18 July 2009

Product Review: GT's Raw Organic Kombucha, Multi-Green

The other day I was shopping at Whole Foods Market when I came upon the refrigerated display for bottled Kombucha. I know very little about kombucha, other than it's a sort of highly nutritious tea, and I had it once before years ago. I had a faint recollection it didn't taste very good.

On a whim, I grabbed a bottle of GT's Organic Raw Kombucha, Multi-Green flavor, to give it a try. Certainly, the marketing text on the labels touted all sorts of nutritional benefits. It was only later that I figured out that this wasn't any ordinary tea. It was fermented tea. With a kick.

It was a warm day, so the idea of a chilled bottled fizzy drink was welcoming. At first gulp, the initial flavor was challenging, but acceptable, as tea could easily be expected to be bitter. Then came wave after wave after wave of aftertastes.

One aftertaste wave was sort of vinegar like. Another was sort of beer like with a whiff of brewed grain. My eyes squinted. A mild shock of electricity rippled up my spine and into my head. I let out a quick yelp. I shook my head to regain full consciousness.

Was this experience intentionally delivered by the makers of this drink? My brain said, "I don't like this!" but my mouth said, "drink more!"

I ended up finishing the bottle, quickly, and I shuddered with relief that the experience was over. Of course, the health benefits would only become apparent if I drank bottle after bottle over the course of days and weeks. Maybe.

I decided this would be a one time experience.

Perhaps, kombucha in a different bottle, under another brand, I'll give it a chance again in future. But not for a long while.

Thumbs down.