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Many of us can over indulge in December, as the festive period gives us more and more opportunities to be social. We tend to go out for more meals, see more of our friends and this can result in a lot more food and drink than we might be used to during other months fo the year.
If you like a drink, more specifically a glass or two of wine, but are taking part in dry January this month you might be looking for a non alcoholic alternative to wine.
About REAL Kombucha
REAL Kombucha began in early 2016 when founder, David Begg, had all but given up drinking. A big lover of food, David found he missed the joy of pairing great wine with great food, and increasingly began to notice that people choosing not to drink were not catered for in any serious, sophisticated manner. When a friend introduced him to an earthy, rich, oolong kombucha, he realised there might be a real alternative.
His first brew, made with a silver needle tea that he happened to have bought on a family holiday to India, resulted in a kombucha that produced incredible floral, aromatic flavours. Putting together a small team that included nutrition innovator, Adrian Hodgson, and tea expert, Will Battle, the nascent company experimented with 150 different teas until he came up with the finest in fermentation: REAL Kombucha.
Flavours available
At the moment, there are 3 flavours of REAL Kombucha available to purchase. These are; Iron Goddess (limited edition), Dry Dragon and Royal Flush.
Royal Flush
Produced from fragrant First Flush Darjeeling, picked by hand as the first tips of tea emerge in spring. The Indian city of Darjeeling itself is known as Queen of the Hills and its First Flush is known as the Queen of Teas.
Dry Dragon
Dry Dragon is light and citrusy with notes of sweet lemons and grapefruit, but with a delicate leafy undertone. Dry and fresh, it is a perfect light summer spritz to be drunk at any time of day.
Iron Goddess
A rich, demi-sec non alcoholic sparkling kombucha, the new amber-hued Iron Goddess has been produced as a seasonal special with a limited release of 1,000 bottles.
Why choose REAL Kombucha
I’ll be honest, I had never heard of REAL Kombucha before but having a few big tea drinkers in the family, who also like wine, I was curious. Over special occasions, or when we get together with family, it can be hard to find something suitable for everyone. Some people might need to drive, some people just might not drink alcohol and some people might not be old enough. Now that we’re in January you might just be looking for something that’s non-alcoholic to drink.
First impressions
Firstly, I loved the look and the feel of these drinks. Some non-alcoholic alternatives can seem cheap in comparison to a good bottle of wine and the bottles definitely don’t tend to look as nice. The labels are beautiful, with bold bright colours making them stand out, as well as the black and gold on the neck of the bottle. REAL Kombucha feels like something special, something that looks great on the table.
Thoughts and opinions
REAL Kombucha is a bit of an acquired taste and I really think it comes down to personal preference. The flavours are quite strong and if this is something you’ve never had before, it might take a little bit of getting used to. My brother in law had already heard of REAL Kombucha and was quite excited to try these flavours, making them perfect for him as he was driving on the day of his visit. My husband, also really enjoyed all of the flavours, his favourite being Dry Dragon thanks to the fruiter taste.
REAL Kombucha is a great option for a non-alcoholic alternative to wine and definitely something that would work well for special occasions.
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