Best Places For Kombucha In Orange County

The process of fermenting foods and drinks has been around for centuries. Some familiar foods and drinks that you may see every day are actually products of fermentation. Another item you might be seeing in tea houses and health food stores is kombucha. Kombucha is a fermented tea drink with slight effervescence. Here are some great places to find crafted kombuchas made right here in Orange County.

Farm & Culture Co. is located at The OC Mix at SOCO in Costa Mesa. They create their kombucha in small batches flavored with locally gathered fruit and herbs from farmer's markets. Farm & Culture's unique kombucha tea blend currently includes medicinal herbs such as stinging nettles and marshmallow root; ingredients not commonly found in other kombucha beverages. Their unique kombucha and bone broth bar offers a decaf kombucha that is well suited for children, as well as those with caffeine sensitivity. The team at Farm & Culture Co. is always experimenting with new tea blends such as Yerba mate and Roobios. Besides kombucha, you'll also find raw yogurt, kraut, bone brother, fermented veggies and chef-driven concepts popping up weekly.

Zama Tea and Booch Bar is a small family owned and operated business, handcrafting their products with love, passion and purpose. They use organic local ingredients and craft in small batches to ensure the best quality. Third party testing is performed to maintain a healthy product. They have 38 flavors: 10 on tap at a time with flavors for all palates and preferences. A great flavor to try is cilantro jalapeno, where cilantro and jalapeno are infused into the kombucha. Form a historical standpoint, their location is in the oldest building in Tustin (the first doctor's office in Tustin). Zama Tea and Booch Bar also specializes in over 160 loose leaf teas and herbs.

Midastee brews their own 100% raw, unpasteurized kombucha in-house with flavors like original black tea, original oolong tea, ginger, lime, grapefruit, hibiscus and more. All ingredients are certified organic, except for some that include locally-sourced ingredients that produced without the use of artificial fertilizers and pesticides from farmers and producers who are too small to be certified organic. Midastee focuses on artisanal small-batch production and maintains quality using high quality ingredients. They love to see and hear about their customers' reactions, which makes them strive to make one of the best kombuchas around.

Cha Cha Kombucha is all about personal care and attention to the details, with honor and credence to kombucha tea's ancient recipe throughout the production process. Fermentation time, temperature and use of quality ingredients are just a handful of the many details that help to handcraft a deliciously distinguished complex, yet approachable taste. Strawberry basil kombucha is a must-try. It won “Best Kombucha” at the LA Vegan Beer Fest in June with its silky smooth mouth feel and deep, bright strawberry notes complimenting an herby basil undertone through the finish. Their kombuchas can be found on tap at Seabirds Kitchen, Haute Cakes Caffe, Mead's Green Door, Healthy Junk, Lemon Drop Juicery and Central Bar.

Fermentation Farm uses a small-batch homebrew style of fermenting in glass jugs with high quality, organic ingredients. They use reverse osmosis, mineral-rich water for a crisp, refreshing taste and signature effervescence. Their kombucha is flavored with fresh, local ingredients like organic raspberries, mangoes, passion fruits and guavas (used at the peak of season from the local farmers' market). The flavors are simple, yet distinctive for the whole family to enjoy. Black currant kombucha is flavored with organic black currant juice giving it a distinct dark coloring. The tartness balances perfectly with the crispness of the kombucha, an amazing non-alcoholic alternative to red wine.

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