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Natural Energy Booster, Guayakí: Sebastopol-based Guayaki produces a variety of organic drinks that contain the high energy infusion of the South American yerba mate tree. The company has created a cult following around the beverage, which they serve in the form of loose-leaf and bag teas, as well as in shots and cans. Stop by the Sebastopol headquarters and café to experience yerba mate for yourself. guayaki.com (Courtesy photo)
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Go Green, Aquakola: Sonoma Kitchen Collective's Aquakola pairs two essential elixirs: water and coffee. Made with green coffee beans (yet to be roasted, raw beans), this sparkling drink packs a powerful punch in the form of antioxidants and high amounts of caffeine. The drink comes in a variety of flavors, including kola, pomelo, blood orange and cherry. aquakola.com (Courtesy photo)
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Feel the Fermentation, Revive Kombucha: Members of the Kombucha cult have been sipping this Sonoma County beverage since 2010, when it was launched at a local farmers market. Revive Kombucha's fermented, effervescent tea drinks come in a variety of flavors - cola, ginger lime, hibiscus, yerba mate ginger, cucumber mint and more - and is sold in cute retro-style glass bottles. In keeping with Kombucha's believed health benefits, all Revive offerings are organic, fair trade and non-GMO. Note: Revive Kombucha may have low alcohol at 0.5% ABV due to the fermentation process. revivekombucha.com (Courtesy photo)
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Fix Your Microbiome, The Kefiry: Sebastopol continues its reign as the healthy beverage capital of Sonoma County at The Kefiry, the first (and only) non-alcoholic probiotic microbrewery in the country. Their brand of Enlivened "elixirs" comprise a series of fermented probiotic drinks that are meant to make both taste buds and digestive systems happy. Flavors include Lemon Gingerale, Rootbeer, Turmeric, Tulsi Rose, and Shaman's Kola and, at the brewery tasting room, there area also probiotic popsicles, detoxifying teas and other "transformational" beverages to sample. thekefiry.com (Courtesy photo)
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Bionic Men: Biotic Beverages: Sonoma County has come down with a serious case of fermentation fever. In addition to kombucha and kefir (and wine, and cheese, and sourdough, and all other locally made cultured drinks and foods), kvass is now made here. This fermented beverage, traditionally made from bread in Eastern Europe, is handcrafted by Occidental-based Biotic Beverages, owned and operated father and son team Michael and Adam Johnston. Instead of bread, the Johnstons use a carrot base to craft drinks rich in anti-inflammatory and antioxidant properties. Flavors include beet, ginger, lime, turmeric, and pineapple and all drinks are certified organic and vegan. bioticbeverages.com (Courtesy photo)
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Grapey Goodness, Sonoma Portworks Sonomic: Don't let the "port" part of the name mislead you - while Petaluma-based Sonoma Portworks is known for their after dinner alcoholic drinks, they also produce a unique "almost vinegar" beverage called Sonomic. Made from muscat and cabernet sauvignon grapes, Sonomic is richer than balsamic but less acidic than vinegar - or, in the words of Sonoma Portworks: "sweet, tart, rich, refreshing, simple and elegant." Add a splash to your tonic or club soda, or a teaspoon or two to sparkling water for a "Sonoma Shrub." Sip Sonomic at their downtown Petaluma tasting room. 707-769-5203, 613 2nd St., Petaluma, portworks.com (Courtesy photo)
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Dairy Drinks, Straus Family Creamery: A staple at Northern California grocery stores, Straus Family Creamery has been producing dairy products since 1994. Straus sources GMO-free milk from eight organic farms in Sonoma and Marin counties and was the first creamery to become 100 percent certified organic in the United States. In addition to organic milk, they also makes beverages like chocolate milk and eggnog. strausfamilycreamery.com (Courtesy photo)
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Clo Rules, Clover Sonoma: Family-operated Clover Sonoma has been producing dairy products for over 100 years. Clover cows lead "stress-free lives;" the company's animal welfare practices made them the first and only dairy to be certified by the American Humane Society. Drivers on highway 101 can enjoy Clover billboards with a pun, featuring their famous mascot Clo advertising products like milk, kefir and eggnog. (If lactose is no fun for you, there are lactose-free options, too). cloversonoma.com (Clover kefir smoothie with frozen strawberries, courtesy photo)
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Get Goaty, Redwood Hill Farms: This Sebastopol farm and creamery was founded on a dream of "going back to the land" and an excess of goat milk. Making the move from L.A. in 1963, the Bice family established a homestead in Sonoma west county where they raised a variety of animals, including goats. Like many new goat owners, they soon found themselves with a quickly multiplying herd and more milk than they could consume. In 1970, they introduced the country's first goat milk kefir, a fermented drink with a tart and tangy flavor featuring 11 active cultures and lots of probiotics. Their gluten free, kosher kefir now comes in three flavors: plain, vanilla and blueberry pomegranate açaí. redwoodhill.com (Courtesy photo)
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Drink Your Plants, Traditional Medicinals: Herbalist Rosemary Gladstar and environmentalist Drake Sadler founded organic herbal tea company Traditional Medicinals in the early 1970s. While Gladstar and Sadler are no longer involved in the business, their recipes live on - including Gladstar's famous "Smooth Move" (you can probably guess what that's for) and "Throat Coat," popular among vocalists. Traditional Medicinals now source their organic herbs from around the world but remain based in Sebastopol, where they experiment with new recipes in an onsite herb garden. traditionalmedicinals.com (Courtesy photo)
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Empowering Women, The Sisterhood of Tea: Inspired by the suffragists, who hosted tea parties to mobilize women around voting rights, local feminist and tea lover Alison Kilmer created The Sisterhood of Tea in an effort to unite modern women. Her collection of loose leaf teas reflect the company's four pillars - friendship, ambition, wellbeing and women's rights - and 15 percent of all sales are donated to grassroots nonprofits supporting women. Kilmer also offers self-care tea ceremony kits, which include a Danish-designed teapot, a cup and saucer, a kettle, and a tea sampler. Teas are sold through a subscription service. thesisterhoodoftea.com (Courtesy photo)
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Drink Your Veggies, Züpa Noma: The entrepreneurial folks at Sonoma Brands, creators of Krave pork jerky, SmashMallow marshmallows and Dang coconut chips, have a thing for serving up "disruptive" foods and drinks in cute packaging. With their brand of drinkable soups - Züpa Noma - they are seeking to "revolutionize how consumers eat their vegetables." Endorsed by the likes of celebrity chef Ayesha Curry, these Whole30-approved Superfood Soups come in flavors like Beet Orange Basil, Carrot Coconut Lime, Green Gazpacho, Tomatillo Kale Jalapeño and baby bottles of immunity boosting soups like Carrot Ginger Turmeric. drinkzupa.com (Courtesy photo)
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Flavor Infusions, Sonoma Syrup Co: Since launching in 2002, Sonoma Syrup has been racking up foodie-centric awards and recognition from folks like Oprah for its flavor-packed simple syrups, bar mixers, and vinegars. For coffee drinkers, Sonoma Syrup offers flavored syrups including sea salt caramel, chocolate, vanilla bean, and if you can't wait until fall: pumpkin pie latte. They also make grenadine (Shirley Temple time!), apple cider vinegar, and fruity flavors like lime, raspberry and black currant, which pairs well with soda water and ginger beer. sonomasyrup.com (Courtesy photo)
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Sonoma Syrup Co.'s Apple Cider Vinegar Tonic:
1 cup Sonoma Syrup Mint Infused Syrup
1 cup Sonoma Syrup Organic Apple Cider Infused Drinking Vinegar
1 cup water or sparkling water to top
Raspberries, cucumber slices and mint sprigs
Instructions: Combine Mint Syrup, Apple Cider Vinegar to create concentrate.To serve, pour ¼ cup concentrate and dilute with ¾ cup water or sparkling water. Garnish with raspberries, cucumber slices and mint.
