Tea with a Twist - Health and Wellness Nashville

Kombucha, a drink originated from Tea, is a growing trend popping up in health food stores across America. Veronica Williams, (pictured) went looking for some Kombucha in Nashville. Here are her top three spots if you are looking for this unique fermented brew.

The Root Cellar – Folklore Ferments (High Garden)
Kombucha sampled: Passionfruit

Nashville’s The Root Cellar, home of Folklore Ferments, is located in the back of High Garden Tea Store. Given its name you walk into a shop that feels much like a fairytale, it’s like being in some magical woods where you can find good witches and little gnomes making delicious brews; which is a great description of their Kombucha bar in the back. This woodsy-inspired bar features several different Kombucha blends, as well as several other fermented beverages that are similar to Kombucha. Their love for their craft has lead to many creations such as: Passion Fruit Kombucha a bright passion fruit flavor and floral undertones, it is one of the most unique Kombucha I have yet to try.

They also brew a wide range of flavors and are always bringing more on board. They feature several other fermented products from local farms such as The Fermented Farmer, Kim’s Chi, and Short Mountain. Fermentation feels almost like a lost art and High Garden is here to bring it back to Nashville! Their employees are incredibly knowledgeable about the blends and the process. It’s a great place to stop to try out some new brews or even get a growler to take home.

The Booch
Kombucha sampled: Ginger

Found at many local health food stores and small grocers in Nashville, The Booch is brewed in Nashville by Kelly Snavely, a Nashvillian herself since 2005. Grocers such as Turnip Truck and vegan restaurants such as Sunflower Cafe sell this brew. I tried her Ginger Kombucha. With a delicious bite of ginger, this refreshing drink was the perfect way to end a long day.

Kelly found a love for Kombucha and expanded her brew from there. “I’ve always been interested in wellness–my degree is in Health & Exercise Science. When I read about the health benefits of Kombucha, I began brewing it for my family. Soon my friends wanted a taste, then a vendor that carried products made locally in Nashville began carrying Booch in their store. Nine years later, Booch can be found at 30 locations around Nashville and is still handcrafted using all organic ingredients. We are continuing to grow and experiment with new flavors, but we always stay organic to create the highest quality Kombucha from a clean environment.” She currently crafts five different flavors including original, Peach, Ginger, Raspberry, and Chai.

Avo
Kombucha sampled: House Kombucha

Avo is a wondrous place for vegans in Nashville. Offering a large choice of vegan dishes and an array of delicious cocktails, it’s what Nashville needs to satisfy its growing vegan community. To go alongside your Kimchi Spring Rolls and Wild Nashville Salad enjoy their house Kombucha. Made in-house this light Kombucha with its ginger undertone is the perfect addition to any meal.
Vanessa the manager of Avo began her Kombucha with the scooby her dad gave her. “What started as a 1-gallon batch, grew to two, then five, and it started taking over my house!” says Vanessa. Thanks to High Garden’s large selection of teas, Vanessa was able to experiment and create new flavors. She now makes her Kombucha in large quantities for Avo giving them their own unique personalized Kombucha. Vanessa ‘s journey with Kombucha has been a labor of love. “I love producing a beverage that everyone can enjoy, that is refreshing and fun to explore. As a fermented beverage, it’s different every time! Fermentation is an improvisation that the ecology around us is in on. I love that. I’m so excited to see more and more Kombucha on the local market.” So next time you are at Avo make sure to try their house Kombucha.

If you are looking for your new favorite Kombucha or just want to to go on a Kombucha hop around Nashville, make sure to try out these great spots!