Cultured Beverages
One of the most refreshing sources of active probiotics and herbal nutrition is an artisanal, lactofermented beverage. From slightly sweet and fruity, to salty and slightly sour, our Kombuchas, Kefirs, Juns, Kvasses and Cabbage Tonics offer something for every palate. To support a healthy microbiome, drink at least 4 ounces a day.
Apple Herb Honey Shrub
For this classic shrub, we infused Bernie's Best apple cider vinegar with organic fresh thyme. We added juice from local gravenstein apples along with raw local honey to balance the traditional tang of the oxymel (vinegar-infused medicinal tonic).
A shrub is a traditional fruit concentrate, like a syrup, preserved with vinegar and used to make or flavor beverages. A few ounces with bubbly or still water makes a fabulous drink all on its own (we recommend a dilution of 4 or 5 parts water to 1 part shrub), and there's no reason you couldn't use it as a cocktail mixer if that's your thing! Shrubs can also add zing to jam or salad dressing, and make a wonderful glaze for grilled meats.
Ingredients: Bernie's Best gravenstein apple cider,* Bernie's Best raw apple cider vinegar* infused with thyme,* raw unfiltered honey (* = organic)
Recipe is gluten-free, dairy-free, and GAPS-diet friendly.
Beet Kvass
Beets are sliced and cultured in water with yogurt whey and Celtic sea salt to make this traditional tonic drink. Sally Fallon Morell describes this drink as being "valuable for its medicinal qualities and as a digestive aid. Beets are just loaded with nutrients. One 4-ounce glass, morning and night, is an excellent blood tonic, promotes regularity, aids digestion, alkalizes the blood, cleanses the liver and is a good treatment for kidney stones and other ailments..." (Nourishing Traditions, page 608)
Ingredients: beets,* yogurt whey,* Celtic sea salt (* = organic)
Recipe is gluten-free.
Friar's Cyder
Recipe is gluten-free, dairy-free, nightshade-free, and GAPS & Paleo Diets-friendly.
Cherry-Ginger Kombucha
Organic darjeeling tea and unrefined sugar are cultured with a SCOBY (symbiotic colony of bacteria and yeast), and then flavored with cherry and ginger juice to produce a mildly tart, not too sweet drink. Kombucha is considered by many to have a detoxifying effect on the body.
Ingredients: filtered water, darjeeling tea*, cane sugar*, cherry juice*, ginger* (* = organic)
Ginger-Lime Kombucha
Organic white tea and unrefined sugar are cultured with a SCOBY (symbiotic colony of bacteria and yeast), and then flavored with fresh ginger and lime to produce a slightly tart and bold flavor. Kombucha is considered by many to have a detoxifying effect on the body.
Ingredients: filtered water, white tea*, cane sugar*, ginger root*, lime juice*, lime zest* (* = organic)
Grapefruit Sage Kombucha
Organic white tea and unrefined sugar are cultured with a SCOBY (symbiotic colony of bacteria and yeast), and then flavored with grapefruit juice and sage. Kombucha is considered by many to have a detoxifying effect on the body. The healing properties of sage and the beneficial antioxidants from grapefruit make for a refreshing and healthful drink.
Ingredients: filtered water, white tea,* grapefruit,* sage,* cane sugar* (*= organic)
Hibiscus Kombucha
Organic white tea and unrefined sugar are cultured with a SCOBY (symbiotic colony of bacteria and yeast), and then flavored with a cold infusion of hibiscus flowers for a slightly tart, slightly effervescent cultured beverage. Kombucha is considered by many to have a detoxifying effect on the body.
Ingredients: filtered water, white tea*, cane sugar*, hibiscus* (* = organic)
Kumquat Rose Kombucha
Organic rooibos "red bush" tea (no caffeine!) and unrefined sugar are cultured with a SCOBY (symbiotic colony of bacteria and yeast), and then flavored with kumquats and rose petals to produce a distinct beverage. The refreshing flavor of this komucha has made it a staff favorite! Kombucha, a traditional probiotic beverage, is considered by many to have a detoxifying effect on the body.
Ingredients: rooibos tea,* cane sugar,* kumquats,* rose petals, honey (* = organic)
Pineapple Turmeric Mate Kombucha
Organic yerba mate tea and unrefined sugar are cultured with a SCOBY (symbiotic colony of bacteria and yeast), and then flavored with pineapple and turmeric juice to produce a dry, crisp and slightly herbaceous beverage. Yerba mate tea is the national drink of Argentina. Kombucha, a traditional probiotic beverage, is considered by many to have a detoxifying effect on the body.
Ingredients: filtered water, yerba mate*, pineapple juice*, turmeric root*, cane sugar* (* = organic)
Sour Apple Ginger Kombucha
This kombucha is brewed almost 3 times as long as our other beverages, resulting in a distinct flavor profile. English Breakfast tea and unrefined sugar are cultured with a SCOBY (symbiotic colony of bacteria and yeast), and that probiotic base is balanced by the addition of sweet apple juice and finished with a gentle kick of freshly juiced ginger. Sour apple with a punch!
Ingredients: filtered water, Darjeeling tea,* cane sugar,* Bernie's Best gravenstein cider,* ginger* (* = organic)
Blackberry Mint Kefir
This dairy-free water kefir is an ode to the deep color and subtle flavor of blackberries. Fresh mint and a touch of local honey round out the berries' zing to create a uniquely refreshing beverage.
Water kefir grains, also called tibicos, are used to ferment a base of filtered water with unrefined cane sugar and just a touch of molasses. The sugars are metabolized by the kefir grains to produce a light, effervescent base rich in probiotic cultures.
Ingredients: filtered water, blackberries,* cane sugar,* raw honey, fresh mint,* molasses* (* = organic)
Blood Orange Cardamom Kefir
A delicately citrus flavored dairy-free water kefir with notes of cardamom and vanilla. Water kefir grains, also called tibicos, are used to ferment a base of filtered water with unrefined cane sugar and just a touch of molasses. The sugars are metabolized by the kefir grains to produce a light but rich effervescent base.
Ingredients: filtered water, cane sugar*, blood orange zest*, molasses*, cardamom*, vanilla bean* (*=organic)
NATURAL GROCERY ONLY 375ml -- Beet Kvass
THIS PRODUCT IS ONLY AVAILABLE THROUGH BULK SALES TO BERKELEY AND EL CERRITO NATURAL GROCERY -- IF YOU SEE IT ON OUR WEBSITE, PLEASE DON'T ORDER IT. THANK YOU.