Fro-yo girl here. We recently visited Culture Club 101 and have become regular customers, because they have the best kombucha around. Culture Club 101 is all about supporting the human microbiome. They do this by producing fermented foods and beverages, teaching others about fermented foods, and offering specialized nutrient-dense groceries and prepared foods. What they make is made in small batches, the traditional way. Their foods are heirloom, sprouted, pasture-raised, humanely raised, organic, non-GMO, soy-free, biodynamic, permaculture, sustainable, bird-friendly, etc. They’re eco-friendly to the extreme.
They carry specialty foods, like farm fresh eggs, bird friendly coffee, cashew cheese, raw dairy products, grass-fed beef, pasture-raised chicken, etc. Then they make a lot of fermented foods – many kinds of kraut, kraut juice, water kefir, kombucha, fermented soda, etc. I haven’t seen some of what they make elsewhere – e.g., water kefir, jun, bird friendly coffee that they roast themselves. The café serves pastries, healthy bowls, salads, toast, paninis, coffee, bone broth, etc. They don’t have frozen yogurt, but they do have an abundance of probiotic foods.
The komucha ($4/bottle, available on tap) is made in small batches on site, the old-fashioned way. It’s stronger and not as sweet as commercial kombucha. It’s got a real bite. It smells like and tastes like vinegar but with a pleasant, sweet, apple cider aftertaste. If you like it stronger or weaker, take the kombucha making class and brew your own.
Culture Club 101 is more than a store but it’s more about a lifestyle. You can become a member if you believe in their mission or donate to their Go Fund Me campaign. If you love fermented foods, want to improve your gut health or want a healthy, nourishing meal, visit them.
* CULTURE CLUB 101: 1392 E. Washington Blvd., Pasadena, CA 91104
You know you love me. X0 X0, fro-yo girl.
Looking for more frozen yogurt news, discussion boards, and resources? Check out the International Frozen Yogurt Association website at http://internationalfrozenyogurt.com/. The IFYA is the independent voice of the frozen yogurt industry.
Fro-yo girl here. I know I bought Bio-K+, the fermented probiotic drink, years ago and I thought I reviewed it here, but I can’t find that review anywhere. I remember liking how Bio-K+ Original wasn’t too sweet.
Bio-K+ Original, a fermented dairy drink, was created in 1996 and could only be found in the Montreal area at that time. Later, it was approved for use by hospitals and prescribed to over 40,000 patients taking antibiotics. A published clinical study found the product was effective for reducing diarrhea linked to antibiotics and the also had the potential of reducing diarrhea linked to Clostridium difficile (Beausoleil et al.). Bio-K+ is the #1 recommended probiotic by doctors across Canada.
Over the years, Bio-K+ added other products: capsules and new flavors of drinks, including non-dairy and kids’ versions. I’ve seen Bio-K+ at quite a few stores, including Whole Foods, Gelson’s, Sprouts, and Erewhon. It is carried by some pharmacies at well.
Bio-K+ is not a yogurt. It’s a probiotic supplement that has 50 billion CFU in each bottle (the equivalent to eating 50 yogurts). One drink is 3.5 fl oz.
While I enjoyed Bio-K+ I never regularly consumed it because one small bottle was $5 or more. I don’t have digestive issues and I’m not taking antibiotics. My gut health is probably pretty good. I think Bio-K+ boosts your immune system too, which is something we could all use. It’s not clear whether healthy people should take probiotics though.
Bio-K+ recently added a few non-dairy options: Blueberry (fermented rice), Mango (fermented soy), Coconut (fermented pea & hemp). The coconut flavor is a Whole Foods exclusive in the US.
I tried the flavored drink flavors that are for adults and here’s what I thought of each. I didn’t try the Coconut flavor.
- Strawberry (fermented dairy): This was the best flavor. It was tangy, creamy, and tasted like real strawberries and dairy. 4 out of 5 stars.
- Mango (fermented soy): This was pleasant though the mango flavor wasn’t that strong. There was a hint of soy flavor that I liked. 3.5 out of 5 stars.
- Blueberry (fermented rice): I could barely taste the blueberries. The funky fermented flavor was super strong. The drink was very sour. It contains less sugar than the Mango and Strawberry flavors. It was also thinner and not as creamy. I can’t imagine drinking much of this, and I like sour flavors. 1.5 out of 5 stars.
People like to add Bio-K+ to smoothies, overnight oats, and chia puddings.
You know you love me. X0 X0, fro-yo girl.
Looking for more frozen yogurt news, discussion boards, and resources? Check out the International Frozen Yogurt Association website at http://internationalfrozenyogurt.com/. The IFYA is the independent voice of the frozen yogurt industry.
Fro-yo girl here. Drinkwell Softers uses St. Benoit’s organic yogurt whey and fruits and/or aromatics from the farm to create its delicious, tangy fermented healthier carbonated beverages. These soft drinks are locally made, all natural, fresh, organic and probiotic. I spotted their drinks at Canyon Market. The flavors change with the seasons but during my visit they had three very interesting flavors: Rosemary, Rose Geranium, Lavender
* Rose geranium softers: The drink is very crisp, light and refreshing with a fruity quality to it. It’s naturally carbonated, lightly sweetened, smells like roses, and pretty tangy but it doesn’t taste like yogurt
An 8.5 ounce bottle of Drinkwell Softers is $1.99 +$1.50 bottle deposit. One serving is 41 calories.
Drinkwell Softers can be found at San Francisco’s Ferry Plaza Farmer’s Market on Saturdays at the Eatwell Farm stand.
4.5 out of 5 stars
You know you love me. X0 X0, fro-yo girl.
Looking for more frozen yogurt news, discussion boards, and resources? Check out the International Frozen Yogurt Association website at http://internationalfrozenyogurt.com/. The IFYA is the independent voice of the frozen yogurt industry.
