First it was smoothies, then cold-pressed juice. Now the drink du jour — kombucha, a fizzy fermented tea filled with probiotic and yeast cultures that aid in digestion and metabolism — is getting a local spin thanks to Bearded Buch. The 1-year-old company, which brews its concoctions out of the Cleveland Culinary Launch and Kitchen, lets each of its four flavors (ginger snap, spiced elderberry, pink grapefruit and concord grape) ferment for about a month before bottling. The result is a naturally sweetened carbonated beverage ($4.75) akin to a tart soda but with only 8.5 grams of sugar per serving. "Most of us grew up drinking pop, and kombucha satisfies those sweet cravings without all of the sugar," says co-owner and brewer Aaron Powell. "It also has the health benefits people get from eating yogurt or drinking apple cider vinegar because of its healthy combination of probiotics, digestive enzymes and amino acids." 216-393-7782, beardedbuch.com
Best of Cleveland 2015: Kombucha
Quench your thirst with a locally made Kombucha — your body will thank you.
