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.
For this colorful shrub, we infused Bernie's Best raw apple cider vinegar with zest from local grapefruits and blood oranges. We added fresh juice from those same fruits along with raw local honey for a delicious take on the traditional tang of the oxymel (vinegar-infused medicinal tonic). Our version includes raw honey for sweetness and nutrition, rather than refined sugars.
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 water makes a fabulous drink all on its own, 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: grapefruits,* blood oranges,* raw unfiltered honey, Bernie's Best raw apple cider vinegar* (* = organic)
Recipe is vegetarian, gluten-free, dairy-free, nightshade-free, black pepper-free and GAPS Diet-friendly.
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.
Recipe is gluten-free, dairy-free, nightshade-free, and GAPS & Paleo Diets-friendly.
This delicious seasonal offering of cabbage tonic features anti-inflammatory turmeric and ginger to keep us limber in the cooler seasons.
Ingredients: filtered water, green cabbage*, turmeric root*, ginger root*, Celtic sea salt (* = organic)
Recipe is gluten-free, dairy-free, and GAPS Diet-friendly.
Perfect mixer for a summer evening cocktail! In our impromptu tasting panel, TSH worker-owner Linda Kallenberger recommended gin or white rum. This refreshing kombucha has lovely, aromatic notes over a subtle sweetness. Organic green Earl Grey tea and unrefined sugar are cultured with a SCOBY (symbiotic colony of bacteria and yeast), and that probiotic base is flavored with an infusion of cardamom and fresh mint.
Ingredients: green Earl Grey tea,* cane sugar,* fresh mint,* cardamom pods* (* = organic)
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)
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)
Organic gunpowder green tea and unrefined sugar are cultured with a SCOBY (symbiotic colony of bacteria and yeast), and then flavored with organic grape juice for a delicious fermented kombucha drink. Kombucha is considered by many to have a detoxifying effect on the body.
Ingredients: filtered water, gunpowder green tea*, cane sugar*, Concord grape juice* (* = organic)
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)
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)
Organic white tea and unrefined sugar are cultured with a SCOBY (symbiotic colony of bacteria and yeast), and then flavored with lavender flowers, lemon zest, and lemon juice to produce a delicately floral, cultured twist on lemonade. Kombucha is considered by many to have a detoxifying effect on the body.
Organic white peony tea and unrefined sugar are cultured with a SCOBY (symbiotic colony of bacteria and yeast), and then flavored with lemongrass and makrut lime zest to produce a fresh and distinctive kombucha with great aroma. Kombucha is considered by many to have a detoxifying effect on the body.
Ingredients: filtered water, white tea,* cane sugar,* lemongrass,* locally foraged makrut lime zest (* = organic)
Organic gunpowder green tea and unrefined sugar are cultured with a SCOBY (symbiotic colony of bacteria and yeast), and then flavored with an infusion of nettle leaves for an unusual, delicious, and nourishing fermented drink. Kombucha is considered by many to have a detoxifying effect on the body.
Ingredients: filtered water, gunpowder green tea*, cane sugar*, nettle leaves* (* = organic)
Organic yerba mate and unrefined sugar are cultured with a SCOBY (symbiotic colony of bacteria and yeast), and then flavored with pomegranate juice. Refreshing and crisp, a bit smoky and herbacious, with just the right level of tartness, this drink has quickly become a staff favorite! Kombucha is considered by many to have a detoxifying effect on the body.
Ingredients: filtered water, yerba mate, organic cane sugar, pomegranate juice, lime zest
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)
Dairy-free water kefir. 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. The brew is then flavored with apple and cranberry juices to produce a bubbly probiotic “soda.” Cranberries are rich in antioxidants and other nutrients, making this not only a delicious drink but a nourishing tonic as well.
Ingredients: filtered water, Bernie's Best gravenstein apple cider,* cranberry juice,* cane sugar,* molasses* (* = organic)
Jun is a unique cultured beverage that is made from honey and green tea. Its origins are clouded in mystery... Some say it comes from Tibet. It uses a culture similar to a kombucha SCOBY or water kefir grains. This is a perfect alternative for those who prefer to avoid all refined sugar, or are on GAPS protocol, as the only sweetener is honey. We have flavored ours with lemon and elderflower infusion for a delightfully ethereal drink that is light and bubbly.
Ingredients: filtered water, gunpowder green tea,* raw honey, elderflowers, lemon juice,* lemon zest* (* = organic)
Recipe is gluten-free, dairy-free, vegetarian, and GAPS Diet-friendly.
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.