After the excess of the holidays, we know many of you are attempting a month off of booze. And if you’ve made it this far, we’re definitely cheering you on. But if you’re still hankering for the usual libations, we’ve discovered a refreshing alternative that’ll help you get through the bleakest parts of your Drynuary.
Kombucha is a fizzy, fermented tart tea that’s unlike any other type of drink we’ve had before. It’s made using a very unsexy-looking but extremely good-for-you bacterial/yeast culture that metabolizes a mixture of tea, sugar and water. The end result is a microorganism-rich, enzyme-packed beverage with a lovely effervescence and a touch of tartness.
Kombucha can be made at home over a one-to-two week fermentation period. But if you’re a little lazy (or, impatient) like us, there are a few great ready-made options on the market. One of our favourites is RISE Kombucha, made in Montreal. Try it as a replacement for your morning coffee – the natural sugars and caffeine from the tea gives you a bit of an energy boost. The organic acids and enzymes in RISE Kombucha can also help your body break down protein, fat and starches after a heavy meal, stopping you from slipping into a full-on food coma.
Before you pop open the cap on a bottle of RISE, flip the bottle upside down and give it a gentle swirl to mix in the sediment with the rest of the beverage – it’s where a lot of the kombucha’s health benefits come from. You can find RISE Kombucha on the menu of most healthy cafes and in stock at health food stores across Toronto.
About $5, risekombucha.com
