KÖE's no-refrigeration-needed kombucha is the perfect light summer drink — and you can order it online

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• Kombucha is a tasty beverage touted for its potential health benefits, and it has gained a lot of popularity in recent years.
• Most kombucha needs to be refrigerated since it contains live microorganisms, but I found a delicious brand that is shelf-stable at room temperature.
• KÖE Organic Kombucha comes in five different flavors and has a light and crisp taste.
• Each can contains 15 mg of caffeine for a little boost.

I don't drink kombucha every day, but I do enjoy some occasionally. Aside from the fact that the fermented, lightly-carbonated tea may have some health benefits, it's also a nice treat since I normally stick to water and coffee. I'll often pick up one or two bottles of kombucha while I'm grocery shopping, so I've tried quite a few different brands.

Recently, I tried to buy some online, but the options were limited because most kombucha needs to be refrigerated. That's how I stumbled upon KÖE's organic shelf-stable kombucha, and I'm so glad I did. I'm hooked, and with its light and crisp taste, this is definitely going to be my new summer drink.

KÖE kombucha (KÖE rhymes with "know") comes in a BPA-free recyclable can and is available in five flavors: Raspberry Dragonfruit, Strawberry Lemonade, Mango, Blueberry Ginger, and Lemon Lime. My first order was a variety pack containing everything except Blueberry Ginger. My favorites were Strawberry Lemonade and Lemon Lime, so now I just order those flavors.

What's in it

Each flavor is made with real fruit juice and sweetened with sugar, organic stevia, and organic cane sugar — I found it to be on the sweeter side for kombucha. Each can also contains 15 mg of caffeine, which is less than a typical can of soda. The formula is USDA organic, non-GMO project verified, vegan, gluten-free, kosher, and non-alcohol verified. KÖE ferments their kombucha for over four months.

Even though it doesn't need to be refrigerated, it still contains billions of microorganisms and the S.C.O.B.Y. you'd expect in any kombucha. S.C.O.B.Y stands for "symbiotic culture of bacteria and yeast," and it's an integral part of the drink's fermentation; if you've bought a bottle of kombucha with a small gelatinous mass floating inside, you're already familiar with it. KÖE filters out pieces of S.C.O.B.Y. before canning, so you won't notice any big chunks when you drink it.

According to KÖE, the formula is fortified when it's canned, which allows those microorganisms mentioned earlier to survive the pasteurization process needed to make the beverage shelf-stable; the company worked for years to perfect its methods.

Each 12-ounce can has 35 calories. The ingredient list is a little longer than some other kombucha brands, and it also contains eight grams of added sugar, so be aware that you're not drinking a health elixir. I like to think of it as a refreshing drink that might also have some small nutritional benefits.

According to a scientific study published by the University of Arkansas's Department of Food Science in 2018, kombucha may have anti-inflammatory and antimicrobial properties thanks to its high levels of antioxidants. But, contrary to popular belief, the beverage hasn't been clinically proven to aid digestion. As a workaround, KÖE — like many other kombucha brands — spikes their tea with probiotics (in this case, the commercial probiotic preparation LactoSpore).

What it tastes like

After trying many different kombuchas over the years, I've realized that the taste can vary widely from brand to brand. Some kombucha I've tried has been too sour, which I find off-putting. On the other end of the flavor spectrum, certain brands taste more like sparkling water than anything else.

KÖE organic kombucha is very light and refreshing — the perfect drink for a hot day. It reminds me of a crisp soda with just the right amount of fizz. Honestly, if somebody handed it to me in a glass, I don't think I would even know it was kombucha.

The bottom line

I bought a four-can variety pack of KÖE kombucha on a whim just to try it out, and now I can't stop ordering it. The fact that it doesn't need to be refrigerated is incredibly convenient, although my favorite way to drink it is nice and cold, poured over ice.

If you like your kombucha to be light and refreshing as opposed to intense and vinegary, or if you want to try it out for the first time but are hesitant, I highly recommend KÖE.

Read the original article on Business Insider