From mason jars to bottles to their very own brewhouse offering locally made ‘booch on tap – Royals Kombucha has really come a long way in offering tasty health beverages to the community.

So what is kombucha?

Kombucha is basically fermented tea. Something called a SCOBY (symbiotic culture of bacteria and yeast) makes all the magic happen. A SCOBY holds the (healthy) bacteria and yeast that help transform tea and fruit into a fizzy, delicious, healthy drink that does wonders for your gut health!

One word of advice – don’t Google Image a SCOBY before you try kombucha for the first time. Yuck, that thing looks nasty.

But what does kombucha taste like?

I get it – fermented tea doesn’t sound so appetizing. “Bacteria”, “yeast”, “cultures”; these are not usually words I’d use to describe something delicious. And to be honest with you, I was very leery of trying kombucha for the first time, even despite all the amazing health benefits I’ve heard and read about.

Luckily for me, Royals Kombucha uses locally sourced ingredients to make the most amazing flavor combinations for their ‘booch. Blueberry basil, lemon ginger turmeric, and strawberry are just a few of the amazing flavors I tried in bottles prior to even visiting the Royals’ brewhouse.

Once I checked into the awesome set-up on Main Street in downtown Chilliwack, I got to test a few more fun flavors: lavender, mint algae, and melon and mint.

I’m not going to lie. It definitely took me a few bottles of kombucha before I actually decided that I enjoyed drinking it. An acquired taste, maybe? I think the thought of drinking live bacteria just really turns my stomach.

I’ve tried some commercial kombucha – and the one thing that stands out to me about Royals kombucha is that I have yet to encounter the “stringiness.” I’ve personally found that commercial ‘booch just has some “ickies” at the bottom. Of course there is sediment in the drink – it is unpasteurized and fermented! But the less I think about that fact, the better it tastes.

Why should I drink it?

Well, I’m all for a healthy gut. But if you want to know the real reason I started on a kombucha kick, here it is:

Pregnancy constipation.

I bought a pretty glass growler of peach kombucha from Royals’ and it’s the only way I can poop. TMI, I know, but you mommies know what I’m talking about. I plan on drinking a glass daily for the remainder of my pregnancy!

(Please note – talk to your doctor about drinking kombucha while pregnant! I’ve heard mixed reviews about consuming the drink during pregnancy, and it is a personal decision to drink it while I’m pregnant. I’m not your doctor!)

Since Royals’ Kombucha is fizzy, fruity, and flavorful, I also like to drink it as a treat. Sometimes I will pour my ‘booch into a wine glass to feel a little fancy.

The Royals’ brewhouse offers a pretty neat experience if you’ve never tried kombucha, or you’d just like to learn a little more about it.

The industrial style building nestled on Main Street houses the whole kombucha process – infusing flavors, fermentation, bottling; the whole sha-bang. From the front entrance, you can see the big metal vats used in the production process, and the shelves containing the reusable glass growlers.

To the right, there are 6 taps of fresh kombucha with flavors rotating all the time. They also offer a selection of their flavors bottled in individual bottles if you’re not quite ready to commit to a growler!

I hung out and chatted with Jess in the brewhouse when I picked up my peach growler, and she was so excited to show me a piece of artwork by a local photographer. There are plans in the works to showcase local artists’ work on the beautiful brick wall of the brewhouse, which I think is an awesome way to give back to the community!

Supplying not just Chilliwack, Royals’ Kombucha can be found in all different types of grocery stores, pop-up markets, and produce stores. They’ve even partnered with a brewery in Pitt Meadows to have their ‘booch on tap along with the brewery’s local craft beer!

In addition to infusing, brewing, and bottling, Royals’ also offers monthly workshops to get you started on brewing your own batch of kombucha. With tips and tricks to get your own brew going, you can follow them on Facebook to find out when the next one is! The cost is $25, with kits and cultures sold separately. Contact Royals’ Kombucha to learn more.