By: Melissa Reiss, Purchasing Assistant
Over the past few years, the probiotic drink and fermented food category has grown significantly. With increased awareness of gut health and its impact on overall well-being, more people are seeking ways to incorporate beneficial bacteria into their diets.
The Importance of Microbes
Bacteria are among the earliest and most dominant life forms on Earth. The human body contains ten times more bacterial cells than human cells. Bacteria are essential for human health, aiding digestion, vitamin production, immune system regulation, and protection against harmful microbes. Maintaining a healthy gut microbiome is believed to be crucial for overall health.
New and exciting probiotic beverages are always showing up at your local Co-op. Be sure to check out seasonal flavors and occasional new arrivals. Let’s explore some of the different types of probiotic beverages you’ll find at the Co-op today.
Kombucha 
Kombucha is a fermented tea with a long history, dating back to 221 BC in China. It is also attributed to Eastern Europe, Russia, and Japan. In 2005, GT Dave’s organic kombucha beverages began national distribution, popularizing kombucha in the United States.
Kombucha is made using a SCOBY (Symbiotic Culture Of Bacteria and Yeast). The yeast in the SCOBY consumes sugar during brewing, creating the drink’s signature fizz. Kombucha is naturally dairy-free, gluten-free, and vegan. Some people enjoy the remnants of the mother culture (SCOBY) in each bottle, while others prefer to strain it out.
Willy Street Co-op also stocks local kombucha brewers, including NessAlla, Tapuat from Door County, Wisconsin, and Forage Kombucha. Nessalla offers year-round flavors like Juniper Rose and Peach Blush, along with rotating seasonal options. Forage Kombucha provides flavors like raspberry and ginger in 12 oz cans. Their kombucha is known for being fizzy and typically doesn’t contain the “mother” or SCOBY bits.
Other Probiotic Beverages
Kevita’s Sparkling Probiotic Drinks are a type of water kefir, a naturally dairy-free probiotic beverage with a fruit-forward taste. Water kefir grains are a symbiotic relationship between bacteria and yeast. Kevita offers flavors like Lemon Ginger and Pomegranate.
GoodBelly Probiotic Fruit Drinks are vegan and non-effervescent. They contain the Lactobacillus plantarum 299v strain and are made with organic fruit juice. These drinks contain low levels of gluten from barley and/or oat flour, with four servings per carton. Find flavors like Mango and Raspberry Blackberry.
Tepache is a fermented beverage which originated in Mexico. Made from the peel and the rind of pineapples, sweetened either with piloncillo or brown sugar, this drink is naturally fizzy and probiotic. Find flavors like Pineapple Spice or Watermelon Jalapeño.
Culture Pop is a probiotic soda made with real organic fruit juice and organic spices. Find flavors like Orange Mango & Lime.
Pre versus Pro
In recent years, we’ve also seen prebiotics bubble onto the market. Where probiotics are the “good bacteria” in our gut that help keep us healthy, prebiotics are the
food that they eat. Prebiotics are a special type of fiber that can act as food for healthy bacteria in your gut. Olipop and Poppi are two sodas you’ll find at the Co-op that use prebiotics to support gut health.
By incorporating probiotic-rich options into your diet, you can support your gut health and enjoy the numerous benefits associated with a thriving microbiome.
Visit your local Co-op store to discover a variety of probiotic-rich foods and beverages and learn more about how they can support your gut health.
