Testing 1, 2, 3: Mixed review for Happiness kombucha tea

Cami Bohrer
·3 min read
With kombucha sales going from $1 million in 2014 to $1.8 Billion in 2019, it’s no wonder the beverage occupies a humungous amount of shelf space at local grocers. Happiness tea is one.
With kombucha sales going from $1 million in 2014 to $1.8 Billion in 2019, it’s no wonder the beverage occupies a humungous amount of shelf space at local grocers. Happiness tea is one.

Kombucha. A fizzy fermented tea with a blend of sweet, sour, acidic, fruity, and fragrant components.

I’ll bet you didn’t know that. I sure didn’t.

I also didn’t know that kombucha is hailed as a rich probiotic, containing “healthy little microbes” that delight the human digestive system.

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With kombucha sales going from $1 million in 2014 to $1.8 Billion in 2019, it’s no wonder the beverage occupies a humungous amount of shelf space at local grocers.

I decided to give it a go and settled on a kombucha named Happiness from Brew Dr.  I figured such a pleasant name supported by elderflower, chamomile, rose hips, hibiscus and lemon grass elements had to be a winner.

It was this Happiness that I presented to tasters Amy Boyd and LeAnn Barnard from Ashland and Jennifer Recker, Hayesville.

Pleasant, fruity and enticing aroma

Before the actual tasting, our testers checked out the beverage’s aroma, with positive comments like pleasant, fruity and enticing.

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Jennifer Recker
Jennifer Recker

“The aroma reminds me of my grandma’s flower garden in a good way. It has a floral scent but is not overpowering,” Recker said.

As for me, well, the scent put me in mind of vinegar, definitely not an agreeable impression. On the other hand, I did like the kombucha’s appearance, pastel pink with a little fizz as a precursor to the bitey sensation with my first swallow. For me, the taste rated 7 out of 10 possible positives, only because of the mild floral flavors in the brew.

Cami Bohrer
Cami Bohrer

Barnard and Recker both said this drink could easily find its way into their shopping carts. Barnard, an occasional kombucha imbiber, would serve it during an evening with friends, paired with a glass of wine.

“I enjoyed the light pink color. It reminds me of a ‘girly’ girls’ night out drink,” she said.

Leeann Barnard
Leeann Barnard

Boyd, on the other hand, would not spend her money for Happiness, though she might try another flavor.

“I didn’t taste all of the floral flavors in this. I like stronger flavors,” she said. Based on her past experience, she goes for herbal mint varieties.

Amy Boyd
Amy Boyd

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As for me, I discovered that, no matter how attractive the packaging, I am just not ready to take the kombucha plunge. Give me a good cup of coffee and I am happy.

According to the Brew Dr. website, “Kombucha may be the latest beverage trend, but it’s actually been around longer than most drinks you enjoy regularly. In fact, kombucha has been documented as early as 221 B.C. in China, Japan and other parts of Europe. It made its way to the U.S. much later, but it’s definitely not a “new” trend.”

Chris Morroco, test kitchen director for Bon Appétit, recommends the kombucha habit.

“Kombucha is a great just-walked-in-the-door, sweet-tart wine replacement,” he has found.

Certainly worth a healthy try.

Until next time ...

Reach Cami by email at camboh49@gmail.com

This article originally appeared on The Daily Record: Taste test: Panel gives mixed review to Happiness kombucha tea