the wheel of Four Pillars – it was an industry he’d always been a part of, albeit dancing on the sidelines of the game.
When Covid hit, Ben pivoted from his marketing role and got to work on a project he’d never had the time to tackle – Yumbo Soda Co. With access to a brewery in Coldstream and Walter, Ben’s 78-year-old lemon farmer and best mate living next door, he got to work creating a lemonade that honoured the traditional flavour of one of the world’s most popular soft drinks.
The Yumbo Core Range is made up of the award-winning Lemonade (Australia’s Best Yumbo Lemonade 2023) and the nearly award-winning Mandarin (Australia’s 49th Best Mandarin Soft Drink 2023). Very recently, Grapefruit and Blood Orange have joined the family (yet to be submitted into any awards comp).
These four are the staples, the fan favourites. Printed cans, original (and forever) design, never-changing, always delicious: old friends.
YUMBO LEMONADE - 24X375ML - LEMON, MAKRUT LIME LEAF, LEMON MYRTLE
Lemonade that tastes like lemonade – zesty, fresh, and not too sweet. Makrut lime leaves add notes of spiced citrus, with the myrtle bringing a beautiful aromatic to the nose. The lemon zest gives that final lemon punch without being overwhelming – trust, it’s delicious. Yumbo Lemonade: a traditional tasting lemonade using all Australian ingredients, from family run business we know and love. Premium Australian lemon juice from Mildura Juice Co VIC, Lemon Myrtle from Creative Native Foods in SA, Makrut Lime Leaves from Walter’s orchard in Healesville & lemon zest from JT Juices, VIC.
YUMBO MANDARIN - 24X375ML - MANDARIN, LEMON THYME
This is a mandarin in a can. Delicate, floral, zesty, refreshing. Mandarin juice, lemon thyme to boost the citrus notes and for a hint of spice, and a whole heap of gently burnt mandarin zest that brings out the aroma and taste of a real mandarin. This is an extremely frustrating beverage to make, as the burning of the zest is a very slow process – but it’s crucial to the flavour profile of the drink, and we can sleep when we’re dead.
YUMBO GRAPEFRUIT- 24X375ML - GRAPEFRUIT, SALT
Yumbo Grapefruit tastes like a grapefruit soda should and is super refreshing. Striking the perfect balance between sweet and tart –
the Yumbo Grapefruit dances close to a non-alc Paloma due to the additional hydrating salts. It’s sweet and sour in a can – but leaning more toward the sour side of life. Ideal as is or incredible as a mixer, this is potentially our magnum-opus.
YUMBO BLOOD ORANGE - 24X375ML - BLOOD ORANGE
Lush, smooth, full-bodied with the perfect amount of citric bitterness. Full mouth feel, beautiful orange freshness with floral notes – it’s easy drinking, tart with a tiny hint of raspberry on the back of the palate.
YUMBO LEMON ICED TEA - 24X375ML - LEMON, EARL GREY TEA, LIME, MAKRUT LIME LEAF, LEMON MYRTLE
