Hemp tea - a brand or an effective therapeutic agent

Understanding that sooner or later the country will regulate the possibility of using hemp plants as the main ingredient of food additives , hemp teas have been created with a healing effect, as well as aimed at treating various diseases.

Hemp-based herbal teas today are recognized by experts in the hemp market as the number one selling cannabis drinks in the world . Kikoko is California’s top-selling brand of hemp drinks , available through more than 300 licensed retailers and delivery services throughout the state. The development experience of this brand is worthy of familiarization with national entrepreneurs working in the Ukrainian hemp market.

The start-up was launched in 2015 by brand owners with an initial investment of $ 80,000. In 2019, the company completed an investment project worth $ 8 million, and given the financing of distributors, the total financial resources attracted by Kikoko over the past four years will be $ 14 million

It was no accident that the owners of the company came up with the idea of ​​launching hemp teas on the market . A common friend of a co-owner of a company with a serious cancer disease used the therapeutic properties of hemp for medicinal purposes - to relieve symptoms of nausea, pain, loss of appetite, improve mood and reduce anxiety. After her death, the co-owners of the company developed a line of organic products that not only contain hemp, but are also designed to help regulate sleep, improve mood and libido.

Understanding that sooner or later the country will regulate the possibility of using hemp plants as the main ingredient of food additives , hemp teas have been created with a healing effect, as well as aimed at treating various diseases. That is why the company’s specialists have developed several types of teas delivered to the market in printed cans: Tranquili-Tea - improving sleep quality; Sympa-Tea - facilitating pain; Sensuali-Tea - enhancing the potential of libido; Positivi-Tea - to enhance mood. In addition, Kikoko launched a line of hemp sticks with hemp HoneyShots (honey manuka, which is known for its antiviral, anti-inflammatory and antioxidant properties, is mixed with hemp).

During the first two and a half years, Kikoko research and development went through three research groups that studied how tea bags behave when immersed in water and what the consumers' reaction is for this product , so hemp teas themselves appeared on the shelves of retail stores only in 2017. 

Due to the fact that from 2014 to 2017, the implementation of hemp teas was not established, the owners came up with another marketing move in order to expand the customer base. Hemp tea parties “High Tea” were regularly held, at which not only consumer preferences were determined, but also focus group participants were selected, who later tested new types of hemp tea mixes . During this type of tea drinking, the main focus was on education . Each event began with a brief presentation about the history of hemp, which has been used since ancient times as an effective medicine , including the use of plants for the preparation of tasty and healthy drinks. After this kind of training program , High Tea participants tried Kikoko products as part of a beautifully arranged tea party procedure .

It should be noted the sharp dynamics of the company in 2019. In particular, over the year, the staff has grown from 27 to 41 people, High Tea parties are now held not by Kikoko co-founders, but using an affiliate program, a platform is being created for direct sales to consumers , including through the connection of bloggers and presence on social networks . In addition, the company is actively introducing new designs of hemp teas to the market , for example, before the end of this year, a mix of hemp and mint will be launched on the market, and in 2020 it is planned to launch a line of day and night hemp tinctures, which will significantly expand the range of products offered for sale by the company Kikoko.

Commentary of the Ukrainian Technical Hemp Association

In our country, experiments are also being actively conducted with the launch on the market of beverages made from various components of hemp plants . At the moment, while in Ukraine you can legally buy exclusively herbal tea , which includes hemp ingredients. Given the registration of therapeutic-grade technical hemp varieties in 2020, teas from the roots and young shoots of a new registered variety rich in cannabidiol may appear on the national market. Up-to-date information on the possibilities of using therapeutic technical hemp , including for the preparation of various kinds of non-alcoholic or low alcohol drinks, can be obtained during the round table “ Use of cannabinoids in the treatment of severe / chronic diseases ” held within the framework of “ Hemp University ” held on December 17, 2019 .