From high school students looking for a healthy, refreshing beverage to get through the school day to middle-aged dads hoping to improve their gut biome, a recent fad in the health-nut community is a drink known as kombucha.
Kombucha is a blend of fermented black and green tea infused with sugar, bacteria, and yeast. While this initial description may be a turnoff, the drink is actually loaded with health benefits. Introducing your body to probiotics boosts your immune system while simultaneously balancing necessary bacterias and nutrients in your gut. While kombucha dates back to 220 B.C., its popularity has skyrocketed lately, enticing different companies to try their hand at mastering the fermented beverage.
In order to truly experience the unique qualities of each brand, I chose the tropical pineapple flavor, a common kombucha variety across all brands.
Rowdy Mermaid: Rowdy Mermaid was a brand I had never heard of, so I was eager to try it. I was not super impressed. The flavor was the perfect amount of sweetness, but it did not taste fully like kombucha. It took on more of a pineapple sparkling water flavor. I also felt that the carbonation was too strong, somewhat overpowering the flavor. But the drink did include Lion’s Mane mushroom, which is proven to increase cognitive clarity. I enjoyed Rowdy Mermaid as a drink, but it lacked a strong kombucha flavor. I rate Rowdy Mermaid Kombucha a 6/10.
Kevita: The Kevita variation of pineapple was a pineapple-peach blend. The drink was nice, but I felt that the peach overpowered the pineapple and had more of an artificial flavor. The drink was over-carbonated, leaving a slight burn in the throat after swallowing the peachy drink. A more balanced blend between the two fruits, paired with a more authentic flavor, would have been more successful. Nonetheless, I still enjoyed the drink. I rate Kevita Kombucha a 7/10.
Health Ade: One of the most common kombucha brands, Health Ade, was pretty delicious. The flavor was not one of overpowering artificial sweetness, but rather a light blend of apple and pineapple flavor that tasted natural and authentic. In addition, there was a light ginger undertone that complemented the taste perfectly. Kombucha can often be too carbonated, but Health Ade provides the perfect amount of fizziness. I rate Health Ade kombucha an 8/10.
Brew Dr.: Brew Dr. is a classic kombucha brand. The beverage incorporated flavors of mango and green tea along with the pineapple. The flavors struck a perfect balance while simultaneously accentuating the green tea flavor. Brew Dr. also has little carbonation, which is a personal preference, for I feel the flavors are further enhanced. Brew Dr. earned an 8.5/10.
Synergy: Before branching out to experiment with different brands, Synergy kombucha was my go to. The drink delivers a sweet (but not too sweet), clear pineapple flavor paired with gingery notes. The presentation of Synergy is also beautiful. While appearance does not play into the rating, the glass bottle paired with a multi-toned yellow gradient and topped off with a flower makes this drink undeniably appealing. I rate Synergy a 9/10 and will most likely continue to pick it up on my grocery store trips.
As this drink proves a growing trend, a myriad of kombucha brands have confidently taken their spot on grocery store shelves— each delivering unique flavors and a host of health benefits.
