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New Lids on GT’s Kombucha!

March 18th, 2009 · View Comments

Yesterday I bought one of my most favorite products available to me:  Gt’s Kombucha.  The first things I noticed as I was unwrapping the seal of my Gingerberry bottle, was that they had switched lids.  The previous lids were made of some type of painted metal.  These new lids were a lot lighter, plastic and had ridges in them.

As I took those first few, bubbly sips my mind began to go over the possible reasons for the change.  It could be that kombucha and metal don’t mix very well together, as I’ve read from many sources.  Plastic isn’t supposed to be good for kombucha either, but perhaps it is the lessar of the two evils?  The bottles are still made of glass, and can be easily recycled and the kombucha is as tasty as ever!

All other GT’s lovers may have discovered that there are also three new flavors out there!  Check out Lauren’s post about it on her blog!  I have tried them all and they are delicious!  I’m also impressed by the explosion in the popularity of this beverage over the last few years.  Joe and I found ourselves at one of our local grocery store chains and I saw about 4 varieties of GT’s over on the shelf of their deli department!

It’s nice to see the convenience of such a wonderful beverage so close to my fingertips, but I have to say that I miss brewing my own very much.  I’m hoping that I’ll be able to find a culture and start up again once we’re settled in our new home in Costa Rica.

Has anyone else out there noticed these new lids?

Tags: Costa Rica · Kombucha

  • kombuchaforbreakfast
    absolutely. i think it's to prevent the fizz from breaking the seal.
  • Phill
    I have noticed these new lids---and I'm not liking them. I can't open the bottles without major stress. Neither can my partner---and he's usually able to open anything! We have to run hot water over the lids for several minutes, and even then its a major pain.

    Are the lids opening for you ok?
  • I haven't bought any for a while, as I'm in Costa Rica right now. I didn't really notice them being hard to open that I can remember, though. That's too bad, maybe some of the kombucha leaks into the lid during shipping?
  • Kyle
    I've seen the new lids. Why not just starting your own culture from a bottle of G.T.'s. I'm doing so now and have had good results. Just open a bottle or two and put it in a large glass jar covered with cloth/paper towel. Some people add the G.T.'s to a half gallon of sweet tea.
  • This is an excellent suggestion, thanks Kyle! I've started cultures from GT bottles before as well. In fact, I've even done it on accident just leaving almost empty bottles out on the counter. I would do that right now, if I could. I'm down in Costa Rica, where kombucha is practically unheard of. I'm hoping I can find someone down here that brews.
  • SDVEGAN
    I have an I've also got a few theories on them. One was what you mentioned about metal being bad. #2. The metal lids were very sensitive and if the hit off anything they would open. #3 plastic is probably cheaper to mass produce. Either way, it hasn't stopped me from buying!
  • It certainly hasn't stopped me, either! I'm hooked. :) Your theories are all probably a bit true.
  • lily
    Yes, I noticed and googled it, which is how I got to your blog. I don't like it at all. There are bits of plastic on the inside of the lid after I twisted it off - I hate to think that I ingested any of that plastic, though it looks like it's just around the ridges where it twisted. And, this might just be a coincidence, but the taste was off on the cosmic cranberry that I just had. I wish they'd go back to the metal, I loved the popping sound the lid made...
  • Oh yuck! I haven't noticed any plastic bits in mine yet, I hope I don't get any. That is sad that they don't make the popping noises anymore.
  • Petra
    Real sorry, Gaia's Organic Kombucha web site is www.gokombucha.com
  • Thanks for the link!
  • Petra
    Just got back from a trip to the UK and guess what? Kombucha is kicking off in Europe too!! There is a great brand called Gaia's Organic Kombucha, but seems it is not available on these shores (check out go.kombucha.com). The European taste is stronger and kicks ass, like they ferment their Kombucha longer, but it hits the spot and you get that warm, fuzzy feeling real quick. Gaia's says 0.5% alcohol on the label, but I felt real good and energized after just a couple of sips. It is great that folks everywhere are ditching their sodas for kombuchas. It ticks every health box, is so low in sugar and calories, and of course is living and packed with nutrients. How could anyone go back to those dead wood, chemical-ridden sodas after drinking Kombucha is beyond me!!! I have a theory; if you fill yourself with dead food (i.e. food totally devoid of nutrients), you are slowly killing your body and, like the crap you are eating, will eventually die. Living food promotes health and vitality, and so keeps you living longer. And to think that Government plans are afoot to make the food industry irradiate all food and drink for public consumption. How would this affect GTs if this plan goes through, and what is the agenda at play here?
  • Very exciting, Petra! I would love to try that brand, maybe someday I'll find myself in Europe. Thanks for stopping by and posting on my blog. I'm not sure what Government plans you are talking about, but it is my hope that people start to turn to their own backyards when it comes to food. I really hope that our food moving in the direction of more local, sustainable agriculture. It seems that with the way things have been going, that is the only practical option.
  • Lia
    We get them at Sunflower Market, and haven't noticed new lids yet. I'll watch for them next week!
  • Heya Lia! I got mine at Good Earth, I think. Sunflower Market rocks!
  • Lia
    Update: We just got some yesterday at Sunflower, and they were still metal lids. =/ I wonder if they'll ever show up there! You'll be the first (only? lol) person I tell, if they do! XD
  • I'd imagine that they'd show up sooner or later. Thanks for checking back with me!
  • I am fascinated with all this as I have never tasted Kombucha......never seen it here in France neither (looked for it since 'meeting' Kombucha Chic ;0) but no luck) You guys are so lucky to be so ahead of things.....the frogs are aways keen to keep to the 'known' stuff to them LOL.
    Enjoy your kombucha for me won't you!!!
  • Didn't see the new lids. My Whole Foods carries every single flavor! Whoohoo!! I love the new flavors as well! :)
  • It's hard to see them until you take off the seal. They look the same on top. Aren't they delicious? I'm really digging the botanical series.
  • We have not gotten the new lids down here yet (can't imagine that it flys off the shelf). I did try a new flavor yest. the one in the tye dye looking bottle, it has rasberries and ginger and some other stuff...yum! I usually just stick to the green one, but glad I branched out. How much do you guys pay for a bottle? It is $5.49 a bottle here, so I save them for special occasions! Cheers!
  • Where are you at, Mandy? I'm surprised how often I see it out of stock at the little market next door to me. $5.49 is crazy! I don't think I've ever paid more than $3.50 for it here.
  • I am in St.Thomas, USVI...I did find it today for 4.50 and was SIKED! I tried the guava one...yum,
    we don't have the botanical series here though. I am heading to the States on Monday...Wholefoods here I come!!!!!!! (maybe I won't have to sneak it anymore!)
  • donnapirne
    hi-where in st thomas did you find kombucha. am going there in a few weeks and would like to stock uup
  • Virgin Islands, eh? It must be beautiful where you are! Congrats on finding a price drop, too. :) Happy and safe travels to you on Monday.
  • Synergy is good stuff. Hum, next time I'm at the health food store, I'll keep in mind to check out there lids, to see if it's now plastic here too.
  • I wonder if you can tell if its plastic without opening the bottle? Maybe tap on the lid? LOL
  • I did notice the new lids! I have a hypothesis... I was always telling my husband that I love GT's, but I like ours better because ours doesn't taste like metal. Sometimes when I drink theirs I get a real strong metal flavor and wondered if maybe the metal from the lid could leach into the drink. I dunno, maybe I'm just crazy, but that's my hypothesis. My favorite flavor is mango, I haven't tried their new ones yet. yum!
  • Yeah, I think its about the metal as well. I think they are supposed to be shipped and stored upright so that the kombucha doesn't touch the lids, but things don't always work out that way. I didn't notice a taste difference, but perhaps you will!
  • New lids? Heck, I just found out that they bottle and sell this stuff. That's how out of the kombucha loop I am. Here, I thought folks were still making it in a glass sun-tea container in their dark kitchen cupboard, like I used to. And, we had ONE flavor. I'm soooooo 1990. :D

    Next time I'm at Whole Foods, I'm picking up a bottle. What flavor should I get?
  • I wish I had started up with kombucha in 1990! I have only been drinking it for the past 4 years or so. All the flavors are quite good, I would recommend Mango, Grape, or the Triology (Rasp, lemon & ginger).
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