Imagine my surprise when I headed to the only place in town, a locally-owned health food/drugstore, to purchase my beloved Kombucha, Synergy to be specific.
I was feeling under the weather and crave this mushroom drink when I feel like I want instant healing and energy.
On the sliding refrigerator door, a sign read, “Kombucha temporarily unavailable.”
WHAT?
I specifically went to this store to get this … well, along with my antibiotics.
Then, I remembered this which I thought would only be a temporary thing.
Basically, Whole Foods and other stores that carry Kombucha drinks have pulled the drinks from their shelves because the FDA says that the “alcohol” content in these drinks exceeds the legal limit for a drink not to be considered alcoholic (around 0.5%). So, the Treasury Dept. steps in and says the drinks have to be taxed the same as alcohol and they must have the same regulations placed upon them as alcohol.
This is my favorite part of the article:
As expected, many “booch-lovers” are crying foul on this form of prohibition (albeit likely a temporary prohibition) and sorely miss their daily Kombucha “buzz,” which is likely more easily attributed to the natural caffeine content than the negligible alcohol content. In the meantime, many of the faithful are looking elsewhere to independent Kombucha cultivators for their fix, as many have begun (long before the deficit) making their own kombucha, trading recipes and selling home brews. So the market is being driven underground (at least temporarily) and libertarian Kombucha lovers are making a stink.Wait just a cotton-pickin’ minute!You mean I’m going to have to go underground to drink a fermented mushroom tea meant to detox my body and improve my immune system? I can’t see it now. A bunch of women in braids and Berkenstocks sitting around a living room coffee table sipping Kombucha talking about how many reusable grocery totes they lugged around that day. Or women like me that just like the taste and the energy/wellness feeling they get from the drink. (Wonder if that has to do with the 0.5% alcohol? … no, relax, I jest … it’s just the natural caffeine content.)I definitely wouldn’t know the first thing about growing my own Kombucha and don’t have any desire to try. The Asians have done it for years, but have you seen these slimy mushrooms? No thanks. Here’s some tea brewin’.
But, good news, I won’t have to go underground to drink this healing drink. As of just this week, I learned that one brand of Kombucha has already returned to Whole Foods.It was ridiculous to begin with. I want my Kombucha back.
But, good news, I won’t have to go underground to drink this healing drink. As of just this week, I learned that one brand of Kombucha has already returned to Whole Foods.It was ridiculous to begin with. I want my Kombucha back.
The Amish around here make this stuff. Before you ever reach the level of going underground, just plan a trip to PA. We'll get ya fixed up. 🙂
Well, if you change your mind about brewing at home, I'd be happy to send you a mushroom. 🙂 All you would need after that is some tea bags, sugar, and water… maybe some juice or fruit if you want it flavored. It's actually quite easy (and cheap) to make. I prefer homemade to the store bought, too. 🙂 Just let me know. I'd be happy to set you up!
Mushroom tea? Ew, just reading it makes me gag, but I hate mushrooms.
Hope you get feeling better soon!
Rachel … ha ha.
Anyways, just stopped by the ol' drugstore and they said they won't be carrying Synergy anymore because of the regulations and they have no liquor license. Seriously? Liquor license?
Whole Foods is the only place you can get it … in Baton Rouge. Crazy. Guess I'm giving up the stuff. Boo.
I will have to forward your blog to my BFF. She will be interested in this info. She started making her own Kombucha at home about 9 months ago, and she loves it. I can't stand the taste. It's a little too potent for my palate.
Ok, I've never heard of this drink, but honestly, it doesn't sound good. Not that I should talk, because I drink a nasty greed powdered drink made of baby barley. Everybody thinks it's puke. I love it…give me energy.
That's some serious tea brewing going on. If my hubby saw that, he'd want me to start my own tea factory too.
Hope you feel better.
-FringeGirl
Wow – I've never heard of it. I must live in a sheltered little world… 🙂
OH WOW!!! Haven't heard of this being in stores, but my dad used to make this at home when I was little!!! I remember seeing the big flat mushrooms sitting in the fridge until they were ready and all the serious talk about them.. couldn't let them die, ya know. They did it for weight loss. Might be a different thing, but it sparked the memory! I tried it when I was little and thought it was ok. I don't know if they made tea or just drank the juice of the mushroom.
OH WOW!!! Haven't heard of this being in stores, but my dad used to make this at home when I was little!!! I remember seeing the big flat mushrooms sitting in the fridge until they were ready and all the serious talk about them.. couldn't let them die, ya know. They did it for weight loss. Might be a different thing, but it sparked the memory! I tried it when I was little and thought it was ok. I don't know if they made tea or just drank the juice of the mushroom.
I've never even heard of this stuff. The only "mushroom tea" I ever drank was homemade, too, but it didn't give me energy. It gave me the boo boo jeebies.