Consistent use of our Velvet Blend is designed to increase strength and endurance for athletes of all levels. The high levels of the IGF-1 protein is one of the main reasons professional athletes use deer velvet, and New Zealand deer velvet in particular because of the inherent quality and purity of the deer velvet New Zealand's deer population are renowned for. The IGF-1 from New Zealand deer velvet is scientifically linked to cell growth, muscle growth, bone growth and metabolic effects like regulating glucose metabolism, lipid metabolism, and overall energy balance.

By blending deer velvet with New Zealand grass-fed beef broth, our Velvet Blend is providing a unique and near replete supplemented food for serious athletes and health conscious people alike. Because our broth contains both high levels of protein as well as types 1 and 3 Collagen. The benefits as such are beneficial to your athletic output, but your appearance too.

Type 1 collagen benefits include: skin health, bone health, joint health and wound healing.

Type 3 collagen benefits include: skin elasticity, improved cardiovascular health by way of its role in supporting strong structured blood vessels. Ongoing research also suggests type 3 collagen's contribution to the health and function of various bodily organs.

Each sachet contains 15g of Velvet Blend powder which we recommend enjoying by either of the following ways: adding it to a smoothie, or simply mixing it with hot water and sipping it as a broth.

Smoothie: Velvet Blend can be easily added to any smoothie, providing a convenient way to enjoy the benefits of deer velvet and bone broth. It enriches the texture of your drink and supports your wellness routine, particularly pre or post-workout. The blend may introduce a subtle change in flavor, but it’s mild enough to complement your smoothie without overpowering it.

Broth: To prepare a comforting broth, simply mix 200-250ml of hot water at about 80-85 degrees Celsius with the Velvet Blend. This temperature helps maintain the potency of the deer velvet. Sip slowly and be sure to swirl your cup before finishing, as the deer velvet isn’t fully soluble and can settle at the bottom.

100% New Zealand. The deer velvet comes straight from our family-owned farm located in the high country of Canterbury in New Zealand's South Island. We also farm cows on our station, but have opted to source the bones for our beef bone broth from a nearby farm which specializes in beef bone broth cultivation and preparation. The Black Beech honeydew comes both from our own farm and another South Island farm who produce great quality honeydew too.

We advise our customers who are professional athletes to check their banned substance list closely because IGF-1 is classified in the Peptides, Hormones, Growth section of WADA's banned substance list as a 'Growth Factor' which can provide an unfair advantage to athletes who consume it. It has proved very popular in sports like jiu-jitsu and MMA where athletes aren't necessarily tested or have more lenient rules around supplements.

Absolutely. Women get the same benefits as men from deer velvet in terms of improved athletic performance. So if you're a kick-ass female athlete looking for a natural, long-term boost deer velvet may be worth considering. There are a range of reasons why women take deer velvet besides athleticism; the most common reason is actually hormone regulation. Around menstruation, menopause or during a pregnancy, a lady's hormones naturally fluctuate a lot. Hormone imbalance is incredibly common and needn't be as problematic as it is for so many women because there are natural hormone regulators like deer velvet which are readily available. Do your research because every one is different and you don't want to mess with hormones if you can help it. Deer velvet is a gentle, natural option though if you do feel your hormones need to be kept in check. And, if you have decided you want to try it, you can do so feeling 100% confident that you are getting the absolute best quality deer velvet in the world with Velvet Blend. We wrote a short article on it which you can read here.

Both. All 3 ingredients make Velvet Blend unlike any other supplemented food available, but the 2 that contain the substances which are of the most benefit to most people are deer velvet and beef bone broth. Collectively these 2 ingredients contain concentrated doses of Insulin Growth Factor (IGF-1), collagen types 1 and 3, and protein.

Practically speaking these are ingredients which most health conscious men and women could benefit from getting more of into their diet, with the bonus of getting that collagen hit delivered in a simple, delicious method which your body can easily absorb. Collagen types 1 and 3 have been scientifically proven to increase skin hydration, and ingestion (by mouth) is the best way for collagen to reach your skin - collagen molecules are simply too big to be absorbed topically in a cream or lotion (so don't waste your money on collagen creams because collagen can't even penetrate the skin!).

IGF-1 + collagen + protein = athletic performance, health and healthier looking skin, hair and nails in one simple sachet.

When added to a smoothie you'll likely find it fills you up. That's the beef bone broth doing what it's been doing for people from every part of the world for hundreds of years - filling up tummies with nutritious, sustaining goodness.

So, ladies AND gentlemen - here's to your good health. Enjoy!

No. Consuming our Velvet Blend in a smoothie or alongside a snack can coincide with increased enzyme activity, optimizing the digestion and absorption of nutrients from both the supplement and the accompanying foods. But try to avoid excessive intake of substances like caffeine, alcohol and certain medications which are known to interfere with nutrient absorption to maximize value for your money.

Yes, our blend is low in sodium, free from additives, and naturally sweetened with a touch of Black Beech honey, making it suitable for a variety of diets. It is a great choice for those looking for a healthy meal replacement or supplement to enhance their nutrition. Obviously it is not suitable for vegetarians or vegans though.

Yes. Consistent consumption of deer velvet will boost your strength, endurance and recovery at the least.*

Protein and collagen from the bone broth in particular support muscle growth and recovery.

*There are a multitude of other reported benefits from consistent consumption of deer velvet, like higher sex drive/libido. Many of these benefits are derived from the Eastern medical tradition of consuming deer velvet which may well be true, but in the interests of remaining as objective as we can we seldom engage with conversations around because we haven't seen sufficiently convincing scientific evidence to support them. Also, in addition to there being numerous scientific studies which have demonstrated deer velvet's efficacy in an athletic context (strength, endurance, recovery) we ourselves use it every single day and swear by it.

Every benefit we pride our Velvet Blend being associated with in a meaningful way is serious. Health is not a game and we have no interest in making health claims over and above our knowledge or what science can back up, which is why we essentially just state the ingredients, the commonly discussed health benefits of the ingredients and leave it at that.

Cognitive decline however is an area which neither we, nor even world-leading researchers and scientists have a genuine understanding of. We do mention 'cognition' on our website and marketing material, because there is substantial scientific evidence as well as thousands of years of anecdotal/informal scientific evidence pointing to deer velvet's role in improving cognition/reducing cognitive decline. But really, you are better off reading the readily available literature yourself and making up your own mind if improved cognition is a reason to use our product. Following are links to research papers picked at random, which include results ranging from positive to negative to non-conclusive:

Insulin-Like Growth Factor 1: At the Crossroads of Brain Development and Aging

Insulin-like growth factor-1 in CNS and cerebrovascular aging

The role of Insulin-Like Growth Factor 1 (IGF-1) in brain development, maturation and neuroplasticity

Aging, Synaptic Dysfunction, and Insulin-Like Growth Factor (IGF)-1

The functional roles of IGF-1 variants in the susceptibility and clinical outcomes of mild traumatic brain injury

Neurotrophic and Neuroregenerative Effects of GH/IGF1

Serum IGF-1 is associated with cognitive functions in early, drug-naïve Parkinson’s disease

IGF-I: A Key Growth Factor that Regulates Neurogenesis and Synaptogenesis from Embryonic to Adult Stages of the Brain

Insulin-like growth factor-1 in CNS and cerebrovascular aging

A tremendous amount of research is readily available online with regards to IGF-1's role in cognition. We are not scientists, we are farmers who produce exceptional deer velvet which in turn contains exceptional IGF-1. If cognition or cognitive decline is your main reason for considering our product we encourage you to do your own research. And, if you happen to discover any research you feel we might be interested with regards to IGF's role in cognition - be it positive or negative, please feel free to contact us with the pertinent details.

No. Velvet Blend has been designed to complement a health-conscious lifestyle, providing beneficial nutrients that contribute to daily wellness. In no way should it be used as a substitute for living a healthy lifestyle or seeing a professional health practitioner if you are suffering from an ailment.

Maltodextrin is blended with the honeydew during the drying process to maintain the stability and sweetness of the honeydew (approximately 0.735g per serve). This shouldn't affect most people but if you have diabetes or allergies to corn - take care, avoid the product or consult your physician before use.

Because the honeydew is hygroscopic be sure to use the sachet content immediately after use, or seal it from avoidable air exposure to avoid the honeydew coagulating/going a bit clumpy if you open the sachet but decide to use it later. The potency of the product won't be affected by air exposure, but for people consuming it as a broth with hot water especially, the clumps of honeydew can take awhile to dissolve if they have been exposed to air humidity.

Without loyal customers, we have no business. One of our primary goals is to gain loyal customers both through the quality of our product, and the quality of our service. We are here to help in other words and would rather you tell us directly if your product is sub-standard than lost you as a customer forever. Accidents will happen, and not every purchase will be the flawless experience we aim for. If that happens, we will do our best to make it right.

If your Velvet Blend arrives damaged or defective, please contact us immediately with your proof of purchase. All refund or exchange requests must be reported within 30 days of your purchase date. Please provide a photo of the damaged product, or, if it is defective, include a detailed description of the issue. Email it to health@rockwoodstrong.com.

To process your request, please return the product to us for inspection. If it is defective, we may need to make improvements to prevent future occurrences. If the product is damaged, we may need to work with the courier or freight company to address the issue, so having the item on hand helps us demonstrate any shortcomings in their service. To arrange a return, please email us first at health@rockwoodstrong.com.

Please note that any import duties or taxes charged by your country of residence will need to be paid for by you. In some countries there won't be any duty, others may charge some - it varies by country. If your country of residence has a trade agreement with New Zealand, there is a good chance no duty will be charged by your Customs agency.

Our farm. Any photo on our website featuring animals, landscapes, mountains, beekeeping etc - these are all from our farm.