The lotus flower has significant meaning for many cultures and religions around the world. For Scott Strader, founder and CEO of Lotus Plant Power, the lotus was an inspiration for his plant-based energy drink brand that he established in 2007.

Since then, the Lake Tahoe, Calif.-based brand has been on a mission to redefine energy drinks, Strader says, drawing inspiration from the iconic lotus flower’s balance of mind, body and spirit to “craft wellness driven plant-based energy drinks that deliver both taste and function.”

The Lotus portfolio features eight varieties, which all come in cane sugar and zero sugar versions. The lineup consists of ready-to-drink (RTD) energy drinks, two cream bases, Power Ups and several concentrates.

“Our flavors have been driven by the success of our flavor infused energy drink concentrates, used in over 15,000 coffee shops,” Strader states. “The top-selling flavors have been recently offered in RTD cans featuring huckleberry, raspberry, mango, strawberry, watermelon and boysenberry-infused options. These same six flavors are available in both sugar-free and cane sugar options.”

The Gold Lotus is the brand’s original flavor. Strader shares the reasons behind Lotus’ beverages being available in both zero sugar and cane sugar varieties.

“We offer both cane sugar and zero sugar offerings to meet consumers where they are at on their wellness journey,” he says. “Some prioritize all-natural sweetness and full-bodied flavor, while others seek low-calorie, no-sugar options that align with their dietary goals. Both formats deliver the same clean, plant-powered energy without ever compromising on flavor.”

The RTD lineup currently features all sparkling offerings. Strader says the brand is continuously assessing market demands to see where there are gaps in what consumers are looking for.

“Our Lotus Plant Power concentrates are completely customizable, which means not only can you customize the color and flavor, but you can also use still water instead of sparkling if you prefer to not have carbonation,” he notes. “As consumer lifestyles evolve, we’re focused on expanding our portfolio into new formats and usage occasions without losing the purity, balance and plant-forward ethos that define our brand.”

When describing the current plant-based energy market, Strader says consumers are looking beyond caffeine count for energy and turning toward brands that provide more function and cleaner ingredients: gut health, stress resilience, immunity, mood support and so on.

“What began as a niche wellness movement is now shaping into mainstream, with plant-powered energy emerging as one of the fastest-growing functional beverage segments,” he notes.

Lotus Plant Power bridges that gap between energy and wellness, Strader adds.

“Formulated with Certified Organic GRAS, plant-based ingredients, we utilized the holistic approach to address the root cause of low energy, stress, gut health, mood, immunity, focus and mental clarity rather than the symptoms, rather than artificial ingredients in traditional mainstream energy drinks,” he explains. “By combining natural caffeine with other functional, plant-based ingredients, Lotus delivers mindful, sustained energy that aligns with holistic living, while always delivering on taste.”

The founder and CEO shares the brand’s proprietary blend is what makes it unique compared to other plant-based energy beverages on the market.

“Lotus is a ‘Plant Power’ drink, powered by our unique proprietary Plant Power Seven (PP7) blend featuring seven of earth’s power plants that work synergistically to support natural energy, focus, stress relief, gut health, mental clarity and immune defense,” Strader states. “Unlike most energy drinks that rely on a single caffeine source, Lotus is multifunctional and integrates multiple plant actives for a smoother, more balanced uplift. Our approach combines ancient botanical wisdom from the lotus flower with modern nutritional science, resulting in a beverage that’s as functional as it is flavorful.”

The company’s most recent innovation is its Plant Pop, a multifunctional, plant-powered soda that Strader says is redefining the entire soda category.

“Consumers today want more than flavor,” he states. “They’re looking for gut health, stress support and immunity benefits in one drink. We created Plant Pop to deliver all that and more: clean ingredients, real fruit flavor and functional wellness the whole family can enjoy.”

The future of plant-based energy lies in multifunctionality, Strader shares, energy plus added benefits like stress support, mood elevation and cognitive clarity.

“Consumers want beverages that do more for their wellness, and Lotus is uniquely positioned to lead that shift,” he says. “As the category matures, we’ll continue expanding into new flavors, delivery formats and functional territories that keep us at the forefront of mindful energy innovation with the power of plants.”

Lotus is more than just an energy drink, it’s a wellness movement powered by plants, Strader notes.

“Every Lotus product is crafted to deliver on taste and function while supporting balance of mind, body and spirit,” he concludes. “Our goal is to inspire a new generation of clean energy seekers to fuel their lives naturally, without compromising their health and well-being.”