I love yoga.  If you’ve been reading my blog for some time now, you’ll know that I find it to be the cat (cow pose)’s meow or the (downward facing) dog’s bark.  I’ve learned so much from the extraordinary teachers at my studio, as well as from my own daily practice.  It’s truly amazing how much insight one can gain from stretching, breathing and sweating in a hot yoga room for 90 minutes, 6-7 days a week, 26 – 28 times a month.  See I told you, I’m in love with yoga!

While I’ve learned so much about my body and mind and have been eternally inspired by the words of wisdom that are constantly spoken in class, I’ve also been influenced by some of my teachers’ nutritional and dietary habits.  For example, I’ve tasted a faux cheesecake made from yogurt, dates and nuts.  I’ve discovered the deliciousness of pure coconut water.  I’ve learned about the benefits one can receive from doing a cleanse.  I receive a monthly newsletter from the studio’s shiatsu masseuse, who is also a nutritional counselor.  And finally, I watched my yoga teacher open a bottle of kombucha while teaching class and saw it explode as if it were a bottle shaken-up champagne (a bottle of stinky shaken-up champagne!)

We were both startled and humored by the beverage explosion in class.  At first, I thought my teacher had opened a bottle of seltzer water.  The way the beverage fizzed out of control made me think it was some sort of carbonated beverage.  However, once the smell of the kombucha hit my nose, I knew it was like no drink I have ever seen or drank before in my life.

Image Credits – arizonafoothillsmagazine.com

Just what the fark was it?  It came in a glass bottle, it had junk floating in the bottom, it definitely had to be opened with care and it smelled like rotten juice.  When class was over, I quickly ran to my teacher to find out just what in fact her explosion in a bottle was.  She told me it was kombucha, or what some might call fermented tea.  Then she told me that it was a raw drink and contained living cultures.  After that interesting answer, I asked her if she liked the taste of her kombucha and she paused.  She said, “well, I like it.  But, it’s not for everyone.  I like what it does for me, more so than the taste.  But it does taste good…now…”  I left that conversation a bit confused, but more so intrigued by this little wonder drink.

Image Credits – guerillahealthwatch.wordpress.com

This is how kombucha can be made at home…(not my home)

When I was at the grocery store a few days following the mishap in class, I found the same kind of kombucha.  It was in the natural food aisle/department and my first impression was that it was mighty expensive.  For a 16 oz. bottle of this stuff, the price was just a shade under $4.  But when I looked at the bottle and saw all the benefits that this little elixir could provide, $4 sounded like a bargain!

According to the bottle -

Kombucha supports:
Digestion, metabolism, immune system, appetite control, weight control, liver function, body alkalinity, anti-aging, cell integrity, healthy skin & hair

During the culturing process (which is 30 days), essential nutrients like active enzymes, viable probiotics, amino acids, antioxidants and polyphenols all form and combine to create an elixir that immediately works with the body to restore balance and vitality.

After reading the fun facts on the bottle, I was convinced that I had to try and buy a bottle of GT’s Organic Raw Kombucha.  There was an original flavor, as well as a citrus flavor.  I opted for the citrus thinking it might make the drink a bit more palatable.  Plus, I liked the fact that the bottle had a bright yellow logo (Healthy Chow is a sucker for the little things).

When I arrived home, I immediately put my new bevvie in the fridge.  I didn’t drink it just yet because well, I was sort of scared.  The smell from the explosion in yoga class was the only thing I could think about.  But after a few days had passed, I finally bit the bullet.  Yesterday, I ‘kombucha-ed’.  And let me tell you something, it had me ka-powed!

Even though my kombucha was sitting idle in my fridge for a few days before I attempted to drink it, I opened it slowly and with precaution.  It’s a good thing that I did because as soon as I turned the cap, bubbles started forming and the kombucha started foaming out.  I quickly had to tighten the cap in order to shutdown anymore from spilling out.  When I finally got the cap off, the smell that came out was so pungent, I thought I had opened a bottle of sweaty gym socks.  WOW!  And, I haven’t even taken a sip yet.

Check out all those bubbles – it’s alive!

Sniff, sniff…

My first sip was a small one, but the taste was nothing but huge.  Holy crap on a cracker!  The citrus flavored GT’s Organic Raw Kombucha tasted like a cross between a ginger ale, beer and some booze that my grandmother used to rub on wounds and bruises, but one that had been sitting in the hot heat for days decaying.  In addition, there were some brown floaties at the bottom of the bottle that seemed to be alive.  According to their website, those floaties are strands of kombucha culture and are perfectly fine to drink.  OK, I guess I’ll just have to take their word for it!

First sip…

My face after the first sip…

Yeah, now you know what I mean about the floaties…

After a few more sips, I started liking the taste.  It was fizzy, bold and refreshing.  Then, I had to look to see if there was any alcohol in the drink because I was starting to feel a tad woozy (that may have been a figment of my imagination).  According to Wiki, ‘Kombucha contains ethyl alcohol in amounts that vary from 0.5% to 1.5%’.  It wasn’t a beverage that I wanted to chug down; it was something that I wanted to sip.  Like a cup of tea or hot water, I can see it accompanying me throughout the day and as something I would use to give me that much needed late afternoon boost.

Pictures of Healthy Chow feeling ‘tipsy’ from her kombucha

I also noticed that after about 10 minutes of drinking some of my kombucha, I no longer was hungry.  Before I opened the bottle, I was feeling a little empty in my stomach and as if I needed a snack.  This drink totally curbed my appetite! I know it claims ‘appetite control’ on the bottle, but I wasn’t sure if that was going to happen.  Oddly enough, I was no longer seeking carbs or becoming my alter ego, Snacky McSnackerton (you probably thought I was going to say ‘Healthy Chow’).  Also, and this might be TMI, but my lower stomach started churning and burning, if you catch my drift.  I guess that must be the probiotics kicking in?  Now I wonder what this little bottle of fabu is going to do for my hair and skin?  I guess I’ll have to wait to find out.

“She likes it, she really, really, likes it!”

All in all, I give GT’s Organic Raw Kombucha a thumbs up, way up (and I said a ‘thumb’, not the middle finger).  I’ve read online and heard from some others that they just can’t seem to stomach this stuff because of the distinct taste and smell.  But I think if you try not to focus on that and remember all the good that this drink can provide for you, you just might want to ‘kombucha’ like me.  I liken my experience with kombucha to the first time I tried vinyasa/power yoga.  When I walked in, the room was steamy, it smelled like sweat, there were people sweating on me, holding all those poses for so many counts made me want to toss my cookies, there were people moaning as if they were in pain, my muscles ached for days afterward in places I never knew had muscles and it’s expensive.  However, once you get over all of the superficial things, you can see the beauty.  Kombucha may not taste like a cold glass of freshly made lemonade, but then again lemonade can’t do any of the things kombucha can.  And hot yoga might not be as easy as pie, but then again, pie won’t detoxify your body and cleanse your mind.

Thumbs way up!

So, are you ready to kombucha?

‘Don’t cha wish your beverage was hot like kombucha?  Don’t cha wish your beverage was a freak like kombucha?  Don’t cha?…’

What’s the weirdest food/drink you’ve ever tried?  Would you eat/drink something just because it was good for you and not for the taste?

Namasté,
Nicole