Brown students apparently love the antioxidant power of pomegranate juice. POM-brand drinks, which became available at the Gate at the beginning of the semester, sold out their first day and have been flying off the shelves since then.
The popularity of POM juices and teas, which use pomegranate juice as a base, has taken the Gate's management by surprise.
"If we had four coolers with it, full, we'd probably sell all of them," said Kevin Bayer, assistant manager of retail operations for the Gate. He said the Gate receives shipments of the juices and teas three times a week with plenty of back stock, but the coolers are often empty by the weekend. Bayer said he believes the drinks' popularity is thanks to their novelty, noting that tea drinks also usually sell well at the Gate.
"I try everything new that comes in," said JoAnna Serrato '08 after enjoying a POM tea at the Gate.
Bayer also said the popularity of the drinks may be thanks to new reports on the health benefits of pomegranate fruit. "People are thinking about what they eat a lot more," Bayer said.
But at $2.99 a bottle, POM drinks are among the more expensive beverages offered at the Gate. Bayer said it will be interesting to see if sales continue at the same pace.
