I wouldn’t say I’m an addict.  But, when the aroma of a freshly brewed cup of coffee hits my nose, I just can’t resist.  And when someone offers to buy me a cup of coffee, I don’t usually say no either.  And no matter how I much I want to deny it, I don’t seem to feel quite right in the mornings if I don’t have my hot cup of joe.  For that reason, when Blue from POM Wonderful had contacted me asking if I would be interested in trying some samples of their newest product, POMx™ Iced Coffee, I immediately said yes (thanks Blue)!  Who am I to resist free caffeine?!

Within a few short days, my POMx™ Iced Coffee samples had arrived.  I received all three of the available flavors – chocolate, café au lait and vanilla, along with some additional information on POMx™.  I really had no idea what to expect.  I had never seen or heard of this product and usually get my iced coffee at local coffee shops and franchises.  Thus, I had nothing with which to compare these bottled coffees.  I figured if POM Wonderful was the company behind these free samples I just received, they had to be good and they had to be healthy.

According to the POMx website, their iced coffees contain a super-ingredient, POMx™, which is a 100% natural blend of polyphenol antioxidants that contain all the health benefits of POM Wonderful pomegranates.  In other words, you can get your healthy on as you’re getting your buzz on!  And the coffee that is used in this drink isn’t from just any old beans.  POMx™ only uses “premium Italian-roasted Arabica beans for a delicious, intense, full-bodied coffee.”  In addition, the coffee beans are from “ethically sourced, shade-grown environments, which means the trees haven’t been slashed and burned.  And therefore, the wildlife hasn’t been disrupted.”  So let me get this straight, this coffee is good for me, will give me the boost I need to help get me going and is kind to the environment?  Why am I waiting to try these little goodies?

Chocolate

• Ingredients – nonfat milk, organic cane sugar, POMx (POM Wonderful Pomegranate Antioxidant Extract – patent pending), brewed Rainforest Alliance Certified™ coffee (water, coffee), erythritol (natural sweetener), cocoa, natural flavors, natural caffeine, carrageenan.
• Nutritional Facts – Serving Size: 1 bottle (10.5 oz), Caffeine: 175mg/10.5 fl. oz, Calories: 190, Calories from Fat: 0, Total Fat: 0g, Saturated Fat: 0g, Trans Fat: 0g, Cholesterol: 0g, Sodium: 160mg, Total Carbohydrate: 49g, Fiber: 2g, Sugars: 30g, Sugar Alcohol: 10g, Protein: 10g, Vitamin A: 0%, Vitamin C: 0%, Calcium: 30%, Iron: 8%

The chocolate flavor reminded me of chocolate milk, something I haven’t had in ages.  I remember as a kid I used to squirt chocolate sauce into my milk and make chocolate milk (mine was usually more chocolate than milk).  This iced coffee tasted just like that!  I felt like a kid again drinking this beverage.  I really didn’t get the sense that I was drinking coffee as this tasted more like milk.  It was quite sweet and very dessert-like.  I think this is a coffee I would have as a post-dinner drink versus for my morning shot of caffeine.

Café Au Lait

• Ingredients – reduced-fat milk, brewed Rainforest Alliance Certified™ coffee (water, coffee), POMx (POM Wonderful Pomegranate Antioxidant Extract – patent pending), organic cane sugar, natural caffeine.
• Nutritional Facts – Serving Size: 1 bottle (10.5 oz), Caffeine: 175mg/10.5 fl. oz, Calories: 170, Calories from Fat: 30, Total Fat: 3g, Saturated Fat: 2g, Trans Fat: 0g, Cholesterol: 15g, Sodium: 130mg, Total Carbohydrate: 29g, Fiber: 0g, Sugars: 20g, Protein: 7g, Vitamin A: 0%, Vitamin C: 0%, Calcium: 25%, Iron: 0%

With the chocolate flavor, I could barely taste the coffee.  With the café au lait flavor, it was all coffee.  Actually, I was quite surprised with the rich coffee taste that was in this beverage.  It tasted like a gourmet iced coffee drink that one might purchase at a coffee shop.  It was smooth and creamy, just what an iced coffee should taste like.  When I first started drinking iced coffee, I would add whole milk, sugar and maybe even a splash of cream.  This reminded me of those days.  It felt very decadent drinking this little delight!

Vanilla

• Ingredients – nonfat milk, brewed Rainforest Alliance Certified™ coffee (water, coffee), organic cane sugar, erythritol (natural sweetener), POMx (POM Wonderful Pomegranate Antioxidant Extract – patent pending), natural flavors, natural caffeine, carrageenan gum.
• Nutritional Facts – Serving Size: 1 bottle (10.5 oz), Caffeine: 175mg/10.5 fl. oz, Calories: 180, Calories from Fat: 0g, Total Fat: 0g, Saturated Fat: 0g, Trans Fat: 0g, Cholesterol: 0g, Sodium: 160mg, Total Carbohydrate: 49g, Fiber: 2g, Sugars: 30g, Sugar Alcohol: 10g, Protein: 10g, Vitamin A: 0%, Vitamin C: 0%, Calcium: 30%, Iron: 8%

The vanilla flavor was also delicious! The coffee flavoring was there, but it wasn’t overly potent.  I felt as though the vanilla tasted like a scoop of melted caramel/vanilla ice cream.  Similar to the chocolate, this drink was again very dessert-like.  I almost wanted to add it to some ice and frozen yogurt and blend it in my blender to make a vanilla milkshake (I just might do that!).  I really enjoyed this flavor and while they were all yummy, this one was my favorite.  It reminded me of the General Foods International Coffee my mother used to buy when I was young.  She would always bring it out whenever company was over, and I would take a sip when she wasn’t looking.  Those sneaky sips of coffee were scrumptious then, and this iced coffee is just as scrumptious now.

Overall, the POMx™ Iced Coffees are very tasty.  Knowing that these little bottled wonders (or ‘wonderfuls’) are not only going to give me the little extra kick I need, but that they are also healthy for me, makes me give this product a thumbs up.  I’m all about killing two birds with one stone, so if I can get my antioxidants in while I’m caffeinating myself, it’s a win-win situation.  However, I do need to state that because I’m a black coffee drinker and a skim milk only iced coffee drinker, the POMx™ Iced Coffees are not something I would normally drink.  They’re a bit too sweet to drink for me as my main source of coffee for the day.  I usually have my coffee as soon as I wake up or right after a sweaty morning yoga class, and having such a sweet beverage as the first thing to consume in the day would not be my choice.  However, I wouldn’t mind drinking this as part of a dessert or to curb my late-day sweet tooth.  Just a few sips is enough to perk me up and to make me not want to go on a cookie hunt.  And that’s always a plus in my book!  I also liked how these coffees allowed me to reminisce my childhood.  I’ve been fascinated by coffee ever since I was a young child, and these iced coffees took me back to those days.  Oh, and in case you were wondering, these iced coffees do NOT taste like pomegranate at all!

While I probably would not replace my usual morning hot coffee or iced coffee with POMx™ Iced Coffee, that doesn’t mean that I won’t have some of these little guys for breakfast.  Huh?  That doesn’t make sense, Healthy Chow!  If you say you’re not going to drink the POMx™ Iced Coffee to start your day, how are you going to have some for breakfast? Easy.  I’m going to cook with the POMx™ Iced Coffee!  I’m going to use it as one of the key ingredients in my breakfast foods.  But just what in the heck are you gonna make, Healthy Chow?

Well, you’re just going have to wait until tomorrow to find out…

Muahahahahahaha…..! (that’s evil laughter, in case you’re wondering…)

What are you looking forward to most this holiday?  What’s your favorite thing to eat on Thanksgiving?

Namasté,
Nicole

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