A new bubbly beverage

Aside from kombucha, the only real beverage I drink is water.  I occasionally buy Zevia, but consider it a treat because I have a history of diet soda abuse and it’s a slippery slope.

Recently I was sent obi – a probiotic drink that’s made from organic juices and a proprietary non-bitter stevia.  But beyond tasting great, it’s actually beneficial to your gut because it undergoes a water kefir ferment (which results in probiotic strain called BC30).  Per the company “Water kefir is one of the best probiotics available but no one has been able to make it commercially available until now. BC30 has been studied and proven to have digestive and immune benefits and was added to Obi to ensure the upmost probiotic results.”  Sweet!

And like I said before, obi is stevia sweetened so each bottle of obi contains no more than 2-5 grams of sugar (which are from organic fruit or agave anyway).

For the fermentation newbies, here’s more info from the site:

What are probiotics?

Probiotics are beneficial microorganisms that are naturally occurring in the body and are as critical to human wellness as vitamins and minerals. Probiotics have been clinically studied for their capacity to aid digestion, overall digestive tract health, all aspects of the immune system, mood/mental clarity, healthy metabolic processes, skin health, allergy response, and more.

What is water kefir?

Water kefir is a synergistic group of cultures that has been consumed by humans for thousands of years for its health benefits. Our water kefir consists of over 20 different types of probiotic strains that work well as a team. This diversity and hardiness is what makes it an ideal probiotic and the reason we chose it for Obi. When fermented, water kefir not only delivers a potent probiotic benefit, but also generates vitamins and a variety of beneficial compounds.

What is a probiotic ferment?

Ferments are a naturally occurring form of probiotics that have been cultivated for thousands of years by humans. They are complex combinations of probiotic strains that have developed into a distinct and beneficial symbiotic culture. They are renowned for their efficacy and hardiness. Ferments not only deliver a potent probiotic benefit, but also generate vitamins and a variety of beneficial compounds.

The best part is, unlike the dairy kefir you typically find in the grocery store, these are water based and therefore tolerated by those who have lactose intolerance.  Happy dance!

OK.  Important part.  Flavors!

Valencia orange & grapefruit was my very very favorite.  It was so refreshing.  Like a mimosa but healthy.  Yum.

There was a tie for second place between Meyer lemon & lime and Tart cherry vanilla bean.  I actually didn’t think I’d like the cherry vanilla one because it sounds too soda fountain-y for me, but it was so perfectly balanced.  The cherry wasn’t too tart and the vanilla wasn’t too overpowering.  Not a flavor I’d drink on the reg, but good when you’re craving something in the afternoon slump.  Lemon lime, however, I could easily drink every day of summer.  Neither sweet nor sour, just slow sipping perfection.

I’m not a big root beer fan, and yet I drank the entire bottle (apparently without taking a picture), so that must say something, right?  I bet it would make a mean float with some home-made coconut ice cream.

In the end, I would definitely buy these again and again and I highly recommend you seek them out.  Here’s where you can currently buy them.

Cheers.