Synergy Kombucha
A few months ago, I started seeing people (mostly middle aged yoga types, now that I think about it) drinking this bottled tea called Synergy. It was also for sale at one of the on-campus eateries at Stanford, and at the boutique yogurt and oatmeal shop in Palo Alto. Stop snickering. The oatmeal is really good.
So, when I went to Whole Foods last night searching for something relatively healthy for dinner, I decided to pick up a bottle. I mean, the label is really pretty, so I was sure the tea would be wonderful.
I am so. glad. I read the label before tasting it. For one thing, the ingredients are kombucha and juice. In the case of the Citrus flavor, the juice is raw lemon juice. No sugar. Careful reading of the label informed me that kombucha is a fermented black tea. Okay, not what I was expecting, but I was still willing to try it. The label is so pretty! I decided to go for the sweetest juice flavor I could find, grape.
Cut to the chase: this stuff is terrible. Despite a totally cool curl of misty vapor that rose up when I removed the cap (ooh, a drink with special effects!), the flavor is not at all pleasant. The first thing that hit my tongue was the fizz of fermentation. Then there was a slight yeasty sourness. I looked for sweetness, found a hint. I looked for tea flavor and found nothing. I am a big fan of weird flavors. I love stinky cheeses, variously cured olives, pickled fish, tequila, Islay whisky. Many of the things I like are acquired tastes. Kombucha is definitely a taste that requires acquisition, but I can't think of any reason why I'd want to acquire it. I kept waiting to like it, and managed to get about 2 oz down before I gave up on it.
Synergy makes a lot of claims that their product will promote health and balance, detox your system, and cure cancer. There are also websites devoted to debunking the health claims made by kombucha devotees. Whatever. If you think you need it, you may want to drink some. I'd rather get the same benefits from eating plenty of leafy greens, exercising regularly, drinking water, and getting enough sleep.
So, when I went to Whole Foods last night searching for something relatively healthy for dinner, I decided to pick up a bottle. I mean, the label is really pretty, so I was sure the tea would be wonderful.
I am so. glad. I read the label before tasting it. For one thing, the ingredients are kombucha and juice. In the case of the Citrus flavor, the juice is raw lemon juice. No sugar. Careful reading of the label informed me that kombucha is a fermented black tea. Okay, not what I was expecting, but I was still willing to try it. The label is so pretty! I decided to go for the sweetest juice flavor I could find, grape.
Cut to the chase: this stuff is terrible. Despite a totally cool curl of misty vapor that rose up when I removed the cap (ooh, a drink with special effects!), the flavor is not at all pleasant. The first thing that hit my tongue was the fizz of fermentation. Then there was a slight yeasty sourness. I looked for sweetness, found a hint. I looked for tea flavor and found nothing. I am a big fan of weird flavors. I love stinky cheeses, variously cured olives, pickled fish, tequila, Islay whisky. Many of the things I like are acquired tastes. Kombucha is definitely a taste that requires acquisition, but I can't think of any reason why I'd want to acquire it. I kept waiting to like it, and managed to get about 2 oz down before I gave up on it.
Synergy makes a lot of claims that their product will promote health and balance, detox your system, and cure cancer. There are also websites devoted to debunking the health claims made by kombucha devotees. Whatever. If you think you need it, you may want to drink some. I'd rather get the same benefits from eating plenty of leafy greens, exercising regularly, drinking water, and getting enough sleep.