Drinks Review: Jarr Kombucha
At a glance
Flavours: Ginger, Raspberry, Passionfruit and Original
Price: £2.99 per 240ml bottle
Founded: Hackney Wick, 2015
Suitable for: Vegans, Gluten Free
Review
Kombucha, whilst holding a rich cultural history dating back to 220 BC in Northeast China, has been best known in western culture as a non-alcoholic hipster staple for the last decade. Though, much like the hipster movement itself, it should be acknowledged that Kombucha is now gentrifying the mainstream non-alcoholic drinks industry at a rapid pace.
For those unsure of what Kombucha actually is: it’s an acquired taste of fermented tea and a symbiotic culture of bacteria and yeast (a.k.a. SCOBY), marketed by alleged health benefits, such as being a source of probiotics and containing antioxidants. It’s important to acknowledge that it has a ‘marmite’ rep. Some would equate Kombucha to mouldy apples, others view it as a fitting alternative to an adult (née alcoholic) drink. Though, it’s easy for die-hard fans to tip into the former camp with a bad batch.
Thankfully for me, Jarr Kombucha is on the upper echelons of the Kombucha ladder.
Having been born in a converted car garage in East London, with co-founder Adam Vanni’s Kombucha introduction being sparked by the organic foods shops in LA, it’s fair to say that Jarr had a great starting point. Their very first brewery was titled ‘Jarr Bar’ with its three core flavours (ginger, original and passion fruit) on tap and in cocktails, entertained by DJs playing house music and street food pop-ups. Within 11 months of brewing, Jarr was stocked in Harrods.
These days, they operate from a state-of-the-art brewery in Oudenaarde, Belgium, and can be found in the very type of organic stores that inspired the idea in the first place. They also have recently been awarded EU Organic Certification.
Original Jarr Kombucha
My tasting began with the original – which, admittedly, I have had and thoroughly enjoyed at an East London café before. It’s a sophisticated version of a Kombucha, brewed with organic green and oolong tea. It’s the perfect balance of apple infused flavours with a hint of citrus, and one of the nicest versions of original Kombucha that I’ve ever tasted.
Ginger Jarr Kombucha
Best described as a ginger beer with little more zing, this is the perfect drink for anyone who’s looking for a health kick with a pang of heat, or a suitable partner for their rum. The ginger undertones are a little sweeter than I expected and the heat could have been turned up a notch, but it’s still a delectable drink that I would order time and time again.
Raspberry Jarr Kombucha
My personal favourite was the Raspberry Jarr Kombucha, which I devoured in an ice-cold champagne glass during the England vs Denmark Euros semi-final game. It’s a less sweet and more tart version of a Fentiman’s Raspberry Lemonade – made all the more dreamy when you top it off with strawberries, as I later experimented.
Passionfruit Kombucha
My box of Jarr Kombucha’s, gifted for review, came with a lovely handwritten note reading: “Passionfruit is my favourite”. Having left it to cool for a while, my first sip ignited a burst of overpowering tangy passionfruit before softening into a sweeter aftertaste. I knew instantly that it would be my soft drink of choice on a girls night out.
The majority of photos from this little product shoot has a glimpse of Scruffy (see the Original Kombucha photo). When I popped this Ginger Kombucha for a moment, she sat next to it and posed (albeit with a few leaves from her latest dig.)
In Summary
Summed up in one sentence: A collection of high-end Kombucha drinks, deliciously crafted to ensure that its various flavours are more distinctive than the classic kombucha tangy aftertaste – most commonly found in highly sought after cafés and bars, for all the right reasons.
For fans of: Real Kombucha, Equinox and Go Kombucha
Perfect for: An afternoon natter with a colleague or a friend or an alcohol-free alternative at a bar or a house party.
Places to find it: In the UK, Jarr can be found at Soho House, Claridges, The Dorchester, Sketch, The Ned, Tonkotsu, Caravan, and in retail through the likes of Harrods, Selfridges, Fenwick, Whole Foods Market, Planet Organic and Farmdrop. As well as the UK, JARR can now be found in Belgium, France, the Netherlands, Malta, the Czech Republic, Switzerland, Iceland, Greece, Portugal, Finland and Bulgaria.
You can also buy it from their online store, jarrkombucha.com.
Written by Pippa Moyle
Disclaimer: All four flavours were gifted to us in exchange for a review, but the review itself contains the honest opinions of the writer.