Kombucha is a recently developed health food phenomenon — the strange effervescent beverage gaining enough popularity that it has moved from the corners of wellness grocery store and begun to emerge at local neighborhood supermarkets.
Local Ponte Vedra brewer, Hive Alive Honey Brews, has found itself a special niche in this movement toward healthier soda alternatives. That special niche is called “Jun.”
Mary Sneed, the co-founder of Hive Alive Honey Brews, said that Jun uses a similar type of culture as regular kombucha but is generally more palatable and less sour. Her local company is one of the few companies to carry the type nationwide.
“It’s considered the champagne of kombucha because it has a softer, milder taste,” Sneed said. “When we started thinking about doing this, we bought every kombucha off the shelf and tasted it. We didn’t like it. We like to think of Jun as being the fun, attractive sister in the kombucha family.”
Kombucha has been made famous mainly due to its fermentation process and identifiable live culture, known as SCOBY, which stands for Symbiotic Culture of Bacteria and Yeast. This culture can sometimes be seen as a slight film in over-the-counter bottles. It is also what is believed to give the drink its probiotic health benefits.
Sneed believes the drink helps with many aspects of health like indigestion, inflammation and even weight loss. Because of that, and after two years of drinking it regularly, she just “feels better overall.”
Besides using an obscure cousin of the kombucha SCOBY, Hive Alive Honey Brews also uses green tea and honey as an alternative to most recipes’ black tea and sugar bases.
Two years ago, when the company released its first five flavors, Hive Alive Honey Brews tested Groovy Grape, Pineapple Turmeric, Lemon Ginger, Tangerine Cream and Simply Jun. The flavors tested so well with their friends and family, Sneed said, they were quickly adapted to consumers. More recently, they included the additions of Cherry Limeade, Blueberry Hibiscus and the holiday seasonal, Cranberry Cinnamon Apple.
Because of its seasonal release, Cranberry Cinnamon Apple is only sold from kegs at all three Native Sun Food Markets in Jacksonville. Bottles can be found at Lucky’s Market and both Earth Fare food stores in Jacksonville as well. For more information on Hive Alive Honey Brews visit www.honeybrews.com.
