Another wild and maybe even wacky week of the SUMMER RECALL 2010 has passed, and Kombucha continues to permeate the consciousness. Let’s see what’s new:
1. Small Kombucha brewers weigh in on how they are dealing with the recall: handling Whole Foods’ “freak out,” considering winery applications, and generally holding on for dear life!
2. By contrast, it seems that smaller Portland, OR area Kombucha brewers may have benefited from the big guys absence from the shelf. Plus, a great taste test of small brands at the end of this article. Fun!
3. We’ve used Kombucha soap before (and loved it! So clean and soft.) but now there are real Kombucha based cosmetic products (warning: PDF!), specifically a “kombucha cleanser” and other products with kombucha from Emergen-C.
I have ground up SCOBYs many times and applied to my face as a skin mask. It’s invigorating and leaves my face feeling like a natural mild chemical peel. Wonder if their products will use enough kombucha to make a difference? Thoughts anyone?
5. Lev’s Original (or is it now “Lev’s Probiotics of Treasure Island?” – which is a strange name change IMHO) has hit the market with a brand new product: Kombucha Extract! Okay, so it’s new to the shelves, though we have seen some homebrewers selling it and we have used our own “super strong” kombucha for cleaning and keeping grandma in check. But now Lev’s is selling the stuff and says one tablespoon carries the same nutritional punch as an entire bottle of the regular stuff. Whoa! No fizz, no alcohol and, we’re guessing, No Wussies!!!
