In Which I Carpe the Diem
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Sometimes I see a new health food creation on a blog and I’ll think, That’s genius! Sometimes I’ll sigh, Why didn’t I think of that genius first?!
Example A: Egg whites in oatmeal. That’s genius!
Example B: Almond butter–stuffed dates. Why didn’t I think of that genius first?!
Then sometimes I think: You crazy.
Example C: Kombucha. Ha, yeah right. You crazy.
Talk of the fermented tea is just about everywhere, and as much as I wanted to hear the health benefits all I really heard was this:
Bacteria.
Big giant colony of living bacteria.
Big vat with tea and a giant mushroom of bacteria and yeast.
Mama bacteria patty breeds baby bacteria patty.*
See where I’m going with this?
Drinking it sounded about as appetizing as eating a vat of worms. And in case you don’t know me, I’d rather scoop my eye out with a spoon than eat a vat of worms. (There. That was your daily dose of yuck.)
Anyhow, I really didn’t see the point of drinking tea spiked with bacteria even if it was laced with water from the Fountain of Youth. And then.
You knew that was coming right? And then a family friend said she swore by it. And Averie pinkie promised that I would love it because A. I love tea and B. I love vinegar and this tea tastes vinegary.
Hmm, she had a point. Sometimes I drink tea while eating a salad with vinegar. Kombucha couldn’t be much different than that, right? Besides, I take a probiotic. Isn’t this bacteria just like that? Or the live cultures in my yogurt?
I wasn’t about to just get over my fear, but then I came across this at Whole Foods.
Low and behold, Kombucha exists at the grocery store. So I got it.** (That is, I got it after I checked the bottle to make sure there weren’t any weird floaty mushroom babies in there. All clear.)
I went with the flavored variety so maybe any disgustingness would be masked. At least that’s what I told myself before I took a sip: Oh, Tracey, don’t worry. You won’t taste yeasty bacteria. It’ll taste just like quince.
And you know what? It was good. It tasted like fruity beer. And beer tastes good.
Even The Man liked it. And that’s saying something.
I don’t think I’ll be making my own any time soon—the mushroom still freaks me the heck out—but it’s good to know the bottled version is refreshing and (dare I say it?) tasty.
*No, I did not steal that from a National Enquirer headline. Swear.
**How’s that for carpeing the diem?
Have you tried Kombucha? Thoughts? Do you believe the hype? And now that Kombucha is more or less MIA at the grocery store, how do you get yours?
28 comments
I really like the Synergy brand. You know, the kind that they don’t sell anywhere anymore.
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Tracey Reply:
August 11th, 2010 at 8:09 am
I looked for that, thinking maybe I was in a special Whole Foods, but no luck. Carpe Diem was good, but I suspect Synergy is better just from what I’ve read.
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How funny! I posted about Kombucha today too! I love it! I’m a big fan of Synergy… its suppose to be back at the end of the month. After drinking Synergy… I was a little disappointed with Carpe Diem. Its still good… but not as good…
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Tracey Reply:
August 11th, 2010 at 8:13 am
Great minds, Estela.
I’m definitely trying Synergy when it makes it big return to stores.
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I’ve seen it. But I just don’t know how I feel about it. SO many people love it… but yeah- bacteria. That’s all I hear. And I haven’t really seen it anywhere but Whole Foods. It’s like a top secret thing for foodies…
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I LOVE kombucha, particularly the Synergy brand, which is currently off the shelves at WF due to slight levels of alcohol found in some of the bottles. I have tried the Carpe Diem brand and it is no where near as good as Synergy. You have to try it when it comes back to stores!
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I just love that word “Kombucha”. I heard a news report that it might soon be regulated because its alcohol percentage content is higher than, say, a Mike’s Hard Lemonade.
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I LOVE kombucha. I’ve never had quince kombucha. What a great flavor! I agree, it reminds me of beer. And I genuinely can feel an energy difference after drinking it, which I can rarely feel with other over-hyped foods. The mushroom is definitely freaky though!
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Don’t associate beer with tea, haa – jk. I’m impressed you had the stuff to try it, and like it, go figure. I had tea yesterday that tasted like a dirty leaf, don’t know if I’m up for this stuff.
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I’ve never had Kombucha before. Frankly, I’d be quite scared to.
Wei-Wei
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My stomach is way too sensitive to be drinking bacteria for no good reason. Plus I hear this stuff is really expensive! I prefer to waste my money on flavored sparkling water from TJ’s. It is much safer for my stomach and it tastes great!
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Tracey Reply:
August 11th, 2010 at 1:30 pm
It is kind of pricey for a drink, but I don’t think it’s something I’d have every day. Unlike my home-brewed iced tea, which I chug like a frat boy.
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Thanks for this post! I actually didn’t know exactly what kombucha was until now.
Sometimes I feel like I’m the only person in the blogging world that hasn’t tried it. And honestly? I don’t really have much of a desire to :/ Maybe I’ll get around to it one day, but if not…I think I’ll live
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Tracey Reply:
August 11th, 2010 at 1:32 pm
Yeah, I was right there with you. I probably still would be if I hadn’t randomly found a bottle. I don’t think it will cure all my ills (but wouldn’t that be nice!) but I do think it’s pretty good.
And yes, you’ll live.
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I’m actually kind of curious about this. I recently saw it in the grocery store, but it was a bit pricey. I have heard it is good though, so it might be worth it.
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Tracey Reply:
August 11th, 2010 at 1:33 pm
It’s definitely pricey enough that it won’t be a daily drink.
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no, haven’t tried..have no desire…heard good and bad
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I also have no desire to try this. I don’t need to spend any more money on drinks. =)
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Have not tried it yet and am a bit weary to do so…baceteria? Yikes! And I don’t care for the taste of beer so I have that going againgst me too
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I have been wondering what this is and what the deal with it is! Seriously! Averie always writes about it…ick – sounds weird. But you bring up a good point though…do it the cheaper way and start brewing it
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Tracey Reply:
August 11th, 2010 at 3:20 pm
Hm, yeah it’d be cheaper but I don’t think I’m ready for the ickiness that comes with home brewing. More power to ya if you can do that, but I don’t want to see the mushroom. Ever.
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I have yet to try this stuff… I don’t know if I’m brave enough to take the plunge.
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i was just saying to a friend that im gonna try kombucha soon and attempt it for the first time. im kind of excited, and im not sure if i’ll like it or not but fingers crossed i do cuz ive heard so many amazing health benefits from the stuff. btw i loved ur comment on Jenna’s blog, amen sister, i feel 100% the same way. xoxo
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Nope, have not yet hitched a ride on the Kombucha band-wagon, as I’m still on the anti-oxident train. Now that I know there’s alcohol in it though it’s just landed on the temptation meter – there’s nothing like unregulated liquor
Thanks for testing it out for us!
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Where in DC did you find this? I am going through a serious withdraw. I wish you could have experienced the joy of cracking open an unpasturized Kombucha. There is nothing quite like it. The cranberry carpe diem is pretty good too.
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I don’t know if I believe ALL the hype, but I’m skeptical about any “superfood”. I do think kombucha is healthy and I know that my tummy loves probiotics. And I kinda like it! I don’t drink it all the time, but its nice once in a while and it’s a good sub for alcoholic drinks, which I can’t have anymore (and that’s no fun when people around you are gulping down wine). Also, I think it’s good to be Canadian in this case..because I haven’t noticed a kombucha shortage around here? Then again, I haven’t looked for it recently…
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Love Kombucha!! We make our own!! Glad you liked it. When I first had it, I hated it, but now have learned to love it!
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I think it tastes like fruity beer, too! With a little tartness. I’m a fan, but I can’t drink a whole one. Plus the cost is pretty outrageous
Do I believe all the hype? Not really. I get a lot of bacteria sucking wind while running and working in a healthcare setting…probably don’t need the Kombucha 
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