Gimme Back My Kombucha!
I went into the Tempe Farmers Market (where I currently hold the Mayorship on Foursquare) and walked over to the beverage section. I opened the door and reached in to grab a big bottle of kombucha when I realized the shelf was empty, and not just with the brand I usually buy, no, every bottle of kombucha was gone.
I tried to think through the possibilities: A kombucha rush moments before I arrived? Someone made a mistake on the inventory? Did they move the drinks somewhere else?
Where the hell is my kombucha?!
Then I saw the sign. It said that the government had pulled all kombucha to test for alcohol content and depending on the result, kombucha may be moved and sold only in liquor stores.
WTF?!
Kombucha is a drink that dates back thousands of years, an ancient, fermented tea that claims lots of health benefits. I don’t think any real studies have been done that prove conclusively any real benefits, but all I know is I like it and I want the freedom to buy it.
The editor of Beverage Business Insights estimates that some kombucha brands might have 2-3% alcohol, where as regular beer has 4-5% but I’ve never heard of anybody becoming intoxicated after drinking a bottle or two of kombucha. Perhaps drunk on healthy lifestyle choices!
In the absence of kombucha I have substituted coconut water (not coconut milk, too much fat) until my beloved fermented beverage returns to me. But I miss it already.
Kombuchacoladas!
I wish the FDA would focus on promoting products like this and stop approving GMO products
. Also, I heard that Arizona was most strict on this Kombucha problems, have you heard anything more?
The girl at the Tempe Farmers Market said she didn’t think they would get any more kombucha in because they couldn’t get anything from the distributor. She said she was pretty sure it was only going to be available in liquor stores. How stupid is that!?
The downtown Phoenix Public Market has a different brand than what I was buying in Tempe. The label says it’s “raw” kombucha but it’s not the same, it’s not as bubbly.
I was really particular, I only liked one brand. And that was the one they took away.