Kulli, a Los Angeles-based beverage brand founded by Marcel Dios, has introduced a modern take on Chicha Morada — a centuries-old Peruvian drink made from purple corn. The brand is expanding its retail footprint across Southern California with availability at Farmshop, Vicente Foods, and Lassens Natural Foods & Vitamins, followed by a launch at Bristol Farms in May 2026.
Kulli's modern Peruvian drink derives its deep violet hue and functional appeal from anthocyanins, the same antioxidants found in blueberries. This results in a naturally colorful beverage that contains no artificial coloring and a product that seamlessly delivers the potential health benefits associated with high-antioxidant foods.
Kulli's Chicha Morada lineup includes an Original version that represents a contemporary interpretation of the traditional recipe, along with Passion Fruit and Apple Berry varieties, with Guava Cherry scheduled for July 2026.
Image Credit: Kulli
What Makes This Trend Stand Out
- Heritage Beverage Reinvention
- Combining centuries-old recipes with modern production and packaging unlocks premium-positioned drinks that reframe traditional ingredients for mainstream consumers.
- Anthocyanin-forward Functional Drinks
- Beverages that foreground natural pigments and antioxidant profiles create opportunities for clinically-backed wellness claims and ingredient-driven differentiation.
- Ethnic Flavor Mainstreaming
- The translation of regional flavors into accessible, retail-ready SKUs enables cross-cultural taste adoption and category expansion beyond niche markets.
Sectors Adopting This
- Beverage Retail
- Specialty grocers and mainstream chains gaining shelf space for culturally rooted, health-forward drinks can reshape assortment strategies and private-label development.
- Food Science and Nutraceuticals
- Ingredient-centric innovation around anthocyanins and natural colorants presents pathways for fortified formulations and standardized efficacy claims.
- Cultural Food Tourism
- Experiential offerings that link origin stories and tasting experiences to retail products have the potential to drive brand loyalty and premium experiential revenue streams.
